Greetings y'all,
At the time this update is being written, Mr. and Mrs. Meredith, as well as Mr. Bryce, Mr. Ames, and Mr. and Mrs. Crockett are in Minden, Louisiana for Mr. John Ogwyn's funeral. Some of us received the news of Mr. John Ogwyn's death while we were returning from our Pentecost trips. My wife and I got the message while we were changing airplanes in Philadelphia on our way back to Charlotte. Undoubtedly, Mr. Meredith will soon be writing much more about Mr. John Ogwyn's fruitful life and unexpected death.
The Pentecost reports from all over the world have been very positive and uplifting. For instance, Mr. Ken Frank writes, "For Mr. and Mrs. Meredith's visit, the Baltimore, MD and Winchester, VA churches combined for Pentecost services at the Ramada BWI Airport near Baltimore. Visitors from congregations in New Jersey, New York and central Virginia made the extra journey to join us for this special late spring festival. Mr. Meredith delivered a sermon to the Baltimore church on Sabbath, June 11, gave the offertory message on Pentecost morning and delivered the sermon in the afternoon service. There were 148 people in attendance for the morning service and 127 in the afternoon. A noticeable atmosphere of excitement, joy and brotherly love made this year's Pentecost a very memorable occasion."
As for my wife and me, we were priviledged to be in the French-speaking province of Quebec last Sabbath with 37 enthusiastic brethren. They were very moved and applauded warmly when I ordained two new deacons—both long-time members of God's Church—Mr. Errol James and Mr. Ange-Marie Dunn. In the afternoon, Mr. Jacques Secours and Mr. Yvon Brochu, our two French-speaking ministers in Canada, divided the drive to Quebec City, meeting halfway in relay, where my wife and I kept Pentecost with 32 joyful brethren.
IMPORTANT FEAST OF TABERNACLES INFORMATION
(Please make the Feast information available to everyone)
FESTIVAL HOUSING
Blocks of rooms for various hotels shown in the Festival Planner are quickly being filled. If you call and the rate in the Planner is no longer available, please try another facility. Lists of hotels, motels and condominiums for your site can usually be found on the Internet by searching for the city's Chamber of Commerce or Visitors Bureau.
FEAST ONLINE REGISTRATION
Some people are experiencing problems when they try to pre-register online for the Feast. The online registration program is only able to recognize PIN codes of those listed in our database as US/Canadian members and prospective members of the Church. If you are a member or attending services but cannot register online, simply mail in the yellow form you received with the Festival Planner. If you did not receive a Planner in the mail, you need to speak with the Living Church of God pastor in your area. He is the person who can have our computer records updated.
If you live outside the U.S and Canada, and wish to transfer to a North American site, you should ask your pastor to forward your request by e-mail to the Festival Office here in Charlotte, NC.
FESTIVAL TRANSFERS
The Festival Office has sent out site transfer approvals to hundreds of households. However, in many cases, the first choice some have requested is full, and approval/disapproval is delayed waiting for an opening to occur. For instance, there are many requests for Lake Tahoe, yet almost all those assigned to the site seem to want to stay there. Tahoe has a limited number of seats, so very few transfers into that site can be approved.
It would be very helpful if everyone would pre-register right away, so that those who have requested a transfer can be notified regarding site availability. In a few weeks the Festival Office will begin approving 2nd or even 3rd choices, if no openings occur at the preferred site.
This is a big job, and we hope to satisfy every request, but we need to receive more pre-registrations so we can proceed quickly to reduce out transfer waiting list. Thank you all for your patience.
BARBADOS FEAST SITE
The Feast of Tabernacles in Barbados this year will again be conducted at the Barbados Beach Club, which is air conditioned. Enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches, breathtaking sunsets, wide range of restaurants and shops, and fellowship with our 60 lovely local members.
Accommodations
Barbados Beach Club
: (246) 428-9900 (Maxine); www.barbadosbeachclub.com. All-inclusive rates: US$80-$85 per person, per night (double occupancy); $135 per night for single occupancy.Ocean 11 (approx. 1/2 mile from convention facility): (246) 428-8686; www.ocean11barbados.com. Rates: 3-bdrm apt with full kitchen US$130 per night (accommodates 7); 2-bdrm apt with full kitchenette $100 per night (accommodates 4); 1-bdrm apt with full kitchenette $8 per night (accommodates 4).
Maresol Apartments (approximately 1/2 mile from convention facility): (246) 428-9300; www.maresolbeach.net. Rates: Cottages and apartments for 2-4 people US$450-$600 per week.
Sea Breeze Hotel (approximately 200 yards from convention facility): (246) 428-2825; www.sea-breeze.com. Rates: rooms from US$115 per night (with free buffet breakfast); 2-Bdr apart $210 per night.
Dover Beach Hotel (approximately 1/2 mile from convention facility): (246) 428-8076; www.doverbeach.com. Rates: Rooms from US$75-$100 per night.
Please let the establishments know you are with Living Church of God. For further details, you may contact Mr. Clyde Skeete at (246) 432-9576 or [email protected].
Living 4 Tomorrow—A Time 4 Young Singles (Repeat Announcement)
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 fee of US$155 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. Please visit the LYC youth Web site at www.youth-web.org for additional information and applications or contact Mr. Lambert Greer by phone at 502-228-5917 or by e-mail at [email protected].
COMMENTS
In many of his Psalms, David declares, "I put my trust in the Lord." All of us in God's Church must have the same conviction, the same zeal and the same faith, and we must always act in that same spirit—even in times of sorrow. True Christianity requires a full-time commitment to trust God. Mr. John Ogwyn's untimely death took us aback, and our hearts go to the members of his family. "Why did this happen?" is the question many of us ask. We don't always understand why God does things the way He does or allows things to happen the way they do but, like David, we must constantly put our trust in God. When the Apostle Peter, unable to understand why Christ had to wash his feet, objected, Christ told him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." (John 13:7).
Trusting God always comes before understanding His ways. The Apostle Paul himself, despite his many trials and suffering, showed us how to face adversity without faltering. "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39). Our trust in God requires much courage, and God gives us the courage through His Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 1:7). Mr. John Ogwyn is now awaiting his crown together with the other faithful servants of God who have died. Therefore, let's rejoice with them and let's carry on with our tasks faithfully, waiting for the time when all of us will be together in God's Kingdom.
Y'all have a peaceful and happy Sabbath,
Dibar Apartian