Issue #398

The Weekly AVENUE

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE

MORNING WORSHIP

Sunday, September 10, 2023 @ 11 am

"Out of the Depths"

Scripture reading: Jonah 1:17 - 2:10

Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor

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.

ELDER OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER - Ed Snodderly

SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION

SEASON OF CREATION BEGINS

The Season of Creation is from September 1^st – World Day of Prayer through October 4^th – The Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. This year’s theme is “Let Justice and Peace Flow"

(Amos 5:24).

SERMON NOTES

During the Season of Creation, we are focusing in on the elements of the world that arearound us. Last week we looked at the winds of change for Jonah and the sailors on the boat. The storm arises, the lot falls on Jonah, and he prepares to be thrown overboard. This week we will look at the water of the world. The water that once was thought of as the place of chaos and monsters, will now be the means through which God provides salvation. So join us this week as we continue this journey of the Season of Creation through the book of Jonah. Seeing that this story is not only about a great fish, but a great redemption.

Yours in Christ

Brandon

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

The Adult Sunday School class is winding down its discussion and study of Philip Yancey's book, "Vanishing Grace: what ever happened to the Good News?" The class are in the process of deciding their next book. We will announce it soon so you will be able to purchase your own copy in advance.

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 upcoming walk scheduled for Wednesday, September 27th at 10 am in Jonesborough on the Persimmon Ridge Trail. The group will meet in the parking lot nearest the baseball playing fields. Lunch afterwards.

The following walk will be on the Tweetsie Trail, Wednesday, October 11th at 10 am with lunch afterwards.

UPCOMING LECTURE AT THE LANGSTON CENTRE

There will be a lecture on Black People’s Spirituality and the Legacy of Howard Thurman given by Walter Earl Fluker on Sunday, September 17^th, at 3 pm at the Langston Centre. The lecture is being sponsored by Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan. Dr. Fluker currently serves as Dean’s Professor of Spirituality, Ethics and Leadership at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is also a featured consultant, speaker, lecturer, and worship leader at foundations, businesses, corporations, colleges, universities, governmental, and religious institutions, nationally and globally.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES @ MONTREAT IN OCTOBER

Earth & Soul: reawakening to the sacredness of the earth and every human being – October 18-20 at the Montreat Conference Center. This is immediately followed by Thresholds of Hope – a new, experimental weekend retreat focused on the House Gatherings model developed by John Philip Newell which will be from October 20-22.

Please check the Montreat website for more information and deadlines for registration.

FOOD, FOOD AND MORE FOOD

The Lunch Bunch / Meal Schedule for SEPTEMBER

September 10 @ El Charolais (1805 W. State of Franklin)

September 17 @ Tommy Thai (1736 W. State of Franklin)

September 24 @ Fellowship Anniversary Potluck Brunch

THERE IS A SUMMER 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 COMING WEEK

Sunday, September 10, 2023 - Second Sunday of Season of Creation

10 am Adult Sunday School

11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ El Charolais (1805 W. State of Franklin)

3 - 5 pm Open house @ Holston Presbytery / Tri-City Korean Presbyterian Church

(2501 W. Market St.) - tour of new facilities

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

6 pm Session meeting in Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Sunday, September 17, 2023 - Third Sunday of Season of Creation

10 am Adult Sunday School

11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Tommy Thai (1736 W. State of Franklin)

3 pm Lecture on Black Spiritually @ Langston Center

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Sunday, September 24, 2023 - Fourth Sunday of Season of Creation

10 am Adult Sunday School

11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)

12:15 pm Fellowship Potluck Anniversary Brunch

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 - 131st Anniversary of WAPC

10 am Nature walk along Persimmon Ridge trail in Jonesborough (more details soon)

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

Covenant and Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church is hosting a Blessing of the Animals on Sunday afternoon, October 1st at 4 pm in Covenant's backyard (603 Sunset Drive). There will be a brief service by Revs. Maggie Rust and Brandon Davis followed by treats and lemonade, a photo booth, and special goody bags. Please make sure your pet is on a leash or in a carrier. If needed, bring a photo of you pet to bless. Please call Covenant (423-282-5324) for more information.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

