South Roanoke United Methodist Church

2330 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24014

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

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY                                                        NOVEMBER 23, 2003

As Christ cares, we care… We care about all people.
We care about worship... We care about learning.
We care about service... We care about You.
We are a community of faith growing in God’s Grace. 

ORDER OF SERVICE-11:00 A.M.
Thanksgiving Sunday

+ Indicates the people standing

ENTRANCE

Gathering Music                              Let There Be Peace On Earth                                Sherman
                                                          (Youth Handbell Choir)
         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                      Bill Davidson  
     (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 
+The Opening Prayer  495                                                                    The Sufficiency of God  
     God, of your goodness give me yourself; for you are sufficient for me. I cannot
     properly ask anything less, to be worthy of you. If I were to ask less, I should always
     be in want. In you alone do I have all. Amen.
                                                                                       -Juliana of Norwich, England, 15th cent.
+Hymn 694                     Come, Ye Thankful People, Come                     St. George’s Windsor
Reception of New Members                                                                                            Page 33
     (Being received into membership this morning are: Lee and Jennifer Faulkner; 2306
     Wycliffe Ave. SW 24014, 857-8932, Ed and Dayna Taylor; 435 Willow Oak Dr.
     SW 24014, 345-4174, and Kelly A. McKenny; 399 Lakeshore Drive Hardy, VA 24101.)
Hosanna Choir                                         Dry Bones
Children’s Time 
                               (Children leave for Children’s Church. See * below)
Anthem                                         For the Beauty of the Earth                                         Rutter
     For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies: Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.
     For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light: Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.
     For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild: Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.
     For each perfect gift of thine to our race so freely given, graces human and divine, flow’rs of earth and buds of heav’n: Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.
Sharing of Joys and Concerns 
       -Lucille Walton        -Mike Ferguson      -June Reynolds (Aunt of June Tegenkamp) 
       -Jevon Rose (uncle of Noah in our preschool) 
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                                                 Bell Fanfare                                                  Brown
Presentation of Disciple Bible Study Pins                                                                   Patty Oshida
+Doxology                                                                                                          Hymnal, No. 95
     Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below;
     praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
     Amen.
The Old Testament Lesson                                                                                       Bill Davidson
     (O. T. pg. 847)                                                                                                    Joel 2:21-27
     Pastor: The word of the Lord.
     People: Thanks be to God.
The Epistle Lesson  (N.T. pg. 208)                                                                       I Timothy 2:1-7
     Pastor: The word of the Lord.
     People: Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Lesson  (N.T. pg. 6)                                                                       Matthew 6:25-33
     Pastor: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
     People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon                                           “God Is Enough”                                            Bill Davidson
[Sermon manuscripts are posted on the church website the Monday following the service each week.www.srumc.com] 
+Hymn 129                                Give to the Winds Thy Fears                                 Festal Song
+Benediction
+Postlude

+Indicates the people standing 

THOSE SERVING TODAY:
  Greeters:  Bill and Ellie Clark
  Acolytes:  Katherine Witt and Taylor Dayton
  November Altar Guild Chairmen: Natalie Rude and Tallulah Gregory
  Ushers:   Captain-Richard A. Linkous, W. Jackson Burrows, Brownie Polly,
  Mark Knopf, David Mundy, Walter H. Dickey                      

The Altar Flowers Are Given
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
In  Memory of Those Members Who Have Died This Year
By The United Methodist Women 

*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. 

THERE WILL BE a meeting of the Charge Conference TONIGHT at 8:00 p.m. in the Wimmer Classroom. All members of the Charge Conference are urged to attend.

DOLLS AND STOCKINGS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY are in the library. If you would like to stuff a stocking or dress a doll, please sign them out in the library. All dolls and stockings need to be returned to the library by November 30. 

NEXT WEEK’S SERMON, As Christ Cares We Care, will be based on Jeremiah 33:14-16; I Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36. Please read and study these texts this week. 

THERE WILL BE NO Contemporary Worship Service on Wednesday, November 26 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. We hope everyone will take this time to be with your families. 

THE CHURCH OFFICE will close at 12:00 on Wednesday, and will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28 for the Thanksgiving Holidays. 

THE WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL is collecting non-perishable items for the Ronald McDonald House. If you would like to make a donation please bring your items to the preschool office during office hours Monday-Friday. They will be collecting these items until December 15. 

THE NEW FLOWER CALENDAR for 2004 is on the bulletin board by the church parlor. If you would like to sign up to put flowers on the altar in memory or honor of a loved one please sign your name on the calendar. We need to start thinking about the Sundays in January so that we will be assured of altar flowers each Sunday morning for our worship service. 

ALL YOUTH will meet at 5:00 today to go shopping for our Advent angels. Please bring $10.00 ($5.00 to eat and $5.00 for the angel). No Youth next week, November 30th. 

