2330 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24014

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

Easter is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts.  As the people of God undertake spiritual self-assessment in this season of Lent we are getting ready for the new life God surely brings us through the resurrection at Easter!

Easter is also the perfect time to share that new life with others.  Your church invites you to bring a friend with you (or, even better, a stranger!) to church on Easter this year.  Let’s have the best attendance we’ve ever enjoyed on Easter Sunday.  It’s time to celebrate the meaning and power of the resurrection for our lives.

Easter will also bring a new beginning for our worship. On February 13 our Administrative Board approved a new worship service for our church.  On  Palm Sunday, March 20, South Roanoke Church will begin an alternative Contemporary Worship Service in the Fellowship Hall 9:00 am—9:40 am on Sunday mornings.  This service will feature the “praise music” and Praise Team that led our previous Wednesday night Contemporary Service.  I will preach the same sermon for both services but the 9:00 am message will be enhanced by “Powerpoint” projection with use of visual illustrations and videos. We also welcome back to our church staff as Director of Contemporary Music Rev. Cheryl Harrison-Davidson.

You will also want to watch your mailbox!  Your church is initiating a direct mail outreach to our community encouraging folks to visit us on Easter.  Three different postcards will invite persons in our area to our Easter Sunday worship services and Sunday School.  When you invite a friend to come with you on Easter Sunday ask, “Did you get our invitation?!”

Easter is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. Make the celebration of your Lord’s resurrection the focus of your life and family this year!

NEW  FELLOWSHIP  OPPORTUNITY

Gather ‘round the Coffee Bar
8:45 AM to 9:40 AM
 In the Fellowship Hall

Our Contemporary Worship Service
begins on a new schedule on Sunday mornings starting:

for those who are curious about the United Methodist Church or want to learn more about the Christian faith with Rev. William G. Davidson

Sundays  9:45—10:30 am in the library

 Schedule of topics

 March 6  “What is God like?”

 March 13  “The Bible:  You Can Take It At Its Word”

 March 20  “What Time Is It?—The Christian Calendar”

 March 27  “The Sacraments:  Signs of God’s Love”

 April 3  “United Methodists:  Connected and Called”

To help those in need in our community
GOAL:  $15,500.00
RECEIVED TO DATE: $1,013.15

South Roanoke Church has made a significant impact in our community through the years by our support of a number of local agencies and organizations that lift the quality of life in our area. Our church also joins with other United Methodists to support outreach through special offerings. Our 2005 Lenten Offering benefits these local agencies as well as United Methodist Special offerings: Habitat for Humanity, Pastoral Counseling Center, Roanoke Area Ministries (RAM), Rescue Mission, West End Center, CHIP, Human Relations Day, Heart Havens, One Great Hour of Sharing, Native American Awareness SunPOST /_vti_bin/_vti_aut/author.dll HTTP/1.1 Sunday, World Communion Sunday, Roanoke Valley Red Cross, Community Needs Response

Summer Camp Registration is now in Progress
The 2005 summer season will soon be here. Campers of all ages have already begun sending in their choice of seven different week-long session. This year there are new options for 3rd 6th and 9th graders. If you have not received your summer camp brochure, you can call the camp office (540-268-2409) and one will be mailed to you. You can also register on-line by visiting the registration page of the camp's web site at www.altamons.com/Registration  where you can check on dates and availability for each session. The camp will be ready to host about 800 campers this summer so bring a friend or make new friends. Come and be a part of the many new and exciting things happening at Camp Alta Mons this summer. 

God's Calling will be the theme for the summer of 2005. Counselors and program staff will be relating scriptures and stories about God calling His people (that's you and I) and specific individuals down through history (Anna, Samuel, Lydia, and Jesus' 12 disciples). 

NEW! Nature Program Added This Summer
Adam Regula, from Ohio and a rising junior at James Madison University, will be on the summer staff as the nature resource staff. This is a new program position on the summer staff. He will work with camp counselors and campers on a daily basis in planning activities which will bring about a better awareness and appreciation of God's creation and beauty that is around us every day. Adam's background in graphics science and his own interest in the environment will add a new dimension to stewardship. Adam states that "My faith provides me with ethical and moral guidelines for my actions, particularly to treat the people around me with love, compassion and respect. I also take very seriously my responsability as a steward of God's earth."

