Greetings everybody,
Feast reports are starting to flow in and all of them, so far, indicate the Feast of Tabernacles 2003 was one of the best ever! Messages were focused on the Kingdom of God. Splendid weather, millennial surroundings, great fellowship, excellent food and fun-filled activities are just some of the comments we've heard. "I can hardly wait until next year," seems to be the universal sentiment expressed by nearly all Festival attendees.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Festival Office
Greetings from the Festival Office and welcome home! While the memories of "The Greatest Feast Ever" are fresh in our minds, it is time to send in comments and constructive suggestions to help in planning for 2004. Please mail your comments to: Living Church of God, Festival Office, 2301 Crown Centre Dr., Charlotte, NC 28227 or e-mail [email protected]. Thank you for your help.
Council of Elders
Mr. Meredith has scheduled a Council of Elders conference for Nov. 17-20. There will also be a Regional Pastors meeting for one day on the 21st. Several of you have asked about who is on the Council. In addition to Mr. Roderick C. Meredith, who chairs the Council, the rest of the members are: Richard Ames, Dibar Apartian, Charles Bryce, Don Davis, Jeff Fall, Lambert Greer, Mario Hernandez, Syd Hull, Carl McNair, Rand Millich, John Ogwyn, Bruce Tyler, Gerald Weston, and Douglas Winnail. We count on your prayers for God's guidance at this conference.
Prayer Request
Mr. Val Burgett, Church Pastor in West Virginia, sent in the following announcement about the illness of his wife, Elaine:
Prayer is requested for Mrs. Elaine Burgett, who has been struggling with cancer for some time. She was originally diagnosed with malignant breast cancer that has since metastasized into bone cancer.
She recently broke her right arm as a result of the cancer causing deterioration to the bone. Because of the cancer, the break will not heal, and therefore needs to have a metal rod or pin screwed into the bone to hold it together.
However, the cancer has also caused her right lung to fill with fluid, and as a result, the doctor has been unable to "put her out" with anesthesia in order to insert the rod and screws. Her lungs have to be clear of the fluid build-up, otherwise choking could result while being unconscious under the influence of the anesthesia. In other words, at the present time, she is also struggling with a broken right arm (her good arm).
She is very weak physically, is often in severe pain, and frequently has chronic coughing spells throughout the night. She is therefore unable to sleep well, which also wears her condition down even more.
In spite of all of this, she is in good spirits and is simply looking to God in faith for His perfect will to be done in her life. God has mercifully alleviated much of the pain that she would have otherwise experienced. She was able to attend the entirety of the Feast 2003, and wishes to express her thanks to all of you for your prayers and concern.
Living 4 Tomorrow—A Time 4 Young Singles
Living Church of God young adults are invited to attend Living 4 Tomorrow – A Time 4 Young Singles in beautiful Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. The format will be similar to the one held in Michigan this past summer, but new classes are planned on subjects covering Christian Leadership, Family Matters, Creating a Culture of Purity, and Doctrines of the Church. Recreational activities will include a dance, team activities, and plenty of "fellowship time." The fee of US $155 covers the cost of all lodging, food, and activities. Space is limited, so get your application in early.
Arrival day is Wednesday, December 31, with a get acquainted dinner scheduled for that evening. Departure date is Sunday morning, January 4. Applications can be found at the following web site: www.youth-web.org or you may request an application from Gerald Weston by calling 905-814-1103 or by e-mail at: [email protected]. Apply soon as openings are expected to fill up quickly and airline tickets can be expensive if you wait too long.
Annual Lake Tahoe Singles Weekend
The annual Lake Tahoe Singles Weekend has been scheduled for December 25-29 (Thursday through Monday). We have already booked the lodge, and are looking forward to another year of great skiing and fellowship. Applications are now available—if you are interested in attending, please contact Rod McNair for applications or for more information at [email protected]. Completed applications are due November 17, and should be sent to Rod McNair, P.O. Box 63, Sutter, CA 95982.
COMMENTS
There will be more to report about the Feast once we hear from all of the Festival sites. We send a big, hearty "thank you" to everyone for their enthusiastic service and cooperation this year.
Have a happy Sabbath!
Charles E. Bryce