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Some in the Southwest Roanoke County community got a different kind of Trick or Treat-or during the month of October. With the help of their Youth Director, Mary MacMichael, the youth gathered grocery bags from their congregation and placed them around town to collect food for their annual fall food drive which they call, 'Trick or Treat S.O.M.E. (so others may eat).

The youth at Covenant Presbyterian Church knows learned what it's like to reach out to the community. With the help of their Youth Director, Mary MacMichael, the youth gathered grocery bags from their congregation and placed them around town to collect food for their annual fall food drive that they call, 'Trick or Treat S.O.M.E. (so others may eat).

Each paper grocery bag was equipped with a piece of paper explaining the drive and left on doorsteps in the Southwest Roanoke community. The instructions included what they were looking for from the community, as well as dates that the bags would be picked up. According to MacMichael, the food drive has taken place for the last ten years. This year 950 bags were placed in the community.

The youth group, with help of drivers, delivered the bags into the community on Oct. 25. And on Nov. 1 the bags were picked up. The preschool also helped collect the items.

"We hit the same streets every year from Deyerle Road to Route 419, to Mudlick, Lewis Gale Hospital, Windsor Hills...we don't ring the door bell, we just leave the bag and cover sheet and it tells them when we are going to come back the next week and pick up whatever they want to give," MacMichael said. "Some people give a little, some give none, and some people give a lot."

On Nov. 1, the youth sets out to pick up the items and the food gathered from the congregation is picked up. After it is picked up, the items are taken to the Presbyterian Community Center (PCC) located at 1228 Jamison Avenue where they are sorted on shelves and priced.

"It was raining the day we went to pick up the items and I thought we weren't going to get anything. I had to keep telling myself God will provide," MacMichael said. "I like to take all the youth over to the PCC to see the empty shelves and then as the day goes on, the pantry fills up, so they can see the fruit of their labors."

MacMichael and the youth were shocked to learn that this year they raised more than they ever have. They collected enough food, priced at $5,379.83.

"I thought it was going to be less because of the economy, but this is the most we've ever collected and I wonder if it was that people realized that people did have something they could give."

The PCC will use this food to give away to families in need at no cost. MacMichael said that there are guidelines as to who gets the food and how much they get which depends on the size of their family and their financial situation.

"It's an emergency aid relief for people in need," she said. "We also offer an after school tutoring program there, trying to break the cycle of poverty by educating."

It took about 85 people to accomplish what Covenant Presbyterian Church did.

MacMichael says that the youth learn from this project.

"I think they are realizing that they are very capable of making a difference. They are very capable of promoting the need that is out there and promoting the PCC and the youth group as a group that is going to do for others. I think they realize that there are people who need their help. It is important for us to put ourselves in positions where we do see the need," MacMichael said.

"I think that the kids get a feeling that they have really helped the center becuse it would take forever to get that food sorted and priced and on the shelves, but we get it done in one afternoon. They are helping and the volunteers at the PCC are grateful for their assistance."

And most importnat MacMichael wants to thank the community for donating to their annual food drive.

"I was to thank the community because without the help from our congregation and their help we would never raise this much and for their dedication for allowing us to distribute bags to their neighborhoods."

Colonial Presbyterian Church hosted their Annual Kirkin O' the Tartan service on November 15. The event is sponsored by the Scottish Foundation of the Virginia Highlands and the Virginia Highlands Pipes & Drums participated. The congregation was treated to a short concert and a tea and shortbread reception after the service.

Submitted by Melissa Williams.

The Youth Group at Colonial Presbyterian Church sponsored a Reverse Trick or Treating program the afternoon of October 31st. Groups went door to door giving out candy and information about their church and praying with their neighbors.

Submitted by Melissa Williams.

Do you have news or photos from your church in Southwest Roanoke County? You can share at news@swo-co.com.

Fishing at sunset. Peaceful and beautiful until the sharks started biting!
Our trip last week featured some awesome sunsets especially at this inlet where the water was on 3 sides of us. The sky stayed pink for over an hour each night.

Submitted by Tim Thornhill.

