GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE
Sunday, May 15, 2022 @ 11 am
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 & John 13;31-35
Sermon: "Class with Mr. Jesus"
Rev. Sharon Amstutz, Interim Pastor
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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 |
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5th Annual Plant Distribution Project - Saturday, May 14th |
Everything is being prepared for us to do our annual plant distribution of tomatoes, peppers and marigolds, along with soil, to participating residents of the Johnson City Housing Authority. This is our fifth year working with both Evergreen Nurseries and the JCHA to bring a personal touch to the residents. There are currently about 85 requests for plants, but we will probably be delivering to approximately 125 households as we have done in past years. We have contacted Covenant Presbyterian Church for additional volunteers. Helpers should meet in the church parking lot about 9 am to pick up their plants and supplies and get their route assignment. We rejoice that this ministry is so well received and appreciated. Please contact Debi Hughes or the church office if you would like to assist. Thanks.
NOTE: We are needing plastic grocery bags for filling with dirt. If you have some to spare, please drop them off to the church office as soon as possible. Thanks.
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Upcoming Loaves and Fishes on Saturday, May 21st |
The Mission Team will be assisting with Loaves and Fishes at West Main Street Christian Church on Saturday, May 21st. Their only request is that they are looking for several volunteers to make cupcakes for the take out lunch packages. They are asking that the cupcakes have the "hard" icing, as it is easier and less messy to pack. Please let Hugh Broome or the office know if you are able to assist. Thanks.
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Let’s Do Something Different May 29th!
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The stories we hear after Easter are stories about people who encounter the Risen Jesus, and their lives, and even identities, are forever changed.
We all have stories, too. Maybe not as dramatic as Saul/Paul’s story, or as mystical as the two disciples’ who are on their way to Emmaus, but each one of us has encountered God in some form or fashion in the course of our daily lives, and that moment has left a profound impact on us.
Most of us are shy about sharing our ‘testimony.’ It doesn’t feel very Presbyterian, somehow. But remember, our own faith is built on the stories and testimonies of others who have crossed paths with God for thousands of years. Hearing and telling our stories encourages us and sustains us when our own faith has developed a limp, or life is weighing heavily on us, and we need to be reminded that the Eternal is very much a part of the picture.
So what’s your story? Did you wrestle with God? Have an inexplicable flash of awareness? Feel the peace and protection of God just as surely as if it was a fleecy blanket? Meet a person whose demeanor and presence open your eyes to God’s true nature after years of believing in an uptight God who just can’t wait for Judgment Day? Or ‘just’ read a few words on a page that changed everything for you?
Will you share your story with us? On the last Sunday in May we will have a special service with extra music, maybe a couple of creative readings of scripture, and a time for telling our stories of faith. If you know now that you would like to tell yours, let me know. If you get brave at the last moment and want to share it, we’ll have time for that, too.
I can’t wait to hear how God has shown up in your lives!
Blessings,
Sharon
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HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COMING WEEK |
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Saturday, May 14
9 am 5th Annual WAPC Plant Distribution to JCHA residents
Sunday, May 15 - Fifth Sunday of Easter
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Sharon Amstutz, Interim Pastor (in-person/ YouTube / Facebook)
Wednesday, May 18
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Saturday, May 21
Loaves & Fishes @ West Main Street Christian Church
Sunday, May 22 - Sixth Sunday of Easter
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Sharon Amstutz, Interim Pastor (in-person/ YouTube / Facebook)
Wednesday, May 25
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, May 29 - Sixth Sunday of Easter
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Sharon Amstutz, Interim Pastor (in-person/ YouTube / Facebook)
Tuesday, May 31
10 am PW 5th Tuesday Work Day
Wednesday, June 1
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Saturday, June 4
9 am Holston Presbytery Meeting - Strawberry Plains
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GENERAL FUND: YEAR TO DATE:
2022 Annual Budget - $ 135,000
Budget through May 10th, 2022, Week #19 ($ 49,327)
Receipts $ 54,327.50
Disbursements - $ 47,954.33
Balance $ 6,373.17
Thanks to everyone for your continued support the church with your tithes and offerings during this extraordinary time. You are encouraged to mail your pledge to us or to drop it by the church office during regular business hours. Thanks.
We are still receiving the 5 Cents per Meal offering that is usually taken on Communion Sundays. If you would like to make a contribution to this offering please do so and designate it on your checks.
