South Roanoke United Methodist Church

South Roanoke United Methodist Church

2330 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24014

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

TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST     NOVEMBER 20, 2005 

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.
20th Anniversary of Aftercare
Reign of Christ Sunday
9:00 A.M. PRAISE SERVICE
Led By Graceful Praise 

8:50 a.m.-Gathering Songs
9:00 a.m.-Greeting and Singing
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Children’s Time
Scripture
Sermon
Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Recognition of Aftercare Volunteers
Offering and Special Music
Singing
Benediction

ORDER OF SERVICE-11:00 A.M. 

+ Indicates the people standing

                                                        ENTRANCE
Words of Welcome, Registration of Attendance and Announcements 
     (We encourage all of our worshipers to sign the registration pad as it is passed along the
       pew. Visitors  are also requested to list their addresses. 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 padGathering Music                                                   Siyahamba                                                  Ward
                                                   (Adult Handbell Choir)
+Greeting
     Pastor: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was,
     and who is to come, the Almighty.”
     People: Blessing and honor and glory and might be unto the Lamb!
     Pastor: Worthy is Christ who has ransomed us by his blood from every tribe and
     tongue and nation, and made his people a kingdom, and priests to our God.
     People: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to
     come! Amen.                                                                   (U.S.A., 20th Cent.)    
+Prayer  (In Unison)
     Almighty God, who gave your Son Jesus Christ a realm where all peoples,
     nations, and languages should serve him; make us loyal followers of our living
     Lord,  that we may always hear his word, follow his teachings, and live in his
     Spirit; and hasten the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess
     that he is Lord; to your eternal glory.  Amen.
                                                                         (A. Campbell Frazier, England, 20th Cent., Alt.)
+Processional Hymn  715               Rejoice, The Lord Is King                Darwall’s 148th 

                                PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
      -Mary Ragland      -Family of Mary Minichan     -Phil Leslie
Anthem                                           Give Thanks
                                                    (Cherub Choir)     
Children’s Time
                           (Children leave for Children’s Church. See * Below)
+Psalter                                                                                                            Psalm 100
     Aftercare: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
     Pastor: Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
     People: Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we
     are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
     Aftercare: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
     Pastor: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks
     to him, bless his name.
     People: For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever; And his
     faithfulness to all generations.
     Aftercare: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
+Hymn 378                                   Amazing Grace                                   Amazing Grace
     Stanza 1: The Aftercare Social Club                   Stanza 2: All
     Stanza 3: Men                                                   Stanza 4: Women;
     Stanza 5: All                                                      Stanza 6: All (without accompaniment)
The Old Testament Lesson   (O.T. pg. 803)                                  Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24
     Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
     People: Thanks be to God.
Anthem                                      Sing Out, Sing Out!                                     Leech/Bock
       Sing, out, sing out, with songs of thanksgiving. We sing and we thank Him for what He
       has done. Sing out, sing out. Our hearts say to do it, acclaiming the Father, Spirit, and
       Son! Sing out, sing out to One so amazing. Creator, Sustainer of all that we see. Sing
       out, sing out for we  should be praising the God Who designed us, and caused us to
        be!  Who can deny it? And who can refute it? The wonder that Christ is to you and to
         me?  No one can silence the passionate outcry of those once in bondage, now
        gloriously set free!  Sing out, sing out, let’s sing it and shout it. Rejoice, rejoice, let’s
        live out the message, and let ev’ry  voice now join in the swelling crescendo. For now
        we are praising, our voices we’re raising to God, our  gracious Savior.
The Gospel Lesson  (N.T. pg. 29)                                                        Matthew 25:31-46
     Pastor: This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
     People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon                                        Never Left Out                                         Bill Davidson
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                                  Come, Thankful People                                  Waugh
Recognition of Aftercare Volunteers                   +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!

Indicates the people standing 

THOSE SERVING TODAY:
  November Altar Guild Chair: Jill Woolwine
  Cross Bearer: Matthew Gregory
  Acolytes: Jimmy Cain and Kemper Steffe
  Ushers:   Captain-Richard A. Linkous, W. Jackson Burrows, Brownie Polly,
    Mark Knopf, David Mundy, Walter H. Dickey 

*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, Desperate for an Advent of God, will be based on Isaiah 63:16-64:8. Please read and study the text this week. 

THE CHURCH OFFICE will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. 

