Greetings from Charlotte,
Mr. Nathan reports that in all of last year we sent out 141 copies of the Christian Baptism booklet in the U.K. This is not our most requested booklet, but it is one of the most important for future growth. At the end of May this year, the U.K. office had already sent out 141 copies, showing the growing interest people have in this vital subject.
Mr. Rees Ellis reports that the brethren in Belgium are looking forward to being together in person this coming Sabbath for the first time since confinement, and they will be doing their part by practicing distancing and staying safe!
Mr. Michael Heykoop reported last week that more congregations in Canada are opening up for in-person services once again. He also reported that the Day of Pentecost offerings were the highest ever for a Holy Day. To date, they are up 13.35 percent over 2019.
Mr. Richard Ames and Mr. Wallace Smith recorded new Tomorrow’s World television programs this week. Mr. Rod McNair conducted meetings with all U.S. Feast Site Coordinators on Tuesday and all international coordinators on Wednesday. The Feast of Tabernacles is a little over three months away, and there are many uncertainties all over the world regarding travel restrictions, other government regulations, and questions about venues opening up. There is so much that is out of our hands, but not out of God’s hands, so please pray for His will to be done.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
June 27 Livestream—All Congregations
We would like to remind everyone that this Sabbath, June 27, services will be livestreamed from Headquarters. Mr. Weston plans to give the sermon. All congregations are invited to tune in. Services will begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, USA. For congregations in time zones where this is impractical, or for those needing Spanish or French translation, a recorded (and/or translated) version will be available at a later time.
Video link information:
- Live stream: www.lcg.org/stream (NOTE: The stream page will not be active until shortly before services on the Sabbath)
- No password required
Phone call-in information:
- Phone call-in: +1-415-655-0001 (U.S. toll number)
- Connection access number: 160 097 7243
- For a list of call-in numbers for those who are outside the United States, please click on this link: Global call-in numbers
We look forward to meeting virtually together!
Church-Wide Livestream Plans from Now Until the Feast—Repeat Announcement
Pastors: Please note that Mr. Weston has recently made the decision that we will be streaming a live service from Charlotte on the last Sabbath of each month up until the Feast. That means that we will have another Church-wide livestream on July 25, August 29, and September 26. Each of these services will be at 1:00 p.m., EDT (USA). Please plan your schedules accordingly.
Feast of Tabernacles
Feast Sites, Contracts, and Housing—Must Read (USA Only)
Please carefully note the following important Feast of Tabernacles announcements. We hope to announce other Feast sites next week. As previously announced in Mr. Weston’s member letter, we strongly encourage all brethren to attend their assigned Feast site this year, due to the COVID-19 crisis and related circumstances. Thank you for your patience, prayers, and cooperation!
- United States Feast of Tabernacles sites for which contracts have been signed, and their assigned congregations are listed below.
- If you attend one of the congregations below, you may begin making housing arrangements for your assigned site on Sunday, June 28, at 12:00 noon (Eastern Daylight Time, USA).
- Housing information for the finalized sites can be found in the “Feast of Tabernacles 2020 Housing Review” and will be posted on the MyLCG website tomorrow (www.cogl.org).
- If you do not attend one of the congregations below, please do not make housing arrangements until your assigned site is announced and “opened.”
- If you will be asking for a transfer this year, please do not make housing reservations until you have registered through general Festival registration, submitted a transfer request, and been approved for transfer. General Festival registration will take place in the coming weeks.
Congregational Assignments (so far) for the Feast of Tabernacles, USA
Below is a list of USA Feast sites for which we have signed contracts as of this writing, and the congregations that are assigned to them. If you attend one of these congregations, you may begin arranging housing for your assigned site on Sunday, June 28 at 12:00 noon (Eastern Daylight Time). Housing information will be posted on the MyLCG website tomorrow, Friday, June 26. If you do not have Internet access, please consult your Festival Advisor. If your congregation is not in the list below, please wait to make housing arrangements—we will be finalizing and announcing other sites soon!—Festival Office
Boerne, Texas
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Gary Stein (713-560-2107, [email protected])
Texas: Abilene, Amarillo, Big Sandy, Dallas, Midland, Temple
Branson, Missouri #1
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Gene Hilgenberg (417-483-8365, [email protected])
Arkansas: Fayetteville
Kansas: Chanute
Missouri: Joplin, Springfield
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa
Branson, Missouri #2
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Phil West (816-885-1587, [email protected])
Arkansas: Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville
Missouri: St. Joseph
Tennessee: Memphis
Branson, Missouri #3
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Bobby Jacques (405-520-3958, [email protected])
Kansas: Wichita
Missouri: Kansas City
Cathedral City, California
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Stephen Elliott (480-553-1042, [email protected])
Arizona: Phoenix, Prescott Valley, Tucson
California: Banning, Garden Grove, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego
Nevada: Las Vegas
New Mexico: Albuquerque, Santa Fe
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Bill Whitaker (843-810-5621, [email protected])
Georgia: Augusta
South Carolina: Columbia, Walterboro
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Bob Rodzaj (262-321-8313, [email protected])
Illinois: Chicago, Peoria
Iowa: Dubuque, Keokuk
Minnesota: Duluth, Minneapolis
North Dakota: Bismarck
Wisconsin: Appleton, Merrill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Feast Coordinator: Dr. Richard Franz (314-775-3192, [email protected])
