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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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DECEMBER 2007 |
The Pastor’s Message |
JANUARY 2008 |
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Worship Times
December 2, 2007
December 9, 2007
December 16, 2007 December 23,
2007 December 24,
2007 You are asked to read and study the text each week in preparation for worship. |
…they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2:4b Something happens to us this time of year. Despite the hustle and bustle of shopping, preparing for guests and arranging our homes for the holidays, somehow, even if for a brief moment, something happens to us at Christmastime. As we prepare for the season of Advent, that is exactly what we are hoping and praying for, not just for ourselves, but for all the world. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the promise we anticipate at Advent. The coming of the Christ Child marks for us the fulfillment of the promise of God to restore peace and justice to the world. By the gift of that love we are made new. At Advent we prepare once again to receive that love, deepen its influencing grace in our lives and share it with others. Something happens to us this time of year. By the grace of God, may we experience anew the life-giving spirit of the season. In the midst of frantic and sometimes hasty preparations that always seem to burden us with worry and stress this time of year, find for yourself moments of quiet personal reflection as well as joyous occasions of worship. The promise of God is true. The hope of Christmas is sure. May it all happen to you again this year! Rev. Bill |
December 30, 2007
January 13, 2008
January 20, 2008
January 27, 2008 |
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THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED Monday and Tuesday, December 24 and 25 for Christmas. Monday and Tuesday, January 1 and 2 for the New Year’s
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Please join us for the SRUM Preschool Christmas program on December 19th at 9:30 a.m. in the gym. A reception will follow. Registration for the 2008-2009 school year begins on January 28, 2008 and will continue until February 10th. This is a closed registration for current students, siblings and South Roanoke United Methodist Church members. You may pick up an application in the preschool office or call Debby at 982-3707 for more information. Open registration begins on February 11th. |
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INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK |
THE STAFF PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE |
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Please mark your calendar for the week of December 16th–23rd when SRUMC hosts the families of the Interfaith Hospitality Network at the youth house. SRUMC is responsible for providing meals, evening & overnight hosts for Sunday the 16th & Saturday the 22nd. In addition, we will need assistance picking up the trailer with the cots from the prior week’s host congregation. While this is a very busy time of year, if you haven’t helped out recently, please consider helping out with this wonderful mission. Remember, the IHN helps local homeless families get back on their feet. Anyone interested in helping with meals, please contact Ellie Clark at 721-3340 or Nancy Cumins for overnights at 985-0265. |
...that Dr. Rafael Scarfullery has accepted the position of Director of Music Ministries. A citizen of the Dominican Republic, Rafael (his last name is pronounced: scar foo yair ee) holds Bachelor’s, two Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in music. A classical guitarist, organist, conductor, composer and teacher, he will begin his ministry in this part time staff position on Sunday, December 9. We welcome him and his wife, Ingrid, to our church community! We are grateful to our Search Committee for their dedication: Bruce Long (chair), Beth Abbott, Terri Allen, Paula Coker-Jones, Bittsy Hall, Sarah Newcomb, Gene Swartz. Rafael will present a "Classical Guitar Recital of Christmas Carols" Sunday, December 9 at 4:00 pm. A love offering will be received in support of employer/ employee expenses incurred for his work permit required by the Department of Homeland Security. |
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ADVENT ANGELS ARE HERE !!! |
PUMPKIN PATCH REPORT – 2007 |