AFTERCARE 20TH ANNIVERSARY! We welcome members of the Social Club who help lead our worship this morning. The “Aftercare Social Club” was initiated by the Community Services Board to establish a volunteer partnership with local churches in hosting social clubs for adults with mental disabilities. Since 1985 we have hosted this weekly program and fellowship. A total of ten clubs are currently operating in the Roanoke Valley coordinated by Debbie Tannis, Social Club Liaison with Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare. 

TO DATE WE HAVE RECEIVED $451,653.00 IN PLEDGES toward our 2006 budget. The proposed budget for 2006 is $543,032.00. If you have not yet had the opportunity to make your pledge you may do so this morning. You will find pledge cards in the pew racks, and you may place them in the offering plate as it is passed. 

SENIOR HIGH CONFERENCE RETREAT is December 2-4, 2005. This will include 8th-12th graders. Cost is $96.00 and includes meals and lodging. Sign up by November 28th, 2005. 

THERE WILL BE a meeting of the Charge Conference on Monday, November 28, at 8:00 p.m. 

THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE LOCKED ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING DECEMBER 4! Desk drawers have been broken into, and purses stolen from the church office recently, therefore the church office will be locked on Sunday mornings. If you need to make copies please come during the week as the copy machine will be unavailable on Sundays. 

C.R.e.W. “Children Ready for Worship:
Grades 2-5 What we’re doing this week 

     What a changing world we live in! As God’s creation changes, we move through the seasons of the year. As we celebrate the major events of our Christian faith, we move through the seasons of the church year. We celebrate days and seasons in the church because they remind us of the major events or themes of our Christian faith. When we gather to worship, our sanctuaries reflect each season of the church year as it is decorated with colorful paraments and banners. Not only do we proclaim the good news through the spoken word but also through the visual display of colors and symbols of the church year.
     The visual reminders of the seasons of the church year are important to all Christians, but they are particularly important to children. Take time to admire the colors and symbols you see around you in worship with a child. See what the child can tell you about the season and about the colors, and tell the child what you know about the seasons of the church year. 

THE ROSE ON THE ALTAR is in honor of the birth of Leo Rayburn Hurt, who was born on Thursday, November 10, 2005 to Katrina and David Hurt. The proud grandparents are Barbara and Gary Duerk, and the proud great-grandmother is Betty Norris. 

THE PASTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUND is used for special needs that are called to the attention of the pastor. This fund has been depleted over the past several years and needs some additional funding. If you would like to contribute please make your check payable to SRUMC and earmark it “pastor’s discretionary fund”. 

PENNY HAYNES APPRECIATION SUNDAY! On December 4 we will celebrate her thirtieth anniversary as our Administrative Assistant. We will recognize her at our 11:00 a.m. worship and join together for a reception with her and her family following the service. 

THE WIMMER CLASS CHRISTMAS DINNER AND PROGRAM will be held December 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Brandon Oakes. Everyone is invited to attend. Cost of dinner is $13.00 per person. Reservations may be made by calling Natalie Carter, 776-2118. If paying by check make your check payable to Natalie Carter. Deadline for reservations is December 9, 2005. 

THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE will have their December meeting at the home of June Tegenkamp, 2524 Stanley Avenue. The meeting will be an Open House Coffee on Tuesday, December 13, from 10:00-11:30 a.m. All ladies in the church are invited. Please call June at 342-7784 if you would like to attend. 

THE CHURCH BASEMENT will be cleaned out soon. If your organization has anything stored in the basement that you do not want thrown out please mark it clearly for keeping. 

THE CONGREGATION EXPRESSES sympathy and concern to the entire Mary Minichan family in Mary’s death. 

I N    M E M O R I A M 

Mary Minichan
November 12, 2005 

______________________________ 

 

November 20, 2005          Reign of Christ Sunday             Never Left Out
          20th anniversary of AfterCare Social Club
          Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Matthew 25:31-46  

Do you see the harvest display before us this morning?  It is a sign of the provision of God.  It reminds us that everything we have comes from God.   We gather it up and place it before us every year so that we can give thanks for the provision God provides.  It shows us what life is like in the kingdom of God .  Where Christ reigns there is enough for everybody and no one is ever left out.  Where Jesus rules there is plenty for everybody and we all make sure that each and every one of us is provided for.  This harvest display is a sign of the provision of God.  It reminds us of the life that is given us as a gift, a life that Christians live every day.  