Illinois: Springfield
Iowa: Des Moines
Missouri: Columbia, Rolla, St. Louis
Nebraska: Lincoln, Omaha
Midway, Utah
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Rodger Bardo (602-910-1086, [email protected])
Colorado: Denver, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs
Montana: Great Falls, Helena
Utah: Layton
Wyoming: Casper, Cheyenne, Saratoga, Thermopolis, Wheatland
Natchez, Mississippi
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Glen Harrison (225-681-0222, [email protected])
Louisiana: Baton Rouge, Ferriday, Lafayette, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreveport
Texas: Lufkin
New Bern, North Carolina
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Wyatt Ciesielka (512-775-8368, [email protected])
North Carolina: Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Raleigh
Northern Kentucky (Cincinnati)
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Lambert Greer (502-228-5917, [email protected])
Kentucky: Berea, Louisville
Ohio: Cincinnati
Indiana: Fort Wayne, Knox, Indianapolis, Terre Haute
Poconos, Pennsylvania
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Adam West (518-225-3860, [email protected])
Connecticut: Danbury
New Jersey: Hammonton, Rahway
New York: New York City
Pennsylvania: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Tannersville
West Virginia: Morgantown
Puerto Rico
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Raul Colon (787-420-4543, [email protected])
Puerto Rico: San Juan
St. Augustine, Florida
Feast Coordinator: Mr. James Sweat (423-653-8746, [email protected])
Florida: Ft. Lauderdale, Naples, Jacksonville, Lake City, Melbourne, Ocala, Tampa
Georgia: Thomasville
South Padre Island, Texas
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Rick Stafford (713-560-2107, [email protected])
Texas: Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Houston, San Antonio, The Valley
Traverse City, Michigan
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Bill Long (248-489-0453, [email protected])
Michigan: Lansing, Kalamazoo, Traverse City
Ohio: Akron, Columbus, Lima
Williamsburg, Virginia
Feast Coordinator: Mr. Sheldon Monson (715-441-6081, [email protected])
DC: Washington
Maryland: Baltimore, Salisbury
Virginia: Norfolk, Richmond, Williamsburg, Winchester
West Virginia: Bluefield, Charleston
Living Youth Program
Texas Teen Camp Airport Pick-up—Must Read Where Applicable
Anyone who will need airport pick-up or drop-off before or after the Texas Teen Camp, please submit your arrival and departure details, including times, airlines, and flight numbers, before June 30. You can send this information through the Camp registration system (https://camp.livingyouth.org) or you can e-mail it directly to Jenny Penman at [email protected]. Even if you think you’ve already sent these details, please double-check your registration on the camp website so we can be sure you are on the schedule.
Comments
The Path to Peace: Many have been shocked by the recent eruption of riots and violence, anger and hatred all over the world—and many wonder what is happening in a world where many yearn for peace. However, the Apostle Paul warned, “in the last days perilous times will come,” as proud, self-centered people mistreat and attack one another (2 Timothy 3:1–5). Jesus also prophesied that wars and rumors of wars and ethnic strife would increase prior to His return (Matthew 24:3–7). Yet Jesus is coming back as the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6–7). Those who will rule with Him will show the world the way to peace and explain why human efforts could not bring peace to the world (Isaiah 59:8). The way to peace involves learning to love and live by the laws of God (Psalm 119:165), and the “work of righteousness” (keeping the commandments) is what leads to peace (Isaiah 32:17; Psalm 119:172). Brethren, we have been called to become peacemakers (Matthew 5:9; James 3:17–18). Let’s learn the way to peace, so we can fulfill our incredible calling to bring real peace to a troubled world.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 25, 2020
Sabers Rattle in Korea: About a year ago, there appeared to be a thaw in the perpetually tense relationship between North and South Korea, stirring hope for increased unity between the two countries. However, last week North Korea “blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in its city of Kaesong”—an office built in 2018 that was used for inter-Korean meetings (Deutsche Welle, June 16, 2020). The building’s destruction came as predicted by the sister of Kim Jung Un, North Korea’s Supreme Leader. The European Union and Russia have both urged restraint.
North Korea has since rejected a peace offer from South Korea and has announced its intention to “restart military exercises on the South Korean border in demilitarized areas that were previously used by both nations for industry and tourism” (Deutsche Welle, June 17, 2020). North Korea also plans to re-establish guard posts in the demilitarized zone.
Continuous tension has existed between the two nations since their separation at the end of the Korean War in 1953. Over the years, the countries have experienced occasional, limited thaws in their relationship, as well as escalations in hostile rhetoric and military action along their shared border. Since the nuclear summit between North Korea and the United States broke down last year, friction between the North and the South has worsened. Both Koreas are well armed, and the South is militarily supported by the U.S. Increasing tensions between nations around the globe should be expected, as Jesus Christ warned that “wars and rumors of wars” would be one of the visible signs indicating the approach of the end of the age (Matthew 24:4–7). To learn more about signs that will announce Christ’s return, be sure to watch “Seven Signs of the Second Coming.”
Covid-19 and Reshaping the World Order: The respected journal Foreign Affairs recently published an article on the emerging role of “Washington Post, June 5, 2020). The nation has repeatedly stepped into the leadership vacuum left by the U.S., and German influence continues to grow. Students of Bible prophecy know the importance of watching Germany—the nation that will one day lead the world for a time. For more information about Germany’s role in end-time prophecy, be sure to read “Resurgent Germany: A Fourth Reich?”—Scott Winnail and Francine Prater