|
GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE
MORNING WORSHIP
Sunday, October 15, 2023 @ 11 am
"The Kingdom Has Come Near"
Scripture reading: Mark 1:1-14
Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor
| |
|
both in-person and on Facebook or YouTube (click here)
Comments: We have set our YouTube channel to accept comments. If you are viewing, we ask that you say hello or to let us know you are there so we can count you as part of our attendance.
ELDER OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER - Marcia Songer
| |
SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION | |
SERMON NOTES
When Jesus arrives on the scene as an adult, ready to begin his public life of ministry, little did the people know that someone was already preparing the way. John the Baptist, the strange man that dresses in strange clothes, and eats strange things is the one that cried out to prepare the way for the lord. And John the Baptizer is not coming with the religious business as usual mentality. He is coming to proclaim a new kind of kingdom. One that is shaped and marked by baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. So join us this week as we hear about that Kingdom, we see the person that John came to prepare for, and ultimately will be invited into this life of confession and forgiveness.
Yours in Christ
Brandon
| |
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
The Adult Sunday School class has begin reading and discussing John Shelby Spong’s Born of a Woman which challenges the doctrine of the virgin birth, tracing its development in the early Christian church and revealing its legacy in our contemporary attitudes toward women and female sexuality. Please order a copy of the book soon; it is available online from various sources and bookstores.
The class meets in the Poteat Library at 10 am. If you wish to join the class there is always room for one more.
| |
NEW WALK ANNOUNCED
Our upcoming featured walk will be on the trails of Winged Deer, Park, Wednesday, November 15th at 11 am. Lunch following.
A picture from yesterday's walk on the Tweetsie.
| |
|
UPCOMING CONFERENCES @ MONTREAT IN OCTOBER
Earth & Soul: reawakening to the sacredness of the earth and every human being – October 18-20 at the Montreat Conference Center. This is immediately followed by Thresholds of Hope – a new, experimental weekend retreat focused on the House Gatherings model developed by John Philip Newell which will be from October 20-22.
Please check the Montreat website for more information and deadlines for registration.
| |
|
ROLL WATAUGA SQUARE
Every Halloween Watauga Avenue Church “rolls” Watauga Square Apartments. That doesn't mean we roll the building with streams of toilet paper in the traditional Halloween sense. It means we donate paper products and other household needs to be used as prizes for the residents' bingo games. So, when you are shopping this month, if you already have enough paper products for yourself, pick up a pack of four rolls of toilet paper, a roll of paper towels or a box of facial tissue. Other popular gifts suggested are personal care products like shampoo and hand lotion, tooth brushes or tooth paste, cleaning supplies like laundry detergent and bathroom or kitchen cleaners, as well as cat or dog food. Please bring your items and place them in the container in the side entry anytime through Sunday, September 29th. Let’s Roll Watauga Square in a big way. Thanks for your generosity.
| |
TRUNK OR TREAT DATE SET
Saturday, October 21st from 3-5 pm as been set for our annual Trunk or Treat. This year it will be expanded into a mini Fall Festival. There is still some planning to be made. If you have any ideas or want to help, please contact Mike Miyamoto or Susan Turner.
For those wishing to assist and participate there will be a meeting following worship this Sunday. Looking forward to lots of fun !!!
| |
BINGO POTLUCK
The Congregational Life Committee will be hosting a Bingo Potluck for the PC(USA) churches in our community on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite dish to share and be prepared for a fun night of BINGO with fellow Presbyterians. Stacy Larsen will be calling the BINGO games and we will have fun prizes and lots of laughter. Mark your calendars to attend and contact Stacy through email at stacyllarsen@gmail.com with any questions.
| |
FOOD, FOOD AND MORE FOOD
The Lunch Bunch / Meal Schedule for
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER
October 15 @ Southern Craft BBQ (601 Spring Street, dwtn JC)
October 22 @ Rainbow Asian Cuisine (2412 No. Roan Street)
October 29 - Fellowship Potluck Lunch following worship.
THERE IS A SUMMER SCHEDULE OF ALL LUNCH BUNCH LOCATIONS POSTED ON THE BULLETIN BOARD.
