THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
DECEMBER 14, 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.
+ Indicates the people standing
ENTRANCE
Gathering Music
Carol Prelude
Hopson
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
+Processional Carol 240
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Mendelssohn
Lighting the Advent Candle
The Shirley Witt Family
Reading of Isaiah 35:10
Leader: We light this candle as a symbol of Christ our Joy.
May the joyful promise of your presence, O God, make
us rejoice
in our hope of salvation.
All:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
Concerns and Prayers
-Courtney Lou (Coco) Tierney (Polly Roberts’ sister)
-Greta Evans
-Jim Odum (Steve Wilkinson’s brother)
Offering of our Tithes and Gifts to God’s Work
Offertory Prayer
Offertory
+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.
A Festival of Lessons and Carols
By Hal Hopson
Carol
0 Come, All Ye Faithful
1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye,
to
Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of angels.
Refrain:
O
come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come, let us adore
him, Christ
the Lord.
2. True God of true God, Light from
Light Eternal, lo, he shuns not the Virgin’s
womb; Son of the Father,
begotten, not created;
Refrain
3.
(choir only)
4. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning. Jesus,
to
thee be all glory giv’n. Word of the Father, now in flesh
appearing:
Refrain
First Lesson
Genesis 3:8-15
Carol
God Walked in Eden’s Garden Fair (choir only)
Second Lesson
Genesis 22:15-18
Carol
The God of Ab‘ram Praise (choir only)
Third Lesson
Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7
Carol
Comfort, Comfort, O My People
Fourth Lesson
Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9
Carol
Low, How a Rose E ‘er Blooming (choir only)
Fifth Lesson
Luke
1:26-35, 38
Carol
There is No Rose (choir only)
Sixth Lesson
Matthew 1:18-23
Carol
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (choir only)
Seventh Lesson
Luke
2:8-16
Carol
Angels We Have Heard On High
1. Angels we have heard on high sweetly
singing o’er the plains, and the mountains
in
reply echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis
Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
2.
(choir only)
3.
(choir only)
4. See Him in a manger laid, whom the
choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend
your aid,
while our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain
Eighth Lesson
Matthew 2:1-11
Carol
From a Distant Home (choir only)
Ninth Lesson
John
1:1-14
Carol
Joy
to the World
1. Joy
to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let ev’ry
heart prepare
him room, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, and
heav’n and
heav’n and nature sing.
2. Joy
to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ; while fields
and
floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the
sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
(Choral Interlude – choir)
3. He rules the world with
truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories
of his righteousness, and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,
and
wonders, wonders of his love.
Benediction
Bill Davidson
The Chancel Choir of South Roanoke United Methodist Church
Joseph H. Kennedy, Director
Dr. Donald Moe,
organist
Salina Davidson,
flute
Dawn Long, Colleen Marston, and Janie Wallace,
handbells
Indicates the people standing
THOSE SERVING TODAY:
Greeters: Andrew and Christy Sherman
Cross Bearer: Austin Mundy
Acolytes: Matthew Gregory and Bo Frith
December Altar Guild Chairmen: Natalie Rude and Tallulah Gregory
Ushers: Captain-William Brenton, Jr., Prentice E. Moran, Joseph L.
Austin,
William Richardson, Jay Williams, Ross Jeffries, William P. Wallace, Jr.
*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,
He Who Comes, Comes Through You,
will be based on Luke 1:46b-55 and Luke 1:39-45. Please read and
study these texts this week.
YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP
will be Wednesday, December 17, at 7:00 p.m. at the Contemporary Worship
Service. Brett Marston will deliver the message.
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.
WE NEED ALTAR FLOWERS: 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. January is completely vacant. Please think about
signing up for flowers in January so we will be assured of having altar
flowers each Sunday morning.
PLEASE SEND ARTICLES for the
January issue of the Tower Times by December 15 to Joe Kennedy, or email
to joesrumc@aol.com.
THE ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP will
meet for a catered lunch in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, December 18
at 12:00 p.m. when Joe Kennedy will present a short program of favorite
carols played at the organ. All adults of the church (of every age) are
welcomed. Sign up on the list on the board by the church office if you
would like to attend.
AS ALWAYS at Christmas time the
Christmas wreaths are given in Memory of Mr. John E. Easter, who for many
years served on the Administrative Board of South Roanoke United Methodist
Church. This is the last year that this estate gift will be available for
decorations at Christmas and Easter. This gift was given by the Fannie
Easter Estate.
