2330 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24014

Phone: (540) 344-4437
Fax: (540) 345-8041

“Spring has sprung!” Well...not quite, but these words are appropriate for this time of year. Frankly, spring is my favorite season of the year. I enjoy the experiences of seeing God’s world “wake up” after the cold of winter. In the words of an old hymn, “The morning light, the lily white, declare the Maker’s praise. Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: Let the heavens ring! God reigns: Let the earth be glad.”

As the natural world comes alive, may we also experience a newness of Christ’s freeing and redeeming power. The message of Easter is that the “Alive Christ” is available to us all - each day of our lives. As we meet life where it is, let us be good to ourselves and call upon the Lord who knows our situation and who can furnish the forgiveness, guidance, and power we cannot possibly provide through human effort.

In this season of Eastertide, I pray that our worship experiences will be a time of great celebration of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. Yes, we can live victoriously in this life! Indeed, there is life after death! Thanks be to God!

Circle #5 will meet Tuesday, May 7 and Tuesday, May 21 at 10:30 AM at the church. The combined circles will meet on Tuesday, May 14, at 10:30 AM in the Terry Wimmer Classroom.

On May 9 at 10:00 AM, we will have the exciting opportunity to be the very first tour of the new WDBJ-TV studios on Hershberger Road. Bob Lee, president and general manager of WDBJ will be our tour host and we will get to meet all the on-air news people. This is a great time to see the behind the scenes action of a state-of-the-art TV station. We will then have lunch together (dutch treat) at a location to be decided. There will be no luncheon at the church in May.

The Roanoke District Singles are hoping to grow as they fellowship with one another through the coming months. In May, the Virginia Conference Singles Connection Event will be held at the Assembly Center in Blackstone on May 17-19. Contact Susan Wagner at Bonsack UMC (977-4212) if you would like a brochure and registration form for this event. 

On June 1^st at 6:00 PM, the group will meet for supper at Macado’s Restaurant on Church Street. They will attend the concert at “Festival in the Park” afterwards. Please RSVP for this event by May 25^th to Susan Wagner.

The Columbarium will be open for visitation on Sundays from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM except on days of inclement weather. It can be visited at other times by getting a key from the church office. Marge Dull has agreed to maintain records, order plaques and be of assistance to the Columbarium Committee. 

Our next commitment to hosting the families of the Interfaith Hospitality Network starts May 12th, so please be thinking about how you might help us make it a memorable week for our guests. We still do not have someone to take over as Coordinator here at SRUMC after this May host week. Diane D’Orazio will be in Kenya on the Agape Mission Project during the next host week July 28-August 4. If we do not have someone in charge by then, the network will be forced to put the families in a hotel and pay for meals that week. This would deplete the funds the network uses to help families settle into new homes.

ROAST & TOAST
MAY 5th 6:30-8 PM in the Fellowship Hall

This year’s roast will be our largest ever. We have seven Seniors: Hadley Adkins, John Budd, Elizabeth Green, Courtney Minton, Jan Steffe, Matt Wallace & Lauren Woody.

Plus, we have ten 8th graders moving up to senior highs: Walker Adkins, Spencer Borthen, Mary Budd, Steven Dayton, Bo Frith, Mathew Gregory, May McBurney, Hunter Miller, Cameron Schlueter, & Katherine Witt.

You’ll enjoy PICTURES, YEARBOOKS, SKITS, AWARDS and who knows what else the kids will think up...  BRING A DESSERT TO SHARE

We have 14 youth who will be eligible to be confirmed at our 11:00 worship service on May 19. There will be a reception immediately following the service.

Five of our youth are working on their G&C awards. They are Catherine Witt, Michelle Woody, Laura Long, Katie Cain & Andrew Dorsey. They will receive these awards at the year end celebration for youth ministry on May 5.

Winter-Spring 2002
Everyone is always welcome!

