Greetings from Charlotte,
This has been a short week here in Charlotte due to the Labor Day weekend in the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith spent last Sabbath with brethren in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Mr. and Mrs. Crockett were visiting brethren and family in Arkansas. Currently, as I write, our mailing department is sending out letters offering the booklet Who Controls the Weather? to 85,700 people who have never requested this booklet. This mailing is taking place just after two major hurricanes slammed into Central America. Next week we will have several speakers from Headquarters traveling to different parts of the country for the Feast of Trumpets. Please keep these trips and the special mailing in your prayers.
Note: The World Ahead will not be published next week due to several members of our staff traveling for the Feast of Trumpets. Note that today's issue does not contain a "News and Prophecy" section.
Church Administration
Public Bible Lecture in Nashville, Tennessee
Mr. William Malone, elder in Nashville, reports on the public Bible lecture that Area Pastor Bob League held there on September 1: We had 27 "new" people in attendance and they seemed very excited. We received quite a number of literature requests from those who attended, as well as a few from people passing by who looked over our display of booklets. There was another church holding a meeting next to ours, which got pretty loud and caused Mr. League to have to compete with it, but several from that group also came by and signed up for booklets. Their booklet of choice was Satan's Counterfeit Christianity. The new people I spoke to after the lecture are planning to come next Sabbath for a follow-up lecture. It was a great experience and the brethren are very excited about the results!
Feast of Tabernacles 2007
Guidelines and Recommendations for the Feast of Tabernacles
Approach for Youth Activities at the Feast (Creating Tomorrow's Culture Today): There are three critical enemies of God's children—this is important to acknowledge in overseeing youth activities. First is human nature. Second is the influence of Satan and his demons. Third is the corrupt culture of the world. The culture of the world is especially dangerous and damaging to our teens. They are swimming in it and powerfully influenced by it. It comes to them in clothing styles, attitudes, music, magazines, television, videos, and movies. They hear it on the radio, in the classroom, and in the school yard. For many of our teens this is the only culture to which they are seriously exposed. What we know from talking to them is that they do not like the effects of this culture—violence, being left out, being put down, the destruction of our environment and the lack of peace in the world. On the other hand, because they are "tuned in" to the culture causing the evils they hate, they bring the culture with them into Church youth activities.
The Church seeks to present an alternative culture that will inspire our teens to reject the popular culture of the world and accept godly culture. This will not happen without the Church leadership clearly defining the difference and offering the alternative, and without parents supporting Church leadership. This involves more than attending Church or going to social activities. Our social activities are organized to give positive instruction by the Church—not the world. The guidelines and boundaries we have set are crucial elements of Church teaching. We expect Church members to become conversant with the godly guidelines and boundaries set by the Church, and to support them at Church sponsored functions.
Dance Guidelines
Guidelines for Church dances at the Feast: The Church of God teaches that dancing is an acceptable form of recreation for members and their families. The rules and traditions we have established for Living Youth Camp dances teach the way of outgoing concern and of decency. These rules and traditions are as follows:
1. All music must be chosen carefully, with a very conservative approach, and with the approval of the Festival Coordinator or an individual he specifically assigns this task.
2. No "free-style" dancing is permitted since this usually involves inappropriate music and brings out an attitude of abandoned inhibitions and showing off, thus focusing attention on the self rather than showing outgoing concern for others. Exceptions to this are some line and novelty dances.
3. Fellows should politely ask a young lady or woman to dance, i.e.: "May I have this next dance?" If the lady accepts, he should offer his arm to lead her out to the dance floor. When the dance is over, he should lead her back to her table or chair.
4. Concerning teens, we do not want anyone left out. Therefore we discourage "pairing off" of teens at our Church-sponsored dances and encourage dancing with many partners, particularly noting who sat out the last dance. Older singles and engaged couples who are of age may be exempt from this rule.
5. Music should not be so loud that those who prefer not to dance have a difficult time carrying on a conversation.
6. Lighting should not be turned down so low that the average person could not read a book with ease.
7. At any dance organized primarily for youth, all parents are welcome to visit.
8. Appropriate dress for a Church dance in the northern hemisphere is slacks, coat and tie for adult and young men and modest knee-length dress or long gown for adult and young women. A Church dance is not the place for a "personal statement."
