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Issue 2024-03

The AVENUE

MARCH

Welcome

GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE

Sunday, March 3, 2024 @ 11 am

MORNING WORSHIP / COMMUNION

Sermon - "Rams & Goats"

Scripture - Daniel - Chapter 8

Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor

both in-person and on YouTube or Facebook

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

Sherry Bailey - Elder of the Month of March

SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION

SERMON NOTES

Last week we read about Daniel’s dream in the first year of King Belshazzar. This week, we come to another dream, only a few years later. And like we saw last week, these dreams are filled with signs and symbols about the earthly kingdoms that are coming. Using strange and sometimes disturbing images, the author intends to show the difference between the brutality of their current circumstances and the purity and righteousness of the divine. Yet, what is clear at the end of these dreams is that God is sovereign over all the earth. So join us this week as we continue to tell this story from the book of Daniel!

Yours in Christ

Brandon

HOLSTON CAMP This week, Dave Cohn from Holston Presbytery Camp & Retreat Center in Banner Elk, NC will be joining us for worship and will have an opportunity to teach us a bit about how the camp operates. Since 1955, Holston has conducted an “experiment in an outdoor Christian community.” The goal is to offer youth the opportunity to seek God while building nurturing relationships and having fun outdoors. We encourage campers to “unplug” for the week and listen to the sounds of the wind in the trees, the mountain birds, and the rushing creek. It’s a time to make new friends, learn new activities and skills, and simply enjoy God’s creation.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

The class as decided that their next book to discuss will be Elaine Pagel's, The Gnostic Gospels, a provocative study of the gnostic gospels and the world of early Christianity as revealed through the Nag Hammadi texts. They hope to begin this book on Sunday, March 3rd.

The class meets in the Poteat Library at 10 am. If you wish to join the class there is always room for one more.

MISSION COLLECTION REQUESTS

We are still collecting warm clothing items for Jeff Douds of West Main Street Christian Church to have available for distributing them various homeless persons in need. Used jackets, coats, sweaters as well as mittens, gloves and scarves are appreciated. Jeff has indicated that blankets are also needed.

UPCOMING GREEN WALK

Anyone is welcome to join us on our upcoming bluebell walk at Winged Deer Park on Wednesday, March 27th @ 11 am. Please use the parking lot off the Carroll Creek Road by the disc golf course. So come and take a leisurely stroll with us and share a lunch afterwards.

LUNCH BUNCH / FOOD NEWS

SCHEDULE FOR MARCH

March 3 @ Cootie Brown's Campus

March10 @ El Charolais

March 17 @ Tommy Thai

March 24 - Fellowship Valentine's Potluck Lunch

March 31 @ Carrabba's Italian Grill

NOTE about potluck on 24th... ham will be provided; everyone is asked to bring salads, sides and desserts. Thanks.

THERE IS A SPRING (March-April-May) 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.

WE'RE INVITED TO COVENANT PC FOR 2 EVENTS in MARCH

Covenant Presbyterian Church has graciously invited us to attend two upcoming events sponsored by their church. First, on Sunday, March 10th, the Maryville College Concert Choir will be performing "Songs of Hope" beginning at 6:30 pm, following a Soup Supper beginning at 5 pm. Bring your favorite pot of soup and join they for a great time of fellowship with 50 college students and a fabulous musical performance.

Then on Saturday evening, March 23rd, the Appalachian Equality Chorus will be performing this WORLD PREMIER concert of "Every BODY" beginning at 7 pm. This multi-movement work was created by a coalition of composers and lyricists to celebrate al of our bodies - in all shapes and sizes! The concert is free, but donations will gladly be accepted.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE MONTH (noted when online)

Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Third Sunday in Lent

10 am Adult Sunday School reading "The Gnostic Gospels," by Elaine Pagels

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

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Cootie Brown's Campus

Monday, March 4, 2024

12:30 pm Church Staff Meeting

NO Weekly Bible Study this week

6:30 pm ETSU / U-Kirk Supper (hosted by WAPC)