Open House Weekend
Would you like to see Camp Alta Mons again? Or perhaps for the first time? Then plan to come the last weekend in May, the 27th - 29th (Memorial Day Weekend). You can bring your family and friends for the day or overnight. Reservations are required for overnight guests (the earlier the better). There is no charge for lodging or programs offered during the weekend. The available activities will include swimming, wagon rides, crafts, campfires, fishing, hikes and much more. Meals will be offered in the dining hall at children's rates for anyone desiring food service. Remember, Friday - Sunday, May 27th - 29th.

MARCH 2005

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 April issue of the Tower Times by March 15 to Joe Kennedy, or email to joesrumc@aol.com. Articles can be sent at any time prior to the deadline. 

CHILDREN (ages 3 through 1st grade), may meet the acolyte to recess to Children’s Church. Please ask your child to line up behind the acolyte who will lead all children out together. After the worship service,
parents must pick up their child in the Children’s Department; children will not be allowed to leave the room until their parents arrive. 

WELCOME! We're glad to have all who have joined us for this time of worship. Especially to our guests and visitors, we welcome you to South Roanoke and to our fellowship. We invite those who have no church home to make South Roanoke your church and add your witness to ours. 

THE LENTEN WREATH OF THORNS: Each Sunday during Lent one candle is extinguished as the day of Jesus’ crucifixion and death draws near. The Christ Candle is extinguished on Holy Thursday during Holy Week. The wreath’s growing darkness signifies the sacrifice our Lord made for each of us and focuses our personal and spiritual preparation during this Season of Lent. 

THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE will meet on Tuesday, March 8, at 10:30 a.m. in the Wimmer Classroom. All women of the church are invited. 

THE AFTERCARE SOCIAL CLUB will meet on Tuesday, March 8, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for pizza and a talent show. Call Bonnie Dayton, 981-0237 if you would like more information regarding our Social Club. 

PASTOR’S INQUIRY CLASS continues through April 10 9:45-10:30 a.m. each Sunday in the library. All who are curious about the United Methodist Church or want to learn more about the Christian faith are invited! 

THE SEASON OF LENT is the perfect time for South Roanoke Church to lift up the first two of our “Ministry Priorities” for 2005: Membership Involvement and Spiritual Formation and Growth for All Ages. The two top priorities of our congregation this year call us to deeper discipleship. SERMON SERIES ON DISCIPLESHIP continues:
  Making Disciples: an Invitation to Life
  Sermon Series March 6 and 13
Lent is also a time to take up the discipline of prayer. Make a special effort this season to participate in our regular opportunities for prayer on Wednesdays:
  MIDDAY PRAYER
  Wednesdays 12 noon-12:20 p.m. in the parlor 

BILL AND PENNY HAYNES wish to thank members of the congregations for the many acts of kindness expressed during Bill’s recent hospitalization. Bill is recovering very nicely. 

THE ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP will meet for a catered lunch on Thursday, March 17 at 12:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Michaux Chopski, a gemologist, will present a program on how gemstones have played a roll in various historical events. Please sign up on the board by the church office if you would like to attend. Cost of lunch is $7.00 per person.   

THE UNITED METHODIST MEN will meet for breakfast on Saturday, March 19 at 8:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Reverend Herbert Hobbs, team chaplain for the VT football team will be the guest speaker. If you would like to make a reservation to attend please put UMM by your name on the registration booklet.  

HOLY THURSDAY COMMUNION SERVICE will be held on March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. There will be a Prayer Vigil on Friday, March 25 from 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. The United Methodist Men will see that someone is in the church the entire time so that no one will be alone in the church. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex for prayer times. You may pray at the church or at home. More than one can sign up for each time. 

May 16-19, 2005 (tentative) to St. Simon Island, Ga (Wesley Museum, Georgia Conference Center “Epworth by the Sea,” and Bob Garner on the Wesley’s) Cost approx $100/day ($400). Call Romona Williams, 774-6568 or Joe Kennedy, 344-4437 if you are interested.