IF ANYONE HAS SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER DINING VENUES, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE TO ADD THEM TO OUR LUNCH ROTATION. THANKS.
| |
HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COMING WEEK | |
|
Sunday, October 15, 2023
10 am Adult Sunday School reading "Born of a Woman," by John Shelby Spong
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:15 pm Trunk or Treat meeting
12:15 pm Mission Team meeting
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Southern Craft BBQ (901 Spring Street, dwtn JC)
Monday, October 16, 2023
6 pm Weekly Bible Study in Conference Room
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Saturday, October 21, 2023
10 am - 2 pm The River Craft and Goodies Fair @ 1st Presbyterian Church (dwtn JC)
3 - 5 pm WAPC Fall Festival / Trunk or Treat (church parking lot)
Sunday, October 22, 2023
10 am Adult Sunday School reading "Born of a Woman," by John Shelby Spong
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Rainbow Asian Cuisine (2412 No. Roan Street)
Monday, October 23, 2023
6 pm Weekly Bible Study in Conference Room
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, October 29, 2023
10 am Adult Sunday School reading "Born of a Woman," by John Shelby Spong
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:15 pm Fellowship Potluck Lunch
Monday, October 30, 2023
6 pm Weekly Bible Study in Conference Room
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Saturday, November 4, 2023
5:30 pm Potluck & Bingo @ Covenant Presbyterian Church. Everyone invited!!
Sunday, November 5, 2023 - DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS
| |
GENERAL FUND: YEAR TO DATE: | |
|
[2023 Annual Budget - $ 177,600
Budget through OCTOBER 13, Week #41 ($ 140,031)
Receipts $ 133,781.89
Disbursements -$ 129,767.64
Balance $ 4,014.25
Please note that our financial cushion is dwindling as we approach the end of the year.
Make sure that your tithes and pledges are up-to-date. Thanks.
Please remember the 5 Cents per Meal Offering every first Sunday of the Month. The next special PC(USA) offering will
be in December for the Christmas Joy offering
God has blessed the Church with incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need to be supported by their communities as well. This Offering addresses the support needed by some of our leaders, including supporting leadership development for communities of color, and providing support for Presbyterian church workers in their time of need.
| | |
|
|
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
October 18 - Karen Martin
October 24 - David Hughes
October 27 - Lanny Brashear
October 28 - Fred Burrell
OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES
October 27 - Stephen & Sue Shanks (45th)
The Chancel flowers were given loving memory of
Dorothy Carole Lawson Long Wilson
(13 Oct 1923 – 2 October 2006),
by her son, Geral L. Long and family.
ALSO NOTE: THE 2023 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE IN REQUESTING CHANCEL FLOWERS.
| |
|
For Friends and Family
the Hughes family for son-in-law Bryce Bennett, and Debi's foster mother, Janet Vencel in Ohio; Marty Shanks; Sue Sheffield; Messina Lyle; George, Jo & Nikki Rolling; Theresa Lura; Camilla Lyle's brother, Jeff McFee; Jonathan Sharp; Don Loughry; Rev. Maggie Lauterer; Sarah Suptin; Kelly Hodges.; Heather Hughes; Edna Campbell.
Prayers for others
Continue to pray for the people in Ukraine as they continue their fight against the Russian Invasion. For the recent humanitarian emergency between Israel and the Palestinians of Gaza, as well as the crisis in the humanitarian crisis in Azerbaijan with the takeover of the Nagorno-Karabakh/Armenian enclave and the Lachin Corridor and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nigeria; the aftermath of 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Herat province, Afghanistan and 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco; a cholera outbreak in the Sudan; flooding in Cameroon, India and Myanmar and typhoon Koinu in Taiwan. Prayers for U.S. troops and migrants seeking refuge along the southern U.S. border. And especially prayers for our nation and for strength, endurance, faith and courage for all.
CENTER FOR DISASTER PHILANTHROPY - https://disasterphilanthropy.org/
UN OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) - https://reliefweb.int/
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE - https://rescue.org
US FEMA - DECLARED DISASTERS - https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations
GLOBAL DISASTER ALERT & COORDINATION SYSTEM (GDACS) - https://gdacs.org
| |
|
These are among our favorite pastor's wives:
Lois Lowry, Zelda Frederick, and Jo Rolling
| |
|
Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) arrived in North America from Japan in the 1920s and was first detected in Tennessee in the early 2000s. Barely visible to the human eye, the invasive pest goes undetected during summer but forms protective white wool casings when cooler weather arrives. Throughout the year the HWA feeds on the underside of hemlock branches, stealing nutrients and causing buds to die and needles to fall. More and more, research shows that targeted chemical applications effectively suppress adelgid infestations.