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The Advent Angel tree is up! The angel gifts are due back by Sunday, December 16. Remember, one gift only, please, for the angels on the tree. If you wish to do more, please adopt more than one angel, or for those who can go the extra mile, we have 40 angels who need extra help, whose family situations are the most precarious. For these angels we ask the adoptive parents to purchase clothing, a coat, underwear, toys, etc. Each of these angels will require an expenditure of $150.00 or more. These angels are not on the tree. If you can help with one of these special children, see Terry Wilkinson, 772-0490 or Dawn Long, 989-0237. Again this year, our angels are the children from the Henry Fork Service Center in Franklin County, and Clearbrook Elementary School in Roanoke County. As always, please wrap each gift and place a post-it note with the angel's name, number and the contents of the box on your gift. These will be removed later at the two locations. If you cannot shop, but would like to help, just write a check to the church and mark it Advent Angels and we will gladly shop for you. All angel gifts are due back no later than Sunday, December 16 at our Advent Angel Program. This will be a special evening for the entire church. At 6:00 p.m., you are invited to a special evening hosted by the Family Ministries Committee. At the conclusion of the evening's activities, our angel gifts will be presented and blessed in the sanctuary. The staff from the Henry Fork Service Center will be with us that evening to receive the gifts. Everyone is invited to join in for a very special celebration with your church family. |
We’ve just finished cleaning up our best pumpkin patch year ever! We had record sales of $12,246.00 of pumpkins. We had record donations of $853.00. Our total profit was $4,831.90. Our patch was open for 26 days for a daily profit of $185.00. Many thanks to our church family and all the groups who worked the pumpkin patch-Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, SRUM Youth Group, SRUM Preschool and the Missions Committee. It takes many hands to handle more than 2,000 pumpkins. We appreciate everyone who bought pumpkins, unloaded trucks and staffed the patch. Leftover pumpkins were donated to Mill Mt. Zoo, Preston Park Elementary, Mountain House, Westside Elementary, West End Center for Youth, Greenvale School, Rescue Mission, Fairview UMC and Henry Fork Service Center. A special thank you to Dawn Long, Barbara Barbour, Paula Coker-Jones, Debby Rattenbury, Kathy Cain, Lee Anne Steffe, John DeVerter, Don Roberts, Mark Knopf, Steve Wilkinson and the Upper Room Circle for many days of organizing, decorating, rolling pumpkins, hauling pumpkins and handling the money! The Pumpkin Committee |
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ADVENT ANGELS ARE HERE !!! The Advent Angel tree is up! The angel gifts are due back by Sunday, December 16. Remember, one gift only, please, for the angels on the tree. If you wish to do more, please adopt more than one angel, or for those who can go the extra mile, we have 40 angels who need extra help, whose family situations are the most precarious. For these angels we ask the adoptive parents to purchase clothing, a coat, underwear, toys, etc. Each of these angels will require an expenditure of $150.00 or more. These angels are not on the tree. If you can help with one of these special children, see Terry Wilkinson, 772-0490 or Dawn Long, 989-0237. Again this year, our angels are the children from the Henry Fork Service Center in Franklin County, and Clearbrook Elementary School in Roanoke County. As always, please wrap each gift and place a post-it note with the angel's name, number and the contents of the box on your gift. These will be removed later at the two locations. If you cannot shop, but would like to help, just write a check to the church and mark it Advent Angels and we will gladly shop for you. All angel gifts are due back no later than Sunday, December 16 at our Advent Angel Program. This will be a special evening for the entire church. At 6:00 p.m., you are invited to a special evening hosted by the Family Ministries Committee. At the conclusion of the evening's activities, our angel gifts will be presented and blessed in the sanctuary. The staff from the Henry Fork Service Center will be with us that evening to receive the gifts. Everyone is invited to join in for a very special celebration with your church family. |
Need to travel to Bethlehem for taxation?
The
Bethlehem Inn
*Reservations are needed* Simple Dinner & Entertainment
Families with children welcome
Special
One-Night Promotion:
Innkeeper:
Nathanial ben Baruch |
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THE ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP is staying busy and enjoying the fellowship this group provides. Fourteen “young-at-heart” members went to Wytheville to mark the beginning of the holiday season at Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre, seeing The Sanders’ Family Christmas. Mark your calendars now for the next outing on Thursday, December 13th. Hotel Roanoke will be the destination to see the Christmas dispay and then we will have lunch in the Regency Room. Cost will be $3.00 plus lunch. Departure time from the church will be 10:45 a.m. and lunch is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. You must register on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board by December 2. The January program will be on Thursday the 17th with lunch at noon. The speaker will be from the Art Museum. Cost will be $7.00. January 10th will be the deadline to register for this activity. Everyone is welcome! |
