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2330 South Jefferson Street
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2330 South Jefferson Street
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The Tower Times |
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October 2002 |
The Pastor's Message |
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Worship Times Our traditional Sunday worship is at 11:00 AM. There is a Contemporary Praise Service each Wednesday at 7:00 PM.
October 6
October 13
October 20
October 27 You are asked to read and study the text each week in preparation for worship. |
At various intervals in the Church’s life, we engage ourselves in special study beyond the traditional Church School hour. I wish to announce that this Fall you will have the opportunity to participate in a growth group in prayer. The class will begin with an organizational session on October 31 at 2:00 PM in the Wimmer class room. The remaining sessions will be held on the next six Thursday afternoons at the same hour. The resource book for the class is The Workbook of Living Prayer, by the Reverend Maxie Dunnam. Reverend Dunnam is the former editor of the Upper Room, a devotional guide which many of you use on a daily basis. I am looking forward to this growth group in prayer. Prayer is the bottom line of a vital Christian experience. |
I hope to grow, along with you, in learning more about how to pray. Dunnam writes in the above-mentioned work, “The goal of prayer is a life of friendship and fellowship with Him, cooperating with His spirit, living His will in the world.” Why not join us for this study in the growth of prayer? I feel that your commitment to do so will be blessed. You may indicate your interest in participation by signing the appropriate sheet in the hall outside the office or by calling the church office no later than October 17. It will be necessary for each participant to have in hand the resource book which I must order by that date. Yours in Christ, Amos Rideout
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Council on Ministries Monthly Focus - Missions |
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Shadrach’s Psalm “Mama Diane, when you get back to your church, please read Psalm 40 to your congregation for me.” Those words were whispered to me by Shadrach, one of the 97 boys who live at the Agape Children’s Home in Kisumu, Kenya. The Home provides room and board, clothing, an education, and spiritual guidance to former street boys most of which are orphans. Shadrach had first come to Agape almost 9 years ago after losing both of his parents. He had had TB and rheumatic fever during his early years, but good medical care and the love of the Agape “family” pulled him through. It was the night of our farewell dinner at Agape that Shadrach made the request that I read Psalm 40. Robyn Dayton, myself, and my son Brennan had been working at Agape for 2 weeks along with Darla Calhoun, the founder of Agape. It was a very emotional evening. In 2 weeks, we had come to love each boy and his special gifts. Now we had to say goodbye. One by one, each boy wanted a hug, to exchange addresses, to hear the words that we would be returning and that we wouldn’t forget them. Goodbye had brought pain many times in their short lives. Some boys made requests that I give them gifts or money. I expected those kinds of requests given that the boys knew I would be going home to a life where all of my needs are met. |
Thus, Shadrach’s simple, humble request wrapped around my heart like a balm. Do you ever meet someone and just know that God has special plans for them? That’s how I felt about Shadrach (or Shaddie as we call him) the first time I met him. His personal and medical struggles have given him a wisdom far beyond his years. I watched how he could lead the boys during the Sunday worship services translating back and forth between English and Swahili. The rheumatic fever has caused his heart to start failing so he would have to stop to catch his breath every few steps. Most days, his legs, feet, and hands were swollen from his weak heart. But there would always be this amazing smile ready to light up his face. My heart hung heavy that last might knowing I may never see that smile or that amazing young man again. I take comfort, however, in knowing that Shadrach’s faith sustains him and that God makes no mistakes. Psalm 40: I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. How many will hear of the glorious things he did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in him. |
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Yard Sale/Bazaar |
Music Ministry |
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The Roanoke United Methodist Home will sponsor a Yard Sale/Bazaar and Luncheon at the Home on Old Country Club Road on Thursday, October 10, from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Reservations are required for lunch at a cost of $6 per person. There will also be a hot dog stand run by Doris Cutright and Virginia Shaver. Please save items for this sale. They need plants, crafts, needlework, jams, jellies, pickles, baked goods, candies, almost new clothing and attic treasures. For more information you may call Doris (772-9454) or Virginia (343-6079). |