Earlier this year Tennessee's HWA Strike Team treated more than 1,800 acres of forest around the state within a few short months—a new record! Their herculean effort included 68 acres and 840 hemlocks at the Bridgestone Nature Reserve at Chestnut Mountain. The team treats hemlocks on state-owned lands and on properties that have secured a conservation easement as part of an integrated pest management plan to conserve these iconic trees for the long term. (GSN #169)
| |
VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK | |
|
SRI LANKA - LAND OF STUNNING NATURAL WONDERS
Sceniv Scenes
(September 2021 | 27:22 min.)
Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Full of romantic landscapes, stirring mountains, green tea gardens and golden beaches, land of stunning natural wonders.
Sri Lanka contains four terrestrial ecoregions: Sri Lanka lowland rain forests, Sri Lanka montane rain forests, Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests, and Deccan thorn scrub forests Flowering acacias flourish on the arid Jaffna Peninsula. Among the trees of the dry-land forests are valuable species such as satinwood, ebony, ironwood, mahogany and teak. The wet zone is a tropical evergreen forest with tall trees, broad foliage, and a dense undergrowth of vines and creepers. Subtropical evergreen forests resembling those of temperate climates flourish in the higher altitudes.
Department of Wildlife Conservation administrates 61 wildlife sanctuaries, 22 national parks, four nature reserves, three strict nature reserves, and one jungle corridor while Department of Forest Conservation oversees 65 conservation forests and one national heritage wilderness area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWu0v681RCA&t=113s
| |
|
IN THE POTEAT LIBRARY
Please remember the library is open by appointment and you are welcome to drop by the church library if you are looking for something new to read. We ask that you to sign out any books on the register sheet found on the file cabinet in the corner with the call #, book title, your name and date checked out.
| |
|
Hidden Treasures: Finding Hope at the End of Life’s Journey
By Robin Bertram
(236/BER)
Many people are facing life-threatening diseases, terminal illness, and the long-term care of elderly parents, but have few resources to rely on in these difficult times. They often keep their challenges private only to suffer in silence with no real support system. This book delivers practical solutions to the problems everyone must deal with when they are experiencing the degradation of the quality of their life or the potential loss of a loved one.
Based on experiences derived from 25 years of prayer ministry, Bertram’s Hidden Treasures provides insight and guidance to equip patients, family members, and friends to walk through these challenging times with foresight, looking for and expecting to see God at work in many miraculous ways. It offers sound advice grounded in the truths found in Scripture and the wisdom revealed through real-life stories and case studies.
This book helps those who have ever wondered . . .
· If God is good, why are we going through this?
· What will our family do during this crisis?
· How do we fight the fear that is trying to consume us?
· How can we encourage reconciliation in our family?
· Where can we find peace in the journey?
· What happens when we die?
· Is there life after death?
· What is heaven like?
Hidden Treasures will inspire, motivate, and encourage loved ones to begin to walk the road to heaven without the fear and anxiety associated with death and dying. They’ll discover that the Word of God has answers to the questions that seem to have no answer; and that comfort awaits as they begin to view their situation from a heavenly perspective. Ultimately, it reveals that hope is available, death with dignity is possible, and there are hidden treasures to embrace along the way.
| |
|
Congregational Concerns / Prayer Requests - Please contact the church office or Sherry Bailey with information.
Flower List - The 2023 Flower List has been posted on the bulletin board in the side entry. Please sign up to sponsor flowers for our weekly worship services in honor or in memory of loved ones.
Arrangements are $65 each.
e-Avenue deadline - Please submit information to church office (office@wataugapc.org or 926-7942) at any time and for the November issue of the e-AVENUE, no later than Friday, October 17th. This includes team and committee meetings, news, planned events and other newsworthy items.
Facebook - Please remember to friend and follow our Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/Watauga-Avenue-Presbyterian-Church-94712920937/ ]. All news and events will be reported there.
Photos needed - We welcome contributions to our Facebook page via your comments and photos of church events and activities. Please also submit your photos to the church office for archiving. It will be wonderful to have a visual record of all of the positive things that Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church does for our community.
| |
WATAUGA AVENUE PC IS ON .. click and see for yourself. | | |
|
Established 27 September 1892, Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ. Reformed in theology and Presbyterian by way of organization, it is related to Holston Presbytery, the Synod of Living Waters, and to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | | | | |
