Greetings from Charlotte,
This week, Mr. and Mrs. Weston are out of town, spending time with family. Other staff members are also taking time off, to celebrate American Thanksgiving with family and friends. The tradition goes back to those hardy, adventurous souls who came to the “New World” in the 17th century. Many of them attributed their very survival, in those first lean years, to God’s intervention. With members in 86 countries around the world, many of us in the Living Church of God do not live in modern Israelite countries. Yet, we have ALL benefited from God’s blessings to Abraham (Genesis 22:18), and we appreciate the freedom to worship God and labor in His Work. Speaking of the Work, it has been almost six years since the Living Church of God has had a General Ministerial Conference. We are planning one for March 16–18, 2020. All pastors and elders should have by now received an e-mail with information about the Conference—if you have not, please contact Church Administration at [email protected].—Rod McNair
Church Administration
General Ministerial Conference Planned
We are planning a General Ministerial Conference, to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, March 16–18, 2020. Generally, arrival day will be Sunday, March 15, and departure day on Thursday, March 19. All pastors and elders should have received an e-mail announcement about the General Ministerial Conference by now. Additional information will be forthcoming. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Conference in March!
NOW Is the Time to Register for the Charlotte Family Weekend!
Registration for the 2019 Charlotte Family Weekend is now underway. This year’s special Family Weekend is rapidly approaching and will run from Wednesday, December 25 (arrival day) through Sunday, December 29 (departure day). Brethren can now register for activities and meals, as well as make hotel reservations. To register, to see a detailed schedule of activities, and to access a link to receive the Church’s discounted rate of $99/night at the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel, visit the cogl.org website, log into MyLCG, and click the link for the Charlotte Family Weekend. IMPORTANT: Hotel reservations must be made by Wednesday, December 4, in order to receive the discounted rate.
Living Youth Program
Living Youth Friday Evening Bible Study
The online Friday evening Teen Bible Study on December 6 will cover Mark 12:1–13:23, and will be given by Mr. Sheldon Monson. Join us at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
To join the study, visit https://live.livingyouth.org, and sign in with either your MyLCG or LYP camp registration credentials. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. For those who are unable to make it to the study, recordings of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening’s on Mark 10–11, can be found on the Living Youth Programs Live archive page at https://live.livingyouth.org/archive/.—Josh Penman
Comments
Take Time to Be Thankful: American Thanksgiving is a tradition that dates back to the founding of the American colonies. However, taking time to be thankful to God is not limited just to Americans or to one day per year. David showed that we should all come before God with a spirit of thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2). The Apostle Paul urged Christians, “in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), because, as James notes, God is the giver of “every good gift” (James 1:17). We need to take time on a regular basis to thank God for the blessings we have been given: our calling (John 6:44, 65), the opportunity to understand the purpose of life and God’s way of life (Matthew 13:10–17), the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins and the opportunity to gain eternal life (John 3:16). We can also rejoice in the truth that has set us free from the deception that has blinded the peoples of this world (John 8:32; Revelation 12:9). We can even thank God for the trials that come along that can help us grow (James 1:2–4). Wherever you are, take some time this Sabbath or this week to make a list of what you have to be thankful for, and convey your heartfelt thanks to your Father and your Creator.
Have a profitable Sabbath.
Douglas S. Winnail