9. Chaperones should stay for the entire dance. A minister should be present for the entire function.
10. Small children at a family dance should be supervised and not allowed to run or engage in horseplay.
The above rules and traditions should apply for all our ballroom dances, because they are based upon godly principles of love toward others. Some of these rules obviously do not pertain to square dances, barn dances and dances in other cultures.
Beach Parties—Appropriate Swimwear
The Living Youth Camp swimwear policy has been adopted for LCG Festival sites. Appropriate attire for women is a modest one-piece suit; men should wear boxer style trunks. Two-piece outfits for women and "Speed-o" type bathing suits for men are not acceptable.
Children's Conduct in Meeting Hall and Adjoining Rooms
Children are a joy to parents and fellow Feastgoers. The Feast is about families—and it's inspiring to see children attend the Feast with their families! But it may also be necessary to remind parents (in the announcements portion if necessary) that children are not permitted to run or engage in horseplay before or after services. Children darting in and out among fellowshipping brethren can be a trip hazard. For the elderly, this can be dangerous, even life-threatening. Ushers/deacons don't need to "grab" children who are misbehaving—but they should tell them to stop, if need be. Remind parents (in announcements) to be aware of and responsible for their children at all times. Young children should not go to restrooms or wander the halls of hotels unaccompanied by an adult.
Children—Sitting With Their Parents
God instructs, "You shall rejoice in your Feast, you and your son and your daughter." Clearly God wants families to rejoice together at His Feasts. Experience has shown that children and teenagers pay attention and therefore learn more from the messages when sitting with a parent than when sitting with a group of children off by themselves. Therefore, it is the policy of the Church for children and teens to sit with their parents during services. An exception may be allowed where an individual child or teen sits with a friend who is sitting with his or her parents. Obviously, a teen whose parents are not in attendance would be exempt. The Feast is a time for families to grow together. Let us use the precious time we have during services to further that goal.
Feast of Tabernacles Announcements
Branson, Missouri
The Branson Festival site now has a dedicated website for information, frequently asked questions, maps, and a schedule of events. The address is www.fotbranson.org. If you are attending the Feast of Tabernacles in Branson, Missouri, this year, you are encouraged to bookmark this website and check it out often between now and the Feast for the latest news. Information is being added frequently—please consider www.fotbranson.org your first online stop for Branson-related information and updates!—Wallace Smith
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
If your child would like to sing in the children's chorale at the Feast in Red Deer, please contact Mrs. Marguerite Wachowicz at 780-466-1815 or [email protected].
Sabbath Services on October 6 (Repeat Announcement)
Pastors, if you have not done so already, please send us a list of the congregations in your area which will have Sabbath services on October 6, and the contact person's information. Send this information to Mrs. Genie Ogwyn at [email protected]. We are compiling a master list and appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Note that there will be Sabbath services at Headquarters in Charlotte on Saturday, October 6, after the Feast of Tabernacles. We welcome all those who are traveling through to visit us!
Feast of Tabernacles Sermons (Repeat Announcement)
Attention Pastors: Some of the brethren in your congregations will not be able to attend the Feast of Tabernacles for valid reasons. We will be glad to send them Feast of Tabernacles sermons on CD. Please send us their names and addresses by September 7, if you have not already done so—or if they haven't registered yet as "unable to attend" on our online FOT registration system. The requests can be sent to us by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at 704-844-1960, ext. 217, or by fax at 704-844-1975.
Comments
The Fall Holy Days: Over the next several weeks we will observe the Fall Holy Days that picture the culminating events in God's great plan of salvation for mankind. These days reveal how God is going to put an end to the deception and suffering in this world by sending Jesus Christ to banish Satan and set up the Kingdom of God on this earth where the saints will reign with Christ for one thousand years, after which all who have ever lived and died without knowing God's plan will have the opportunity to learn God's way of life. Though the world has been blinded to the meaning of these days, we need to remember that Jesus told His disciples, "blessed are your eyes for they see… because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given" (Matthew 13:11-17). As we observe these Fall Holy Days, let's rejoice and be deeply grateful for the privilege we have been given to understand and prepare to participate in the fulfillment of these "great and precious promises" (II Peter 1:2-4).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail