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Issue 2022-11

The AVENUE

juneJUNauAANOVEMBER

Welcome

GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE

Sunday, October 30 @ 11 am

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sermon - "Born Again - John 3:1-21"

Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor

both in-person and on YouTube or Facebook

WAPC Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgI_BKUlZH70GzG90xIQ1xA

The Session approved at its April meeting that masks are now optional during worship.

We will continue to monitor the number of cases locally.

SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION

CURRENT SERMON SERIES

The Gospel of John is a story of life and light. We heard that John the Baptist has come to testify concerning this light that has come into the world. We have studied this light that comes not only to shine but to dismantle our business as usual mentality. In John 3, a teacher comes to Jesus in the cover of darkness. This night that Jesus encounters Nicodemus, Jesus shows him that there is still more to be learned and believed. The truth of the Gospel is found in the words spoken to Nicodemus that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won't perish but will have eternal life. God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Yours in Christ,

Brandon

ADULT LIBRARY SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

The Adult Library Sunday School class resumes meeting in the church library this Sunday morning, October 2nd, at 10 am. The first book selection is Misquoting Jesus, the Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, by Bart D Ehrman. Everyone is invited to join the group for thought-provoking reading and discussion. Participants obtain their own copies of of the books.

ROLL WATAUGA SQUARE ITEMS NEEDED

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 rolls of toilet papers, paper towels and other household needs to be used as prizes for the residents' bingo games.

Watauga Square is an apartment complex at the corner of West Watauga Avenue and West Main Street, a part of Johnson City's subsidized housing. Because residents often have difficulty in getting to the store and buying what they need, essential items like toilet tissue are favorite prizes.

Other popular gifts suggested are personal care products like tissues, soap, shampoo and hand lotions, as well as cleaning supplies like laundry detergent and bathroom or kitchen cleaners. A number of dogs and a few cats are residents of Watauga Square, so pet food is always welcome.

This program was originally requested by Jack Hansel, who was a social worker. Let's honor Jack's memory this year with our donations. Please bring them to church this Sunday or to the church office by Halloween Day, Monday, October 31st. Thank you.

GOOD SAM FAMILIES FOR THANKSGIVING & CHRISTMAS

As of this date we have not heard from Good Sam about the two families we will be assisting for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We just wanted to give everyone a heads up that we will begin collecting canned goods and non-perishables in early November. So please keep this in mind when you are shopping in the near future. Stay tuned for more details. Thanks.

SPECIAL WALKS IN NOVEMBER / DECEMBER

Our next scheduled walk will be Wednesday, November 9th on a portion of the Persimmon Ridge Trail in Jonesborough. This is a pleasant walk starting on a walkway over wetlands. To get there take 11E south, passing Ingles. Turn left onto Persimmon Ridge road then take the first right at the entrance to the Wetlands water park. Follow the road to the parking area at the end of the road. We will meet there to start the walk at 11:00 am. The group will have lunch at the Main Street Café in downtown Jonesborough following the walk.

Another walk is scheduled for 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 One Acre Café following the walk.

LUNCH BUNCH NEWS

We have a Potluck lunch following Morning Worship THIS Sunday, October 30th. We look forward to more tasty treats and delights.

Lunch Bunch in November includes:

The Lunch Bunch is scheduled for:

November 6 - Southern Craft BBQ

November 13 - Bella Vita's

November 20 - Cafe Lola (reservations for 10 only; please let the office know if you are interested)

Our following Potluck lunch following Morning Worship will be on Sunday, November 27th. We look forward to more tasty treats and delights.

