Greetings brethren,
This weekend, many people around the world will observe Valentine's Day in one way or another. While some scoff at the connection between Valentine's Day and the ancient Roman observance of Lupercalia, the Encyclopedia Britannica makes a definite connection. It says, "[Valentine's Day] also had origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. The festival, which celebrated the coming of spring, included fertility rites" (Britannica.com, "Valentine's Day"). One of the tasks of the true Church of God is to tell the world the truth about the pagan origins of its holidays. And to teach the real Holy Days of the Bible!
Here in the office in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has been holding several meetings this week and finishing the co-worker letter. He is leaving today on a church visit to the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, congregation this weekend. Mr. Richard Ames has been working on an upcoming telecast, and is leaving today to attend the Southwest Regional "Fun in the Sun" family weekend in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Doug Winnail and Mr. Bruce Tyler flew to the Philippines today. They will be there for a church visit in Manila and meetings with Mr. Kinnear Penman and other ministers (see more details below). Our U.S. TWP 2015 schedule is being kicked off this week with presentations in Charleston, South Carolina; Pensacola, Florida; and Gulfport, Mississippi. We were saddened to hear this week of the death of Mr. Jock Bennie, pastor in Durban, South Africa (see note below). Please pray for God's people who are facing trials and challenges all over the world—RMc
Church Administration
Greetings from Dr. Winnail
Greetings from a very smoggy Hong Kong Airport,
Mr. Tyler and I arrived in Auckland on Monday evening. On Tuesday, we visited with Paul and Lisa Kearns and Tony and Faith Leman. Paul is our elder in New Zealand and Tony and Faith have just arrived from Australia to assist Paul in caring for the congregations in New Zealand. Tony is a deacon and he and Faith are both from New Zealand. All four have completed LU classes and worked in the office in Australia. On Tuesday evening we met with about 40 members of the Auckland congregation and I did a Bible Study. We had a very encouraging evening meeting with the members in Auckland. They are very positive and supportive of HQ. On Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Tyler and I flew back to Sydney, and this morning we caught flights to Manila. We will meet Mr. Penman in Manila this evening. We will visit the Philippine office on Friday and meet with the Manila congregation on the Sabbath and talk with the elders who will be in attendance. So far the trip has gone very well.—Douglas Winnail
Death of Mr. Jock Bennie, Pastor in South Africa
We are saddened to report that Mr. Jock Bennie, pastor of the Durban, South Africa congregation, died on February 10, 2015 after a battle with cancer. His wife Merle died in 2012.
The funeral service will be on Monday, February 16, at 11:00 a.m. in Durban and will be officiated by Mr. Christo Botha. Mr. Bennie was 80 years of age, ordained as an elder in Worldwide Church of God and served in the Living Church of God since May 2009.
Cards may be sent to: The Bennie Family, 246 Torquay Avenue, Bluff 4052, South Africa.
Ministerial Assignments—Erratum
Beginning May 1, Mr. Lawdi Ferreira will serve as Associate Pastor in Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa and Swaziland.
Passover 2015—Repeat Announcement
Important Notice to All Pastors: In 2015, the Passover Service will be observed on Thursday evening, April 2. Please let us know as soon as possible if any of the congregations you serve will need additional Passover Service supplies (bread trays and/or wine trays or glasses) or a copy of the Passover Service recording and letter instructions (available in English, French and Spanish). A new recording of the Passover service in English has been made this year, by Mr. Ken Frank. To ensure timely delivery and to save on shipping costs, we need this information by March 12 for U.S. congregations. Information for international congregations should already be here.
Also, let us know of any scattered members who are unable to keep the Passover with a congregation and who need to receive the Passover Service recording and letter instructions for observing it at home. International requests should be here by now and U.S. requests should be here before March 12. Please direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Young Adults Pentecost Weekend Activity – Europe
"Living 4 Tomorrow, A Time 4 Young Adults" will be held in Chevetogne, Belgium from Friday, May 22 to Monday, May 25. Come share Pentecost weekend with other young adults, single or married. Special Bible Studies and other Sabbath-oriented activities are planned. This will be a wonderful opportunity for fellowship, seeing old friends and making new ones in a godly environment. The entire weekend, food and lodging included, will be 60 euros.
For further information, please contact Mr. Rees Ellis at [email protected].
Upstate South Carolina Spring Holy Day Weekend, Greenville: Friday to Sunday, April 3 – 5
—Repeat Announcement
The Anderson, South Carolina congregation invites you to join us for our eighth Upstate South Carolina Spring Holy Day Weekend from Friday, April 3 to Sunday, April 5. The weekend promises to be filled with inspiring spiritual messages, uplifting fellowship, and fun activities. Come celebrate the beginning of the Days of Unleavened Bread with us in Greenville.
