Weekly Update

A big hello from Charlotte!

Mr. and Mrs. Meredith had a very fine trip to the Kansas City area for Pentecost. There were 292 people in attendance for the Sabbath. For the Feast of Pentecost, they had combined services in Columbia with 346 brethren. The Merediths, Mr. and Mrs. Ames, and Mr. Apartian are all back home and doing well. Thank you for your prayers for the success of their church visits.

CHURCH ADMINISTRATION

Feast of Tabernacles 2004

Transfer requests are being processed and notifications mailed, as quickly as possible. The office has had enough requests coming in to recognize some trends that need to be considered by those who may yet be planning to transfer, rather than attending the site to which they are assigned:

Hawaii is not receiving the number of requests anticipated. Anyone who is planning to request a transfer to Kauai, at this time it is almost sure to be approved.

Lake of the Ozarks seems to be our most popular site. The hall will hold 800 people comfortably. Right now too few are requesting to transfer out to allow us to approve any transfers in (other than for health reasons). Those assigned to Lake of the Ozarks who wish to go to another site should send in their request form right away. Anyone hoping to go to the Ozarks from another site should consider a different destination this year. Those who have already requested a transfer to Lake of the Ozarks are on hold, until more people transfer out. The hall seating limitation at Lake of the Ozarks is an example of why everyone who wishes to transfer needs to send in their request form now.

There are only 16 and one half weeks until the Feast of Tabernacles!

Pentecost in Martinique

Mr. Dibar Apartian writes: Before leaving for Martinique to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost with our brethren in that "Island of Flowers," as it is called, unusually heavy rains had been drenching it for several days. But God blessed us during this weekend. The days were clear and the rains mostly came in the middle of the night. The French-speaking congregation in Martinique began in the middle of the1960s, and reached its prime with more than 300 brethren prior to Mr. Herbert W Armstrong's death. Today, sadly, only a tenth of that group is still with us. Some are lingering with our former association, others drifted away. For years, we used to broadcast five days a week over the powerful Radio Caraibes station. Today, we only air on a small local station. Nevertheless, our brethren are faithful and strong. I was blessed to give three sermons during my short visit—one on the Sabbath, followed by a Bible study in the afternoon, and two on the day of Pentecost. On both days, we all lunched together in a joyful atmosphere. Twelve new visitors showed up for the Public Lecture scheduled for Monday morning, and some of them may be potential members. Our Martinique brethren are praying for you all.

UK and Europe Update

Dr. Doug Winnail writes: Greetings from Ireland! May has been a busy month. On the first two weekends of May I was able to visit and speak on the Sabbath to brethren in London (Radlett) and in Holland (where several new individuals are counseling for baptism). In mid-May I flew to Salzburg, Austria, for a new visit and to gather information on early Celtic (Israelite) migrations into Europe. The return trip across Austria and through the Swiss Alps provided some spectacular vistas of where God has led His people. I was able to spend some time with Mr. Joseph Felber (our Elder in Zurich) and his family before heading on to Geneva to meet Mr. and Mrs. Ray Clore and brethren for the Sabbath. We had a very pleasant stay with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cochet in Geneva. On Sunday I traveled with the Clores back to Paris, where we had a visit and I finished a Tomorrow's World article. Returning to Ireland, I met Mr. Rod King (visiting from Australia) and Mr. Kenneth Cargill (deacon in Belfast) and we toured some of the historical sites in Northern Ireland.

From Newcastle I caught a train to Glasgow to spend the Sabbath with our brethren there (we had several visitors for the service). On Saturday evening I flew to London to spend Pentecost with our brethren meeting in Radlett. We had a very profitable Holy Day and a pleasant lunch together.

Living Youth Camp

The Living Church of God is sponsoring three camps this summer:  Preteen Texas, Preteen Missouri, and LYC Teen Michigan.  There are still spaces available for campers, High School Workers, and Adult Workers.  Please get an application and send it in as soon as possible if you are interested in attending or working at one of these camps.  All applications can be found at the unofficial church member-sponsored website: www.youth-web.org.   For a Teen Michigan application you may call Sue Ruddlesden at:  704- 844-1960, ext 235.  For Preteen Texas call Mr. David Crockett at 682-518-8292.  For Preteen Missouri call Mr. Randy Gregory at 847-249-1057.

Living 4 Tomorrow—A Time 4 Young Singles

Singles ages 18 to 30 are invited to attend Living 4 Tomorrow—A Time 4 Young Singles at beautiful Thunder Bay Resort near Hillman, Michigan, July 14-18. We still have room for both men and women, but right now we need more men. Please fill out the very simple application found at the unofficial church member-sponsored website, www.youth-web.org, if you are interested in attending this activity. Those who have attended past L4T sessions have found this activity to be very rewarding. L4T is filled with learning, fun, and fellowship. Get your application in quickly, as there is a limit to how many we can take.

MEDIA OPERATIONS

Mr. Richard Ames sends the following taping schedule for Wednesday, May 26, 2004:

MAIL PROCESSING DEPARTMENT

Mr. Gaylyn Bonjour writes: Dear brethren, we have an unusual request to make at this time. We have been recently experiencing long delays in the U.S. postal system. Some of you have not received member/coworker letters, the Festival Planner, and the Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs, etc., in a timely manner. (The new booklet, Does God Heal Today?, was mailed last week). Please write or e-mail ([email protected]) us with the specifics so we can address this issue with the U.S. Postal Service. Thank you for all of your help.

COMMENTS

The reports we are receiving about Pentecost from around the world are all very positive. It appears God did pour out His blessings on His people on that day. We'll try to have more specific details to pass along next time. In the meantime, let's keep right on doing what the Apostle Paul mentioned in Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Have a restful, pleasant and peaceful Sabbath.

Charles E. Bryce