Here is our group last week at Rainbow Asian Cuisine. Hope to have more of you join us this coming week.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE MONTH (noted when online)

Saturday, October 29

3-5 pm Drive Thru Trick or Treat (WAPC parking lot

Sunday, October 30 - Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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 Monthly Fellowship Potluck Lunch

Wednesday, November 2

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, November 3

10 am PW Circle at the home of Bea Ellis

Sunday, November 6 - Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS (fall back one hour)

10 am Adult Library Sunday School Class (in Poteat Library)

11 am Morning Worship / Communion, Rev. David Cozad, guest minister (in-person YouTube / Facebook)

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Southern Craft BBQ (601 Spring Street, JC)

Tuesday, November 8

7 pm Session meeting

Wednesday, November 9

11 am Leisurely Walk @ Persimmon Ridge JNBO (lunch following at Main Street Cafe)

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Sunday, November 13 - Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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 @ Bella Vita's (2927 N. Roan Street, JC)

Wednesday, November 16

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, November 17

4 pm Green Team (via Zoom)

Sunday, November 20 - Christ the King Sunday

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 @ Cafe Lola (1805 N. Roan, JC / reservations for 10 persons only)

Monday, November 21

5:30 pm WAPC dinner @ UKirk

Wednesday, November 23

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, November 24 - Thanksgiving Day

Church Office Closed

Sunday, November 27 - First Sunday in 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 Monthly Fellowship Potluck Lunch (Christmas theme)

Tuesday, November 29

10 am PW Fifth Tuesday workday

Wednesday, November 30

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, December 1

10 am PW Circle at the home of Linda Brashear

Visit our calendar

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

SESSION NOTES

November Elder of the Month - Hugh Broome

Next Session meeting - Tuesday, November 8 @ 7 pm

FINANCIAL UPDATE

PLEDGE CARDS FOR 2023 are available in the narthex and in the church office.

You may pick up your pledge card in either location.

Please check your name off the list so we will know who have received their cards.

Pledge cards will be received on Sunday, November 13th, during Morning Worship.

2022 Annual Budget - $ 155,900 (revised)

Budget through October 25th, Week #43 ($ 128,917)

Receipts $ 107,977.66

Disbursements - $ 117,384.07

Balance $ (- 9,406.41)

Thanks to everyone for your continued support the church with your tithes and offerings during this extraordinary time. Please make sure your pledges and giving is up to date. 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.

HOLSTON PRESBYTERY NEWS

Holston Presbytery meetings 2022 / 2023

All meetings begin at 9 am.

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 @ Hopewell, Dandridge

Saturday, February 4, 2023 @ TBD

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 @ Holston Presbytery Camp

Saturday, August 5, 2023 @ First Presbyterian, Morristown

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 @ TBD

Rev. Diana Moore, Transitional Stated Clerk

Rev. Karen Russell, Transitional Executive Presbyter

Stephanie Ratcliffe, Transitional Treasurer/ Financial Manager

info@holstonpresbytery.org

423-247-6178

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

October 27 - Lanny Brashear

October 28 - Fred Burrell

October 29 - Bobbie Wilson

October 31 - Sharon Amstutz

OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES

October 27 - Stephen & Sue Shanks

The Chancel flowers this past week were given in memory of

Jack Hansel

(26 June 1942 - 15 October 2022)

by the Chancel Choir

THE 2022 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY

Request Chancel Flowers

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS

For Members / Regular Attendees

Ruth Crawford and the family of Jack Hansel; Don Loughry; Camilla & Hunter Lyle

For Friends

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; Eddie & Pauline Everhart, neighbors of the Danks; Nathan Songer; the family of Olga Pastushenko from Odessa, Ukraine refugees in Romania; 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.

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 flooding disaster in Bosconia, Columbia; aftermath of Hurricane Roslyn in west-central Mexico in the states of Sinaloa, Jalisco, Nayarit and Zacatecas; the victims of a tornado in Northern France near Calais; as well as the aftermath of flooding in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia; and severe flooding in Missouri and Illinois. 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

Submit Prayer Requests

A Blast from the Past

This is the photograph of the Charter re-inactment of 1892 and

the founding of what became Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church.