BABIES
Crib Room downstairs in the Education Wing

TODDLERS (Age 2)
Toddler Room downstairs in the Education Wing

PRESCHOOL THROUGH GRADE FIVE
Biblezone hands-on curriculum
Rooms upstairs in the Education Wing

JUNIOR HIGH
Connections Youth Curriculum/Lenten Activities
Junior High Room near 24^th St. entrance to gym

SENIOR HIGH
That the World May Know video series
Senior High Room near 24^th St. entrance to gym

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GUESTS and VISITORS are welcome to join us at South Roanoke for worship and fellowship. We invite those who have no church home to make South Roanoke your church and add your witness to ours.  And for a modern worship experience, join us each Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. for our contemporary service.

PLANS HAVE BEEN MADE for a trip to Ashe County, NC and Old Salem on May 15 and 16. The price of $120 will include transportation, motel, donations, gratuity, and ticket to Old Salem. Meals are not included. There is a poster outside the church office with information and sign-up space. Help with the planning by indicating your interest as soon as possible.

FERRUM COLLEGE invites you to the Tenth Anniversary of United Methodist Women's Day on Saturday, June 8, 2002. This will be a day for celebrating commitment to Higher Education, while honoring the ministry and retirement of Ferrum College Alumnus and Danville District Superintendent, The Reverend Robinson "Bob" McAden and Ferrum College President Dr. Jerry M. Bo9one. A worship service in Vaughn Chapel will begin at 10:30 a.m. with Bishop Joe Pennel preaching. A complimentary lunch will be served at 12:00, and at 1:30 "The Odd Couple" production will be performed at the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre. The cost for the play will be $6.50 per person. for reservations for lunch, or more information you may call 540-365-4286.

NEW CHURCH DIRECTORIES will be printed soon. If you have a change of address, or any additions or corrections that you would like to make to the directory, please call the church office (344-4437) as soon as possible.

YOU CAN HELP THE WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL whenever you shop at Food Lion. Simply enroll in the Lionshop and Share Program and select South Roanoke Methodist Weekday Preschool as your designated charity. Each time you shop at Food Lion and use your MVP card, a portion of your total grocery purchase will be donated to our Preschool. To enroll: Go to www.foodlion.com web site or call 800-210-9569, and enroll in the LionShop and Share program using your MVP card and complete the information requested on the web site. Once you are registered and whenever you shop at Food Lion you will be helping our Preschool. Your support is greatly appreciated!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will be held June 24-28. "God’s Great Gallery" is our theme this year. We need your HELP! Please call Christy Nichols, 982-6611 for further details.

THE LENTEN OFFERING this year will go to the ASP Mission Project and the Agape Mission. The goal is $12,000.00. Anything received over this amount will go to local missions. Make your check payable to SRUMC and place it in one of the Lenten envelopes in the pew racks and then put it in the offering plate. To date we have received $7,081.00 in contributions.

PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE if you have a youth graduating from high school or college so that we can recognize them in an upcoming bulletin.

OUR NEXT COMMITMENT to hosting the families of the Interfaith Hospitality Network starts May 12th so please be thinking about how you might help us make it a memorable week for our guests. We still do not have anyone to take over as Coordinator here at SRUMC after this May host week. Diane D’Orazio will be in Kenya on the Agape Mission Project during the next host week July 28th through August 4th. If we do not have someone in charge by then, the network will be forced to put the families in a hotel and pay for meals that week. This would deplete the funds the network uses to help the families settle into new homes. The same thing would happen our host week in October. As of January when the schedule for 2003 is made, we would no longer be in the network. We pray that this doesn’t happen. Please, please contact Diane D’Orazio (725-9886) if you are interested in preventing the loss of this valuable ministry in the life of our church.

