Moment of Hope…

Greetings Friends,

About two weeks ago I celebrated my forth year at the

Community Outreach Program, and I wonder where the

time goes. It seems like yesterday when I arrived and

met all the children, staff, and learned the bus routes.

Today I must say there have been many changes in the

last four years, many struggles, and great joys. When I

look back, I am so grateful to God for my call to ministry,

and the daily miracles I am witness to. For the people

God has brought to the Community Outreach Program

and the daily blessings they bring to the life of this

children's ministry, we are truly grateful! Amen.

The more we grow, the more we are able to provide for

the children we serve. I can’t wait for what the Lord has

next for this ministry of the Roanoke District and United

Methodist Church. The church is not only alive, but

thriving. Praise be to God! Thank you for your continued

support of the ministry of Community Outreach in

Roanoke. Your prayers, gifts, talents, support, generosity,

kindness, AND witness make this ministry a powerful

source of God's love.

Your Missionary,

Becky Parsons

Barnes & Noble Bookfair

Join us at Barnes & Noble Valley View Dec. 14th for family

fun! Make purchases with Bookfair code 11211869 on

December 14th to 20th in any store in the US or online and

Barnes & Noble will give us up to 25% percent of net

proceeds from the book fair sales.

New Partner: Community Youth Program

This year Community Outreach Program has partnered

with Community Youth Program, which runs from after

school until 6:00pm at St. John's Episcopal Church.

Students from both programs who struggled with

transportation issues have been able to experience even

more growth due to C.O.P's recent transportation funding.

A special thank you to our great Volunteers!

Please take a minute…..

We love telling you what we’re

doing, but mailing newsletters is

expensive, costing us money we’d

much rather spend on our kids.

Please take a minute to sign up for

our online newsletter at

http://eepurl.com/CmHq1

Block Party

Trinity UMC and Second

Presbyterian Church’s Block Party on

Sunday, August 4th was a huge

success! The two churches treated

the neighborhood to hot dogs, ice

cream, music, face painting, a

bounce house and free books.

Raleigh Court Youth

Youth from Raleigh

Court UMC painted

two classrooms

during their mission

service in August

The Erie Insurance Claims

Department, Roanoke and

Waynesboro offices, collected

dozens of bags and boxes of

clothing and supplies. Sharon Hutzell

and Samantha Miller of the office at

Colony Corporate Center on

Electric Road in Roanoke are

pictured bringing their bounty!

Newsletter of the United Methodist Community Outreach Program of Roanoke, Virginia

Autumn, 2013

Ann Gillespie

Ann Seddon

Anne Hagan

Arlene Wheeler

Becky Day

Becky Battle

Betty Helms

Bob Burton

Bob McAden

Bobbie Rust

Bonnie Clark

Bonnie Desper

Brenda Maui

Brenda Osborne

Calleigh Lucas

Carol Pruner

Carolyn Barnes

Cecil Richardson

Christine Hayes Connie Sixbey

Connie Young

Cony Aijolt

Dan Herdon

David Tanner

Debra Vasuk

Diane Black

Diane Sowder

Ed Johnston

Filipe Harvey

Fred Geuheiner

Gay Johnston

Glen Anderson

Hannah Shepard

Heather Carter

Helen Ruth Burch

Jackie Slusher

Jane Baldwin

Jane Hill

Janice Young

Janie Angell

Jennifer Adams

Joey Croft

John Bumgher

Judy Burton

Judy Thorton

Karen Boatwright

LaDonna Foley

Marrisa Herdon

Mary Alice Gentry

Mary Margret Burtis

Merle Rideout

Nancy Clemons

Norma Tompkins

Page Marshall

Pam Murray

Rita Olson

Rosie Croft

Sadie Hayes

Sandie Hawes

Sandy Leivy

Sheila Overstreet

Shelby McAden

Shirley Brown

Shirley Garmon

Sis Richardson

Sue McCoy

Susan Leivi

Tommy Carter

Toni Sidley

Tracey Bennett

Closures

October 17th

November 5th

November 26th-28th

December 17th –January 2nd

Junior League of Roanoke Valley, Inc.

Franklin and Sandra Lancaster

Lawrence Memorial UMC

Locust Grove UMC

James and Page Marshall

Ann and David Miller

Northview UMC

Beverly Parcell

Carol Pruner

Bill and Bernelle Rich, Jr.

Roanoke District Board of Missions

Deborah Bolen

American Electric Power

Foundation

Marianne Bird

Central United Methodist

Claims Dept, Erie Insurance

Gary and Sharyn Conover

Disciples Class Bonsack UMC

First Book

First Salem UMC

Grace UMC

Greene Memorial UMC

Second Presbyterian Church

Janet & David Tanner

Mr. and Mrs. James W. Townsend

of The Townsend Giving Fund

United Way of Roanoke Valley

Virginia Conference -UMC

Virginia Conference UMW

Harold Welch

Windsor Hills UMC

Keith Young

Trinity United Methodist Church

Community Outreach Program 305 Mountain Ave SW

Roanoke, VA 24016

Phone 540-342-3103 Fax 540-342-0412

Email umcopr@roacoxmail.com

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Roanoke, VA

Permit #529

November 23, 6:30 to7:30 pm

Sanctuary, Trinity United Methodist Church

We want to use every penny for our kids, not on supplies! You can help with your tax deductible

donation of office supplies such as multipurpose copy paper, #10 envelopes, HP96, 97 & 901 ink

cartridges, postage stamps, printable postcard blanks and Staples and Dollar Tree gift cards.

Mark your Calendars!

October 20th Children’s choir at Peakland UMC

November 23rd Talent Show 6:30 PM

Dec 2-13th Return Christmas Angel gifts (call ahead)

December 7th-8th OSW Parlour Tour

December 13th Christmas Parade with COP kids

December 14th Barnes and Noble Book Fair

Thank You Third Quarter Donors

Every donation makes a difference to an urban Roanoke child; Send

your tax deductible donation today!

Classroom News

This year our Trinity Site programming is taking leaps and bounds! We are focusing the first half

of the fall semester on developmental reading and writing skills through creative writing,

including a creative writing workshop with local author and educator Matt Uselton. The finale to

this program includes a creative writing contest for all of the students. The second half of the fall

semester will focus on using math skills in creative ways through short math group projects such

as creating a board game or constructing a fractal mosaic. We are also proud to be

participating in rewards programs such as our reading and homework points program which

focus on encouraging literacy and homework completion. Lastly, we also implemented the

Outstanding Student program this year where teachers can evaluate students based on ten

categories including attendance, participation, leadership, and citizenship. The students

who achieve an overall score of 90 or above will be receive a certificate and reward trip.

In addition to our creative educational programming, we will also be participating in a youth

scholarship workshop, visiting local churches including Life Tabernacle in Vinton for special

events, and participation in the Roanoke Dickens of a Christmas parade where we will be

working together to build a float and walking in the parade. Our C.O.P. choir will also be

traveling to Lynchburg for an overnight trip where students will be staying at Amazement Square

and singing the following Sunday morning during worship service. We’ve packed a lot of

excitement and education into this fall semester!