South Roanoke United Methodist Church

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST                                                         JULY 4, 2004 

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-9:00 and 11:00 A.M.
Holy Communion

+ Indicates the people standing

                                                                ENTRANCE
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 also requested to 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.)
(11:00)Gathering Music                                    Elegy in E                                        Thalben-Ball
        As the prelude plays, please use this time for quiet reflection in preparation for worship.  
(11:00)Chiming of the Hour   
+Greeting                                                                                                              John DeVerter
     Pastor:  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
     People: And also with you.
     Pastor:  The risen Christ is with us.
     People: Praise the Lord!
+Opening Prayer (Unison)
     Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets
     are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy
     Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name,
     through Christ our Lord. Amen.
+Hymn  549                                Where Charity and Love Prevail                               St. Peter

                                           PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
(11:00)Children’s Time
The Scripture Lesson (N.T. pg. 190)                                                             Galatians 5:1, 13-25
     Pastor:  The Word of the Lord.
     People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon                                       “Freed For Freedom”                                        Bill Davidson
  [Sermon manuscripts are posted on the church website the Monday following the service each week. www.srumc.com]
Sharing of Joys and Concerns                                                                                    Bob Garner
     -Ann Shelton          -Jack Helms          -Byron Ragland          -Janet Jeffries  
Pastoral Prayer
Offering of Tithes and Gifts to God’s Work
     Offertory Prayer
     Offertory                                           Variations on America                                           Ives
+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.
Solo                                                    In Remembrance                                                       Red
                                             (Beth Abbott and Bruce Long) 

                                                       THANKSGIVING
Invitation to Communion                                                                                     Hymnal,  pg. 12 
Prayer of Confession and Pardon
Service of Holy Communion                                                                                 Hymnal, pg. 15

                                                            SENDING FORTH
(11:00)+Hymn  389                                   Freely, Freely                                      Freely, Freely
+Benediction
+Postlude

+Indicates the people standing 

THOSE SERVING TODAY:
  Communion Steward:  Mark Hall
  Communion Servers:  Bill Davidson, John DeVerter, Bob Garner, Tim Dayton
  July Altar Guild Chair: June Tegenkamp
  Ushers:   Captain-Gary E. Tegenkamp, W. R. Clemmer, Jr., Ellie Clark,
                J. Patrick Budd, Brett Marston 

The Altar Flowers Are Given
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
In Honor of the Celebration
Of The 11th Wedding Anniversary of
Susannah and Jerry McNeil 

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 will be delivered by Dr. John S. DeVerter while our Senior Pastor and his family are on vacation July 8-24. Bob Garner will deliver the message on July 18th. 

THE ROSE ON THE ALTAR is in honor of the birth of Patrick Scott DeVerter, born June 12, 2004 to Mary and David DeVerter of Raleigh, NC. The proud grandparents are Ruth and John DeVerter. 

OUR YOUTH MINISTER, TIM DAYTON, has submitted his resignation effective August 31. In his letter he states “it is clear to me that God has asked me to make myself available” to another calling. We express our gratitude to Tim for his ten years of service and we seek God’s guidance in our discernment of future staffing. 

LEMONADE-ON-THE-LAWN will return on the second Sunday of each month. Come visit outside for a few minutes after the 11:00 service and enjoy cookies, lemonade, and your church family. The next gathering will be July 11. 

CALLING ALL KIDS 1ST GRADE THROUGH RISING 7TH GRADE for a Music, Art and Drama week July 19-23! We will have fun as we produce a complete musical performance and play with boomwackers, handbells, learn movement and dance for the stage and make sets and decorations. Performances will be at Southview UMC on Friday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m., and South Roanoke UMC on Sunday, July 25 at 4:00 p.m. Contact Joe Kennedy for a registration form or other information. (Transportation may be available each day from SRUMC.)

THERE WILL BE a meeting of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee on Monday, July 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the library/conference room. 

THERE WILL BE a meeting of the Council on Ministries on Tuesday, July 6, at 7:00 p.m. in the library/conference room. 

THE WOMEN OF THE CHURCH will have a Dutch Treat Luncheon at DJ’s Restaurant on Tuesday, July 13 at 12:00 noon. Please contact June Tegenkamp at 342-7784 BEFORE Monday, July 12 if you would like to attend. Everyone is invited!!!! 

REQUESTS FOR SCHOLARSHIP are now being taken. If you are a member of SRUMC, and have a student who will be attending college this fall and would like to apply for a scholarship, please come by the church office to pick up an application form.  

