Early Bird Coffee - This activity is a “Meet & Greet” time for members and visitors in the half hour before Sunday School starts at 9:30 am. The coffee is held in the Fellowship Hall located behind the educational building and the sanctuary. Members of the “Early Bird” committee provide the food for the “get together.” Examples of the fare include pastries; bagels and cream cheese; fruit; juice; coffee; tea, hot chocolate and occasionally even boiled eggs. The menu does vary from week to week. All are welcome and please come join us this Sunday or every Sunday. We would love to have you.

Armed Forces - There is a recognition of currently serving members of the armed forces in each weeks’ bulletin. At Prayer Meetings during the week these individuals are remembered as well. On Memorial Day weekend, the Sunday service is patriotic and all veterans of wars, from WWII to those ongoing are recognized. Bill Campbell, a veteran of WWII who took part in the invasion on Normandy, usually pays tribute to those who have served or are serving in the military. Patriotic songs are sung and we say “The Pledge of Allegiance.”

Bible Studies - Over the period of the last year several studies have taken place. “Light the Light”; Advent Study; Beth Moore Study; and Psalms are just a few of them.. All are welcome. To find out when that study will begin, watch the bulletin and the web site calendar for more details.

Vacation Bible School (VBS) - This is a fun-filled week in the summer, usually July or August. Children from pre-school through fifth grade are encouraged to join us for this great week of Bible stories; discovery labs; crafts, games and music. Youth and adults work with the children to enrich their knowledge of the Bible and fellowship with one another.

Potato Luncheon - A Potato Luncheon is held immediately after worship in mid-March. This activity is in conjunction with the Society of St. Andrew. Large baked potatoes with a wide variety of condiments, butter; sour cream; bacon bits; cheese; chili, and broccoli are available. Donations for one’s lunch goes to the mission project at Big Island, VA. Persons may choose to eat in the Social Hall or do “take out.” FYI also, there are great desserts made by the ladies of the church for you to sample!

Potluck Dinners - We have potluck dinners throughout the year. The variety of food at each one is amazing! We have GOOD cooks in the congregation. Besides, Methodists love to eat!!! Watch our web site calendar and plan to join us for one of these events. The fellowship is wonderful and the food delicious. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

The Golden Age Banquet - This event is held in May each year. Its purpose is to honor all members of the congregation who are 65 or older. The program includes music; distribution of many door prizes; and a “This is YOUR Life” presentation about one of the attendees. The Banquet is held in the Social Hall and is by invitation only.

Teacup Auction - The auction is sponsored by the Rita Engle UMW Circle and is held each year in early November. The theme of the auction is usually a patriotic one. It is held in the church’s Social Hall. Items are donated and tickets sold. A teacup is placed with each item and holds the tickets used to bid on the item. Profit made from the auction supports missions for women and children. A vegetable soup, corn bread, dessert and drink lunch is available for a donation to the circle. This event is open to all. There are some terrific items and just in time to start doing your Christmas shopping.

Hearts Party - Fun! Fun! Fun! The Hearts Party is a rousing good time each year in February. There is a potluck dinner at 5:30 pm and the games begin at 6:30 pm. It is open to all. The “Hearts” game is a multigenerational one. Be you 5 or 95 you can play this game. It is played with cubes that have the letters H E A R T S on them. You roll them like dice trying to get them to spell out the word hearts. Players move from table to table around the room when someone yells out HEARTS. There is stiff, but friendly competition and LOTS of laughter. Join us; have fun; and taste all the DELICIOUS desserts that are available. Decadent chocolate cake; yummy brownies; banana split cake…and the list goes on and on.

Picnics - Socials or picnics are held often in the warm months from May through October at the picnic shelter located behind the sanctuary of the church. Sometimes they are potluck and other times they may be hot dogs and hamburgers fixed by a church group or Sunday school class. Most of these follow the worship service on Sunday mornings. Often members of the Hispanic church join us for these events. You are welcome to join us also.

Summer Camp @ Alta Mons -Many children and youth from HCUMC attend the Methodist Church’s summer camp sessions at Crockett’s Spring near Shawsville, VA. Scholarships are available. If you are interested in attending a session contact the church’s children’s program director, Tracey Hall, for information.

Friendly Folks Fellowship - (F3) - Fun, food and fellowship on the 3rd Monday of each month is how this group got its name. It is a congenial group of women and men who come to Fellowship Hall to do various activities. Members work on “pet” projects, such as scrapbooking and knitting. Others play cards and socialize. Anyone is welcome to join us. We meet from 10:00 am to 2:00pm. Around noon we do a “take out” food order. The day is just a pleasant way to get together and be neighborly.

Mission Trips - From time to time church members take part in mission projects in our city as well as other cities. Recent examples have included “Rebuild Roanoke” and a trip to Mississippi to continue rebuilding damages sustained during hurricane Katrina. Plans are now being made to participate in the “Rebuild Roanoke” project again this year. If you would be interested in joining one of our teams, call the church @ 540-366-3465 and leave a message for Rick Hall.

Trunk or Treat - Adults and children alike enjoy this evening in the parking lot of the church. It is for neighborhood children and is safe and well-lighted. All who want to participate may park in the lot; open their trunks; and treat the kids with Halloween Candy. Most of the adults dress in costume and have as much fun as the kids. To see what we did this last year, check out the Photo Gallery under the Resources Menu on our web site and go to “Trunk or Treat.” The web site calendar will have the date and time for the event.

Fall Barbeque - Homecooked BBQ, beans, cole slaw, rolls, desert and a drink are the fare for the AIMS class fall barbeque. This activity takes place in October and tickets are sold in advance. Look on the web site calendar and watch for it in October. The food is OUTSTANDING!!! The class will even do take out for those who cannot stay and enjoy their meal at the picnic shelter. The money raised from the BBQ is used to buy items for food baskets at Christmas time. In 2008 the group filled 29 baskets with food items for families in our area as well as five Hispanic families. The web site calendar will post the event’s time and date. Tickets may be bought from any AIMS class member or contact Rick Hall through the church office @ 540-366-3465.