2330 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24014

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

     As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your...gifts?

               Baptismal Covenant I, p. 38

  This year we have placed a unique emphasis on the Christian understanding of stewardship.  As you know our Comprehensive Stewardship Plan has called for us to grow in our spiritual maturity through the four vows of stewardship affirmed by all members of our congregation:

  February—April           The Stewardship of Prayer
  May—July                   The Stewardship of Presence
  August—October         The Stewardship of Gifts
  November—January    The Stewardship of Service 

  Our annual emphasis on the Stewardship of Gifts is our Christian celebration of the bounty of God’s grace in our lives.  It calls us to remember that all we have is a gift of God.  We return to God a portion of that generous gift as we make our offering to God through the church.  The more we learn to give, the more we become like God.  The more we give, the more we are set free from the bonds of a culture that holds us captive to the need to “get, accumulate and acquire.”  I believe the stewardship of giving is the most effective means for us to transform our lives and purify our hearts for the service of God.

  I invite you to this special emphasis on this spiritual discipline this season.  I am preparing a series of sermons on this topic.  You will receive a letter in the mail with your financial pledge card for your support of the church for 2007.  Our Lay Leaders will receive your card from you on Laity Sunday, October 15 during the worship services (or you may mail it in to the church office).

  The ministry of South Roanoke Church is significantly challenged this coming year with the request for additional staff for our ministries with Children and Communications.  Your even stronger support is needed in order for us to accomplish this and grow our church membership, especially among young families with children.  Please be generous in your response.

YOUTH NEWS

First, let me say welcome back to all the youth who have been away this summer. We had many of you gone for more than a few weeks at various camps or family vacations. You have been missed. I hope that we will see a lot of you this program year.

Youth Praise Band has begun. We are very fortunate to have Steve Wilkinson, Evan Jones, Joseph Dickey, Jimmy Jennings, Thomas Haynes, Jacob Long, Taylor Dayton, Kelsey Grimes & Lucy Jennings leading worship for our youth on Sunday nights. We are blessed to have so many talented youth within our group

As you know I will be on Maternity Leave for most of the Fall. I am so excited to have so many wonderful Youth workers to fill in when I am out. Terry Wilkinson will be coordinating most of the fall. We are so blessed to be working with Dawn & Bruce Long, Beth Abbott, Cameron and Jeff Huffman, Don & Polly Roberts, Mark and Margaret Knopf, Barbara Barbour, Tim and bonnie Dayton, Caty Joppich, Vickie Sherertz, Steve Wilkinson, Evan Jones, Morgan Stanfield and the Davidson’s. We are extremely fortunate to have Hal & DeCille Adkins and Doug and Susan Dorsey spearheading our Sunday night youth dinners. Meals are always a treat!

It is a blessing to see so many of our church members willing to serve in this capacity. Thank you.

PUMPKIN PATCH is happening again this October (yeah!). We will need lots of help Saturday, October 7^th, at 9:00 a.m. to unload pumpkins. This is a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. Please plan to be with us to help unload the truck. Youth weeks are 10/7-13 and 10/23-26 & 10/30-31. We need our YOUTH, PARENTS AND YOUTH FRIENDS to help cover these days of pumpkin sales.                                            

Planning Ahead:
October 1st                          Canvas the neighborhood for Pumpkin Patch
October 7^th                           Pumpkin’s arrive at 9:00 a.m.
October 15^th                         Sr. High will work on College Care Packages
October 29^th                         Family Ministries – Caribbean Night
October 31^st                         Youth sponsored Children’s Carnival
November 10-12^th               Jr. High Conference Retreat
November 19^th                     Advent Angel Shopping
December 1-3                      Sr. High Conference Retreat
December 10^th                     Advent Angel program

Finally, This October 1^st will mark my second year anniversary at SRUMC. I want to say that I have loved working with the Youth and the Church members this year. Thank you for all your help, encouragement, support and instruction. I look forward to this next year with excitement.

Thank you.

CHILDREN NEWS
October 2006

PMM weekly schedule:

2nd-4th Thursday of the month:
3:45 – 4:00  Children Arrive
4:00 – 4:15  Snack
4:15  -4:30  Music with JOE ~ hand bells/boomwhackers
4:30 – 4:40         Music with Bill ~ music
4:40 – 5:00  Games (outdoor & indoor)
5:00 – 5:25  Lesson Activity
5:25 – 5:30  Joys and Concerns
5:30   Pick-up

First Thursday of the Month is Fun day. Schedule changes to 4:00-6:00
3:45 – 4:00  Children Arrive
4:00 – 4:15  Snack
4:15  -4:30  Load Vehicles / Travel time
4:30 – 5:40  Activity
5:40-  6:00  Load Vehicles / Travel
6:00  Pick-up

We will have our First Fun day on October 5th, 2006. Plan to pick up your child at  6:00 p.m. ~ Cost is $5.00. We will have a pool party so bring your towel, bathing suit & goggles. See you there!

A activity fee of $10.00 per participant will be asked as a donation this year to help cover cost of supplies and activities. That is $5.00 a semester. Thank you for your help.

************************* NEW THIS YEAR ****************************

OUR NEW K – 2nd grade PROGRAM has begun. We follow a 4:00 – 5:30 schedule with the goal of offering our K-2nd graders an opportunity for learning, growth and fun during our school week. We will study lessons, learn music, play outdoor and indoor games and have opportunities for hands-on learning through cooking, crafts and drama.