Planned events include: a Friday afternoon bike ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail; the Night To Be Much Observed on Friday night; Holy Day services on the First Day of Unleavened Bread; the Springtime in Carolina Banquet and Ball on Saturday night; and a picnic and recreational activities, including a 5K road race and softball games, on Sunday. The Night To Be Much Observed, Holy Day services, and the banquet and ball will be held at the Hyatt Regency Greenville in downtown Greenville. Baptized members who wish to arrive early are welcome to join us for the Passover service on Thursday evening.
Additionally, we invite those with musical talent to perform special music or the offertory for the Holy Day service. Please contact us with your proposed performance selection.
We have secured a room rate of $95 (plus tax) per night for guests staying at the Hyatt Regency. This guaranteed rate expires March 13, 2015. Further details about the event, prices of meals, and registration instructions are located at http://lcganderson.org/ (not an official LCG Web site). Or, you may contact me for further information at 864-638-7719 or by e-mail at [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you in Greenville for the best Spring Weekend ever!—Manuel Burdette
Internet Department
Feast of Tabernacles Web Site "Live"
Hurray! We plan to launch the Feast of Tabernacles 2015 Web site tomorrow, Friday, February 13. We appreciate all the hard work of ministers and members around the world who have put so much effort into preparations for the annual fall Festivals and we hope you will find this beautiful Web site informative and helpful as you make your plans to observe the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day at one of these sites where God has placed His name. Please watch Mr. Ames' inspiring introductory message on the FOT Web site home page, use the interactive map or the drop-down listing to learn more about the various Feast sites, and be sure to check back in the coming days as we add even more details and videos. Just go to LCG.org and look for the "Feast of Tabernacles" link on the left side menu.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Feast of Tabernacles
Ministerial Site Preference Survey
Attention all ministers: We have sent you an e-mail requesting that you let us know what Feast of Tabernacles site you would like to attend this year. If you have not yet responded to it, please do so as soon as possible. If you did not receive the message, please check your "junk" or "spam" e-mail folder, as it might have gone there. If you don't find it there, please let us know at [email protected], and we will send you another copy of the message.
2015 Festival Registration Planned for Sunday, March 8
We are planning for Festival Registration to open on Sunday, March 8, at 12:00 EDT (Eastern Daylight Time, USA). At that time, you will be able to register for the Feast site of your choice. You will also be able to note what volunteer service opportunities you would like to sign up for at your site. Find out information about each of the sites that are being planned for 2015 by going to the Festival Web site: fot2015.lcg.org. (You can also access it by going to the Living Church of God Web site, lcg.org, and clicking on "Feast of Tabernacles.")
If you do not have Internet access, please contact your Festival Advisor to print off information for any site(s) you are interested in attending. If you do not know who your Festival Advisor is, please check with your local Pastor.
Pastors: In preparation for Festival Registration on March 8, please make sure that Headquarters has been notified about any changes in your local congregation rosters. For example, please let us know of any Church Youths (CY) who have turned 18 and now should be listed as Prospective Members (PM). Please also let us know of any other changes in status of any brethren in your area (i.e. baptisms, etc.) or if any brethren have moved to another congregation. Send these status updates to [email protected].
All brethren: Please make sure your MyLCG account is working. This will be necessary for you to register online. To test it, go to www.cogl.org and sign in to MyLCG with your username and password. If you don't have one, you will have the option of creating one. If you have any problems logging into MyLCG, please e-mail [email protected].—Festival Office
Congregations and Feast Site Assignments
To find out what Feast site your local congregation is assigned to, consult the following list:
Boerne, Texas
New Mexico: El Paso/Las Cruces
Texas: Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Hawkins, Houston, Lufkin, Midland, San Antonio, Temple
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Alabama: Athens, Birmingham
Georgia: Blairsville, Braselton
Kentucky: Berea, Louisville
North Carolina: Asheville, Sylva
Ohio: Cincinnati
South Carolina: Anderson
Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Crossville, Knoxville, Nashville
Virginia: Bristol
West Virginia: Bluefield, Logan, Ripley
Indian Wells, California
California: Banning, Concord, Fresno, Garden Grove, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego
Nevada: Las Vegas, Reno
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Arkansas: El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Harrison, Little Rock, Mena, Russellville
Iowa: Des Moines
Illinois: Peoria
Indiana: Indianapolis, Terre Haute
Kansas: Chanute, Wichita
Louisiana: Monroe, Shreveport
Missouri: Columbia, Joplin, Kansas City, Rolla, St. Joseph, St. Louis, Springfield
