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Issue 2024-01

The AVENUE

JANUARY

Welcome

GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE

Sunday, December 31, 2023 @ 11 am

MORNING WORSHIP

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR'S EVE

Sermon - no title

Scripture - Luke 2:22-40

Rev. Lee Clements, Guest Minister

both in-person and on YouTube or Facebook

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

Sherry Bailey - Elder of the Month of December

SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION

SERMON NOTES

"Jesus was born of a woman- Mary - in a particular place- the Middle East - to a particular people - The Jews. He was born as a helpless infant who hungered, cried, had to be changed and grew as all babies grow. And as was their custom, on the eighth day, Jesus was presented to the temple. But this is where things become extraordinary. This child, this baby is seen for what he truly is. The light of the world as come into the world." Join us this Sunday as we continue to celebrate the incarnation and the Christmas season.

Yours in Christ

Brandon

UPCOMING CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

Sunday, January 7th has been set for a Congregational Meeting to hear the report of the Nominating Committee for the election of Elders for the Class of 2026 and 2 new for the Nominating Committee for 2024 / 2025. The installation of new Elders will be on the following Sunday, January 14th.

UPCOMING ANNUAL REPORTS

Please note that members in charge or committees, teams, and groups should start preparing their 2023 annual reports. We would like to have all narrative reports submitted to the church office by Monday, January 15th, so there will be time to edit and compile the information for our Annual Congregational Business Meeting on January 29th, 2024.

UPCOMING JANUARY WALK

Our upcoming walk is planned for Wednesday, January 17th @ 11 am where we will take a leisurely stroll through Kings Commons which will be decorated for the Christmas holidays. The group may share a lunch together afterward each walk.

2024 THEOLOGIAN-IN-RESIDENCE IS ANNOUNCED

Please mark your calendars for Tusculum University's 2024 Theologian-in-Residence lecture series. Note that it will take place in January this coming year on three successive Friday mornings beginning at 10 am. The series will take place in person and on ZOOM on Fridays: January 12, 19, and 26. The theme will be “Religion in Appalachia: Faith in the Mountains in the Past, Present, and Future.” The guest speaker will be Emily Morrell. Please mark your calendars for this annual event.

The lectures will be in person at the Niswonger Commons: Chalmers Conf. Center and on Zoom. You can register by contacting Chris Shumate at cshumate@tusculum.edu or 423-636-7316.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

The Adult Sunday School class is 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.

LUNCH BUNCH / FOOD NEWS

SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY

December 31 @ Wok & Hibachi

January 7 @ Red Meze

January 14 @ Southern Craft BBQ

January 21 @ Rainbow Asian Cuisine

January 28 - Fellowship "Souper Sunday" Lunch

THERE IS A WINTER 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 MONTH (noted when online)

Sunday, December 31, 2023 - New Year's Eve

No Adult Sunday School this week

11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Lee Clements, Guest Minister (in-person YouTube / Facebook)

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch - Wok & Hibachi

Monday, January 1, 2024 - New Year's Day

NO Bible study this evening

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, January 4, 2024

10 am PW meeting at the home of Bea Ellis

Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Epiphany Sunday

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 noon Called Congregational Meeting to hear the report of the Nominating Committee

12:15 pm Finance Committee (in Conference Room)

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Red Meze

Monday, January 8, 2024

6 pm Weekly Bible Study (in Conference Room)

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

6 pm Session Meeting

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

10 am Green Team meeting in Parlor

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Friday, January 12, 2024

10 am Tusculum University / Theologian-in-Residence (via Zoom & in-person on campus)

Sunday, January 14, 2024

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)

worship includes Ordination and Installation of New Elders (Class of 2026)

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Southern Craft BBQ

Monday, January 15, 2024

FINAL DEADLINE FOR ALL ANNUAL REPORTS TO CHURCH OFFICE

6 pm Weekly Bible Study (in Conference Room)

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

11 am Green Team Walk @ Kings Commons (w/ lunch afterwards)

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Friday, January 19, 2024

10 am Tusculum University / Theologian-in-Residence (via Zoom & in-person on campus)

Sunday, January 21, 2024

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

Monday, January 22, 2024

6 pm Weekly Bible Study (in Conference Room)

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Friday, January 26, 2024

10 am Tusculum University / Theologian-in-Residence (via Zoom & in-person on campus)

Sunday, January 28, 2024

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 Annual Congregational Business Meeting & Fellowship "Souper Sunday" Lunch

Monday, January 29, 2024

6 pm Weekly Bible Study (in Conference Room)

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, February 1, 2024

10 am PW meeting at WAPC

Visit our calendar

SESSION NOTES

January Elder of the Month - Karen Clark

Next Session meeting - Tuesday, January 9, 2024

FINANCIAL UPDATE

[2024 Annual Budget - $ 177,600

Budget through December 29, Week #52 ($177,600)

Receipts $ 159,259.89

Disbursements -$ 166,599.10

Balance $ - 7,339.21

*Note: We do have one more Sunday left, as well as a few other expenses

and entries before year is finalized.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support the church

with your tithes and offerings this past year.