               222ND SESSION OF VIRGINIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE REPORT
                        BY PRENTICE MORAN, Lay Member to Annual Conference
     The theme was “Transformed and Scattered: Christ’s Ambassadors in the World”. We met on Sunday, June 13 through Wednesday, June 16 in Hampton, VA. The largest session in the nation. United Methodist Churches are found in 167 countries. Bishop for the last 8 years, coming from Nashville, TN., Bishop Joe Pennel will be going back to teach at Vanderbilt Seminary. For his retirement, he and his wife, Janene received several gifts and praises. Both of them broke down and cried unashamedly. He joked that being a bishop is a lot like being a cemetery caretaker…” a lot of people under him but no one listening to him”. Minnie Pearl was a member of his church in Nashville.
     The Conference preacher was Rev. Stephen Bauman Sr., pastor of Christ Church UMC in New York City, and popular commentator on WCBS. He said modern day RR tracks are 4 ft. 8 1/2 ins wide based on a standard from Roman chariots..the width of two horses behinds! He asked if the Church is spiritually aware of the tracks upon which it is running today? Also, let’s party like Jesus and the Wedding Party was his second topic.
     Bishop Joao Machado from the United Methodist Church of Mozambique brought the Bible study, his preacher son interpreted for him. Based on Acts 2, he called for the church to be united as a community. Back in his area, if you ask a man “How are you?” he will tell you how he is, also how his family is, and how his community is. When an elephant dies all the community comes together to bury it. Later Bishop Machado and his large team of missionaries gave a rousing program with drums, singing and clapping. There were also re-presentatives from Zimbabwe, Uganda and Sierra Leone.
 REPORTS  
     Va. United Methodist Women, celebrating 135 years in mission, raised over $1.1 million, giving $755,000 to Missions and $332,000 to mission projects in Virginia, including Henry Fork, Wesley Community Center, Ferrum College, VUMAC, and Healing the Hurts.
     The Methodist Men are now partners with the Society of St. Andrew (started and headquartered in Big Island VA). Also acting as a remote prayer room with the Upper Room in Nashville and supporting Heart Havens.
     The Methodist Youth Fellowship raised $52 thousand for VA Youth Service.
     From Russia, Rev. Menyalova in person gave her words of thanks for $200,000 given to her church from Virginia.
     Over 41,000 Health, School and Baby Kits were given by churches from all over Virginia, plus $42,000 for shipping and expenses.
     Common Table Task Force, after over 2 years of work, brought their final plan for approval of the conference. The plan attempts to restructure Conference leadership to become more responsible to local churches, also reduces membership 120 to 19.
RESOLUTIONS:
Approved an overall budget of $25,661,646 at an increase of 5%.
Approved a task force for pastors to report Child Abuse.
Approved uplifting Mental Awareness throughout the year in the churches, and to advocate for increased funding for individuals with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
Approved calling for Worker Justice in our society and a Living Wage (increase Min. wage to $6.50 hr.)
Approved awareness and participation in the UMCOR Coffee Project and support for fair trade.
Approved encouraging Methodists and State Legislature to follow a 2 week Welfare Diet to acquaint all of us with what they go through on a daily basis.
Approved by a close vote to ask Gov. Warner to order DNA testing in the case of Roger Keith Coleman to resolve (maybe for good) whether he was guilty or not.
Approved calling upon our state government to quickly abolish the Death Penalty for Juvenile Offenders.
Approved creating a task force on Biblically based Peace and Global Security.
Tabled supporting an increase in Tobacco Tax on Cigarettes to 75 cents. 

                                                CHURCH CALENDAR
MONDAY                             OFFICE CLOSED
                                              7:00 p.m.    Staff Parish Committee
                                              7:00 p.m.    AA Group
TUESDAY                            7:00 p.m.    Council on Ministries
WEDNESDAY                     9:00 a.m.    Staff Meeting
FRIDAY                             12:00 p.m.    Office Closes

________________________________________

July 4, 2004               5^th Sunday after Pentecost                Freed for Freedom
          Galatians 5:1, 13-25 

About a month ago we attended the high school graduation of Ryan Beethoven-Wilson.  Ryan is the son of Rev. Charlene Beethoven who led our Consecration Sunday program last fall here at South Roanoke Church, and a good friend of ours.   In the basketball arena of Virginia Commonwealth University when the principle said, “I now congratulate you as graduates of Atlee High School!” there was an immediate shout of joy and over 300 graduation caps spontaneously flew through the air in a great celebration!  “We’re free!” 

Freedom.  That is surely what these and all high school graduates were really looking forward to after graduation day.  No more rules.  No more regulations.  No more tests. No more getting up early in the morning.  Gone are the days of restriction, confinement, fear, and restraint.  Finally we can do anything we want—anything we feel like doing.  Freedom! 

Sounds nice, doesn’t it?  But is that freedom?  Is that the kind of freedom that we celebrate on this Fourth of July in our nation?  Is that the freedom that the Apostle Paul speaks of in his letter to the church at Galatia? 

Too many of us today believe this.  Too many of us believe it so deeply that we even avoid participation in the church or the practice of faith because we find its guidance and its life too restrictive, too confining, too life denying, or too boring.  Too many find faith to be a set of restrictive rules and regulations that are impossible to follow designed specifically to take every bit of the fun out of life.  It is little wonder in our world today that so many seek to free themselves of religion rather than claim a faith for themselves that can truly set them free. 