CIRCLE NEWS THE UPPER ROOM CIRCLE will meet at the church on December 4th at 10:30 a.m. We are studying the book “How Can I Let Go If I Don’t Know What I’m Holding On To?” By Linda Douty. We will meet at Lee Anne Steffe’s home on December 18th for a Christmas Lunch. THE MARY CIRCLE will have their annual Christmas Dinner at Carlos’ Restaurant on Tuesday, December 18th at 6:00 p.m. In January, the Circle will meet at the home of Jane Evans on the 15th at 7:00 p.m. The study of “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel will continue. Please contact Anne Ferguson (345-2436) for information. |
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THE ALDERSGATE CLASS enjoyed a breakfast social in class November 25th. We will be continuing the Faith based Harry Potter series through December 9, 2007. On December 16th we will start a new series called “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel. Please join or visit us! |
THE STEWARDSHIP OF SERVICE |
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THE UNITED METHODIST MEN are selling car wash tickets for $9.00 each from Tanglewood Car Wash (Shell Station). Each ticket is good for one exterior wash or can be used toward a more expensive wash and are good for one year. Please contact Jeff Huffman, Jay Sherertz, Tom Miller, John DeVerter or Jeff Roscoe. We would appreciate your generosity in buying some tickets. A reminder to UMM members—bring car wash tickets to church on Sundays. |
THE AFTERCARE SOCIAL CLUB will meet on Tuesday, December 4th for a Christmas party and bingo. On Tuesday, January 8th the club will meet to do their after Christmas shopping. Please call Bonnie Dayton—981-0237 for more information regarding our Social Club. |
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THE NEW FLOWER CALENDAR for 2008 is on the bulletin board by the church parlor. If you would like to reserve a date to remember or honor a loved one you may sign up on the calendar or call the church office to reserve a date. |
DON’T FORGET our non-perishable food collection the first Sunday of each month: December 2 and January 6. |
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24 TIPS FOR COPING WITH THE HOLIDAYS |
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1. Focus
on the meaning of Christmas |
15. Maybe
start new traditions 16. Volunteer. Help someone else 17. Be gentle with yourself and others 18. Remember all families have some dysfunction 19. Set differences aside 20. Seek professional help if you need it 21. You are not Martha Stewart or Father Christmas 22. Avoid being a martyr or a scrooge 23. Remember to laugh at yourself 24. Attend religious ceremonies 25. Merry Christmas! A Holy-day Polly Roberts, Pastoral Counseling Center |
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News Briefs |
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¨ Newsletter schedule: The deadline for articles for the February issue of the Tower Times is January 15. Send articles to Kate Garrett or email to kgarrett@benefitsmanagement.com. Articles can be sent at anytime prior to the deadline. ¨ The Aftercare Social Club will meet on Tuesday, December 4th for a Christmas party and bingo. On Tuesday, January 8th the club will meet to do their after Christmas shopping. Please call Bonnie Dayton—981-0237 for more information regarding our Social Club. ¨ The Dottie Walker Circle will meet Tuesday, December 11th at 10:30 a.m. in the Wimmer Classroom. All women of the church are invited to come. If you would like more information regarding this circle please call June Tegenkamp, 342-7784. ¨ The Mary Circle will have their annual Christmas Dinner at Carlos’ Restaurant on Tuesday, December 18th at 6:00 p.m. In January, the Circle will meet at the home of Jane Evans on the 15th at 7:00 p.m. The study of “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel will continue. Please contact Anne Ferguson (345-2436) for information.
¨ COMMITTEE
MEETINGS: |
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DECEMBER 2007 |
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| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
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1 |
| 2 Worship Service 5:00 Advent Angel Shopping |
3 |
4 10:30 Upper Room Circle 6:00 Aftercare |
5 12:00 Midday Prayer 7:00 Youth Leadership |
6 |
7 Sr. High Conference Retreat - Leave at 4:30 |
8 Sr. High Conference Retreat |
| 9 Worship Service 3:00 Sr. High returns 4:00 Concert by Rafael 6:00 Dinner & Scavenger Hunt 7:00 Finance Committee |
10 |
11 10:30 Dottie Walker |
12 12:00 Midday Prayer |
13 AFG at Hotel Roanoke - Depart Church at 10:45 |
14 |
15 8:00 AM - United Methodist men Breakfast Jingle Bell Run Advent Practice |
| 16 Worship Service Advent Program and Dinner |
17 7:00 Council on Ministries |
18 6:00am - Youth Breakfast & Bible study 6:00pm - Mary Circle at Carlos' - Christmas Dinner |
19 9:30 Preschool Christmas Program 12:00 Midday Prayer |
20 | 21 10-2 Making Cookies for homebound members
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22 |
| 23 Worship Service A Service of Lessons and Carols No Youth Activities Enjoy Family Time |
24
OFFICE CLOSED 5:30 Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service |
25
OFFICE CLOSED
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26 12:00 Midday Prayer |
27 5:30 AM - Youth Serving Breakfast at Rescue Mission |
28 11-4 Fun Day |
29 |
| 30 Worship Service |
31 |
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Celebrate the Christmas season at
