Sunday 11/23 - Annual Thanksgiving Hymn Singing at 6:30 at the Fellowship Hall - There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board for volunteers and food donations.
Thursday 11/27 - Thanksgiving Day Service at 10:00 - There will be no Wednesday night service on the 26th.
Wednesday 12/3 - Annual Business Meeting for the Church and Nursing Home
Sunday 12/7 - The 15th annual Christmas Caroling and Supper at 4 pm - Everyone is invited. If you plan to attend, there is a sign-up sheet on both the north and west bulletin boards. There is also a sign-up sheet on the west bulletin board for food donations and workers to help with this activity. If you sign up to bring food, remember also to sign up on the list of those planning to attend.
Sunday 12/14 - Special Collection - The trustees have decided to replace the church's pneumatic heating and cooling temperature control system with an electronic system. The current system was installed when the church was built 48 years ago. It is not working properly, and some replacement parts are no longer available. The new system will allow for more even heating and cooling in the sanctuary and throughout the church. Since this improvement will cost approximately $48,000, there will be a special collection on December 14. If you feel moved to make a donation, please write Building Fund on the memo line of you check.
Laptop Missing - The Sunday School laptop projector is still missing. If anyone has used it recently and knows where it is please return it to the Bible Class room or to one of the trustees.
Thank You - Our family, especially Andrew, would like to thank our Roanoke congregation and community for the love and support shown to Andrew in the way of prayers and mailed packages and cards during his stay in S.Korea. Bro. Fred and Sis Cheri have done an amazing job at organizing the weekly efforts of those mailings. He has several months to go but looks forward to the mail arrival each week, as does the mail room Sgt. who smiles to see the love arrive! Andrew wants you to know he shares his packages at times with other soldiers. Below is a poem written by one of Andrews fellow battle buddies recently as he reflected again on missing the holidays last year for the first time. It packs a punch but I feel it important to share so others know just how our soldiers miss home and need our ongoing, constant and consistent prayers and support.
We woke up in very strange land, we didn’t know up from down, but we knew this wasn’t our hometown.
SGT came to the door and said, “saddle up, you ain’t home no more.”
We went to work and did our dirt but couldn’t help but feel hurt.
When we sleep we see our friends and family havin a laugh, but we wake up and realize it couldn’t last.
We’re so far from home, so lost and so alone. All we can think about is going home.
You won’t understand why were so alone. How can you? You’ve never left your home.
We are the ones that hope you don’t forget us way back home.”
~ PV2 Goetz, A Deployed Soldier