Please remember the 5 Cents per Meal Offering this week

and every first Sunday of the Month.

HOLSTON PRESBYTERY UPDATE

As of January 1, 2024, Rev. Dr. Christine Bohn will be the Transitional Stated Clerk. Her email address is chris@holstonpresbytery.org. Please use this email address to contact her for polity questions, issues related to the statistical reports, and session records review matters.

Rev. Karen Russell continues to be the Transitional Executive Presbyter. Her contract has been extended until the end of 2025. If you need to get in touch with her, her email is karen@holstonpresbytery.org,

Andi White has been hired as the Office Administrator. She works out of the office at 2501 W. Market Street in Johnson City. She can be reached at andi@holstonpresbytery.org.

Presbytery Meeting Dates

In 2024, the dates for the presbytery meetings are as follows:

February 3, 2024 (Saturday) – Rogersville Presbyterian Church

May 7, 2024 (Tuesday) – Jonesborough Presbyterian Church

August 3, 2024 (Saturday) – First Presbyterian Church, Kingsport

November 12, 2024 (Tuesday) – Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center

For your planning purposes, in 2025, the dates for the presbytery meetings are as follows:

February 1, 2025 (Saturday) – Vacant

May 6, 2025 (Tuesday) – Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, Kingsport

August 2, 2025 (Saturday) – First Presbyterian Church, Elizabethton

November 4, 2025 (Tuesday) – Vacant

If your church would like to host presbytery on one of the vacant dates in 2025, please let Karen and Chris know.

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

January 1 - Cathy Danks

January 4 - Rev. Wes Jamison

January 8 - Emma Turner Spangler

January 10 - Gaines Snodderly

January 17 - Bob Caponero

January 25 - Hugh Broome

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES

January 22 - Bob & Sue Caponero

THE 2024 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY

Request Chancel Flowers

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS

For Friends and Loved Ones

John Hancock and related family in the loss of his sister, Perdilla "Pat" Maloney in Saint Joseph, MO; Jeff Morris; Alynda Worrell-Welch’s mother-in-law, Shelly Welch; the Hughes family for son-in-law Bryce Bennett, and Debi's foster mother, Janet Vencel in Ohio; George, Jo & Nikki Rolling; Camilla Lyle's brother, Jeff McFee; Jonathan Sharp; Don Loughry; Rev. Maggie Lauterer; Sarah Suptin; Kelly Hodges.; Heather Hughes; Edna Campbell.

Prayers for others

Continued prayers for all those that suffer from wars or threats of wars, those experiencing natural disasters, and those under oppression and marginalization. This includes, but is not limited to places such as: Ukraine, Palestine, Russia, Ukraine, Acapulco, Dominican Republic, and the Philippines. Faithful God, surround us with you everlasting arms. Hear our cries of despair, heed our calls for justice, and do not let us lose hope. In the name of Jesus, our Savoir. Amen.

Submit Prayer Requests

BLAST FROM THE RECENT PAST

Who are these men and what are they doing ?

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.

Forged: Writing in the Name of God—Why the Bible’s Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are

By Bart D. Ehrman

(220.1/EHR)

Bart D. Ehrman, the New York Times bestselling author of Jesus, Interrupted and God’s Problem reveals which books in the Bible’s New Testament were not passed down by Jesus’s disciples, but were instead forged by other hands—and why this centuries-hidden scandal is far more significant than many scholars are willing to admit. A controversial work of historical reporting in the tradition of Elaine Pagels, Marcus Borg, and John Dominic Crossan, Ehrman’s Forged delivers a stunning explication of one of the most substantial—yet least discussed—problems confronting the world of biblical scholarship.

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.

e-Avenue deadline - Please submit information to church office ( office@wataugapc.org or 926-7942) for the February2024 issue of the e-AVENUE no later than Monday, January 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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