MEMORIAL GIFTS: Given to the Glory of God and in Memory of A. Katherine Jacocks by: William T. Covington, Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Horace L. McPherson, Mrs. Katherine Wise, Mrs. Patricia Forlano and family, Ardis M. Emanuelson and Sara W. Jacocks. 

THE CONGREGATION expresses sympathy and concern to Everett Holland in the recent death of his aunt, Martha Peake.

                                                                              CHURCH CALENDAR
SUNDAY                                          3:45 p.m.    Praise Team
                                                          5:00 p.m.    Adult Handbells
                                                          5:00 p.m.    All Grades UMY
                                                          6:00 p.m.    Hosanna Choir
                                                          6:00 p.m.    Cherub Choir
                                                          8:00 p.m.    Charge Conference
MONDAY                                        7:00 a.m.    Prayer Breakfast
                                                         12:30 p.m.    First Aid Class for Preschool
                                                                             Teachers
                                                           3:30 p.m.    Girl Scouts 
TUESDAY                                         7:00 p.m.    Boy Scouts
WEDNESDAY                                12:00 p.m.    Office Closes
THURSDAY                                    OFFICE CLOSED
FRIDAY                                          OFFICE CLOSED

_______________

SERMON

November 23, 2003            24th Sunday after Pentecost            God Is Enough
Christ the King Sunday    Joel 2:21-27; 1 Tim 2:1-7; Mt. 6:25-33
(Thanksgiving Sunday texts)
            [NOTE:  This is the entire manuscript of the sermon which was edited during its preaching
            due to time restraints in the worship service.] 

God is enough.  That’s the message of these Bible passages today, isn’t it?  God is enough. 

The prophet Joel in the Old Testament celebrates the promise of an abundant harvest following a period of drought.  He tells the soil, the animals, and the children not to fear—God is enough. 

Paul writes to Timothy in this New Testament letter to assure him there is one God and one who makes everything right between God and humanity—Jesus Christ--God is enough. 

Jesus in Matthew’s New Testament Gospel tells his followers, “Don’t worry—God provides for even the most insignificant of creation, so how much more will God provide for you.”  Jesus says seek for God first—God is enough. 

Juliana of Norwich, a 15^th century English woman of faith, says it well to God in her prayer which we offered as our Opening Prayer this morning:
          God, of your goodness give me yourself; for you are sufficient for me.
                                                               United Methodist Hymnal, “The Sufficiency of God,” 495
Do you believe that today?  As you sit here this morning and hear this Word of God from the Scripture and offer this prayer, do you believe that God is enough? 

What do these texts say about those who really believe that God is enough?  The prophet says they don’t fear—they know without a doubt that God is among them and they will never be put to shame.  What does Jesus say about them?  Jesus says they don’t worry—they don’t worry about what to eat, drink, or wear.  Jesus says because they seek God first they know all these other things will come.  What about you?  Are you afraid?  Is there fear in your life?  Would you describe your life as quiet and peaceable?  Do you worry?  Do you really believe that God is enough? 

Now don’t misunderstand the Scripture this morning.  There is a good and healthy place for fear in your life.  There is a good and healthy place in your life for the desire for food, drink, and clothing.  The impulse of fear, hunger, thirst, is basic to all living creatures.  This impulse is a good gift of God which is essential to survival.  So fear in itself is not bad; the impulse of hunger and thirst in itself is not bad.  The problem is we are so impulsive.  The impulse itself is fine—it’s how you control the impulse that is the issue.  Do you control your fear or does your fear control you?  Do you control your hunger and thirst or do they control you? 

Recent studies of the human brain have revealed the part of the brain that is the source of this impulse.  This is the more primitive part of the brain we share with almost all animal life.  This is the part of the brain that signals immediately when something is wrong—at the point of danger or alarm it takes over for the thinking, logical, reasoning part of the brain and causes you to take immediate action.  It is responsible for your split-second reaction to danger.  It takes over when there is no time to weigh decisions or consider options; in moments like that it takes control.  This is the most primitive and most basic part of the brain.  That fear is healthy fear and a good gift of God.  The impulse in response to this reaction is vital to life itself.  Fear is not the issue.  It is how you respond to fear. 

