Author: donwauchope

Community Outreach: Building Connection Through Meals and Creative Gathering

donwauchope

Etowah Presbyterian Church is grateful to share that we were recently awarded a grant to support a year-long community outreach effort focused on connection, creativity, and time spent together.

This outreach includes two free programs open to the Etowah community throughout 2026, designed to help neighbors reconnect and reduce isolation.

Free Community Meals are held on the fourth Saturday of each month at 12:00 noon. These meals offer a relaxed, welcoming space to share food and conversation—no sign-up required, bring something if you want. Free Community Meal Dates: February 28, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26, October 24

Neighbors Create Together is a recurring creative gathering held every other Wednesday from 2:00–4:00 p.m. This is a low-pressure, welcoming space to make things, talk, and enjoy being together. No art experience is needed. Neighbors Create Together Dates: February 11, February 25, March 11, March 25, April 8, April 22, May 6, May 20

Both programs are made possible with the support of Etowah Presbyterian Church and are open to the wider community. Whether you come for a meal, a creative afternoon, or both—you are welcome.

MEET OUR NEW MINISTER

donwauchope

Meet Deck and Deb Guess

Originally from Union, SC, Deck has been coming to the Asheville area for years as a participant and occasional leader at Montreat, Deb for even longer.  Deb grew up in Bristol, TN, and has considered the mountains home, even during her years of exile.  They feel blessed to have found their retirement nest in Arden, near two of their four incredible grown children.  They both love the mountains, mountain people, mountain culture and are delighted that God has called Deck to serve Etowah as part-time Stated Supply Pastor.

Deck has had training as both a Natural Church Development coach and a Transitional coach and has worked with 7 or 8 churches in that capacity.  He is excited to begin work with Etowah PC to explore and develop its current mission.

One of Deck’s favorite aspects of ministry is worship leadership.  He loves to preach the Word but in recent years has a deepening appreciation for how music and art open people up to God.  Music and visuals often communicate on levels deeper than words and they can be avenues for everyone to engage more fully in worship.

Deck told the Lord he didn’t want to go to Mississippi or Florida.  Of course, he was called first to Mississippi for 5 years (to the church where Don Wauchope was on the Pulpit Nominating Committee and served as Choir Director!), then to Florida for 6!  Those were wonderful experiences and he has learned just to go with God’s flow. 

Even though she has “officially” retired from church work (Christian Educator for Providence Presbytery, Director of Campus Ministry for Charleston Atlantic Presbytery), Deb is still active in artistic pursuits with Re:Create and the Art, Recreation, and Worship workshops at Montreat.  She is also a jewelry artist and teaches jewelry making.

During his down time, Deck enjoys tennis, skiing, and has been known to work in fused glass.  He also has quite a collection of quirky socks.  (People pull up his pant legs to check them out.)  Socks have spawned quite a few children’s sermons.  Deb and Deck’s first and only grandchild, Clark, lives in Swannanoa.  Deb’s current call is to support our son Josh and his wife Lydia in helping Clark grow in faith at their church in East Asheville.  Consequently, she will be worshiping at Etowah regularly, but less frequently than she would under other circumstances.

Deck looks forward to his first “official” Sunday in the pulpit on September 18th.