2330 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24014

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

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
       John 14:27a

      At this writing I have just returned from celebrating the May 16th. 175th. anniversary of my first appointment, Concord Church in Sussex County.  Bishop Pennel led us in a wonderful time of worship, remembrance, and fellowship.  Immediately after seminary 27 years ago I became of the pastor of the South Sussex Charge (2 churches) while Cheryl served as pastor of the Sussex Charge (2 churches).  The people and community of Concord Church are particularly special to us for we made our very first parsonage home there.  It was good to see so many with whom we spent among the best four years of our lives.  They truly gave us a good beginning in ministry and sent us on our way well-prepared for service in the name of Christ.
     Upon returning home that same day we enjoyed another treat.  The Talent Show!  What a wonderful time was had by all as persons of all ages and talents made for a truly unique celebration of the community we share in our church.
     These two experiences, both in one day, brought to me once again the real gift the church gives to each of us--the gift of community.  Other organizations and groups can provide a sense of togetherness and can fulfill the deeply human need of companionship.  But only the church offers the fellowship of the Body of Christ where the peace of Christ reigns.
     I knew that fellowship in my first appointment and enjoyed its renewal that Sunday morning.  I experienced it again that same Sunday night.  May that fellowship always sustain and nurture us as we seek to fulfill the vision Christ has for us in our service together that all may know that same peace.

Volunteer male and female mentors (age 17 and up) are needed to help staff these annual camps for children of incarcerated mothers. Sponsored by the Bishop's Initiative on Children and Poverty, these experiences are for children ages 7-11.  Although mentors do not lead activities, they provide supervision and companionship to the children in their daily activities, mealtime, and bedtime rituals. It is an intense and challenging experience. There are four camps this year:

   August 1-6 at Camp Highroad (week-long overnight)
   August 9-13 at FFA/FHA Camp in Smithfield (Day Camp)
   August 15-20 at Westview on the James (week-long overnight)
   September 24-26 at Camp Overlook (weekend overnight)

Creating Healthy Congregations Workshop
June 6,  3:00—9:00 PM

Vacation Bible School 2004

   Be a Good Sport.  Join the Team at SonGames 2004!  We’re excited about SRUMC’s Vacation Bible School to be held July 26-30.  This year’s program is SonGames 2004, a week of sporting good fun!  At SonGames, children will discover how to live as members of God’s team as they Join In! Team Up! Get Strong! Keep On! And Celebrate!

We Need Your Stuff!

The SRUMC annual Miracle of Missions rummage sale is coming up June 4-5. The proceeds will go to support ministries in our Sister City of Kisumu, Kenya. The ministries include the Agape Children’s Home, the Salem Orphanage, TEMAK (Teenage Mothers Assoc. of Kenya), the New Life Baby’s Home and Kisumu Hospice. We also hope to provide support to missionary Dr. Jerome Freund who will serve for a year at Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. 

Please help us help our friends in Kenya by cleaning out your closets and donating to our sale. You can bring items to the church fellowship hall as early as Saturday, may 29th. If you need help with larger items or boxes, please call Diane D’Orazio (775-9886). We also need your help in sorting and pricing items the week before the sale and we need volunteers to help man shifts one or both days of the sale.

Youth News

Youth Summer Calendar

Junaluska:  June 27-July 1. We are still accepting registrations for our summer church camp for grades 6-12. Contact Tim for info or to sign up.

Vacation Bible School: July 26-30 (Youth helpers overnight—July 23-24)

 Jubilee: August 1-7. We are returning to the Jubilee Center in TN for our week long mission trip. Anyone from grade 9 and up is invited to join us. This year it looks like we will be working on all new construction as well as visiting the local nursing home and other local service projects. Contact Tim for more info and to sign up.

 Exciting idea generates another need:  Our adult youth council met and came up with an exciting summer opportunity. We would like to offer summer youth activities on a weekly basis. We are looking for 8 families who would sponsor 1 activity each—Your Choice: movie night / trip to lake house / cookout / camping / laser tag…  You pick the week and activity. Call Terry Wilkinson (772-0490)  to schedule a date.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUMMER SCHEDULE
(June 6—August 22, 2004)
9:00-9:45 a.m.   Early Worship
9:45 a.m.       Sunday School
11:00 a.m.    Worship
The Contemporary Worship Service on Wednesday
nights is suspended for the summer

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.

PLEASE SEND ARTICLES for the July/August issue of the Tower Times by June 15 to Joe Kennedy, or email to joesrumc@aol.com. Articles can be sent at any time prior to the deadline. 

FAMILY MINISTRIES is looking for volunteers to help with upcoming events. This is a fun and rewarding way to be involved with the life of the church. If you are interested, please call Bittsy Hall (982-6725), Becky Austin (342-8101), or Lee Anne Steffe (344-4477.) 

IF YOU HAVE A college or high school graduate this year, please call the church office as soon as possible so we can recognize them in an upcoming bulletin. 

THE CHURCH OFFICE will be closed on Monday, May 31 for the Memorial Day Holiday. 