The issue is not the impulse.  The issue is impulse control.  Imagine you are 4 years old and someone makes the following proposal:
          If you’ll wait until after I run an errand, you can have 2
          marshmallows for a treat.  If you can’t wait until then, you can only
          have this one—but you can have it right now.
It is a challenge sure to try the soul of any 4 year old, a measure of how adept the child is at controlling impulse.  I don’t know how I would have done!  Controlling impulse is at the root of all emotional self-control.  Scientists say if you can control impulse then you are well on the way to getting a handle on this thing called life.  Dr. Walter Mischel of Stanford University conducted this test with many 4 year olds in the 1960’s and then followed them throughout their lives.  In his study he noticed a big difference between “the grab-marshmallow now” preschoolers and those who delayed gratification and ate 2 marshmallows later.
          Some four year olds were able to wait what must surely have seemed an
          endless fifteen to twenty minutes for the experimenter to return.  To
          sustain themselves in their struggle they covered their eyes so they
          wouldn’t have to stare at temptation, or rested their heads in their arms,
          talked to themselves, sang, played games with their hands and feet, even
          tried to go to sleep.  These plucky preschoolers got the two- 
          marshmallow reward.  But others, more impulsive, grabbed the one
          marshmallow, almost always within seconds of the experimenter’s
          leaving the room on his ‘errand.’
Dr. Mischel followed up on these same preschoolers when they were adolescents 12 to 14 years later.
          Those who had resisted temptation at four were, as teenagers, more
          socially competent: personally effective, self-assertive, and better able to
          cope with the frustrations of life. They were less likely to go to pieces,
          freeze, or regress under stress, or become rattled  and disorganized when
          pressured; they embraced challenges and pursued them instead of giving
          up even in the face of difficulties; they were self-reliant and confident,
          trustworthy and dependable; and they took initiative and plunged into
          projects.  And, more than a decade later, they were still able to delay
          gratification in pursuit of their goals. 

          The third of so who grabbed for the marshmallow, however, tended to
          have fewer of these qualities, and shared instead a relatively more
          troubled psychological portrait.  (As teenagers) they were more likely to
          be seen as upset by frustrations; to think of themselves as “bad” or
          unworthy; to regress or become immobilized by stress; to be mistrustful
          and resentful about not “getting enough;” to be prone to jealousy and
          envy; to overreact to irritations with a sharp temper, so provoking
          arguments and fights.  And, after all those years, they still were unable to
          put off gratification.
                                         Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence, Bantam Books, 1995, pp. 81-82 

God is enough.  Adam and Eve were told, “from this tree you cannot eat;” but they ate anyway.  They could just not control the impulse.  God went looking for them, “Where are you?”  And when God found them, what did they say, “We heard the sound of you in the garden and we were afraid.”  The Scripture says that those who really believe God is enough do not fear, live quiet and peaceable lives, and do not worry.  What the scientific community is just now recognizing as a matter of emotional intelligence, emotional growth, the church has know for a long time to be a matter of spiritual intelligence, spiritual growth.  The church didn’t really need this scientific evidence to verify this truth of faith but nevertheless the results of these studies should be no surprise to people of God. 

Evelyn Underhill in her book The Spiritual Life says
          We mostly spend (our) lives conjugating three verbs:  to want, to have,
          and to do.  Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political,
          social, emotional, intellectual—even on the religious—plane, we are
          kept in perpetual unrest:  forgetting that none of these verbs have any
          ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and
          include in, the fundamental verb, to be:  and that being, not wanting,
          having, or doing, is the essence of a spiritual life.
                                         Evelyn Underhill, The Spiritual Life, quoted in A Guide to Prayer for
                                         Ministers’ and Other Servants, Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck,
                                         eds., The Upper Room, Nashville, Tn., 1983

We are sometimes so afraid, we too often worry so much that we give way to the impulse to want and to have and to do while all along we just need to be—to be who we are, to be where God has made us, to be the children of God, to be the one who knows that God is all I need.  The church teaches you, doesn’t it, to do whatever it takes—cover your eyes, sing, play games, quote scripture, go to Sunday School, get into a small group—do whatever it takes to control that impulse until your soul settles in on the truth. 

You know what the basis of the spiritual life is.  It is living each day knowing you are constantly held in God’s eternal arms.  We spend so much time hoping and praying that God might be with us that we miss entirely that God was already here and is here right now.  As Christians we must learn to resist the impulse to want and to have and to do, resist the impulse to crave, clutch, and fuss after so many things in life.  God is enough. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let the church help you with this this Thanksgiving.  Let God into your heart that you may grow more trusting of God’s care in your life.  Give your children and your grandchildren that gift of love which will foster in them a life of confidence and trust. 

Before us this morning is a wonderful sign and symbol of the sufficiency of God—a sign that South Roanoke Church believes that God is enough.  There is good news here.  Scientists who study emotional intelligence have found that if you take a very impulsive child and put him in the proper environment with the right community where appropriate impulse control is encouraged and reinforced the chances are that that child will develop a mature sense of balance in impulse control and ultimately make peace with life.  Scientists have shown that in such an environment actual chemical changes take place in the brain, the signals are actually re-routed through the more mature and less primitive parts of the brain and reactions to impulse become more manageable and more appropriate.  Now its nice to have a bit of scientific confirmation but we Christians have known for a long time what God can do in a heart once it is surrendered to God.  Christian conversion and nurture is a gift of God which brings healing and wholeness to life.  The Church shares that life.  It is the life Christ came to restore. 

In this coming blessed season of the year, let the church help you, your children, and your grandchildren.  Believe it and teach it—God is enough!  Do not fear, live a quiet, peaceable life, do not worry.  God is enough!  Thanks be to God.
                                                                                             William G. Davidson