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GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Sunday, December 4, 2022 @ 11 am
Sermon - "Take That Boy's Lunch" | Scripture reading - John 6:1-15
Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor
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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.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE BRIEF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING FOLLOWING WORSHIP THIS WEEK TO HEAR THE REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
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SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION | |
GOOD SAM FAMILIES FOR CHRISTMAS
Our three families from Good Sam greatly appreciated of Thanksgiving food delivery a couple of weeks ago and are still collecting canned goods and other non-perishables for Christmas. Items can be brought and left in the container in the side entrance Items will be collected through Sunday, December 18th. So please keep this in mind when you are shopping in the near future.
We did finally receive basic information about gift ideas for our three families. This new information is posted on the Mission Bulletin board in the side entry. If any of our homebound members would like this information, please contact the church office and a list will be emailed to you. These items will also be needed by the Sunday, December 18th deadline.
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KEEP OUR MITTEN TREE GROWING
We are sponsoring the Mitten Tree again this year for our annual contribution to Good Samaritan. It is found in the side entry for convenience and so everyone can enjoy seeing the new items being added week by week. The deadline for giving will be Sunday, December 18th. That's not a lot of time, but we know that you will be generous. Everyone is welcome to bring your items and place on the tree. We are looking for scarves, hats, socks, and, of course, gloves and MITTENS.
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POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS - PLEASE ORDER SOON
We have begun taking requests for poinsettias for this Advent Season. Poinsettias purchased will be placed in the Sanctuary from Sunday December 18th until December 25th. A separate email was sent out last week with the order form. The deadline for ordering is Sunday, December 11th. However, we need to have a tally of potential plants purchased by Friday, December 9th. Please contact the church office ASAP if you are planning to order one or more poinsettias in honor or in memory of family members or loved ones. If you need an order form, please call the church office and one will be emailed to you.
We have traditionally ordered the single plant pots for the Sanctuary. However, there are other options. We have pricing from Anna Marie's Florists for this season: single plant pots - $30. If interested, they will also have double plant pots - $50; and triple plant pots - $65.
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5th TUESDAY - PERSONAL HYGIENE BAGS
Just a friendly reminder and plenty of notice that there will be four PW 5th Tuesday Work Days coming up in 2023 (January 31, May 30, August 29, and October 31). It will be time to make more Hygiene bags during the coming year. So bring your (travel sized) items to fill those bags, including: shampoo, conditioner, combs (for men), hairbrushes (for women) small tissues, lotion, emery boards, toothpaste, toothbrush (and cover), Chapstick, face cloth, deodorant, soap and handwipes. Also remember to bring in those magazines, notepads, greeting cards, and calendars. The items you bring should be placed in the Mission Team room just off the Heritage Room.
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CURRENT SERMON SERIES
During the second week of Advent, we are called to remember who God is, and all that God has done for us. In the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, our lives become busy and filled. And yet, the season of Advent is set apart for us to actively wait. The second Sunday of Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare our hearts for the arrival of the peacemaker, the Messiah. This Sunday, we light the second purple candle, the candle of peace. This is a time of coming together, of building community with one another that is open to all.
Yours in Christ,
Brandon
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HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COMING WEEK | |
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Thursday, December 1
10 am PW Circle at the home of Linda Brashear
Sunday, December 4 - Second Sunday of Advent
10 am Adult Library Sunday School Class (in Poteat Library)
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12 noon Congregational Meeting - Report of the Nominating Committee
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Freiberg's (208 East Main Street, JC)
Tuesday, December 6
9 am Holston Presbytery Meeting @ Hopewell PC, Dandridge TN
Wednesday, December 7
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, December 11 - Third Sunday of Advent
10 am Adult Library Sunday School Class (in Poteat Library)
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Aubrey's (3029 Hamilton Place, JC)
Tuesday, December 13
7 pm Session Meeting
Wednesday, December 14
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, December 18 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
10 am Adult Library Sunday School Class (in Poteat Library)
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:15 pm Christmas Fellowship Lunch (prepared by the Fellowship Team (see sign-up sheet and note below)
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PLANTS FOR ADOPTION
There are still several plants in the Heritage Room available for adoption. Please stop by and pick one up soon. Thanks.
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SPECIAL WALK IN DECEMBER
Our next walk is scheduled for next Wednesday, December 7th at 11 am at Founder's Park in downtown Johnson City. Christmas decorations should already be lining the path. The group will have lunch at White Duck Taco or One Acre Café following the walk.
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FOOD, FOOD AND MORE FOOD
The Lunch Bunch is scheduled for:
December 4 @ Freiberg's (208 E Main St, JC)
December 11 @ Aubrey's (3029 Hamilton Place, JC)
December 18 - The Fellowship Team is hosting and preparing a special Christmas lunch following Morning Worship. NOTE: Please let the church office know if you will be attending no later than Sunday, December 11th or sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board.
The Fellowship Team is also requesting that members bring their favorite dessert to share with others.
December 25 - Christmas Day (on your own)
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GENERAL FUND: YEAR TO DATE: | |
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[2022 Annual Budget - $ 155,900 (revised, adjusted)
Budget through November 30th, Week #48 ($143,907 - adjusted)
Receipts $ 143,662.63
Disbursements -$ 134,345.40
Balance $ 9,317.23
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2023 PLEDGE DRIVE
For those who didn't bring their card there is still time and opportunity to mail in or
drop by your pledge card to the church office.