NOTEWORTHY GREEN SPACE NEWS

Humans aren't the only ones tapping nature to cure what ails us. Bottlenose dolphins have been discovered rubbing themselves nose to tail against corals when a skin condition erupts, suggesting that the dolphins know the corals have medicinal properties. "It was clear that the dolphins knew exactly which coral they wanted to use," says Angela Ziltener, a wildlife biologist at the University of Zurich. She and her team observed the behavior of dolphins in the Red Sea and found that by repeatedly rubbing against the coral, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins were agitating the tiny polyps that make up the coral community to release mucus. Chemical analysis revealed the coral to which the dolphins gravitated had properties useful in treating bacterial infections. It is one more example of our planet's amazing biodiversity and interconnectedness. (GSN#121)

VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK

NATIONAL PARK OF MALA FATRA, SLOVAKIA

CMHomeProductions (January 2021 | 10:28 min.)

The National Park of Malá Fatra is situated in the westernmost Slovak high mountains Malá Fatra. Gorges, rock peaks and an attractive ridge tour are among its attractions.

The Krivánska part of the Malá Fatra Mts. was designated the Protected Landscape Area in 1967 for unusual abundance of its natural assets and the plant and animal species it contains. It was re-classified in 1988 to National Park Malá Fatra. It spreads on an area of 226 square kilometres. The area of its protective zone is 233 square kilometres.

The main subject of protection is the territory with varied geological history and dissected relief forms, rare and precious biocenoses, flora and fauna, and the exceptional value of forest and mountain compounds with precious dwarf pinewoods, rapacious animals such as the wolf, lynx or bear. The administration of the National Park seats in Varín.

The waterfall Šútovský vodopád, Horné Diery and Dolné Diery and the tops like Malý Rozsutec, Veľký Rozsutec or Veľký Fatranský Kriváň are the popular destinations of tourist. Enjoy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9muaE-ybkek

IN THE POTEAT LIBRARY

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT,

CHECK OUT THE POTEAT LIBRARY

NOTE: 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. The white book cart inside the library has new titles. There is also an orange book cart in the Heritage Room that has books free for the taking. Come and browse.

The Canon of Scripture

By F. F. Bruce

(220.1/BRU)

Winner of two 1990 Christianity Today Awards: Readers' Choice (1st place; theology & doctrine) and Critics' Choice (1st place; theology & doctrine). A 1989 ECPA Gold Medallion Award winner! How did the books of the Bible come to be recognized as Holy Scripture? Who decided what shape the canon should take? What criteria influenced these decisions? After nearly nineteen centuries the canon of Scripture still remains an issue of debate. Protestants, Catholics and the Orthodox all have slightly differing collections of documents in their Bibles.

Martin Luther, one of the early leaders of the Reformation, questioned the inclusion of the book of James in the canon. And many Christians today, while confessing the authority of all of Scripture, tend to rely on only a few books and particular themes while ignoring the rest. Scholars have raised many other questions as well. Research into second-century Gnostic texts have led some to argue that politics played a significant role in the formation of the Christian canon.

Assessing the influence of ancient communities and a variety of disputes on the final shaping of the canon call for ongoing study. In this significant historical study, F. F. Bruce brings the wisdom of a lifetime of reflection and biblical interpretation to bear in answering the questions and clearing away the confusion surrounding the Christian canon of Scripture.

Adept in both Old and New Testament studies, he brings a rare comprehensive perspective to his task. Though some issues have shifted since the original publication of this book, it still remains a significant landmark and touchstone for further studies.

REMINDERS

Congregational Concerns / Prayer Requests - Please contact the church office or Sherry Bailey.

Flower List - Sign up to sponsor flowers for our weekly worship services in honor or in memory of loved ones. Arrangements are $65 each.

Liturgists - On Hiatus - 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) for the December 2022 issue of the e-AVENUE no later than November 15th. This includes team and committee reports, 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.

Visit our website

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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