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GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Sunday, December 18, 2022 @ 11 am
Sermon - "I AM the Bread of Life" | Scripture reading - John 6:25-59
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.
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SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION | |
GOOD SAM FAMILIES FOR CHRISTMAS
Food, gifts and other items will be delivered to our three families this next week. Canned goods and other non-perishables for Christmas are still being collected through Sunday, December 18th. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far.
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OUR MITTEN TREE GROWS
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED WARM AND COLORFUL ITEMS.
We will continue collecting items through the end of December.
Doesn't our tree look fabulous !!!
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FOOD, FOOD AND MORE FOOD
December 18 - The Fellowship Team is hosting and preparing a special Christmas lunch following Morning Worship. The Fellowship Team is also requesting that members bring their favorite dessert to share with others.
December 25 - Christmas Day (on your own)
IF ANYONE HAS SUGGESTIONS FOR LUNCH BUNCH DINING IN 2023, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE SO IT CAN BE ADDED TO THE LIST!!
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ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
UPCOMING READ
The next book scheduled to be read by the Adult Sunday School class beginning on Sunday, January 8th @ 10 am
will be Adam Nicolson's book, "God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible."
If you wish to join the class in the coming year there is always room for one more and you should have time to purchase or obtain a copy of this book. There are hardback, paperback and Kindle versions available through a variety of sources online.
In God's Secretaries, Adam Nicolson gives a fascinating and dramatic account of the era of the King James Bible and its translation, immersing us in an age whose greatest monument is not a painting or a building but a book.
A network of complex currents flowed across Jacobean England. This was the England of Shakespeare, Jonson, and Bacon; the era of the Gunpowder Plot and the worst outbreak of the plague. Jacobean England was both more godly and less godly than the country had ever been, and the entire culture was drawn taut between these polarities.
This was the world that created the King James Bible. It is the greatest work of English prose ever written, and it is no coincidence that the translation was made at the moment "Englishness," specifically the English language itself, had come into its first passionate maturity. The English of Jacobean England has a more encompassing idea of its own scope than any form of the language before or since. It drips with potency and sensitivity. The age, with all its conflicts, explains the book.
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CURRENT SERMON SERIES
Over the last few weeks, as holiday preparations begin to take hold of our daily lives, we have taken time to read scripture together, and light candles. So far, we have lit the candles of hope, peace, and joy. This week, the fourth week of advent, we light the last purple candle in love. We do this each week to remind us that the light of the world has come into the world, and the light shines in the darkness. So as we prepare and wait yet again this week, let us do so remembering and hearing the words from Isaiah 9, "A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."
Yours in Christ,
Brandon
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HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COMING WEEK | |
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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 above)
Wednesday, December 21
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Saturday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
6 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
Sunday, December 25 - Christmas Day
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
Wednesday, December 28
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
NO Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, January 1, 2023 - New Year's Day
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ TBD
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
4 pm Medication Circle (zia Zoom)
NO Chancel Choir rehearsal
Thursday, January 5, 2023
10 am PW Circle meeting @ the home of Nancy Fennell
Sunday, January 8, 2023 - Epiphany Sunday
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
Installation of New Elders during Morning Worship.
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ TBD
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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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GENERAL FUND: YEAR TO DATE: | |
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[2022 Annual Budget - $ 155,900 (revised, adjusted)
Budget through December 13th, Week #50 ($146,905 - adjusted)
Receipts $ 149,447.63
Disbursements -$ 140,897.41
Balance $ 8,550.22
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CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING
The Christmas Joy Offering provides assistance to current and retired church workers and their families in their time of need, and develops our future leaders at Presbyterian-related school and colleges equipping communities of color.
We will receive the Joy Offering on December 18th.
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DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
December 15 - Carl Krell
December 25 - Nancy Spahr
December 29 - Karen Clark
December 30 - Pat Mooney
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
December 18 - Tommy & Anne Causey
December 20 - Dick & Theresa Lura
December 27 - Lanny & Linda Brashear
The Chancel flowers were given
in loving memory of
Roger Mainer Helm
(5 December 1951 / 11 July 2011),
by his wife, Ginger Davis Helm.
PLEASE NOTE: THE 2023 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY
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For Friends
Ginger Helm's brother, Larry Ray Davis (pancreatic cancer); Don Loughry; George, Jo & Nikki Rolling; Rev. Maggie Lauterer; Stephen Patrick's cousin, Linda Strock, diagnosed with stage4 inoperable esophageal cancer (squamous cell); Sally Gerhardt's son, Fritz, scheduled to have a stem cell transplant on January 16th; 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 throughout the south due to recent tornados and snow storms. 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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Here are several of the participants of the Christmas cookie
baking and decorating party held at Ginger Helm's home
several years ago. The two girls smiling for the camera
are Emily and Allison Caponero.
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In a big win for imperiled wildlife, a federal court has rejected an attempt to sabotage the Endangered Species Act. The victory comes after the Natural Resources Defense Council and other wildlife champions sued to reverse the most aggressive assault on the landmark conservation law in its nearly 50-year history. Almost all species granted protection under the Endangered Species Act—a remarkable 99%—have been spared from extinction, including the bald eagle, Florida manatee, and gray wolf.
Nevertheless, as part of a sweeping anti-environment agenda, recent politicians sought to impose dozens of destructive, industry-friendly changes to the law, including weakening protection of species' critical habitat and allowing economic factors to infect decisions about whether species would be protected under the act. Fortunately, the court's decision ensured that the Endangered Species Act can do its job: preventing the extinction of vulnerable species. (GSN #127)
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VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK | |
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MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK
AMAZING PLACES ON OUR PLANET
(March 2017 | 8:34 min.)
Mt Kenya is Africa’s second highest mountain and one of its most beautiful. In the video: Four days hiking Mount Kenya following the scenic route Chogoria gate - Point Lenana - Sirimon gate. Point Lenana is the third highest peak (4,985 m/16,355 ft), and the highest one that can be reached by trekkers, without technical climbing.
Mount Kenya is a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAwL0XtbT1w
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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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More Holy Humor: Inspirational Wit and Cartoons
By Cal and Rose Samra
(813/SAM)
For more than a decade, the interdenominational Fellowship of Merry Christians has been publishing The Joyful Noiseletter, an award-winning newsletter filled with church life humor by some of the world's top comedians, humorists, clowns, and cartoonists. Now, the most snicker-spurring and laughter-inciting of these comical contributions are available in trade paperback collections and four mini-giftbooks!
One of these books is “More Holy Humor.” Effectively disproving any notion that Christians are relentlessly dour, melancholy, humorless, and joyless, Cal and Rose Samra offer a rib-tickling treasury of Christian joy and humor. Ideally suited to individuals and families looking for a laugh as they are to pastors, speakers, and all those who seek to spice up their presentations - and their lives - with a few power-packed moments of Holy Humor.
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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.) | | | | |