IT’S TIME TO CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS again and just in time to help support the yard sale SRUMC will be hosting on Saturday, June 8th in the Fellowship Hall. The proceeds will go to support the Agape Children’s Ministry mission which Diane D’Orazio will be joining to go to Kisumu, Kenya in July. The Agape Children’s Home in Kisumu provides a future for 110 former street children who were the victims of the AIDS epidemic and abuse. If you have items you would like to donate to the sale, please contact Diane D’Orazio at home: 725-9886 or by cell phone: 797-9886. The church fellowship hall will be open the week before the sale for you to drop them off or call Diane and she can arrange for them to be picked up. We will need folks with some time and a pickup truck or van to help move items from Diane’s house to the church during the week before the sale. Also, people are needed to help price items during that week and to help sell the day of the sale. Please let Diane know if you can help in these ways also. Thank you!!!!

EVERYONE IS INVITED to the UMYF Roast and Toast on Sunday, May 5, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This year’s roast will be the largest ever. There are seven seniors this year: Hadley Adkins, John Budd, Elizabeth Green, Courtney Minton, Jan Steffe, Matt Wallace, and Lauren Woody. Come enjoy pictures, yearbooks, skits, awards and lots more. Bring a dessert to share.

FIVE OF OUR YOUTH are working on their God and Church Awards. They are: Catherine Witt, Michelle Woody, Laura Long, Katie Cain, and Andrew Dorsey. They will receive these awards at the year end celebration for youth ministry on May 5.

THE CHERUB AND HOSANNA CHOIRS will have an end of the year party tonight beginning at 6:00 p.m. (No Adult Handbell rehearsal).

NEXT WEEK’S SERMON, Representing Christ In The World will be based on I Peter 3:15-18. Please read and study the text this week.

THERE ARE 14 YOUTH who will be eligible to be confirmed at our 11:00 a.m. worship service on May 19. There will be a reception immediately following the service.

THE PEANUT M & M’S will celebrate their year of ministry with an overnight at the Wallace’s farm in Fincastle on May 3 and 4.

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED will meet for May Friendship Day on Friday, May 3, at High Street Baptist Church. Registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Bible study, program and lunch. Cost of lunch is $5.00. To make reservations please call Betty Epps at 982-1734.

GOLF OUTING - THURSDAY, MAY 16 at Hunting Hills Country Club. Tee time is 1:00 p.m. with clinic at 12:15. All are invited. Cost is $50.00 for non-members and cart fee for members. If you are interested call Dicky Linkous at work, 345-5100, or home, 344-5311.

SAMARITAN GIFTS, which are received from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, give direct care to deserving residents of Virginia United Methodist Homes. All gifts provide benevolent care. No Samaritan funds are used for operational, capital or administrative costs. Give today and help ensure someone’s personal security and peace of mind. You will find envelopes in the pew racks for your gift.

WITH THE SUMMER MONTHS APPROACHING many families will be away from church due to vacations, picnics, or other family outings. We hope that you will remember that the church expenses continue throughout the summer months, and that you will keep your pledge for 2002 current. If you are not sure where you stand in your contributions, please call Penny in the church office, 344-4437.

MAY IS RECYCLE FOR SIGHT MONTH. Please help by bringing your old eyeglasses for the Lion’s Club. A collection box is in the office for your contributions during the week, and in the narthex for your contributions on Sunday.

THE HILLBILLIES ARE COMING to Sunday school this summer. Starting June 16 the Aldersgate and Pathfinders Sunday school classes will be sharing Sunday lessons, only Jed and Clem could teach. Join us promptly at 10:00 o’clock each Sunday in the classroom over the kitchen.

BEGINNING SUNDAY, JUNE 2, our summer schedule will start. We will have two morning worship services; one at 9:00 and one at 11:00 a.m. Sunday school classes will begin at their normal times. This schedule will continue through the last Sunday of August.

REQUESTS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS are now being taken. If you are a member of SRUMC, and have a student who will be attending college this fall and would like to apply for a scholarship, please come by the church office to pick up an application form. The deadline for requests to be turned in to the church office is July 1.