Hello everyone,
The trip to the U.K. and Ireland was interesting, encouraging and productive. I appreciate Dr. Doug Winnail's hospitality and generous help throughout the entire two weeks. We were able to hold two board meetings, conduct two Sabbath services and have two Bible studies. The highlight of the trip was spending time with the brethren. We had 24 for Sabbath services in Dublin on June 12, and a wonderful dinner afterwards with most of the brethren. Next Sabbath we had 22 for services in Radlett, England, and an excellent banquet afterwards with that congregation. We also visited the Feast site in Wales and spent a fine evening with the Bennett family there. The trip ended with a quick journey to Paris and enjoying quality time with the Clore family. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Clore will be moving back to America in about five weeks. Ray will then retire from the U.S. State Department in the last part of September 2004. We look forward to having them back in the U.S. serving in the ministry here.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
DVD and CD Production Under Way!
Video Recipients, you will find a few extra items in the next regular sermon box you receive from Charlotte. After almost a year of searching for an affordable system that produces DVDs that work in most players, Headquarters is now producing DVDs. A limited number of DVD and CD sermons disks will be provided for now. Please let us know how you like the product.
The DVDs should work on most players. If yours will not play our DVDs, take the disk to the store and try it in other players until you find a model that works. Thank you all for your patience. We hope you will find the wait worth it.
Feast of Tabernacles 2004
Festival Assistance
By now, all of the ministers in the USA should have received "Application For Festival Assistance" forms to be used by those who will need assistance to attend the Feast of Tabernacles this year. Please announce this at Sabbath services this week and note that the deadline to have them back to us, properly filled out and signed by the Church Pastor, is August 16, 2004.
Cranbrook, BC, Canada
Mr. Eldon Davis, Site Coordinator, informs us that some of our brethren who are planning to attend the Feast in Cranbrook have not been able to contact the Town & Country Hotel (our Cranbrook Feast site hotel) via the 800-906-3388 phone number published in the Festival Planner 2004. The local phone number for the Town & Country Hotel is 250-426-6683. If you have tried to contact the Town & Country Hotel and have not been successful, please dial 250-426-6683.
Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Mr. Jacques Secours, Site Coordinator, writes: In order to help those who are planning to attend the Feast of Tabernacles 2004 in Sherbrooke, here is some additional information concerning Hotel Le President with which the Living Church of God has an agreement. This information does not appear in the Festival Planner: Each room is equipped with two double beds, there are 10 connecting rooms for those who could need that kind of accommodation, and there is an elevator in the hotel. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Each one is asked to bring his own portable radio (or walkman) with FM capability and equipped with headsets. Most of the services will be held in English, but one or two will be held in French. Translation will be provided each day.
Taupo, New Zealand
Messrs Bruce Tyler and Kinnear Penman inform us that they can not accept any more transfers to the New Zealand Feast site, since it has reached capacity. The Australian (Bateman's Bay) Feast site is still open for those that wish to transfer there.
Festival Planners 2004
Those who have not received a Festival Planner 2004, and would like to, should make their request through their local minister. This helps ensure that Festival information is sent out only to those who are attending with the Living Church of God. Making the request through the minister eliminates the need to check membership status with the minister before sending the Festival Planner, and will help us to get them out to those who need them sooner.
Ministers can pass along these requests by calling the office (704-844-1970) or emailing [email protected]. Feast information and registration forms can also be downloaded from the member Web site (www.cogl.org).
Pre-Registration Forms (please read to all congregations)
Of the almost 3,000 Pre-Registration Forms sent out to LCG households, only about a third have been returned to Charlotte. Without knowing how many people are planning to attend each site, we run the risk of not having enough seats at one place and not enough people at another. Seating is so short in some locations that going to a site without having pre-registered could result in our having standing room only, or turning people away at the door due to capacity limits imposed by the local Fire Marshall.
The Site Coordinators are beginning to fill the service positions for their locations, and more volunteers are needed. The Feast is fast approaching, and time for making plans is slipping by rapidly. Thanks to all those who have submitted their post-paid, pre-registration forms. Now is the time for those who have not to send in their form this week. We need the information, even if you are staying at your assigned site!
If you plan to request a transfer, please do so right away. We have waiting lists of people who would like to transfer into some sites that are full, and it would help everyone if we could have all the transfer requests in by the end of next week. Remember, we are working on a one-in one-out system for transfers. Deadlines will be announced soon, past which the Festival Office will not be able to process additional applications.
In Canada and the United States, if you do not have a Pre-Registration/Transfer Request/Volunteer Service form, please see your Area Pastor, or download the form at www.cogl.org/fot2004/transferrequestform.pdf
Sites that have space for incoming transfers are: Corpus Christi, Prescott, Poconos and Kauai.
There are only 13 and one half weeks until the Feast. This may seem like a lot of time for most people, but for the Headquarters staff and those responsible for organizing the various sites, it is getting a little scary when we consider all that remains for us to do. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us serve you.
Address Changes
Members who have moved or are planning a move, please notify the office of your change of address promptly by writing to us at the following address: PO Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227, or by calling 704-844-1970.
Every piece of mail that is returned because of an incorrect address costs $0.92. This can really add up. Keeping your address up to date not only helps us get your literature and envelopes to you promptly, it also is a way you can help save the Work money! Thanks for your help!
Living Youth Camp
Camper and most staff positions are now filled at Living Youth Camp in Michigan. Only a few positions for young adult men are still open. If you have sent in an application and have not received word of your acceptance or not, please contact Sue Ruddlesden at 704-844-1970. We have experienced some major problems with both mail and e-mail, and it may be that your notice has gone astray.
Living 4 Tomorrow—A Time 4 Young Singles
No more ladies can be accepted for Living 4 Tomorrow. However, we still have room for several more men ages 18 to 30. If interested, please find an application at the unofficial private member sponsored website: www.youth-web.org. If you have applied and not heard please contact Gerald Weston at:
COMMENTS
Many of us enjoy reading widely and that's a good thing; occasionally, I'll read a well written western novel by Louis L'Amour. Following is a quote from him that has a powerful message and I thought you might find it useful as well.
"Up to a point a man's life is shaped by environment, heredity, and movements and changes in the world around him; then there comes a time when it lies within his grasp to shape the clay of his life into the sort of thing he wishes to be. Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, this I am today, that I shall be tomorrow. The wish, however, must be implemented by deeds."
Have an inspiring Sabbath!
Charles E. Bryce