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DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
December 7 - David Ramquist
December 15 - Carl Krell
December 25 - Nancy Spahr
December 29 - Karen Clark
December 30 - Pat Mooney
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
December 4 - Hugh & Lynn Broome
December 18 - Tommy & Anne Causey
December 20 - Dick & Theresa Lura
December 27 - Lanny & Linda Brashear
The Chancel flowers were given in honor of Lewis & Marcia Songer’s
65th Wedding Anniversary,
28 November 1957,
by the Songer’s children.
PLEASE NOTE: THE 2023 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY
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For Friends
Marcia Songer's sister and nephew, Carolyn and Matthew Meler, in the recent loss of brother-in-law, Jack Meler; Ginger Helm's brother, Larry Ray Davis (pancreatic cancer); Craig Campbell's friend Pamela Stecker (with RSV); Don Loughry; Rev. Maggie Lauterer; Delaney Estes, friend of Matthew & Karen Clark; Stephen Patrick's cousin, Linda Strock, diagnosed with stage4 inoperable esophageal cancer (squamous cell); Matthew Clark's friend, David F Smith; Sally Gerhardt's son, Fritz, is beginning his second round of chemo for multiple myeloma; Nathan Songer; Sue Sheffield's nephews, Jeremiah Collins and Tanner Frye; Sue Shank's friends, Judy Klein, Mary Murphy and Rev. Dodie Rossell; Sarah Suptin; church neighbor, Dorothy Harvey; Kelly Hodges..
Special Prayers for Clinical and Medical Health Care Workers
The continued COVID pandemic concerns with cases still on the rise with the delta, lambda and mu variant strains, along with the new omicron virus with the highest number of overall cases in the United States, India and Brazil; a new strain BA2.12.1 subtype COVID cases are now on the rise in numerous European countries. And persons now affected by the rise in new active cases of the infectious disease, monkeypox. Please be mindful of the rise in influenza cases this season. There is now a worldwide increase in measles due to the lack of vaccination during COVID, as well as outbreak of avian flu..
Prayers for others
Special prayers for the people of the Ukraine in light of the military invasion by Russia and the ongoing humanitarian crisis there; for our military members who serve our country here and abroad, as well continued prayers for our fragile planet during this time of extreme weather conditions, and for those who have suffered loss from recent disasters, including a 5.6 earthquake in Western Java, Indonesia and a massive snowstorm in Western New York. Ongoing disasters include flooding in New South Wales, Australia; the prolonged water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi; the aftermath of various hurricanes across the Caribbean islands, Central America and Florida; the Horn of Africa hunger / food crisis; as well as new disasters now unfolding: Mauna Loa volcano is erupting again 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/
US FEMA - DECLARED DISASTERS - https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations
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Christmas decorating in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
It's still a miracle as to how those poinsettias are balanced
and who put them there.
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This August Congress passed the most substantial climate legislation in our nation's history. The Inflation Reduction Act, first and foremost, sets the country on a firm course to address the climate challenge of our time. We now have a chance to deploy cleaner sources of energy, reduce pollution, lower energy bills, create good jobs, and address long-standing environmental injustices. AND we have a chance to save millions of lives and mitigate the worst climate impacts—the megafires, droughts, floods, heat waves, and hurricanes ravaging communities and leading to escalating migration.
Although the Inflation Reduction Act is indeed a historic leap forward, it is a floor, not a ceiling. We also need Congress to refocus and recommit to addressing the injustices that plague frontline, rural, and historically ignored communities by passing the Environmental Justice for All Act and ensuring that out clean-energy future leaves no people or wildlife behind. (GSN #125)
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VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK | |
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KRIMML WATERFALLS, AUSTRIA
Good Stuff
(August 2021 | 11:52 Min.)
The Krimml Waterfalls (in German: Krimmler Wasserfälle) are the highest in Austria with a total height of 380 metres (1,247 feet). The falls are on the Krimmler Ache river, located near the village of Krimml in the High Tauern National Park (State of Salzburg). Krimmler Waterfalls is a tiered waterfall which begins at the top of the Krimmler Ache valley, and plunges downward in three stages. The upper stage has a drop of 140 metres, the middle of 100 metres, and the lowest a drop of 140 metres. The highest point of the waterfall is 1,470 metres above sea level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW49AUP2uUQ
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IN THE POTEAT LIBRARY
NOTE: The library is open by appointment. Please remember that 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.
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Ancient-Future Time: Forming Spirituality Through the Christian Year
By Robert E. Webber
(263/WEB)
Millions of Christians worldwide follow the liturgical Christian calendar in their worship services and in their own personal devotions. The seasons of the Christian year connect believers of diverse backgrounds and offer the sense of unity Jesus desired.
Robert Webber believes that we can get even more out of the Christian calendar. He contends that through its rich theological meanings the Christian year can become a cycle for evangelism and spiritual formation. He offers pastors, church leaders, and those of the "younger evangelical" mind-set practical steps to help achieve this end, including preaching texts and worship themes for Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Advent, and Christmas.
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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.
Liturgists - We are always looking for new people to be liturgists. Please contact the church office, if you would like to volunteer.
e-Avenue deadline - Please submit information to church office (office@wataugapc.org or 926-7942) at any time and for the January issue of the e-AVENUE, no later than Friday, December 16th. 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.
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WATAUGA AVENUE PC IS ON .. click and see for yourself. | | |
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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.) | | | | | |