SPECIAL ADVENT OFFERING FOR OUR CHURCH
STAFF-GOAL $7,660.91
RECEIVED TO DATE $3,705.00
As most of you are aware by now, your church staff will not receive
any raises again next year due to our current budget restraints. We are
concerned that our staff received no increase in 2002, received only about
a 1% increase in 2003, and will again receive no increase in 2004. We are
also concerned that “continuing education” has been denied our full-time
staff since funding for those opportunities was removed from the church
budget two years ago. In that light, your Staff-Parish Relations Committee
has been granted permission to receive a special Advent offering that will
support our staff members. This offering will help us grant as a “bonus”
this year the 2004 salary increases we originally recommended for them
based upon their performance evaluations. It will also allow us to make
funds available for their “continuing education” next year. Place your
gift in the offering plate (marked “Staff Christmas”) or mail it so that
it will be received at the church office by Friday, December 19.
-Staff-Parish
Relations Committee
THERE WILL BE NO Contemporary
Worship Service on Wednesday, December 24 and December 31. We will
celebrate the birth of Christ with a Holy Communion and candlelight
service at 5:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary on Christmas Eve.
103 NEEDY CHILDREN BLESSED BY “ADVENT
ANGELS” THIS YEAR! South Roanoke Church has provided Christmas love
and gifts for 103 children this year (86 through the Henry Fork Service
Center and 17 of the Clearbrook Community in Roanoke County.) 60 angels
were on the tree designated to received one gift only. 43 were on our most
needy list-families who would be unable to provide any gifts for their
children. An average of $150-$200 was spent on each of these 43 angels.
Additionally, more than $2,000 was given by church members to support this
effort. A special thanks to Terry Wilkinson and Dawn Long who coordinated
this generous effort again this year. It is quite possible that our church
generously shared up to or more than $10,000.00 in Christmas love this
year!
HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY to Harriet
Minichan on December 18th. It was so good to see you in church last week
lighting the Advent candle.
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.
ED TAYLOR, former minister of South
Roanoke UMC has had a stroke. Anyone who would like to send cards may do
so at the following address: 2300 Pimmit Drive Apt. 214, Falls Church, VA
22043-2833.
MEMORIAL GIFTS: Given in Memory of
Jeanne Hogan by: Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Fowler; Given in Memory of
Katherine Jacocks by: Henry M. Jacocks, Jr., Henry & Patricia Jacocks,
Lucy H. Rice and Doris L. Bachman.
PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA!
The Wesley Class will begin
selling pizzas today through January 17. Pickup date will be January 31,
2004, just in time for the Superbowl. If you can’t eat pizza and would
like to participate in this project pizzas may be donated to The Ronald
McDonald House or the Rescue Mission. Proceeds benefit local missions.
THE WESLEY CLASS
invites you to join them for Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.
The Reverend Bob Garner will lead
the class beginning Sunday, January 4. Everyone is welcome!
NEW MEMBERS will be received on
Sunday, December 28 at the 11:00 a.m. worship service. If you would like
to unite with our church at this time, please speak to Bob Garner,
Minister of Evangelism, or our minister, Bill Davidson. A new member
orientation class will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Sunday, December 21.
THE KNIGHT THYME CIRCLE will gather
for a Christmas meal on Tuesday, December 16 at D J’s Restaurant at 6:00
p.m. Please let Anne Ferguson know if you would like to join us, 721-2981.
CHURCH CALENDAR
SUNDAY
3:45 p.m. Praise Team
5:00 p.m. 6-9 Grades UMY
6:00 p.m. UMY Dinner/Youth Council
6:30 p.m. 10-12 Grades UMY
6:00 p.m. Hosanna Choir
6:00 p.m. Cherub Choir
MONDAY
7:00 a.m. Prayer Breakfast
12:00 p.m. Preschool staff luncheon
3:30 p.m. Girl Scouts
TUESDAY
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
WEDNESDAY
3:30 p.m. Girl Scouts
7:00 p.m. Contemporary Worship Service
THURSDAY
12:00 p.m. Adult Fellowship Lunch
3:30 p.m. Peanut M & M’s
7:00 p.m. Praise Team vocalists
7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir
FRIDAY
12:00 p.m. Office Closes
_________________________________