GENERAL FUND: YEAR TO DATE:

[2023 Annual Budget - $ 177,600

Budget through September 8, Week #36 ($ 116,123)

Receipts $ 124,337.89

Disbursements -$ 109,371.39

Balance $ 14,966.50

Please remember the 5 Cents per Meal Offering every first Sunday of the Month. The next special PC(USA) offering will

be in September for the Peace & Global Witness offering.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

September 9 - Wilsie Bishop & Nancy Fennell

September 14 - Michelle Browning

September 16 - Jean Darling

September 21 - Alynda Worrell-Welch

September 23 - Rev. Ron Bowie

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

September 15 - Jim & Sharon Amstruz (33rd)

ALSO NOTE: THE 2023 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE IN REQUESTING CHANCEL FLOWERS.

Request Chancel flowers

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS

For Friends and Family

Marty Shanks; Sue Sheffield; Messina Lyle; George, Jo & Nikki Rolling; Theresa Lura; Camilla Lyle's brother, Jeff McFee; Marty Shanks' sister, Judy Hall; 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 people Sudan as they are caught between an armed conflict between rival factions of the military government of Sudan and continues to be an ongoing humanitarian crisis, as well as the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Prayers of the victims and families of Hurricane Idalia in Florida and Southeast U.S.; the wildfires in Washington state; flooding in central Spain and Tajikistan; as well as Typhoon Saola in Southeast China; 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

Prayer Requests

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Can you believe that a year has almost gone by?

GREEN SPACE NEWS

The fight to save North Atlantic right whales has been a harrowing roller-coaster ride with the critically endangered animals poised to win life-saving protections only to be dealt an underhanded blow from special interests. Whale advocates were heartened after the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed new regulations to protect right whales from one of their leading causes of death, vessel strikes at sea. But even as the Fisheries Service appeared close to finalizing the new vessel speed requirements, a stealth move by the commercial fishing lobby undermined the agency's ability to protect right whales from another leading cause of death: entanglement in fishing gear.

A dangerous provision inserted at the last minute into must-pass federal spending legislation at the behest of the fishing lobby derailed that effort, effectively barring the agency from implementing any new entanglement regulations for these fisheries for six years. Francine Kershaw, speaking for the National Resources Defense Council, called the move a "terrible setback," but insisted that the NRDC will be redoubling advocacy in support of a rapid transition to whale-saving ropeless fishing gear. (GSN #164)

VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK

LOST IN NORWAY

Snoopy FRV (August 2023 | 3:18 min.)

Short cinematic film. Enjoy the scenery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVpaPAczERE

IN THE POTEAT LIBRARY

Please remember the library is open by appointment and 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.

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

By W. Phillip Keller

(223/KEL)

More than a quarter-century and 1.5 million copies since it was first published, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 continues to inspire and encourage with its now-classic insights into the heart of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Drawing on what he learned during his own years as a shepherd, Phillip Keller leads and prods the reader to the green pastures of discovery and the cool waters of fulfillment hidden in the 'Shepherd Psalm.' Pleasure and enlightenment await those willing to follow his careful leading. Page by page, Keller reveals new facets of the Shepherd of Psalm 23 and his untiring expression of Christ's love for those who trust in him as their guide, protector, source of provision, and faithful keeper. Experience Psalm 23 in a new way.

See with the Shepherd's eyes, touch with his hands, and feel with his heart through this intimate look into the person of our Lord, the Great Shepherd. . .and ourselves, the 'sheep of his pasture.' Born in East Africa, Phillip Keller has always loved wildlife and the outdoors. He trained as an agrologist at the University of Toronto (Canada) and subsequently spent many years in agricultural research, land management, and ranch development in British Columbia.

Later, he pursued ecological studies in East Africa, which led to new careers in conservation, wildlife photography, and journalism. Keller's journalistic and photographic assignments have since taken him around the world.

REMINDERS

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.

e-Avenue deadline - Please submit information to church office (office@wataugapc.org or 926-7942) at any time and for the October issue of the e-AVENUE, no later than Friday, September 15th. 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.

WATAUGA AVENUE PC IS ON .. click and see for yourself.

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.)