Tim Thornhill sent these photos and this message into us:

"Our Colonial Avenue Baptist fishing trip to Cape Hatteras last week was a big success as over 200 fish were caught. But more important was the fellowship and fun we always have. The guys on this trip were Chris Oliver, Brent Powell, Alva Coleman, Jim Rhodes, Darren Bridgers, Tim Vest, Ric Scott and Tim Thornhill. The trips are a great way to get to know each other better while having fun fishing in a Christian atmosphere. We go in the spring and fall. Anyone interested in joining us may contact the church for more info. Jim and Darren organize the trips and are great teachers of surf fishing. No experience necessary."

Submitted By Tim Thornhill

St. Lucia Holiday Concert and Festival of Light
Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 7:30 pm
St. Andrew’s Catholic Church

This is our sixth annual ecumenical celebration.

Featuring the choirs and musicians from:

St Andrew’s Catholic Church * St. Paul’s Episcopal Church * Salem Presbyterian Church

Admission is free.
One or two non-perishable goods are appreciated and
a free will offering will help benefit local charities.

There will be a reception following the concert in the parish hall featuring Swedish treats.

Submitted by Rose Ann Burgess.

Saturday, Nov. 7 made a good day to go visit holiday and gift bazaar's. Colonial Presbyterian Church's bazaar turned out to be a big hit amongst the community. Not only could visitors do a little early Christmas shopping but they also had the opportunity to buy some home-made goodies.

View photos from the even in our slideshow above, or click here.

"Evening of Praise and Worship" will be held on November 14 at St. John Lutheran Church. The church is located at 4608 Brambleton Ave. You will enjoy a relaxed evening of worshipful praise music, prayer, dessert and coffee. We all know the stresses of the Holidays as they approach and our prayer is that this evening will bring us all to a greater understanding of God's peace and his desire for us to focus solely on worshipping him. All are invited. Bring your friends and neighbors.

For more information, please call the church at 774-0712.

Submitted by MarLane Knuppel

When the going gets tough, it's always nice to know that you have a community ready to help you out and stick by you. Which is exactly what a local church, Haran Baptist, has been doing for a local family- one many of them have never even met.

Bobby Ferguson, a Deacon at Haran Baptist and a Marine, learned from his mother about his cousin's wife, Ashley Weeks, of Goodview who was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few short years ago.

A little more than a year ago, Weeks, only 27-years-old, was diagnosed with breast cancer and the doctors gave her anywhere between five and ten years to live. She's been unable to work and recently her husband was laid off from his job (only to get it back a few weeks ago).

The Weeks' family has two daughters, one 4-years-old and one 6-years old.

And according to Ferguson, Weeks' doctors recently told her that she only had a year to live.

Haran Baptist Church wanted to do something to help. They collected canned goods, gave them gift certificates, donated money, cards- just to let them know that they care about the family.

"She's a really good Christian and trusts in God and knows there can be a miracle," Ferguson said.

Most recently the church held a yard sale, on Saturday, Oct. 17 and donated the proceeds to the family.

"We had done one for the youth one time and that did really well so we just decided to do another one and raise some money. If anything to help them catch up on some bills or with the holidays coming up."

"The church has been talking about finding a family in the community and helping them out. There are families out there that need help and they don't know who to turn to. It's a chance to get the church involved with them and it gets the families involved in church and it can change your life."

Ferguson said that Haran Baptist Church has a goal to embrace a family every quarter and help them, whether it's doing some work around their house or raising money or food.

The church has helped many others in the past and are involved in the community. Just a few of the things they have done include cutting firewood for the elderly, creating fruit baskets for people are shut-in, they also participate in Women on Mission, Operation Christmas Child, raising money for missionaries, and donate to the homeless shelter.

"Our members are just wonderful. I cant say enough about what they've done. The things they've donated and their time- it's just great," he said.

Do you have news from your church in Southwest Roanoke County? If so, you can share at news@swo-co.com.

The Church of the Holy Spirit dedicated a new sanctuary on Sunday. Here are photos of the dedication, courtesy of the church.

You can view them in the slideshow above or in this gallery format.

Do you have photos involving your church in Southwest Roanoke County? If so, you can share at news@swo-co.com.