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Issue 2023-11

The AVENUE

NOVEMBER

Welcome

GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE

Sunday, November 5, 2023 @ 11 am

MORNING WORSHIP / COMMUNION

Sermon - "Therefore Go"

Scripture - Matthew 28:16-20

Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor

both in-person and on YouTube or Facebook

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

Wilsie Bishop - Elder of the Month of November

REMEMBER - DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS THIS SUNDAY THE 5TH.

SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION

SERMON NOTES

Wherever the Scriptures are read and proclaimed and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are celebrated, the Church bears witness to Jesus Christ, the living Word, and proclaims the mystery of faith. (The Book of Order W-1.0106) This week, we get to continue asking the question and seek answers to Why Do We Do What We Do? On the first Sunday of every month, people that worship at Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church hear that the table is set and the feast has been prepared for all. However, communion is not our only sacrament. Jesus’ final instruction to his disciples in the Great Commission is to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And we are tasked with teaching everything that Jesus commands of us. This is no easy task, but is a very real imperative from the Word made flesh. So join us this week, as we come to God’s word to read about sacraments and how the Word of God is enacted and sealed in the life of the Church, the body of Christ.

Yours in Christ

Brandon

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

The Adult Sunday School class has begin 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.

NEW WALKS ANNOUNCED

Our next featured walk will be on the trails of Winged Deer, Park, Wednesday, November 15th at 11 am. Lunch following.

Additional walks are being planned: Wednesday, December 6th @ 11 am we will take a leisurely stroll through Founder's Park which will be decorated for the Christmas holidays. And then on Wednesday, January 17 @ 11 am the group will have another leisurely stroll through King's Commons. The group may share a lunch together afterward each walk.

BINGO POTLUCK

The Congregational Life Committee of Covenant Presbyterian Church is hosting a Bingo Potluck for the PC(USA) churches in our community on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite dish to share and be prepared for a fun night of BINGO with fellow Presbyterians. Stacy Larsen will be calling the BINGO games and we will have fun prizes and lots of laughter. Mark your calendars to attend and contact Stacy through email at stacyllarsen@gmail.com with any questions.

INSTALLATION SERVICE IN ERWIN

Holston Presbytery has announced that the Rev. Dr. Ramy N. Marcos will be installed as Pastor of Erwin Presbyterian Church ( 105 W. Elm Avenue, Erwin) this coming Sunday afternoon, November 5th at 3 pm in the Sanctuary. A reception with light refreshments will follow the service.

URI GRATITUDE DINNER ANNOUNCED

First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton is hosting a Gratitude Dinner for the United Religions Initiative (URI) Northeast TN Cooperation Circle on Saturday evening, November 18th from 5:30 - 8:00 pm @ 119 West F Street, Elizabethton. This is a free event and all are welcome here. There will be program including prayers, stories, songs, meditations, mantras, and recitations about gratitude from friends of many faiths and belief traditions. A meal is provided that includes turkey and vegetarian options, rolls, drinks and cake. Everyone is requested to bring something to share ... including appetizer, salad, side dish, or dessert (especially dishes with an ethnic flair / flavor. If you have questions, please email - shellieford@gmail.com

LUNCH BUNCH / FOOD NEWS

The Lunch Bunch Schedule for NOVEMBER

November 5 @ Black Olive (202 E. Main Street, dwtn JC)

November 12 @ Cafe Lola (1805 No. Roan Street, JC)

(signup sheet on bulletin board - 14 spaces available)

November 19 @ Hachimi Japanese Cuisine (3101 W. Market, JC)

November 26 - Fellowship Potluck Light Lunch

Please note: There is a sign up sheet posted on the bulletin board in the side entry; the meats category has been substituted by finger sandwiches. Please specify, if possible, what kind of pasta, salad, or sandwich you are planning to bring.

THERE IS A FALL 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.

OCTOBER'S

SPOOKY

POTLUCK

LUNCH

Something a little different this year. Everyone was asked to bring their spookiest or scariest dishes and most were quite creative. Somethings looked weird but they tasted great. Kudos to everyone.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE MONTH (noted when online)

Thursday, November 2, 2023

10 am PW meeting at the home of Jean Darling

Saturday, November 4, 2023

5:30 pm Potluck & Bingo @ Covenant Presbyterian Church. Everyone invited!!

Sunday, November 5, 2023 - DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS

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 @ Black Olive (202 East Main Street, dtwn JC)

3 pm Installation Service of Rev. Dr. Ramy N Marcos @ Erwin Presbyterian Church

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

9 am Holston Presbytery @ 1st Presbyterian Church, Jefferson City TN

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Sunday, November 12, 2023

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 Personnel Committee in Conference Room

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Cafe Lola (1805 No. Roan Street, JC) - sign up sheet on bulletin board

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

6 pm Session meeting in Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

11 am Nature Walk @ Winged Deer Park / lunch afterward

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Saturday, November 18, 2023

5:30 pm URI Gratitude Dinner @ 1st Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton. Everyone invited!!

