Worship Times
9:15 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship 

February 3
Transfiguration Sunday
God is Closer Than You Think
Exodus 24:12-18, Matthew 17:1-9

 February 10
1st Sunday in Lent
A Hiding Place
Psalm 32, Matthew 4:1-11

 February 17
2nd Sunday in Lent, SCOUT SUNDAY
It Depends on Faith
Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17. John 3:16, 17 

February 24
3rd Sunday in Lent
A Test of Trust
Exodus 17:1-7, John 4:5-29, 39-42 

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
A Service of Worship for Ash Wednesday, The United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 323

  “Lent is such a depressing time of the church year!”  This is sometimes our reaction to the church’s remembrance of the passion, suffering and death of our Lord leading up to the great celebration of the resurrection at Easter.  These forty days were originally set aside by the early church as a period of preparation, penitence and prayer for new converts (or those who had left the church for a time) to recommit themselves to Christ and be accepted into the community of faith.  In our day we are all called to this spiritual journey of reflection, recommitment and reconciliation.

 Dust is the material from which God made us.  We were created by God’s grace.  Without God’s loving action in our lives we would not be who we are.  At the very beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday we are called to remember our origin.  We remember we come from nothing.  We also remember that God made us from nothing.  Without God, we are nothing at all.

 During Lent we remember that we are nothing without God—just dust and ashes.  But it is always the hope and promise of the resurrection that sustains us in our confession and penitence.  That is the reason the church does not “count” the Sundays in Lent among the forty days.  Sundays are always “little easters” when we come to worship.  We need to celebrate the resurrection in the midst of our self-examination.  If we don’t, the entire experience will surely become as depressing as we sometimes fear.

 May you be blessed with a confident awareness of God’s love for you in this season.  That is surely God’s intention for us as we remember together our Lord’s journey to the cross.

Join or visit an adult Sunday School class!

Wimmer Class (Senior Adult) - The International Lesson Series in the Wimmer Room

Wesley Class (All Ages) - Study and Fellowship - “The Letters of Paul” led by Everett Holland (Wesley Room)

Aldersgate Class (Young and Middle Adult) is reading and discussing A Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.   Anyone is welcome to join, we do have a few books left.  

CIRCLE NEWS

The Dottie Walker Circle will meet on Tuesday, February 12 at 10:30 a.m. in the Wimmer Classroom.  All women of the church are invited.

The Upper Room Circle meets on the first and third Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Aldersgate Room.  We are studying How Can I Let Go If I Don’t Know I’m Holding On?  by Linda Douty.  We go out for lunch after our meetings.  Call Dawn Long, 989-2837, for information.

It’s Time to Put Our Stewardship of
Service Pledges into Action

PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION BEGINS

Registration for the 2008-09 school year begins on Jan. 23, 2008 and continues until Feb. 10th.  This is a closed registration for SRUMC families and current SRUM Preschool/MDO families.  Open registration begins on Feb. 11, 2008 and continues until classes are filled.  Stop by the Preschool office or call Debby Rattenbury at 982-3707.

Dear Members of S.R.U.M.C.,

     On your behalf, Saturday, January 12th, I attended a District Leadership Training event at Cave Spring U.M.C., as co-chair of the Mission Committee.

     I want you to know that our District has 3 mission trips scheduled.  Want to go?  You can!  Mostly what it takes is a willing spirit.  The first trip is May 17-25 to Mazatenango, Guatemala.  This is a medical mission trip with a bit of construction and VBS included.  This mission is looking for a Pharmacist and a Dentist, but you can go and help with prescriptions (that is if you can count to 30), or swab children’s teeth with fluoride (looked pretty easy). This trip is lead by veteran leader of mission trips, Jean Broyles.  The second trip is one planned for McDowell Co, WV to help with Hands of Hope July 6-12th.  Primarily, one would be helping with the center, where families can find clothing and household items, or at the filling station, where families can come for a meal.  Judging from the presentation help is very much needed in this economically depressed area of West Virginia.  Leader for this trip is Marvin Gilliam, who has made this trip before and has lots of information.  A youth mission trip is scheduled for June 25-July12th to the Blackfeet Reservation in Northwest Montana.  Leader for this trip is Tim Craft of Bonsack U.M.C. and Katie Pickard of St. Mark U.M.C. 

     Think you might be interested?  You can learn more –talk to me–I will be happy to share what I know.

     Also, I attended the 2nd session and this was lead by 2 staff members from The Saint Andrew Project, which is the largest gleaning organization in America-started by 2 Methodist Ministers right here in Virginia.  Did you know there are 36 million hungry people in the United States, right here, children and the elderly and Moms and Dads?  Did you know that 96 billion, yep billion, pounds of food is wasted?  That every single dollar (that’s $1.00 - 100 pennies)  will make 50 servings of food?  That you could help feed the hungry?  See me—I can tell you how, or here’s an address, if you just can’t wait to help: Society of St. Andrew, 3383 Sweet Hollow Road, Big Island, VA 24526.  

