Midweek News Aug 6, 2025
Aug 6, 2025
Announcements and Items of Interest
A huge thank you to all the 25 volunteers who came on Monday and Tuesday to help clean out the basement. The job was finished by noon on Tuesday. Many things made their way as donations to Blair Fraley Sales Store, Restore, and Ram’s Rack to the dump and to storage. The library and choir robes were carefully packed and will be stored in a member’s climate-controlled basement. Special thanks to Eric Sowder the master mid behind the work!
Our August luncheon will be our annual church picnic at the Pointe in Land Harbor, on Sunday, August 17. We will have hot dogs and hamburgers. Please plan to bring some thing to share. More info to follow.
Dr. Curt Ryan’s presentation of “Understanding the Lines of Conflict in the Middle East.” was well attended by 90 people. Dr. Ryan did a great job of giving broad perspective of the conflicts that are taking place and the diversity of views in the Middle East.
On August 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the church fellowship hall, Lynn Church and Family present “An Evening of Appalachian Music and Stories” with Lynn Church and Family. Join us for an evening of mountain music and storytelling performed by Lynn Church and his sons Eli and Ethan. Lynn, who owns Three Nails Hardware in Newland, grew up listening to the music his family members played and sang in their homes and on their front porches. Many of the tunes were created right here in Avery County. The Churches share their music to the praise and honor of God.
Beginning this Wednesday, August 6th through September 3rd, 3-4 p.m., our Wednesday afternoon Bible Study led by Pastor Jim Taylor will be based on a new book by Adam Hamilton called “The Message of Jesus: Words that changed the world.” In his introduction, Hamilton says, “Jesus’ words were consequential, and if you want to follow Jesus today, it is not enough to know that he died and rose again. You are meant to know what he taught about God and God’s will for humanity. We’re not only meant to embrace these words, but to seek to live them.” You are invited to join in this wonderful journey as we listen again to those wonderful words of life! If you would like to reserve a book ($10), please contact Pastor Kathy, 828-260-2512 or
Our August Mission Project is collecting paper products, cleaning supplies, and pet food for Feeding Avery Families. The following items are needed: paper towels, toilet paper, Kleenex, toilet wipes (septic safe), cleaning supplies, laundry detergent sheets, dog and cat food. We will be collecting these items through the end of August.
The groceries and financial donations from our July mission project were delivered to the Minneapolis Food Pantry this past Tuesday—80 bags of groceries and a check for $500 for perishable items. Thanks to Clarence Kenyon, Charlotte Davila, Mary Louise Aldridge, and Carroll and Linda Berkley for taking all the groceries. Thanks to everyone who contributed!
Sanctuary Roof Project Update: The crew worked all last week removing the old tiles from the sanctuary roof and securing the plywood and membrane on half the roof. You can take an old roof tile (located to the left of the lower parking lot) and you can sign a new roof tile (located in the fellowship hall). Donations for the old tiles are appreciated! We are continuing to receive donations for the second phase of our Roof Capital Campaign. We only have $25,000 left to raise! Every gift- large or small- matters! Thanks to everyone who has already contributed! As the construction continues, please be extremely careful, particularly during the week, when driving into the church. The driveway across the front of the church into the upper parking lot may be blocked off. It is best to avoid that area and park in the lower lot as we don’t always know what they will be doing. Be extremely careful driving or walking through that area and avoid it, if at all possible. There is the possibility of falling debris, etc.
The Church Choir is returning to Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. for practice in the sanctuary. If you enjoy singing, please consider being part of the choir.
Mary Noble is leading Sunday School, 10 a.m., in the conference room in the fellowship hall. She is using the book, Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit: Tending the Wild Garden by Eugenia Anne Gamble. All are invited to attend.
The Craft Group welcomes all who want to work on a craft or just share in fellowship to join in this Wednesday, 1-3 p.m., in the fellowship hall. They are creating new Chrismons for our Chrismon Tree. The Chrismons that are already finished are on display in the fellowship hall. The group hopes to have all new Chrismons on the Chrismon Tree this December.
Linda Drivas and Lila Taylor volunteered as representatives from our church at the Back to School Bash at Avery High School, this past Thursday. 1,800 students and their families received backpacks, school supplies, community resource information, and free food. What a wonderful way for our community to come together to help prepare students for the new school year.
