Greetings everyone,
A couple of years ago, when I bought a cellular phone my wife frowned. "Why in the world do you need a cellular phone?" she asked. I simply answered, "In case of emergency during our travels." A few minor incidents proved my decision to be wise.
However, last Monday morning, the last of her doubts disappeared when she heard me say over the phone, "I am calling you from my office-using my cellular phone…" But WHY? Let Mr. Don Davis tell you the rest of the story…
COURTYARD PHONE SYSTEM VANDALIZED!
Sometime before dawn, early on the morning of Monday April 30, 2001, the main telephone junction box serving the building that houses the offices of LCG was broken open and 400 pairs of phone connections cut in several places. The box is located next to the public sidewalk outside and down the hill from the building's driveway gate. The Pacific Bell supervisor overseeing the repair crew said that the perpetrator knew what he was doing to have so completely severed all the lines as to make replacement the only way to restore phone service to the Courtyard building. Several other businesses in the immediate area were also affected.
The supervisor stated that about ten days ago, a mile away from this attack, a manhole cover had been removed from a Pacific Bell underground vault, wood and gasoline dropped in and then set ablaze. It seems the phone system in the Rancho Bernardo area is under assault by someone who is determined to cause the phone company some real mischief. It does not appear that the Church was the target of this incident. Please pray for the protection of the support and communication facilities serving God's Work. Church e-mail was not affected, since that service is accessed via Road Runner cable modem. Don Davis, Physical Plant Manager.
MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE
We haven't as yet heard reports about the Eastern Ministerial Conference in Mississippi, but next week Mr. Carl McNair will probably brief you about it. As a foretaste, here was the schedule: Monday morning, April 30th (while the rest of us in San Diego were deprived of phone lines…) Mr. Meredith's keynote address: Growing the Work. Afterwards, Mr. Carl McNair's US & International CAD Report.
In the afternoon, four presentations: Mr. Dick Ames (Fundamentals of Prophecy), Mr. Carl McNair (Forty Years Sojourning in this Wilderness), Mr. Lambert Greer (Use of the Pulpit in Pastoring) and Mr. Gerald Weston (The LCG Youth Program).
Tuesday morning, May 1, Mr. Meredith's lecture on Servant Leadership, followed by Mr. Carl McNair's lecture on Mythical Age and Personal Performance. In the afternoon, Mr. Meredith's and Mr. Carl McNair's lecture on Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible.
Wednesday morning, May 2, Mr. Ames' report on Writing for Church Publications, followed by Mr. Doug Winnail's presentation on How to Explain the Roles of Men and Women. In the afternoon, right after Mr. McNair's brief report on Administering, Mr. Meredith's closing exhortation, Becomng a True Bondslave.
HOLY DAYS OFFERINGS
Mr. Fred Dattolo, our Treasurer, reports: The offerings for the Days of Unleavened Bread finished about 4.7% ahead of last year. All mail income through the end of April was 6.9% ahead of last year, although that figure is skewed high because April this year has an extra Monday that was in the month of May last year. When we adjust for the same number of days, all year-to-date mail income is about 4.4% higher than the same period last year. This figure correlates closely to the increase we received for the Days of Unleavened Bread. We need bigger increases to be able to sustain the growth in the mailing list that we are experiencing. —Fred
MEDIA
Mr. Meredith has given Editorial the text of his upcoming booklet, "Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer." This booklet will be offered to Tomorrow's World subscribers in the mid-May "semiannual letter." Church members need NOT return the reply card in the semiannual letter; they will receive the booklet automatically as soon as it is printed.
FESTIVAL OFFICE
For the purpose of the festival site attendance survey scheduled for the Sabbath of June 9, 2001, please be aware that the age for seniors begins at age 65 for this count.
A test run of the survey was made here in San Diego, last week. It was found that larger congregations may be more efficiently surveyed by interviewing members individually before or after services, rather than trying to take a hand count from the podium. Whatever works best for your size group is not as important as the accuracy of the count and sending in the results in a timely manor.
Please ANNOUNCE the survey date IN ADVANCE, so people can have time to make their decisions about their festival attendance before June 9th survey.
TOBAGO FEAST SITE
In the last LCN, the Tobago Feast-goers were told to ring the Grafton Beach Resort (the Tobago Feast site)for more information. However, Mr. Sookram, our coordinator, now asks them to contact him instead (E-mail: [email protected]; telephone/fax: 868-645-6858). By his coordinating the reservations, the price would be U.S.$100 per person instead of the $140 (mentioned on our website). By booking at least 10 rooms we can have the meeting hall free of charge.
INTERNATIONAL
GENEVA, Switzerland. For the first time, the LCG brethren in Switzerland and nearby will be able to assemble to celebrate Pentecost in Geneva. We expect an attendance of 20 persons.
PARIS, France. Most of the rest of the French brethren in Europe will be celebrating Pentecost in Paris under Mr. Ray Clore's direction.
IRELAND, here we come at last! Indeed, Dr. Winnail is about to leave for Ireland, U.K. and Europe. He will be the Regional Director over that part of the world. According to his schedule, he will be in Ireland just on time to celebrate Pentecost with our Irish brethren.
Well, that will be all for today. Y'ALL have a wonderful Sabbath!
Dibar Apartian