THE SRUMC ANNUAL MIRACLE OF MISSIONS rummage sale is coming up June 4-5. The proceeds will go to support ministries in our Sister City of Kisumu, Kenya. The Ministries include the Agape Children’s Home, the Salem Orphanage, TEMAK (Teenage Mothers Assoc. of Kenya), the New Life Baby’s Home and Kisumu Hospice. We also hope to provide support to missionary Dr. Jerome Freund who will serve for a year at Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. Please help us help our friends in Kenya by cleaning out your closets and donating to our sale. You can bring items to the church Fellowship Hall as early as Saturday, May 29th. If you need help with larger items or boxes, please call Diane D’Orazio (725-9886). We also need your help in sorting and pricing items the week before the sale and we need volunteers to help man shifts one or both days of the sale. This sale has become a tradition at our church that we hope you will support. It’s a labor of love that touches many lives.  

EACH YEAR FROM MOTHER’S DAY TO FATHER’S DAY, we are given the opportunity to contribute to the Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc. A gift of $68.00 to the Samaritan Offering adopts for one day a resident of a community of Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc. whose personal resources are no longer adequate to meet the cost of care. Annually, churches, church organizations and individuals provide $225,000-$250,000 for residents who receive benevolent care. Make your donations today by making your check payable to SRUMC and earmarking  it “Samaritan Offering”. 

WANTED: South Roanoke United Methodist Preschool’s Mother’s Day Out is looking for a newer model Pack and Play or Port-a-crib for the church nursery/Mother’s Day Out room. Please call Colleen Marston or Debby Rattenbury at 982-3707 to make your donation. 

RESULTS OF THE MINISTRY AND WORSHIP SURVEY are available in the church office. Your leaders thank you for your thoughtful responses. 

THE CONGREGATION OF ROCKINGHAM COURT UNITED METHODIST needs your prayers at this time. On May 14, one of our very active members, Adam Wickham died at William Byrd Middle School during his gym class. After running the mile, Adam told his coach he didn’t feel well and then collapsed. He was never revived. The doctors say his heart just simply stopped beating and there was nothing that anyone could do. Adam was an eighth grader and 14 years old. The Wickham family is a large family and a large part of this congregation, and they have all watched Adam grow up. What the minister of Rockingham Court would like to do is invite you to send cards of support and encouragement to this congregation from our congregation. Adam’s family is receiving lots of cards, but sometimes the church family also needs to receive those same expressions of love. The church’s address is: Rockingham Court United Methodist Church, 4615 Bryan Road, Roanoke, VA 24014.                                                                       -Jo Ellen Hetherington, Pastor

THE FAMILY OF JANET AND REUBEN KNOPF invites the congregation to drop by the Fellowship Hall following services on Sunday, June 6 to help celebrate Janet and Reuben’s 50 years of marriage. The actual wedding date is June 5. 

REUBEN KNOPF attended his 50th medical school reunion in Charleston, SC and joined the Golden Grad’s Association. This association is made up of those who graduated 50 or more years ago. He was awarded a gold medallion and enjoyed renewing friendships with his 1954 classmates. 

CALLING ALL KIDS 1st grade through rising 7th grade for a Music, Art and Drama week, July 19-23! We will have fun as we produce a complete musical performance and play with boomwackers, handbells, learn movement and dance for the stage and make sets and decorations. Performances will be at Southview UMC on Friday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m., and South Roanoke UMC on Sunday, July 25 at 4:00 p.m. Contact Joe Kennedy for a registration form or other information. (Transportation may be available each day from SRUMC.) 

CONFIRMAND KEMPER STEFFE is participating in the National Odyssey of the Mind Competition with his teammates from Patrick Henry High School this weekend and will be confirmed at a later date. 

THE CONGRGATION expresses sympathy and concern to Dicky Linkous and family in the death of his sister, Ruth Linkous Willm, May 26. 

REV. CHERYL HARRISON-DAVIDSON has served as our Director of Contemporary Worship from last September until the “summer suspension” of our Wednesday night Contemporary Worship Service. The congregation is grateful to her for her leadership on our church staff.

                                      MAY SERMON SERIES
                              The Household of God: Three Keys to a Healthy Life
Have you ever wondered what life is really like in the household of God? God does provide the
maturity and grace to negotiate the anxious and difficult moments of life to those who seek it.
          1.         May 2  The Household of God (Ephesians 2:19-22; John 14:27)
          2.         May 9  The First Key to a Healthy Life-Accept Differences (Acts 11:17-18; John
              13:34-5)
          3.         May 23  (Ascension Sunday)     The Second Key to a Healthy Life–Focus on
              Strength  (Acts 1:6-11; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53)
       4.     May 30 (Pentecost Sunday) The Third Key to a Healthy Life-Focus on Mission
              (Acts 2:1-8, 12-21; Romans 8:14-17; John 14:25-27)

_________________________________________________________

                             “PASTOR’S INQUIRY CLASS”
                                 With Rev. William G. Davidson
                                              for those who:
                                                             † are curious about the United Methodist Church or
                                                              † want to learn more about the Christian faith or
                                                              † are new members of the church or
                                                              † are considering becoming members of the church 

Sunday mornings, 9:45 a.m.
May 2—June 6
In the library
 

Schedule of topics 

                                    May 2  “What is God Like?” 

                                    May 9  “The Bible: You Can Take It At Its Word” 

                                    May 16  The Mission and Ministry of South Roanoke United
                                                  Methodist Church 

                                    May 23  “What Time Is It? - The Christian Calendar” 

                                    May 30  “The Sacraments: Signs of God’s Love” 

                                    June 6  “United Methodist: Connected and Called”