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2330 South Jefferson Street
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2330 South Jefferson Street
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FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT NOVEMBER 28, 2004 Advent is a season of four weeks including four Sundays. Advent (from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming”) proclaims the comings of Christ, whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final victory we anticipate. The entire church building is decorated for Advent in preparation for the Christmas celebration.
As Christ cares, we care… we care
about all people.
ORDER OF SERVICE-11:00
A.M. + Indicates the people standing
ENTRANCE
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
SENDING FORTH +Indicates the people standing THOSE SERVING TODAY:
*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, 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, A Shoot Grows, will be based on Isaiah 11:1-10. Please read and study the text this week.
OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS PURCHASED OUR
NEW BUS! As of November 17 “CHANGE FOR A QUARTER” - Sept., Oct., Nov. save your loose pocket change, put it in a sandwich bag with identification label you received in the mail, and place it in the collection plate each week. Help erase the budget shortfall for mission—GOAL $9,000. To date we have received $3,785.48.
THE CHARGE CONFERENCE will meet on
Monday, November 29 at 8:00 p.m. in the Wimmer
THE NEW FLOWER CALENDAR for 2005 is
on the bulletin board by the church parlor. If you would like to remember
or honor someone on a special day, please sign up on the calendar, or call
the church
THE WIMMER CLASS CHRISTMAS PARTY
will be held at Brandon Oaks on Friday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m. Cost of
dinner is $14.00 per person. To make a reservation please call Anne Danahy,
776-2116. All checks should be made payable to Natalie Carter. Deadline
for reservations is December 13.
THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE of the United
Methodist women will have their “Ladies Christmas Lunch” at the Roanoke
Country Club on Tuesday, December 14 at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $17.00,
which includes everything. Your reservation may be made by sending your
non-refundable check, made out to “UMW”, to Doris Cutright by December 8.
Doris’ address is: 2755 Lofton Road, Roanoke 24015. For any other
IT’S SNOWING! IS CHURCH OPEN? In
most cases of inclement weather on Sunday mornings Sunday school and
worship service will be held as scheduled. If travel is determined by the
National Weather Service to be too dangerous (e.g. ice on roads) church
activities will be cancelled. This decision will be made by 7:00 a.m.
Sunday. Cancellation announcement only will be made on: JR/SR HIGH RETREAT—December 3-5. Cost is $96.00. They will leave at 4:30 on Friday and return at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Youth group will meet that evening for interested youth.
_________________________________________ November 28, 2004
1st Sunday in Advent
Are You Peeking or Hiding? I remember it as if
it was yesterday. I was a small boy still living in Ohio where I was
born. It was just this time of year. I thought I was alone in that part
of the house. I opened the door and looked in. Suddenly, I was startled
by the voice of my mother who said to me lightheartedly yet challengingly: You see, I thought I was alone in that part of the house…until I was surprised by the sound of my mother’s voice. I just wasn’t ready for that. At this time of year,
at the season of Advent, the church helps you prepare for the coming of
Christ at Christmas. The Gospel this morning encourages you to be ready.
The Epistle today declares Will you be ready? You see, the surprising question my mother asked me when I was young was all in fun yet it was also one of those early, brief, tiny tests of character for me—the kind of experiences that eventually add up to a life. In that snapshot moment I either had my head in that closet because I was peeking to see what was in there for me or I was hiding something I intended to give to someone else. The tiny test of character for me right then turned on the answer to the question—“what are you doing?”--was I peeking or hiding? Was I looking out for me or was I securing a gift for someone else?—Was the focus of my attention just then on me or on another?—Was I hoping to receive or trying to give? Now, don’t let me make too much of this this morning, for one tiny test of character does not determine a life. But allow me to use these ideas of peeking and hiding, drawn from an event in my own life, as a symbol of a much more broad and important issue which the Scripture addresses directly in this season of Advent. What are you doing? Are you peeking or hiding? When your Lord surprises you in your life, which he has been known to do from time to time, which he will do again this Christmas, and which he will surely do at the last, when your Lord surprises you in your life and asks you, “What are you doing…?”, will he find you peeking or hiding? Will you be thinking only of yourself or will the burdens and needs of others be foremost in your mind? Will you be looking everywhere you can for whatever you can get for yourself or will you be right in the middle of an act of mercy or justice or love? Will your empty heart be caught in an endless cycle of acquiring and getting and possessing things that will never satisfy or will he find your life already full of love, joy, and peace because by your giving you have already found what really matters? That’s the thing
about your Lord, you see. You never know when he’s coming. Oh, he is
with you always, of course, but there are moments in life, aren’t there,
when your true character is tested, when life really counts for
something? There are those totally unpredictable times at school, at
home, at work, at church, those moments that just don’t keep to a
schedule, as a friend, or as a parent, or as a spouse, or as an adult
child of an older parent, times and moments when you respond to a crisis,
or need to make a decision or react to an issue that raises itself at just
the wrong time. You never know when those moments are coming—that’s when
your Lord is right there surprising you with his presence. He asks you, We’re talking about life here. Life as God made it in the beginning. Life that we squandered and lost. Life that Jesus cam to bring again. Life that he died for. Life that lasts forever. Life that God will finally restore to all creation. When he comes will you be ready? When Jesus brings that life to you in all the fullness of his presence, are you ready? The Scripture is clear, You are either ready or you’re not. There are only two options for you. You will either be already living that life so that you welcome its coming and are readily accepted into the presence of the kingdom of God or that life will seem so strange to you that you just won’t fit. The very next chapter of the Gospel of Matthew provides a detailed description of the ones who are taken as well as the ones who are left. It is those who have fed, visited, housed, clothes, and cared for the least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters and, therefore, did those things for him that are taken. Those who only looked after themselves are the ones who are left behind. You see, if you don’t live that life right now, how in the world will you even be comfortable in a creation that is restored to be that way all the time? It really does become a question of character—if you don’t live that life right now, if your life is not intent on growing in grace through acts of mercy, love, and justice, then God won’t have to forcibly exclude you from the Kingdom, you just won’t fit. Are your ready? Paul tell the Romans At this season of the year, don’t you sense and especially encourage the movement of the Spirit of God among us? Jesus is always with us, but in Advent we really focus our spiritual attention on our Lord who promises to come to us now. You really don’t know the precise day or hour but make no mistake, he is coming. He is coming and he will find in you even the slightest inclination, any act of kindness, and by his grace cause love to grow in you until the image of God in which you were created is fully restored to the very center of your life, if you’ll let him. He is coming and he will take every kind-hearted spirit, every act of mercy, every deed of justice, every moment of love he can find in the world and by his grace grow again in all creation the life God gave in the beginning, if you’ll let him. I remember it as if
it was yesterday, especially this time of year. I was startled by a voice
that asked, William G. Davidson
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