Greetings y'all,
Mr. and Mrs. Meredith returned from their trip on Friday, and Mr. Meredith gave the sermon on the Sabbath. He was in the office on Monday, full speed ahead. Upon arriving at the office, he was welcomed by more than two weeks of mail. After taking care of the mail, Mr. Meredith answered e-mails and sent out the agenda for the upcoming Council of Elders meetings. He has finished the July-Aug 2005 LCN editorial and is currently writing the article for the LCN. He will write the semi-annual letter early next week. In it he will be offering the new booklet, Where Is God's True Church Today?
As of next Thursday, Headquarters will be hosting visiting ministers who will arrive from around the world. The first comers will be the members of the Council of Elders for the two-day conference scheduled for next Thursday and Friday. Then, starting Monday, May 23, most of them and a group of full-time ministers, with their wives, will be attending the week-long Pastors Conference and Workshops. Three such sessions are scheduled this year for full-time ministers. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bryce will be returning from their trip to Texas and Oklahoma this Sunday, just in time to join us in the exciting and busy days ahead of us.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Ireland, UK, Europe and East Africa Updates
Congregations in Europe appreciated and enjoyed the visits during the Spring Holy Days by Dr. and Mrs. Meredith and their daughter Elizabeth Martin. We had near-record attendances in London and in Drogheda on the first and last Holy Days. Dr. Meredith also conducted Board meetings for the UK and Irish corporations during the visit. The meetings explored ways of doing the Work more effectively in this part of the world and were very productive. Responses to the new TV broadcasts in the UK are also moving in the right direction.
News from East Africa continues to be positive. Weekly attendance in the various congregations that have remained with the Living Church of God after the disruption is now running over 100.—Douglas Winnail
Living Youth Camp (Grand Teton National Park)
The Living Church of God is planning a backpacking trip in Grand Teton National Park from August 3-9. Located south of Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming, this mountain range is unlike any other range in the Rockies. The Tetons rise with stunning abruptness in a row of peaks that tower 1.5 miles above the saltbrush plains. Majestic snow-covered mountain peaks, glaciers, meadows covered in multicolored wildflowers, and an abundance of wildlife are a few things that will make this one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
We will be staying in accommodations in the Jackson, Wyoming area on Tuesday evening and begin hiking on Wednesday, August 3. We plan to spend the Sabbath in the wilderness. Following the backpacking trip we hope to go whitewater rafting down the Snake River. Plan to depart for home on Wednesday, August 10.
Those who are 15-18 years of age are eligible to apply. We plan to accept no more than 20 applicants this year. If accepted, you should plan to arrive in Jackson, Wyoming on Tuesday August 2. You will be required to organize your own transportation to and from Jackson; however, rides will be provided for those flying into the Jackson Hole Airport.
You will need to supply your own backpack and zero-degree sleeping bag as well as personal items. Tents, cooking gear, etc., will be supplied.
Camp applications are now available for the Grand Teton Backpacking/Whitewater Rafting trip. For camper or staff applications please contact: Sheldon Monson, 713 4th Street Hudson, WI 54016, (715) 386-6898 or by email at [email protected]--Sheldon Monson, Camp Director
Living 4 Tomorrow – A Time 4 Young Singles (Michigan 2005)
Living Church of God young adults are invited to attend Living 4 Tomorrow – A Time 4 Young Singles at the beautiful facilities of the Northwoods Christian Camp in Pickford, Michigan. The L4T program is open to ALL singles between the ages of 18 and 30. The L4T format is one of classes and discussion periods focused for the young single Christian adult mixed with recreation activities and fellowship time. Having access to the facilities of the beautiful Northwoods Christian Camp this year will provide an opportunity for the "best" L4T program to date. The program will be one day longer and remain at the same price as last year – $155 US. The fee will cover the cost of all lodging, food, and activities. Arrival date is the afternoon of Tuesday, July 12, with a get acquainted cookout scheduled for that evening. Departure date is Sunday morning, July 17. Applications may be requested by calling Lambert Greer at 502-228-5917 or by email at [email protected]. Apply soon and plan ahead as airline tickets can be expensive if you wait too long.—Lambert Greer, Coordinator
FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2005
The Festival Planner 2005 for the Feast of Tabernacles is in the mail! All member households in the USA and Canada should receive a copy before Pentecost. Please be thinking now about the site you wish to attend, so that you can be complete and return quickly to the Festival Office your Pre-registration/Transfer Request form that comes with the Planner. Please pre-register, even if you will not be applying for a transfer to a site other than the one to which you are assigned.
The 2005 Feast sites in the United States and Canada are:
Canada: Canmore, AB; Mont Orford, QC; and Summerside, PEI.
United States: Lake Tahoe, CA; Clearwater, FL; Lake of the Ozarks, MO; Taos, NM; Saratoga Springs, NY; Myrtle Beach, SC; Rapid City, SD; and Corpus Christi, TX.
If you plan to transfer to meet with friends or family, make your arrangements with them without delay and be sure to send your Pre-Registration/Transfer Request forms in the same envelope to help expedite the approval process. For those who wish to pre-register and request a transfer online, the Web site address to do so is shown in the Festival Planner 2005; however, please wait for your copy of the Planner to find out which site your congregation is assigned before trying to pre-register or request a transfer online.
The year 2005 promises to be a great year for God's Feast of Tabernacles. Plan carefully now so that preparations will go smoothly.—Don Davis
Montego Bay, Jamaica Feast Site
We have been informed that the capacity of the meeting hall for the Feast of Tabernacles in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is limited. Therefore, to avoid overbooking we request that all interested in attending the Feast in Jamaica contact Blondelle Chang, at the Living Church of God Jamaican Office, by phone at 876-920-9078 or 876-929-1650 or by e-mail at [email protected] before making any hotel reservations or flight arrangements. If you have already made your hotel reservations without notifying Ms. Chang, please call or send her an e-mail so that she can keep an accurate record of how many brethren are planning to attend the Feast there.
COMMENTS
Have you ever been late to an appointment? No need to answer, but all of us should include in our list of spiritual growth the responsibility of being on time. Being punctual because God Himself is punctual. He is always on time. The whole universe is ruled and governed by laws that necessitate absolute punctuality. Even on a human level, we recognize that "punctuality is the courtesy of kings." Nevertheless, this quality is often undermined or neglected by many. The philosophy of pretending that "there is always time"—when misapplied—can lead us to catastrophe. Of course, in our modern technological world with heavy traffic in big cities, it is not always possible to know what to expect. But there are ways to circumvent and to overcome the handicaps. We must always plan to start on time. We must anticipate delays, and not wait until the last minute before undertaking a project or a trip—including going to work or arriving at Church on time for services. Barring the unforeseen, we shouldn't look for excuses for being late for anything. Let's remember the parable Christ gave of the ten virgins. Five of them were lazy and foolish. They were procrastinators. When time came for their meeting with Christ, they found themselves before closed doors. How about us? Can't we learn this lesson before it's too late?
Y'all have a wonderful Sabbath
Dibar Apartian