The new handbell choir for youth will be meeting on Thursdays at 3:30 PM
in the choir room. We hope that this time will work for those in city
and county middle and high schools. This will be a joint group with
members from First Presbyterian Church also. |
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The
Adult Fellowship Group Check the bulletin board and pick up one of the purple information sheets of our other fall activities. You won’t want to miss any of these great trips! |
Roanoke
District Singles Fellowship |
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| Youth News | ||||||||||||||
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PUMPKIN PATCH COUNTDOWN. The Junior High will be at Camp Alta Mons on October 18-19. The Senior High will be at Camp Alta Mons on November 1-2
College Students Back at School This year we have 23 church members away at college. This includes 7 new freshmen and 2 graduate students. ( Bob Rude has retired from medicine and gone to law school!! Whit Hall is at the University of Texas in the school of engineering.) As we did last year, we will be mailing the students a package 3 times during the year to keep in touch and to let them know that their church family is thinking of them. In the fall the Junior and Senior High Youth groups assemble an assorted box of goodies which is always a surprise and delight to the receivers. We will also be pairing up church members and students as pen-pals. Actually, this is probably a one-way correspondence, but it can be great fun! Just pick a student and from time to time and on their birthday mail a funny card or note. It can mean so much to one far away! Please keep this group in your prayers as they confront the pressures of studies and making friends. The following are our college freshmen: Hadley Adkins (VCU), John Budd (Un. of Tenn.), Elizabeth Green (Va. Western), Courtney Minton (Un. of GA), Jan Steffe (James Madison Un.), Matt Wallace (Washington & Lee), and Lauren Woody (Mary Washington College). If you would like to be a pen-pal with a college student, please call Tallulah Gregory at 982-2535. |
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News Briefs
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ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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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. THE DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY GROUP will meet each Monday at 7:30 PM. THE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS will meet at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, October 2. THE PUMPKINS ARE COMING! The pumpkins will be delivered to the South Roanoke pumpkin patch on Tuesday, October 8. Visit the patch from October 9-28 to select your family's special pumpkin. We will also be selling corn stalks, Indian corn, and gourds for your holiday decorating. Help support our missions and local service projects by getting your Halloween pumpkin from our patch. There are also many shifts to fill through the three weeks the pumpkins will be here. If you can help out by working the patch, particularly during school hours when the youth are not available, please call Dawn Long at 989-2837. The weather is sure to be beautiful and the pumpkin patch is a very pleasant place to spend some time. Thank you for your support! THE FINANCE COMMITTEE will meet at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 7. THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE will meet at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, October 8. THE AFTERCARE SOCIAL CLUB will meet at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, October 8. THE ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP will drive into the mountains for a visit at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, WV on October 10. You will have an opportunity to see the lovely colors of Fall as we travel to the Casino Restaurant for lunch. Cost for this trip will be $2.00 for transportation, plus your lunch. The church van will leave from Stanley Avenue at 9:00 AM and return around 3:00 PM. If you have not signed up, please do so right away on the board by the church office. THE ROANOKE UNITED METHODIST HOME will sponsor a Yard Sale/Bazaar and Luncheon at the Home on Old Country Club Road on Thursday, October 10, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. There will also be a hot dog stand run by Doris Cutright and Virginia Shaver. For more information you may call Doris Cutright (772-9454), or Virginia Shaver (343-6079). LAITY SUNDAY is October 13. Our Lay Leader, Dr. Lee Anne Steffe, will deliver the message.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OCTOBER 13TH
at 5:30 PM for an evening of food, fellowship, and a presentation by Diane
D'Orazio. She will share photos and stories from the mission to
Kisumu, Kenya she went on with her son Brennan and Robin Dayton.
Please bring a main dish and a salad/vegetable to share. We look
forward to seeing you! |