We get this practice from ancient cultures who gathered up a representative sampling of the harvest every year in order to give thanks.  We especially draw on our own Old Testament heritage where the harvest festival was a moment of thanksgiving and sharing.  Every year the people of God offered up the first and the best of the harvest in gratitude for that which was provided them by God.  Every year at harvest time they shared in a thanksgiving feast or festival where everyone shared alike.  At these harvest festivals, as the Old Testament makes clear, the people of God were instructed to make very sure that the widows, orphans, foreigners, strangers, and the poor shared equally in the feast.  

You see, in ancient culture there was always plenty of “fat sheep” pushing around the lean ones.  In the book of Ezekiel God looks down with pity on the scattered Israelites who, following defeat and exile, find themselves all over the known world far away from the Promised Land.  God intends to gather them up and bring them back.  Throughout the Old Testament there is reference after reference to God’s impatience with those who have all the benefits and leave out those who are not so fortunate.  They are never left out if God has anything to say about it.  

They are never left out because God always provides enough.  God takes this very personally.  God says,
          I myself will seek them out.
In contrast to the fat sheep, those in creation who only look out for themselves who “push and butt” against all those weaker than they, God (listen to these verbs):  will seek, rescue, gather, feed, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured, strengthen the weak.  God is so very active in this.  God wants to make sure that nobody is left out.  

If that’s what God does; if that’s what this display of harvest plenty is about, then we ought to do it too.

 

Horse-Sense

Just up the road from my home is a field,
with two horses in it.
From a distance, each looks like every other horse.
But if one stops their car or is walking by,
one will notice something quite amazing.
 
Looking into the eyes of one horse
will disclose that he is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down,
but has made a good home for him.
This alone is amazing.
 
Listening, one will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound,
one will see that it comes from
the smaller horse in the field.
Attached to her halter is a small bell.
It lets her blind friend know where she is,
so he can follow her.
 
As one stands and watches these two friends,
one sees how she is always checking on him,
and that he will listen for her bell
and then slowly walk to where she is
trusting that she will not lead him astray.
 
Like the owners of these two horses,
God does not throw us away
just because we are not perfect
or because we have problems
or challenges.
 
He watches over us and even brings others
into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by God
and those whom he places in our lives.
Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see God.

Anonymous                 forwarded email

What is it that Jesus says to those who provided food, water, clothing, and community to those who were down and out?  Jesus says to them,
          Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom
          prepared for you from the foundation of the world!  Mt. 25:34b

God takes this so personally.  So personally in fact that Jesus believed that  
          every time you provide food, clothing, and shelter to one in need,
                       you give it to him;
          every time you visit those who are sick or in prison, you visit him.
Old Testament and New Testament come together very clearly on this one.  God takes this very personally.  God goes out of the way search for and find and help those who are left out.  Jesus so identifies himself with those who are left out that he becomes them in our mission and ministry.  He suffered and died and rose again so that they are never left out.  Just as you knew in your heart that you are never left out when you first gave yourself to him, so those who call themselves by his name, Christians, give of themselves, live their lives and organize their churches, their homes and their world so that they are never left out.  

That’s what God does.  That’s what we do.  

Somebody somewhere said the definition of a Christian is this:  

     Christian:  one beggar showing another where to find food  

Jesus is very clear today.  The Son of Man comes in his glory and sits on the throne.  He is describing the Kingdom of God .  He states very clearly how things go in eternity.  He is telling us how things are run around here when he is in charge.  It is up to us to decide
         whether we are citizens of that kingdom or just here to set up a little                         one of our own;
         whether we minister to Jesus right here in our midst or just can’t
                         seem to find him anywhere;
          whether we prepare for eternity by living the life right now or just                             may not find ourselves suited for it at all.  

As we give thanks this week for the provision that God has so generously given us, commit yourself again to make sure that nobody is ever left out again.  God takes this very personally.  God will seek, rescue, gather, feed, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured, strengthen the weak.  If God takes this this personally, if God works this hard to find and save, then God will surely bless those who want to help, who reach out in love, who seek to live the life.  If you give yourself to God in this great enterprise, God will give you just the right words, the proper resources, the personal skill, and depth of heart to respond to the need to which you are called.  

God makes sure, Christians make sure, they are never left out.  

                                                    William G. Davidson