The Aftercare Social Club will
meet for a Christmas Party
ef ef ef ef ef ef ef ef ef ef ef
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ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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THE DEADLINE for articles for the February issue of the Tower Times is January 15. Send articles to Kate Garrett or email to kgarrett@benefitsmanagement.com. Articles can be sent at any time prior to the deadline. THE
JANUARY PROGRAM for the
Adult Fellowship Group will be on Thursday the 17th, with lunch at noon. The
speaker will be from the art museum. Cost will be $7.00. January 10th will be
the deadline to register for this activity. Everyone is welcome! THE
AFTERCARE SOCIAL CLUB WILL meet on Tuesday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m. for
dinner, Christmas party, and Bingo. If you would like more information
regarding our Social Club please call Bonnie Dayton, 981-0237. THE
NEW FLOWER CALENDAR for
2008 is on the bulletin board by the church parlor. If you would like to
reserve a date to remember or honor a loved one you may sign up on the
calendar or call the church office to reserve a date. MARK
YOUR CALENDARS NOW for
the December 13th ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP outing. Hotel Roanoke will be the destination to see the Christmas display,
and then we will have lunch in the Regency Room. Cost will be $3.00 plus
lunch. Departure time from the church will be 10:45 a.m., and lunch is
scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Must register on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin
board by December
2. THE
JANUARY PROGRAM for the
Adult Fellowship Group will be on Thursday the 17th, with lunch at noon. The
speaker will be from the art museum. Cost will be $7.00. January 10th will be
the deadline to register for this activity. Everyone is welcome! ADVENT
ANGELS ARE HERE !!! The
Advent Angel tree is up! The angel gifts are due back by Sunday, December 16.
Remember, one gift only, please, for the angels on the tree. If you wish to do more, please adopt more than
one angel, or for those who can go the extra mile, we have 40 angels who need
extra help, whose family situations are the most precarious. For these angels
we ask the adoptive parents to purchase clothing, a coat, underwear, toys,
etc. Each of these angels will require an expenditure of $150.00 or more. These angels are not on the tree. If you can help with one of these special children, see Terry Wilkinson,
772-0490 or Dawn Long, 989-0237. Again
this year, our angels are the children from the Henry Fork Service Center in
Franklin County, and Clearbrook Elementary School in Roanoke County. As
always, please wrap each gift and place a post-it note
with the angel's name, number and the contents of the box on your gift. These
will be removed later at the two locations. If
you cannot shop, but would like to help, just write a check to the church and
mark it Advent Angels and we will gladly shop for you. All angel gifts are due back no later than Sunday, December 16 at our Advent
Angel Program. This will
be a special evening for the entire church.
At 6:00 p.m., you are invited to a special evening hosted by the Family
Ministries Committee. At the conclusion of the evening's activities, our angel
gifts will be presented and blessed in the sanctuary. The staff from the Henry
Fork Service Center will be with us that evening to receive the gifts. Everyone
is invited to join in
for a very special celebration with your church family. THE STAFF PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE IS
PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE that
Dr. Rafael Scarfullery has accepted the position of Director of Music
Ministries. A citizen of the Dominican Republic, Rafael (his last name is
pronounced: scar
foo yair
ee) holds
Bachelor’s, two Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in music. A classical
guitarist, organist, conductor, composer, and teacher, he will begin his
ministry in this part time staff position on Sunday, December 9. We welcome
him and his wife, Ingrid, to our church community! We are grateful to our
Search Committee for their dedication: Bruce Long (chair), Beth Abbott, Terri
Allen, Paula Coker-Jones, Bittsy Hall, Sarah Newcomb, Gene Swartz. Rafael will
present a “Classical
Guitar Recital of Christmas Carols” Sunday, December 9 at 4:00 pm. A love offering will be received in support
of employer/employee expenses incurred for his work permit required by the
Department of Homeland Security. CAR
WASH TICKETS ARE STILL FOR SALE! This
is a fund-raising project for our United Methodist Men.. Tickets are $9.00
each and good for one year. See Jeff Huffman to purchase a ticket. ADVENT
ANGEL SHOPPING is
scheduled for Junior mints, PM&M and youth. Junior Mints will shop on
December 11th and need to bring $10.00. PM&M will shop on December 6th and
will need to bring $10.00 as well. Youth will shop TONIGHT from 5:00-8:00 and need to bring $15.00 and this
includes dinner out. DON’T
FORGET TO BRING your
non-perishable food items to church with you next Sunday (the first Sunday of
each month) to be used to help the hungry in our own area. |
