South Roanoke United Methodist Church

2330 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24014

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

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT                                                                 MARCH 30, 2003 

Welcome to South Roanoke United Methodist Church.  Our mission is to bring persons to know the love of Jesus Christ, to provide opportunities for a growing personal relationship with God, and to provide biblical and theological training in order that persons may discover and develop their talents to serve Christ and share His love in our world.
                                               ORDER OF SERVICE-11:00 A.M.

+ Indicates the people standing
                                                                ENTRANCE
Gathering Music   
       As the prelude plays, please use this time for quiet reflection in preparation for worship.  
Chiming of the Hour
Words of Welcome, Registration of Attendance and Announcements
     (We encourage all of our worshipers to please sign the registration pad as it is passed along the pew; visitors are requested to also list their address. After it has been passed, please return it to the center aisle. If you wish to join this church by letter of transfer or profession of faith, please check “wish to join” on the registration pad.)
Call to Worship
     Minister: Teach us your ways, O Holy One; teach us to walk in your paths.
     Congregation: Your steadfast love has sustained us in times of trial.
     Minister:  Your redeeming love has gathered us from the corners of the earth.
     Congregation: Your healing love has saved us from the sickness of sin.
     Minister:  Teach us your ways, O Holy One; teach us to walk in your paths of love.
     Congregation: Redeem us, O Holy One, and bring us to refuge in you.
                                                                              -Inspired by Psalms 25 & 107
+Prayer of Confession (In Unison)
      Redeeming God, you have raised us again and again from death into new life. Yet, again and again, we have chosen to ignore your commandments that offer us health and wholeness. Again and again we have chosen to disobey the law of love that you wrote into creation to provide generously for all. Again and again we have been poor in mercy, stingy in kindness, ungracious and unfaithful. Invite us to the waters of repentance and breathe your Holy Spirit warmly this day on our spirits, that we may blossom into flower and fruit yielding manyfold for your realm. Amen. 
+Hymn 577                   God of Grace and God of Glory                     CWM Rhondda         
Children’s Time                                                                           Socks That Don’t Match        
                                   (Children leave for Children’s Church. See * below)
Anthem                                            We Would See Jesus                                           Courtney
     We would see Jesus; lo! His star is shining above the stable while the angels sing; There in a manger on the hay reclining; Haste, let us lay our gifts before the King. We would see Jesus, Mary’s son most holy, Light of the village life from day to day; Shining revealed through every task most lowly, The Christ of God, the life, the truth, the way.
     We would see Jesus, on the mountains teaching, With all the list’ning people gathered round; While birds and flowers and sky above are preaching the blessedness which simple trust has found. We would see Jesus, in His work of healing, at eventide before the sun was set; Divine and human, in His deep revealing of God made flesh, in loving service met.
     We would see Jesus, in the early morning, still as of old He calleth, “Follow me!” Let us arise, all meaner service scorning: Lord, we are Thine, we give ourselves to Thee. We would see Jesus, Shepherd, Savior, Cornerstone; The Bread of Life, beloved Son of God, the risen Lord who claims me as His very own, bids me to follow where His feet have trod.   
Sharing of Joys and Concerns 
     -Catie Wright  -Kathy Cain  -Bertie Crowder (daughter of Jess and Martha Kent)    
     -Madeline Drewery (Michele Goacher’s grandmother)    
     -Debby Richardson (daughter-in-law of Liz & Bill Richardson)
     -Norma Ruble and Family (death of Norma’s father)
     -Jean Patterson (Penny Haynes’ Mom—stroke)
Pastoral Prayer  
The Lord's Prayer                                                                                        Hymnal, No. 895
     Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Lenten Offering Message
Offering of Tithes and Gifts to God's Work
    Offertory Prayer 
    Offertory                                       
+Doxology                                                                                                       Hymnal, No. 94
     Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
+Hymn  600                               Wonderful Words of Life                                Words of Life
The Scripture Lesson  (N.T. pg. 192)                                                              Ephesians 2:4-10
     The word of the Lord.
     Thanks be to God.
Sermon                                     “The Power of Regret”                                    Amos Rideout
+Hymn 390                              Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive                                Detroit
+Benediction
+Postlude                          

+Indicates the people standing 

THOSE SERVING TODAY:
  Greeters:  Jim and Phyllis Brandy
  Acolytes:  Matt Gregory and Bo Frith
  March Altar Guild Chairman: Dawn Long
  Ushers:   Captain-Calvin L. Witt, William C. Neal, John W. Steffe, Kenneth L. Witt,
  Kenneth L. Motley, Carl B. Sherertz, Tim Dayton, Everett Holland 

The Altar Flowers are Given
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
In  Memory of Loved Ones
By Franklin and Pat Whitman 

*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. 

NEXT WEEK’S SERMON, “Responding to the Unexpected,”  will be based on John 12:20-33. Please read and study the text this week. 

NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR WORSHIP:  WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 7:00 P.M. CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP SERVICE. The Reverend Robert H. Garner will deliver the message, “The Cry of Dereliction” based on the scripture Matthew 27:45-54.  

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LENTEN SERVICES:
          April 2 - “The Cry of Dereliction, Bob Garner, Matthew 27:45-54. 