Our weekly schedule includes:
3:45 – 4:00  Children Arrive
4:00 – 4:15  Music class with Joe
4:15 - 4:30  Snack
4:30 – 4:50  Games (outdoor & indoor)
4:50 – 5:10  Lesson Activity
5:10 – 5:30  Group Activity (based on lesson)
5:30 – 5:45  Joys and Concerns / Pick-up

We hope to see you there. Please call Paula at 344-4437 with any questions or  concerns or if you would like to volunteer with this program.

South Roanoke United Methodist Church
Youth sponsored…...

Children's Halloween Carnival

Tuesday, October 31st
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Come join us for some fun.
We will be joining the Stanley Avenue festivities..

We will have games & prizes
Tricks & Treats...
Hope to see you there!

PANS, PALMS, and PUMPKINS

OCTOBER 29 at 5:30

Family Ministries'  Fall Festival will have a Caribbean flavor this year.  Instead of bobbing for apples or square dancing we will be entertained by the delightful sights and sounds of "pans,"  better known as steel drums.  The wonderful group SPIRITUAL STEEL will perform a variety of music for us.  This talented, energetic group is led by Richard Rudolph and includes several members from SRUMC.

We'll start the informal evening with dinner in the fellowship hall.  Sliced ham as well as dessert will be provided.  Please plan to bring one side dish or salad to share.  This would be a great time to try out a Caribbean recipe.

FALL CHOIR SCHEDULE

  The fall choir program starts with rehearsals for the Praise Team (6:45) and the Chancel Choir (7:30) on Thursday, September 7th. 
 We will be singing each Sunday after that. 

  The Adult Handbells and Cherub Choir will start on Sunday, September 10th
  The children’s choirs will be on a new schedule this year as we combine their music with the weekday activities on Tuesday for the K-2nd graders and Thursday for the 3rd-5th graders. 

  All adults in the church are invited to join us for our luncheon on October 19, 2006.  Our guest speaker will be Bill and Cheryl Davidson.  They will be giving a presentation on their trip to China and Korea.  This is another special luncheon you will not want to miss! 

THE WALKER-RAGLAND MEMORIAL FUND HOLIDAY BAZAAR

Saturday, November 11, 2006   8:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.

  The Adult Fellowship Group will be sponsoring a Holiday Bazaar to raise money for a memorial for Dottie Walker and Mary Ragland.  These funds will be used for upgrades to the childrens’ Sunday School area including a wall mural in the Sunday School hallway.  Our goal is to raise at least $750.00.  Included in the bazaar will be baked goods, arts and crafts, a white elephant table and other items.  Free hot coffee and tea will be served.

  We will also be featuring the Walker-Ragland Memory Lane display.  For this we want to ask anyone who has a specific fond memory of Dottie and Mary (as a friend or former student) to write your memories in a short paragraph and submit it to Nancy Leslie or the church office by Sunday, November 5th. 

  We would also like to encourage anyone who can donate items in any category for the bazaar to bring them to the church by noon on Friday, November 10th.  Any monetary donations will also be thankfully accepted and appreciated.  Also, we will greatly appreciate any offer to help in organizing and setting up on Friday and manning the tables on Saturday.

  Questions? Want to volunteer?  Call Nancy Leslie at 343-3831.

  We look forward to seeing everyone participating in this year’s events.  All adults in the church are welcome.  Bring your friends.  We always have fun!!

   COMMUNITY NEEDS RESPONSE
 

SRUMC has raised funds through the Lenten Offering that may be distributed to local agencies for special needs.  Donations to many organizations (including Habitat for Humanity, Roanoke Area Ministries, Rescue Mission, C.H.I.P., Red Cross, Pastoral Counseling Center, West End Center) are in our Local Missions budget and some of these also receive funds above our original amount.  For instance, we gave an additional check to the local Red Cross last year since funds had been depleted through hurricane relief.  Among other special requests last year were bus passes for women at the Turning Point, a grant for the Girl Scouts at Trinity UMC and prescription assistance for residents at the YWCA.

We are interested in knowing about community needs of which our members are aware.  If you are a board member and/or volunteer for a local non-profit group you may be especially aware of needs, but affiliation is not necessary.  Please send us any requests your group may have along with contact information by Nov. 1.  You may email them to us or drop written requests by the church office.

Janie Wallace
wallace005@cox.net

A Chrismon Tree for Advent!

What is a “Chrismon" you might ask?    Chrismons are a type of Christmas  tree decoration used in many churches and often in the homes of Christians.   Chrismons (CHRISt  MONogram) are tree ornaments that proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ through the use of symbols. The symbols used represent a variety of biblical and theological concepts that are well known among most believers. Technically, if the ornaments on a Christmas tree are comprised mostly of Christian symbols, the tree is known as a "Chrismon Tree".  Most Chrismons are white with gold decorations of wire, beads, ribbon and glitter.

Mrs. Frances Kipps Spencer at Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia first developed the Chrismons in 1957.  Mrs. Spencer set out to create decorations appropriate for a church Christmas tree and gave the copyright for the word "Chrismons" to Ascension. The Chrismons add their white and gold beauty to the Christmas season and make the celebration of our Lord's birth more meaningful by emphasizing God's great Gift to the world, our Savior Jesus Christ.

The evergreen tree, which symbolizes the eternal life, which our Savior has won for us, forms the   background for tiny white lights and white and gold Chrismons designs. The lights speak of Him who is   the light of the world, and the Chrismons ornaments proclaim the name, the life, and the saving   acts of   Jesus. White is the liturgical color for Christmas, and suggests the innocence, purity, and perfection of our Savior. It is the color of joy and light. Gold is a symbol for the glory and majesty of   God and the Son of God.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.