Where do we get this idea that freedom is the complete removal of every restriction?  How is it that we think we are only feel really free when other people just leave us alone and we mind our own business?  That’s what resonates with us the most when we consider the meaning of freedom in our lives, isn’t it?  Somewhere deep down inside us we never really lose that adolescent desire to be free to do whatever we want regardless of the consequences.  We know it doesn’t make sense.  We know that’s not the way life is.  We know that’s not what we are really made for, but it just feels so very inviting, doesn’t it?  This is so much a part of who we are we just can’t help it.  We often catch ourselves dreaming about it, longing for it, wishing it were true.

To focus our hearts this morning as we prepare to come to our Lord’s table, I want to share this simple children’s story. 

Let me tell you the story of Ollie and Arnold, two very strong oxen.  Ollie and Arnold had worked together for a long time.  Every spring they would always do the same thing.  Each spring the farmer would hook them together side-by-side in a yoke.  To the yoke the farmer would attach a plow.  Ollie and Arnold, two very strong oxen, would pull the plow together until the field was tilled.  One spring after a particularly hot and dry day Ollie and Arnold shared their frustrations with one another.  They were tired of being yoked together all the time.  They longed to be free.  “After all,” Ollie said, “this is a free country.  We don’t have to be so tied together.”  “You know, you’re right!” said Arnold.  “This is a free country.  I don’t want to be an ox any more.  I want to be a bird so I can fly high and free.”  So Arnold wondered how he could fly.  Then he got an idea.  If he got high enough in the air and jumped down, then he’d have a chance to fly.  Then he would be free.  So Arnold headed for the tallest tree on the farm.  As Ollie watched, Arnold tried his best to climb up that tree but he just couldn’t do it.  Finally, tired and frustrated and humiliated, he cried, “I guess I will never be free!”  Then Ollie said, “If I were a fish, then I could swim anywhere I wanted to.  Then I would be free!”  As Arnold watched, Ollie headed straight for the deepest pond on the farm.  He walked right in and the water got deeper and deeper.  Soon he was in so deep he couldn’t breath anymore.  He struggled and struggled and finally managed to get himself out again—he had almost drown.  Ollie, wet, tired, and humiliated, said, “You’re right, Arnold, we will never be free.”  Just then they notice smoke rising on the horizon.  As they headed toward the source of the smoke they heard the sound of a tree falling and the cry of a human voice.  It was a forest fire.  The cry they heard was that of the farmer’s son.  The farmer’s son had grown up with Ollie and Arnold and they loved him very much.  Soon the farmer was desperately calling to them both because the tree had fallen on his son and he was not able to get up.  Ollie and Arnold and the farmer had the same idea at the same time.  “I’ll get the yoke!” said the farmer.  By the time he returned In fear of the approaching fire Ollie and Arnold had already positioned themselves to receive the yoke around their necks; the farmer lashed the rope first to the yoke and then to the tree.  Together Ollie and Arnold, two very strong oxen, pulled with all their might.  The tree moved just enough for the farmer’s son to free himself and they all fled the woods just before the fire reached the place where they had been.  Ollie and Arnold were dirty, tired, exhausted, and very, very glad that they were oxen who could be tied together to help someone they loved. 

Paul says Christ came to set us free.  He goes on to say,
          ..you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your
          freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love
         become slaves to one another…. 

Our Lord Jesus sets us free.  He set us free to be who we really are.
          He sets us free to love without reservation.
          He sets us free to live our lives with all the confidence, power, and
                    grace that his resurrection can give us.
          He sets us free to identify the deepest human need and craft the finest
                    skills to meet that need.
          He sets us free to create a community that affirms and uplifts and
                    edifies.
          He set us free to make a world of freedom and justice and love. 

That is the freedom the forbearers of this nation fought so hard to establish.  I don’t believe for a minute that American soldiers are fighting and dying in Iraq so that people can finally do whatever they want regardless of the circumstances.  As a matter of fact, that is exactly what seems to be going on there right now rampantly as coalition forces try their best to establish the order and proper restrictions and restraint that true freedom is. 

True freedom.  That’s what Paul is talking about.  Life in Christ is a life free of restriction, confinement, fear, and restraint.  You and I know that life never provides us the opportunity to free us to simply do anything we want regardless of the consequences.  We wouldn’t want a life like that.   

Now not every graduate of Atlee High School is glad to be free to do anything he/she wants.  Many, if not most, I believe, have developed a  mature sense of freedom just like Ryan who looks forward to entering his freshman year at Virginia Tech this fall.  Most of us never ultimately succumb to our adolescent flights of fancy about freedom; most of us live responsible, sensible, mature lives in the full enjoyment of the freedom given us in our nation.  Most of us desire to know and experience the true freedom given us by our faith. 

As you come to our Lord’s table today you will symbolically partake of His body and blood of Jesus.  Our Lord Jesus Christ did not suffer, die, and rise from the dead so that you can do whatever you want regardless of the consequences.  At our Lord’s table you will not find here unbridled license, you will find love—unconditional acceptance and generous grace.  Take that love that your Lord gives you today.  Share that love with others.  Be free through Jesus Christ our Lord.
                                                                                        William G. Davidson