JOIN THE ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP on May 6-7 for a visit to Fredericksburg. Many exciting activities are planned for the group while in Fredericksburg. For details check out the Adult Fellowship Board by the church office. There are hand-outs that will give you all the details of the trip. Also there are other activities listed on the board for you to check out. 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Be ye fishers of men. You catch them—He’ll clean them. 

SOFTBALL SEASON WILL BEGIN SOON. Practices will be held on Sunday afternoons from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Norwich Park beginning Sunday, March 30th. Anyone who wants to play should contact Brett Marston, 989-0623. Games start the week of April 21st.  

PENNY WILL BE ON VACATION the week of April 7-11. If you could answer the office phone any during that week please call Penny at 344-4437. 

APRIL 6—7:45 P.M. CHARGE CONFERENCE in the Wimmer Classroom for the purpose of setting the salary of the incoming pastor. Our District Superintendent, The Reverend Tom Joyce, will preside. All Administrative Board members are to be in attendance. 

THE ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP will take a day trip on Thursday, April 10 to Jubilee Acres, the Rescue Mission’s Conference Center in Botetourt County. They will take along box lunches. Also, you will want to sign up for a catered lunch at the church on Thursday, April 17 when Prentice and Betsy Moran and Romona Williams will show the group how to play Mexican Train Dominoes. Sign up on the board by the church office for both of these activities. 

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:
  Wednesday, April 16, 7:00 p.m.—Contemporary Worship Service
  Maundy Thursday, April 17, 7:30 p.m.—Communion Service
  Good Friday, April 18—6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sanctuary open for prayer
  Good Friday, April 18—6:00 p.m.—Easter egg dye
  Saturday, April 19—8:00 a.m. United Methodist Men
  Saturday, April 19—11:00 a.m. Easter egg hunt
  Easter Sunday, April 20—6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service in Columbarium
  Easter Sunday, April 20—11:00 a.m. Morning Worship Service, Robert Garner 

SUNDAY SCHOOL—Matthew 28:19-20 the Great Commission says, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Sunday School at SRUMC does just that. It provides a comprehensive organization whose core is made of wonderful dedicated teachers. They accept the truth of the Bible and head for its application to current living. Members are engaged in regular, meaningful, relevant Bible study. Teaching God’s word they challenge us to make decisions about our relationship with God and our Savior Jesus Christ. The environment found in a small group of caring individuals who meet regularly to encourage and support one another, centered on the Bible, provides the best possible setting for the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction and regeneration. Join us at Sunday School this Sunday (9:45 a.m.), and every Sunday you possibly can, in the study of God’s word. If you need help finding the right class call Pat/Emil Kuelz at 540-774-8446 or 540-353-8246 or E-Mail at kuelze@infi.net. 

ON FRIDAY, APRIL 18 at 6:00 p.m. please join us for our Annual Easter Egg Dye in the SRUMC gym. Please bring 1 dozen hard boiled eggs to dye and leave at the church and 1 dozen hard boiled eggs for you to dye and take home. Additionally, could each child bring 1 bag of wrapped candy to stuff in our plastic Easter eggs. The church will provide pizza and drinks for supper, and the dye for the eggs.  ON SATURDAY, APRIL 19 at 11:00 a.m. please join us for the Annual Easter Egg Hunt on the church lawn. Everyone is invited and the Easter Bunny will be present at both events.  

WE ARE IN NEED OF ALTAR GUILD CHAIRMEN. If you would like to serve one month of the year in this position please call Natalie Rude, 345-1634, or Tallulah Gregory, 982-2535. As Altar Guild Chairman you would be in charge of calling the florist each week to order flowers, take flowers to sick or shut-ins after the service as needed, and see that the altar is in order for the Sunday morning worship service. Natalie or Tallulah will train you if needed. If you have any questions please give one of them a call. 

THE PROCEEDS FROM THE LENTEN OFFERING will benefit ministries near and far. Half of the proceeds up to $6,000.00 will go to help an Appalachia project at the Jubliee Center in Sneadville, Tenn. this August. A large group (30-40) of youth and adults have planned to go this year and it will be a wonderful collaboration between our church and a ministry we’ve been supporting for several years. The Jubilee Center helps a community in one of the poorest counties in our nation. This project will provide repairs to the existing center and to homes in the community. There will be opportunities to lead Bible studies and share in fellowship with the town’s youth who depend on the Jubilee Center for spiritual and emotional guidance. The other half of the $6,000.00 will go to support missions in Kenya including a possible mission trip to Kisumu by Dr. Diane Dorazio. The trip will not take place if the US State Dept. determines that Americans traveling abroad is unsafe. Dr. Dorazio will be living and working at an orphanage and community health clinic in Kisumu for 3 weeks. Also, time will be spent at the Agape Children’s Home for street boys in giving guidance with the agriculture program. Any proceeds that exceed $6,000.00 will be divided three ways between local, national and world missions. Don’t let the many needs overwhelm you. Your generosity in the past has touched many, many lives. You’ve helped to shine a light in the darkest of places. Thank you. Use one of the envelopes in the pew for your gifts. 

THE CONGREGATION expresses sympathy and concern to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ruble in the recent death of Norma’s father, Tom Snider. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.