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MAY BIRTHDAYS
17 - Sallie Lagle Morris
18 - Jo Rolling & Megan Turner
21 - Terry Beckman
26 - Marcia Songer & May Votaw
MAY ANNIVERSARIES
16 - Brian Bonfardin & Virginia Farr
21 - Matthew & Karen Clark
The Chancel flowers were given
in honor of all mothers
and in loving memory of
Robert Joseph David
(11 May 1949 - 29 Oct 1969)
by his sister, Ginger Davis Helm.
PLEASE NOTE: THE NEW 2022 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY
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For Members / Regular Attendees
Wilsie Bishop; Dick Lura; Don Loughry; Camilla & Hunter Lyle; Jack Hansel.
For Friends
Nathan Songer; Rev. Maggie Lauterer, The family of Olga Pastushenko from Odessa, Ukraine refugees in Romania; Joel Carillet, local photojournalist in Ukraine; Linda Solly; Sue Sheffield's nephew, Jeremiah Collins; Sue Shank's friend, Judy Klein; Sharon Amstutz's brother, Paul Hagood; Theresa Lura's cousin, Randy Carter; Sarah Suptin; church neighbor, Dorothy Harvey.
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 subtype COVID cases are now on the rise in numerous European countries.
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 ongoing disasters including a wildfire in San Miguel, Mexico; an ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; cholera outbreak in Zambia; flooding and landslides in Thailand and Indonesia; among numerous other ongoing crises and disasters. And especially prayers for our nation and for strength, endurance, faith and courage for all.
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More good times in the recent past. One of our fabulous
chili cookoffs ... this one from 2007.
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A steady procession of coal-fired power plant closures over the last decade has reduced air pollution and markedly improved public health. However, another coal-era legacy continues to pose a serious threat long after power plants are closed: the leftover ash, which is chock-full of arsenic, lead, radium, and other toxic contaminants. Since the mid-1960s U. S. electric utilities have produced 4.5 billion tons of ash, and despite recent plant closures, they still churn out an average of 100 million tons annually, which they pile in landfills or mix with water and store in all-too-often leaky ponds. There are more than 700 federally regulated ash disposal sites across the country, 20% of them in the Ohio River Valley.
Recently the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Ohio River Valley Institute set out to determine ways to clean up coal ash sites of plants in Ohio and Kentucky and compared their "clean-closure" approach to plans of the plant owners. Not surprisingly, the clean-closure approach would initially cost more, but the authors calculated that their approach would generate more jobs and produce more than $100 million in additional economic output in each state. Their report offers a series of recommendations for the Environmental Protection Agency and for state regulators who are responsible for approving cleanup plans.
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VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK |
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More than Just Parks
(February 2017 | 3:12 min.)
HAWAI’I VOLCANOES 8K is the culmination of several weeks spent filming in the rugged volcanic landscapes of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Situated on the island of Hawaii in the heart of the remote south pacific, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park boasts an awe-inspiring array of massive mountains, rare wildlife, and fiery volcanoes. Journey with More Than Just Parks as we discover an ever-growing land shaped by fire. This is Hawai’i Volcanoes.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is an incredible place featuring the most active volcano in the world. Kiluea is constantly in a state of eruption. This film was shot before much of the more recent explosive activity occurred and features some locations that have been significantly altered.
This park also features beautiful jungle-like forests and rugged coastline that are not to be missed. It is one of two Hawaii parks along with Haleakala on the island of Maui. Hawai'i Volcanoes is on the big island of Hawaii.
A film by the Pattiz brothers, Will and Jim. The music is "Still Wild" by La Mer..
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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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The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle
By Karen L. King
(229/KIN)
Lost for more than fifteen hundred years, the Gospel of Mary is the only existing early Christian gospel written in the name of a woman. Unlike the controversial Jesus' Wife gospel fragment, the Gospel of Mary does not claim Mary was married to Jesus. But it does show her to be an important disciple to whom Jesus' male disciples turn for advice and wisdom. Indeed, the apostle Peter specifically asks Mary to interpret the words of Jesus.
Karen L. King tells the story of the recovery of this remarkable gospel and offers a new translation. This brief narrative presents a radical interpretation of Jesus' teachings as a path to inner spiritual knowledge.
It rejects his suffering and death as a path to eternal life and exposes the view that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute for what it is - a piece of theological fiction. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala offers a fascinating glimpse into the conflicts and controversies that shaped earliest Christianity.
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Congregational Concerns / Prayer Requests - Please contact the church office or Sherry Bailey with information.
Flower List - The 2022 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 June issue of the e-AVENUE, no later than Friday, May 13th. This includes team and committee meetings, news, planned events and other newsworthy items.
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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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.) |
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