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, March 7. 2024

|10 am PW Meeting @ WAPC

Sunday, March 10, 2024 - Fourth Sunday in Lent

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS

10 am Adult Sunday School reading "The Gnostic Gospels," by Elaine Pagels

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

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ El Charolais

5 pm Soup Supper @ Covenant Presbyterian Church

6:30 pm Maryville College Concert Choir @ Covenant Presbyterian Church

Monday, March 11, 2024

6 pm Weekly Bible Study (in Conference Room)

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

6 pm Session Meeting

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6:30 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Sunday, March 17, 2024 - Fifth Sunday in Lent

10 am Adult Sunday School reading "The Gnostic Gospels," by Elaine Pagels

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

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Tommy Thai

Monday, March 18, 2024

6 pm Weekly Bible Study (in Conference Room)

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Saturday, March 23, 2024

7 pm Appalachian Equality Chorus @ Covenant Presbyterian Church

Sunday, March 24, 2024 - Sixth Sunday in Lent / Palm Sunday

10 am Adult Sunday School reading "The Gnostic Gospels," by Elaine Pagels

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

12:15 pm Fellowship Potluck Lunch

Monday, March 25, 2024

6 pm Weekly Bible Study (in Conference Room)

Wednesday, March 27, 2024|

11 am Green Walk - Bluebells @ Winged Deer Park w/ lunch following

4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)

6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, March 28, 2024 - Maundy Thursday

6 pm Maundy Thursday Service @ Covenant Presbyterian Church

Friday, March 29, 2024 - Good Friday

6 pm Good Friday Service (in WAPC Sanctuary)

Sunday, March 31, 2024 - Easter Sunday

10 am Adult Sunday School reading "The Gnostic Gospels," by Elaine Pagels

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

12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Carrabba's Italian Grill

Visit our calendar

SESSION NOTES

March Elder of the Month - Sherry Bailey

Upcoming Session meeting - Tuesday, March 12, 2024

FINANCIAL UPDATE

[2024 Annual Budget - $ 177,600

Budget through FEB 29, Week #9 ($31,379)

Receipts $ 75,413.91

Disbursements - $ 28,349.08

Balance $ 47,064.83

Please remember your 5 cents per meal offering this week.

Just a note - The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be taken sometime during Lent. This special offering is God's call for us to provide relief from natural and human-caused disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed.

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

March 1 - Lynn Broome

March 9 - Ginger Helm

March 13 - Phyl Summers

March 21- Rev. Bob Lowry

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES

March 12 - Terry & Dave Beckman (1982)

March 20 - Phil & Marsha Brandt (1971)

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

Request Chancel Flowers

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS

For Friends and Loved Ones

Marat Moore; Nancy Spahr; Camilla Lyle's brother, Jeff McFee; Sue Shanks' college roommate, Sue Trevathan; Jeff Morris; Alynda Worrell-Welch’s mother-in-law, Shelly Welch; the Hughes family for son-in-law Bryce Bennett; George, Jo & Nikki Rolling; 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 ongoing humanitarian emergency between Israel and the Palestinians of Gaza. New emergencies include: flooding in France and the United Kingdom; flooding and landslides in Brazil; and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Myanmar, Sudan and the Horn of Africa. 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.

Submit Prayer Requests

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Who could this be ??

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.

A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam

By Karen Armstrong 201.4/ARM

This searching, profound comparative history of the three major monotheistic faiths fearlessly illuminates the sociopolitical ground in which religious ideas take root, blossom and mutate. Armstrong, a British broadcaster, commentator on religious affairs and former Roman Catholic nun, argues that Judaism, Christianity and Islam each developed the idea of a personal God, which has helped believers to mature as full human beings. Yet Armstrong also acknowledges that the idea of a personal God can be dangerous, encouraging us to judge, condemn and marginalize others.

Recognizing this, each of the three monotheisms, in their different ways, developed a mystical tradition grounded in a realization that our human idea of God is merely a symbol of an ineffable reality. To Armstrong, modern, aggressively righteous fundamentalists of all three faiths represent "a retreat from God." She views as inevitable a move away from the idea of a personal God who behaves like a larger version of ourselves, and welcomes the grouping of believers toward a notion of God that "works for us in the empirical age."

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 April2024 issue of the e-AVENUE no later than Thursday, March 21st. 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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