Sunday, November 19, 2023

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 @ Hachimi Japanese Cuisine (3101 W. Market, JC)

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Sunday, November 26, 2023

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 Fellowship Potluck Light Lunch (see note above)

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Visit our calendar

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness

like an everflowing stream." -- Amos 5:24

SESSION NOTES

November Elder of the Month - Wilsie Bishop

Next Session meeting - Tuesday, November 14 @ 6 pm

FINANCIAL UPDATE

[2023 Annual Budget - $ 177,600

Budget through November 3, Week #44 ($150,277)

Receipts $ 140,578.89

Disbursements -$ 140,220.04

Balance $ 358.85

Thanks to everyone for your continued support the church with your tithes and offerings. You are encouraged to mail your pledge to us or to drop it by the church office during regular business hours. Please note that our financial cushion has dwindled, so please make sure you are up-to-date with your pledges. Thanks.

Please remember the 5 Cents per Meal Offering this week

and every first Sunday of the Month. We will receive the special PC(USA) offering

for the Peace & Global Witness offering on October 1st

HOLSTON PRESBYTERY NEWS

Holston Presbytery meetings 2023

Most meetings begin at 10 am; Camp meeting begins a 1 pm.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 @ First Presbyterian Church, Jefferson City, TN

Rev. Diana Moore, Transitional Stated Clerk

Rev. Karen Russell, Transitional Executive Presbyter

vacant, Transitional Treasurer/ Financial Manager

info@holstonpresbytery.org

423-247-6178

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

November 16 - Debi Hughes

November 24 - Marsha Brandt

November 25 - Camilla Lyle

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

November 28 - Lewis & Marcia Songer

THE 2023 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY

Request Chancel Flowers

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS

For Friends and Loved Ones

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; Marty Shanks; George, Jo & Nikki Rolling; Theresa Lura; Camilla Lyle's brother, Jeff McFee; Jonathan Sharp; Don Loughry; Rev. Maggie Lauterer; Sarah Suptin; Kelly Hodges.; Heather Hughes; Edna Campbell.

Prayers for others

Continue to pray for the people in Ukraine as they continue their fight against the Russian Invasion. For the recent ongoing humanitarian emergency between Israel and the Palestinians of Gaza, as well as the crisis in the humanitarian crisis in Azerbaijan with the takeover of the Nagorno-Karabakh/Armenian enclave and the Lachin Corridor and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nigeria; the aftermath of 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Herat province, Afghanistan and 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco; New emergencies include Hurricane Norma in Mexico; flooding in United Kingdom; and prayers for the families and victims of the shooting in Lewiston, Maine. Prayers for U.S. troops and migrants seeking refuge along the southern U.S. border. 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/

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE - https://rescue.org

US FEMA - DECLARED DISASTERS - https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations

GLOBAL DISASTER ALERT & COORDINATION SYSTEM (GDACS) - https://gdacs.org

Submit Prayer Requests

MEMBER NEWS

Phyllis Summers was the latest recipient of the PS Gold Award for her faithful and outstanding outreach service to the community. We were also pleased to learn that recently Karen Martin and Ruth Crawford visited with Sally Gerhardt at her residence in Asheville. (Sally's looking good.)

Thanks for sharing.

NOTEWORTHY GREEN SPACE NEWS

Fifty years ago this December, after years of work with bill sponsor U. S. Rep. John Dingell and tough negotiations with the Nixon administration, the National Wildlife Federation helped pass the modern Endangered Species Act. The law had a simple yet globally unprecedented objective: to protect imperiled species before they reached the brink of extinction both by utilizing regulatory protections and by funding recovery efforts.

While extinction of some species is a natural part of our ecosystems, human activities have significantly accelerated the global loss of species to crisis levels—as much as 1,000 times the natural rate of extinctions. Yet nearly 99% of the more than 1,700 species ever listed as endangered or threatened in the United States under the ESA are still with us today. That is a remarkable and unparalleled global success and the reason why the ESA enjoys support from more than 80% of the American public. (GSN#172)

VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK

NATURE AT PLAY: J.S. BACH'S CELLO SUITE NO.1

(LIVE FROM THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS)

Yo-Yo Ma (September 2023 | 15:11 min)

Yo-Yo Ma will donate his earnings from this video to EarthPercent, a charity that helps artists and the music industry support the most impactful organizations currently addressing the global climate emergency. Thanks to Sue Shanks for bringing this short video to our attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx_IibJH4rA&t=5s

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.

John Among the Gospels

By D. Moody Smith

(226/SMI)

John's relationship to the other canonical Gospels has from Christian antiquity been the subject of serious discussion and debate. Did John know them? Did he use them as sources for his own spiritual gospel? If so, can his eccentricities in using them be explained?

In John Among the Gospels D. Moody Smith confronts these questions, describing how the relationship of the Fourth Gospel to the Synoptics has been understood, particularly in modern biblical scholarship.tyle that enables us to break out of the prism of selfhood.”

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 December 2023 issue of the e-AVENUE no later than November 17th. 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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