Nebraska: Omaha
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa
Tennessee: Memphis
Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii
Hawaii
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
DC: Washington
Maryland: Baltimore, Salisbury
North Carolina: Charlotte, Greensboro, Jacksonville, Raleigh, Statesville
South Carolina: Walterboro
Virginia: Norfolk, Richmond, Williamsburg, Winchester
Navarre, Florida
Alabama: Montgomery
Florida: Pensacola
Louisiana: Baton Rouge, Ferriday, Lafayette, New Orleans
Mississippi: Columbus, Jackson, Laurel, Ocean Springs
Palm Harbor, Florida
Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Lake City, Ocala, Tampa
Georgia: Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, Thomasville
Puerto Rico: San Juan
St. George, Utah
Arizona: Phoenix, Prescott Valley, Tucson
Colorado: Colorado Springs, Denver, Meeker
Montana: Great Falls, Helena
New Mexico: Albuquerque, Santa Fe
Utah: Layton
Wyoming: Casper, Saratoga, Thermopolis, Wheatland
Seaside, Oregon
Alaska: Anchorage
California: Eureka
Idaho: Boise
Oregon: Portland, Myrtle Creek
Washington: Richland, Seattle/Tacoma, Tonasket
Tannersville, Pennsylvania
Connecticut: Danbury
Delaware:
Massachusetts: Auburn
Maine: Freeport
New Hampshire: Tilton
New Jersey: Cranford, Hammonton
New York: Albany, Brooklyn-Queens, Buffalo, Corning, Melville, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse
Pennsylvania: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Tannersville
Rhode Island: Providence
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Iowa: Dubuque
Illinois: Chicago
Indiana: Fort Wayne, Knox
Michigan: Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lansing, McMillan, Traverse City
Minnesota: Duluth, Minneapolis
North Dakota: Bismarck
Ohio: Akron, Columbus, Lima
Wisconsin: Appleton, Merrill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
South Dakota:
Festival Advisor Assignments—Repeat Announcement
All pastors: Please confirm your Festival Advisors by Monday, February 16 for each congregation you serve. We sent all of you an e-mail last week containing the link to complete this confirmation. This is necessary to prepare for Festival registration. Note: If any pastors did not receive the Festival Advisor e-mail, please contact Mark Smith at [email protected].
Living Youth Program
Online Teen Bible Study Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, February 20, will be on "How Can a Woman Serve in God's Church?," presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, we encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The Bible Study runs from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. (EST) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful opportunity for godly fellowship and learning. For those of you who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's on, "How To Have an Attractive Personality," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.
Summer Camps 2015
Registration began Sunday, February 8, 2015 for all summer camp programs in the United States and Europe. Register online and find more information for all these camps at our Youth Web site.
European Teen Summer Camp
The LYC Europe for 2015 will be held at "Domaine de Chevetogne," Belgium.
The dates for this year's camp are: arrival on Friday, August 14 and departure on Sunday, August 23. The cost for each person attending will be £125 sterling/€160 euros. Accommodation is in a dormitory where Sabbath services, Bible Studies, meals and sing-alongs will also be held.
Planned activities will include hiking/orienteering, water-skiing, leather work, music, Bible and Christian education, volleyball, football, softball, badminton, speedminton, basketball, nature discovery, PowerPoint presentation skills, speech and initiative training. We have two Sabbaths for relaxation and spiritual instruction and the week will culminate in a special Sabbath dinner followed by a sing-along.
Application Forms are available from the UK Church Office [email protected] or from Mr. Rees Ellis, Belgium [email protected]. Camper and staff applications are to be sent to the UK Office and an e-mail copy sent to Mr. Rees Ellis.
Other International Teen Camps to be held in these countries later in the year:
Guatemala, Mexico, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago
LYC 2013 Yearbook Now Ready!—Repeat Announcement
Tomorrow is the deadline for ordering the 2013 Living Youth Camps yearbook, published by Living Youth Programs. Orders received by February 15 will be shipped by the end of March. This yearbook covers the Ohio teen camp, the Yosemite adventure camp and pre-teen camps in Texas, Missouri and West Virginia. It contains more than 100 pages of full-color photos. For further details and ordering information, go to LivingYouth.org/album2013/. We look forward to releasing the 2014 yearbook later this year.
Comments
Sports, Leadership and... Humility?
This week someone sent me a short video chronicling the career of North Carolina University men's basketball coach Dean Smith. He died on February 7 at the age of 83. He was the coach of UNC Chapel Hill for 36 years, reached the Final Four 11 times, winning the national championship twice. Since his death, a lot has been said about the accomplishments of the winningest coach in U.S.A. college basketball history. What is most striking to me, however, is a statement made by one author, describing a value Coach Smith taught, and the effect it had on his teams: "His devotion to a humble, team-first philosophy—the famed 'Carolina Way'—bred a fierce loyalty among the Tar Heels."
