South Roanoke United Methodist Church

2330 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24014

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

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER                                                                       MAY 25, 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                                O God Thou Faithful God                                   Brahms
         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: Christ Jesus has commanded us to love as he loved us.
     Congregation:  We gather to grow in love.
     Minister:  We gather to learn to love not only the lovable, but the unlovable.
     Congregation:  We gather to abide in love.
     Minister:  We gather to learn to love in easy times and in times of trial.
     Congregation:  We gather to love as Christ Jesus loved.
     Minister:  May his love be our commandment.
+Opening Prayer
     Minister:  The Lord be with you.
     People:  And also with you.
     Minister:  Let us pray:
     God of love, we confess all our failures of love: the words of comfort and care that were not spoken, the forgiveness that was not offered, the anger and hurt that have hardened our hearts. We confess the distaste and scorn that caused us to turn our heart away from unlovely people who most need our love. Soften us, God of love, and warm our spirits, that they may open into the gentle embrace of acts of love. We ask this in Jesus’ name who loves us even in our brokenness. Amen.  
+Hymn 145                                      Morning Has Broken                                       Bunessan
Children’s Time                                                                                                       
                                 (Children leave for Children’s Church. See * below)
Solo                                  How Beautiful Upon the Mountains                                   Harker
                                                      (Jack Wimmer, bass)
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
    -Mark and Reuben  Knopf  -Ross Lemon  -Jess Kent (*see address)
     -Liz & Bill Richardson (death of daughter-in-law)    -Whitt Hall 
     -Madeline Drewery (Michelle Goacher’s grandmother)    
     -Helen Crumpler (RMH)     -Stephanie Williams (death of aunt)
     -Pat and Emil Kuelz (death of son, Keith)     -Jeanne Hogan
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.
Offering of Tithes and Gifts to God's Work 
   Offertory Prayer 
    Offertory                                    Our Father in Heaven                                        Buxtehude
+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  566                                 Blest Be the Dear Uniting Love                                 Evan
Scripture Lesson (N.T. pg 109)                                                                              John 15:9-17
     The word of the Lord.
     Thanks be to God.
Sermon                                      “What Is A Friend?”                                      Amos Rideout
+Hymn  526                           What a Friend We Have in Jesus                             Converse
+Benediction
+Postlude                           Good Christians One and All Rejoice                          Micheelsen

+Indicates the people standing

 THOSE SERVING TODAY:
  Acolytes: Austin Mundy and Tyler Mundy
  May Altar Guild Chairmen: Sandi Clemmer, Margaret Nedrow and Mary Haislip
  Ushers:   Captain-Richard A. Linkous, W. Jackson Burrows, Brownie Polly,
  David Mundy, Walter H. Dickey 

The Altar Flowers Are Given
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
In Honor of Taylor Witt’s Birthday
By Grandmother, Shirley Witt 

*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, “The Meaning of Communion” will be based on I Corinthians 11:24-25 and Matthew 26:26. Please read and study these texts this week.

OUR GUEST ORGANIST TODAY is Dr. Donald G. Moe. He is a retired professor of organ from Roanoke College. Dr. Moe is active in the American Guild of Organists, as a substitute throughout the Roanoke Valley, and in the music program of College Lutheran Church, Salem. We welcome Don to our service today.

 WE WILL BEGIN OUR SUMMER SCHEDULE JUNE 1 AND CONTINUE THROUGH AUGUST 31. This year’s schedule will be a little different from previous years. Sunday School for all ages will begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by the morning worship service at 10:00.  

 *JESS KENT’S ADDRESS: c/o Bertie and Bruce Crowder; 7600 Red Oak Lane, Charlotte, NC 28226.

 EVERY YEAR between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day we are given the opportunity to contribute to the Samaritan Offering through the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Your gift assists residents in Virginia United Methodist Homes who can no longer afford to pay the full cost of their care. No gift is too small. Make your check payable to South Roanoke UMC and earmark it “Samaritan Offering” and place it in the offering plate this morning.

 THE CONGREGATION expresses sympathy and concern to: Pat and Emil Kuelz in the recent death of their son, Keith; to Liz and Bill Richardson in the recent death of their daughter-in-law, Debby Richardson; and to Stephanie and Jay Williams in the recent death of Stephanie’s aunt.

 USHERS ARE NEEDED FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE. About 200 ushers will be needed between Monday, June 16 and Thursday, June 19. Please call Ray Reed, 981-3351 if you can help. 

THE CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP SERVICE has adopted an abbreviated summer worship schedule. There will be no regular Wednesday night services from May 21st through the summer. In their place, special Wednesday night services will be announced in the bulletin. A regular Contemporary Worship Service schedule will resume in the Fall.

 THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND HOMECOMING COMMITTEE would like your help with a number of activities as we prepare for the 50th Anniversary/Homecoming on September 21, 2003. If you would like to sort/identify church pictures, please contact Becky Austin at 342-8101. If you would like to videotape church interviews or you are a skilled calligrapher, please contact Andrew Sherman at 345-5057. A number of church members are already hard at work to make our 50th Anniversary & Homecoming something special. We welcome any and all help.

 GREETERS NEEDED!!! We have had a difficult time finding greeters for Sunday mornings. This is a small but important part of our service because the greeters provide the first impression of South Roanoke United Methodist Church. Starting in June, families or individuals wishing to be greeters may sign-up outside the church office. All that is required is to be at the front door 15-20 minutes before the start of worship. Please check your calendars and volunteer to be a greeter!

 THE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN will have their Annual Salad Supper on Tuesday, June 10, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. You are asked to bring a salad or dessert to share. This is a wonderful time of fellowship for our women.

YARD SALE

It’s time to clean out your closets again and just in time to help support the yard sale SRUMC will be hosting on Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7 in the Fellowship Hall. The proceeds will go to ministries in Kenya. If you have items you would like to donate to the sale, please contact Diane D’Orazio at home: 725-9886 or by cell phone: 797-9886. The church fellowship hall will be open from May 29-June 5 for you to drop off items for the sale, or you can call Diane and she will arrange for them to be picked up. We will need folks to help price items during the week before the sale and to help sell the days of the sale. Please let Diane know if you can help in these ways. Thank you!!!!