2330 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24014

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

Just yesterday, as I write this, Bishop Joe E. Pennel, Jr., presiding over his final annual conference session prior to his retirement, "fixed" my reappointment to South Roanoke Church.  Cheryl and I will miss Bishop Pennel's leadership.  For us, he has been both an inspiring leader and a caring pastor.

As I return for this new year of ministry I am grateful to each of you for your patient love and support as I have tried to learn the mission, practice, and people of this congregation.  I continually covet your prayers for me as I seek to lead us where God is calling us to be.  Be also in prayer for our staff and lay leadership that we may all properly discern together our common mission.

As I begin my second year I need something else from you.  I need you to help us discern what it is we are called to do together in this particular time in the history of this congregation.  As you know we have already begun a process to focus our mission and vision in more specific, concrete ways through the "Creating Healthy Congregations" program.  Our Council on Ministries will meet on the evenings of July 27 and 28 to identify more fully the specific goals and ministries that will help us live out our mission.  Please be in touch with any of our leaders or drop us a note in the church office if you are led to any thoughts or ideas as to how South Roanoke's unique identity, passion, and resources can make a difference in our community and the world.

 With our mission stated so well:
As Christ Cares, We Care
and our vision described:
We care about all people.
We care about worship.
We care about learning.
We care about service.
We care about you.
We are a community of faith growing in God's grace.

We now begin to clearly define our specific goals and ministries that we can uniquely accomplish in this time and in this place in the name of Christ .

I rejoice in our second year of ministry together!  May God bless you as we serve the cause of Christ.

VBS 2004

AN INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK THANK YOU

222ND SESSION OF VIRGINIA ANNUAL  CONFERENCE 
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 

    The theme was “Transformed and Scattered: Christ’s Ambassadors in the World”. We met on Sunday June 13 thru Wednesday June 16 in Hampton, VA. The largest Session in the nation. United Methodist Churches are found in 167 countries.     Bishop for the last 8 years, coming from Nashville, TN., Bishop Joe Pennel will be going back to teach at Vanderbilt Seminary. For his retirement , he and his wife Janene received several gifts and praises. Both of them broke down and cried unashamedly. He joked that being a bishop is a lot like being a cemetery caretaker…” a lot of people under him but no one listening to him”.  Minnie Pearl was a member of his church in Nashville.

    The Conference Preacher was Rev. Stephen Bauman Sr. Pastor of Christ Church UMC in New York City, also popular commentator on WCBS.  He  said modern day RR tracks are 4ft 8 ½ ins wide based on a standard from Roman chariots…the width of two horses behinds. He asked if the Church is spiritually aware of the tracks upon which it is running today?  Also, let’s party like Jesus and the Wedding Party was his second topic. 
    Bishop Joao Machado from the United Methodist Church of Mozambique brought the Bible Study, his preacher-son interpreted for him. Based on Acts 2. He called for the church to be united as a community. Back in his area, if you ask a man “How are you?” he will tell you how he is also how his family is and how his community is. When an elephant dies all the community comes together to bury it.  Later Bishop Machado and his large team of missionaries gave a rousing program with drums, singing and clapping.  There were also representatives from Zimbabwe, Uganda and Sierra Leone.

REPORTS:   Va. United Methodist Women, celebrating 135 years in mission, raised over $1.1 Million , giving $755,000 to Missions and $332,000 to mission projects in Virginia, including Henry Fork, Wesley Community Center, Ferrum College, VUMAC and Healing the Hurts.   The Methodist Men  are now partners with  the Society of St Andrew (started and headquartered here in Big Island, Virginia). Also acting as a remote prayer room with the UPPER ROOM  in Nashville and supporting Heart Havens. The Methodist Youth Fellowship raised $52 thousand for VA Youth Service. From Russia, Rev. Menyalova in person gave her words of thanks for $200,000 given to her Church  from Virginia.   Over 41,000 Health, School and Baby Kits were given by churches from all over VA. Plus  $42,000 for   shipping and expenses.  Common Table Task Force, after over 2 years of work, brought their final plan for approval  of the conference. The plan attempts to restructure Conference leadership to become more responsible to local churches, also reduces staff 120 to 19.

RESOLUTIONS

APPROVED an overall budget of $25,661,646 at an increase of 5%.
APPROVED a task force for pastors to report Child Abuse.
APPROVED uplifting Mental Awareness throughout the year in the churches. To advocate for  increased funding for  individuals with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
APPROVED calling for Worker Justice in our society and a Living Wage (increase min. wage to 6.50 hr. APPROVED  awareness and participation in the UMCOR Coffee Project and support for fair trade. 
APPROVED encouraging Methodists and State Legislature to Follow a 2 week Welfare Diet to acquaint  all of us what they go thru with on a daily basis.
APPROVED by a close vote to ask Gov. Warner to order DNA testing in the case of Roger Keith Coleman to resolve maybe for good whether he was guilty or not..
APPROVED calling upon our state government to quickly abolish the Death Penalty for Juvenile Offenders.
APPROVED creating a task force on Biblically based Peace & Global   Security. 
TABLED supporting an increase in Tobacco Tax on Cigarettes  to 75 cents.

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.

MAD Week 2004

Staff-Parish Relations Committee

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.) 

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.