"Humble" is a word rarely used in connection with sports today. Or any facet of our world, frankly. We live in a me-first, grab-the-spotlight society. Our world today often rewards those who push themselves forward, without regard to what's best for the team. What about us in God's Church? And what are we teaching our children? This mentality of "the strongest survive" and "the weak get pushed aside" can seep into our thinking as well. But Christ taught that devotion to God and personal humility—not focus on promotion—builds unity and loyalty. And He set the example when He washed the feet of His disciples at His last Passover: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14). What a revolutionary idea! And we are to be pioneers of this thinking as well. Why? Because the millennium will be a thousand years of all humanity learning a humble, team-first philosophy—"God's Way!"
Have a unifying Sabbath,
Rod McNair
News and Prophecy—February 12, 2015
Is a Strong Arab Coalition Coming? With the recent burning of a Jordanian pilot, some analysts speculate this may be the action that forces Arab nations together in the fight against ISIS. Over the weekend, Jordan began airstrikes against ISIS forces in Syria on its own, vowing "We are determined to wipe them from the face of the Earth" (BBC, February 8, 2015). Jordan's actions demonstrate the growing frustration with the floundering U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. "Many high-level military officials who previously served in senior posts have started talking publicly about the 'failure' of the United States to defeat Al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and other radical Islamists… Some are talking about the need for an Arab version of NATO" (Al Arabiya, February 8, 2015). As one analyst puts it, "From the Arab side, the members of the coalition, the Gulf countries and Jordan, in addition to Egypt, are in remarkable accord and have important joint positions. This could form a nucleus for that 'Arab force' that has to be considered as a serious option sooner or later" (ibid.). ISIS may be the catalyst needed to develop this long-prophesied force. God, in His Bible, prophesied about a powerful Arab coalition or "confederacy" at the end of the age. This coalition will also have strong ties with Assyria—modern-day Germany (Psalm 83:5-8). The humbling fact is that this coalition will one day turn its focus from rogue groups in the Middle East toward the Israelite-descended nations including the U.S. and several western European nations (Ezekiel 23:22-23). Today we see foundations of this long-prophesied Arab-German confederacy forming. Bible prophecy has long forecast this coalition—something politicians and historians would never have imagined. But God's prophecies will happen in spite of man's beliefs to the contrary. For more on the formation of this new Arab coalition, read our article "Nine-Eleven Plus Ten."
Canada Overturns Assisted Suicide Ban: "In a unanimous decision, The Supreme Court Friday struck down as unconstitutional the nation's contentious century-old law against assisted suicide" (National Post, February 6, 2015). Justices cited a patient's "right to life, liberty and security" and to avoid "physical or psychological pain," as well as their right to "control the method, timing and circumstances of their death" (ibid.). In a world increasingly distant from the moral framework of the Bible, it is no surprise that judges are increasingly in favor of a person's right to "control the method, timing, and circumstances of their death." However, the Bible makes clear that murder is sin (Exodus 20:13). Suicide in any form is the murder of a human being made in the image of God, no matter the reason. In a sobering observation the Apostle Paul noted that "your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own" (1 Corinthians 6:19)! These "right-to-die" decisions are based on the idea that "my body is my own and I can do with it what I wish." However, that is a lie! God, the creator of life, is the only being with the "right" to end that life—He alone controls the gates of death (Job 38:17). For more on this subject, read our informative article "Parliament and the 'Right to Die'."
Violence Is Dropping in Developed Nations: "The Copenhagen Consensus Center… puts the global costs of violence, excluding conflicts, at $9.5 trillion a year, equivalent to around 11 per cent of world GDP" (New Scientist, February 9, 2017). Encouragingly, "VIOLENT crime is on the retreat in most advanced economies. The latest US figures, for 2013, show that murder rates are lower now than in the early 1960s. In the same year, homicides in Japan hit a post-war low. In England and Wales the level of violence has dropped by 66 per cent since the latest peak in 1995" (ibid.). Reasons cited for the decline in violence include better law enforcement technology, more policing, and increasing societal revulsion of violent crime (ibid.). Yet, major reasons cited for the changing trends have to do primarily with enforcement and threat of consequences, not changes in attitudes or better education. Will Western nations become complacent with these positive trends (Revelation 3:17)? Will they now put forth less effort to lower crime rates more? (Keep in mind that the actual crime numbers are still very high.) Or, is this just a "slight healing" of the hurt of the people as they cry out "Peace, peace! When there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14)? For more on the coming lasting peace prophesied to envelop the earth, be sure to view our telecast "The Way to Peace."—Scott Winnail, Rod McNair, Francine Prater and John Wheeler