     E-mail is sosausa@endhunger.org.  Their web address is www.endhunger.org.

Missions— it’s powerful!  We can all help in small ways and big ways to lift those that Christ is asking us to lift up and give a helping hand to.

FACILITY NEEDS

ON NOVEMBER 26 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TOOK ACTION on the Recommendations of the Facility Needs Task Group.  The Task Group’s recommendations, as called for by our “Five Year Plan” adopted November 29, 2004, are based on suggestions received from the congregation over the past several months.  Of the Task Group’s fifty-two (52) recommendations the Trustees are actively addressing twenty-six (26) of them at this time.  The following will be completed within the next few months:

CHURCH BUILDING
►Painting sanctuary interior;
►Hallway ceiling replacement;
►Painting hallways, office, supply room and fellowship hall interior;
►Repair, patch and paint Education wing rooms as needed (and mural);
►Handicap ramp access to gym front entrance and sidewalk repair 24^th  Street walk-way to kitchen door. 

PARSONAGE

►Parsonage interior room painting, landscaping, floor tile repair and driveway repair. 

The following items are currently under study:

CHURCH BUILDING
►Bathroom updating;
►Handicap-accessibility from fellowship hall level to sanctuary level;
►New hallway flooring. 

PARSONAGE
►Parsonage kitchen renovation 

These projects will be funded by two sources:

►Available annual church budget funds designated for facility needs
►Charitable bequests made to our Endowment Funds by members of our congregation. 

¨ Newsletter schedule:  The deadline for articles for the March issue of the Tower Times is February 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, February 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  If you would like more information regarding our Social Club please call bonnie dayton (981-0237

¨  West End UMC is sponsoring a trip to the Holy Land May 30-June 13.  Cost of the trip is $3,640.00.  There is a brochure on the bulletin board by the church parlor.  If you would like more information you may call The Reverend David Tanner, 344-0206.

THE DEADLINE for articles for the March issue of the Tower Times is February 15. Send articles to Kate Garrett or email to kgarrett@benefitsmanagement.com. Articles can be sent at any time prior to the deadline. 

AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX: The January/February Upper Room, large print United Methodist Hymnals, individual hearing enhancement equipment, and children’s bulletins (ages 3-12). Please ask an usher to assist you. 

THE UPPER ROOM CIRCLE will meet on Tuesday, February 5 at 10:30 a.m. in the Aldersgate Room. They are studying How Can I Let Go If I Don’t Know I’m Holding On? By Linda Douty. They go out for lunch after their meeting. Everyone is invited to attend. 

SOUTH ROANOKE UNITED METHODIST WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL and Mother’s Day Out Registration for the 2008-09 school year began January 23, 2008. This is a closed registration for SRUMPS students and siblings and for SRUMC families. Open registration for the public begins on February 11, 2008, and continues until classes are filled. Applications may be picked up in the Preschool office or call Debby Rattenbury, 982-3707, for more information . 

THERE WILL BE a meeting of the Trustees on Monday, February 4, at 7:00 p.m. in the library/conference room. 

THE AFTERCARE SOCIAL CLUB will meet on Tuesday, February 5, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. If you would like more information regarding our Social Club call bonnie dayton, 981-0237. 

SCOUT SUNDAY is February 17th! Join us as we celebrate the ministry of scouting through the Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations with our congregation. 

The ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP activities are posted on the bulletin board by the 24th St. entrance. Dr. Stephen ReMine from the Carilion Clinic will be the featured speaker for the February 21program. Reservations must be made by February 17. The Art Museum presentation has been rescheduled for March 13. Must sign-up by March 9. Reservations and $50.00 deposit for the proposed trip to Lancaster, PA, May 5-7, must be made by March 9. A minimum of thirty-five participants will be needed for this activity. Details on bulletin board. Invite your family and friends to join the fun. Everyone is Welcome.

2007 ADVENT OFFERING GOAL $11,000.00    —    RECEIVED $9,779.00

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 JOIN OR VISIT AN ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS!
Wimmer Class (Senior Adult) - The International Lesson Series in the Wimmer Room.
Wesley Class (All Ages) - Study and Fellowship—”Faith Sharing” led by Rev. Bill Davidson (Wesley Room).
Aldersgate Class (Middle Adult) is reading and discussing A Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. Anyone is welcome to join.
Pathfinders Class (Young Adult) is currently discussion Christian Relationship as our topic of study. This course of study will continue through February. The areas of focus include: communication, healthy conflict, respect and overall influences of religion on relationships. The Pathfinders are also focusing on increasing attendance to Sunday School for good discussions and fellowship. 

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CHILDREN’S CHOIRS

Children’s Choirs meet on Sundays at the start of Sunday school. The Cherub and Hosanna Choirs meet every Sunday morning from September-June. Cherub Choir is for children ages 3 years to 5 years old and Hosanna is for K-5th grade. The next time the children will sing for Sunday worship service is February 17th at 10:30 a.m. Mark your calendars now for Children’s Sunday on April 29th.The children will lead worship that day.