Greetings from Charlotte,
Members often ask about the purpose of a fast when the Church calls one. When the disciples of John came to Jesus and asked why they and the Pharisees fasted often but His did not, He explained that there was no need to as long as the bridegroom (Jesus) was with them, but when He would be taken away, then they would fast. This is a clear statement that fasting is for the purpose of drawing close to God. Other scriptures show us that fasting is a means of humbling ourselves. When we look around at all that is happening in our world, all the distractions that can cause us to stray from the right path, the current dangers and those that loom on the near horizon, it is imperative that we draw close to God in humility. This applies to us individually and as the collective Body of Christ. Let us spend extra time in prayer, study, and meditation this Sabbath as we draw close to God in humility and oneness of mind.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
Sabbath Services Livestream on January 22 (Church Fast): Access Information
The entire Sabbath Service on January 22—the Church fast—will be livestreamed from Headquarters. The sermon will be given by Mr. Weston.
All congregations are invited to tune in. Services will begin at 2:00 p.m., EST, USA. For congregations where the time difference makes this impractical, or for those needing Spanish or French translation, a recorded (and/or translated) version will be available at a later time.
Note: the Montreal congregation will have simultaneous translation of the service into French. See the following announcement for access information to connect to Montreal’s French transmission.
Charlotte Service
Video link information:
Live stream: members.lcg.org/stream (no password required)
Phone call-in information:
Phone call-in: +1-415-655-0001 US Toll
Meeting ID: 2319 085 4640
For a list of call-in numbers outside of the United States, click on Global call-in numbers.
Simultaneous French Translation of Church-Wide Livestream Services on January 22
The Montreal congregation will have simultaneous translation into French during the livestreamed Church-wide services on the Church fast this Sabbath. French congregations and members who would like to connect to the Montreal transmission may do so.
To connect via Zoom:
Access through this Zoom meeting link
Meeting ID: 861 6391 7165
Passcode: 538632.
To connect by phone:
Please call the following numbers in Canada, France, or Belgium:
Canada: +1 438 809 7799
Canada: +1 647 374 4685
France: +33 1 7037 2246
France: +33 1 7037 9729
France: +33 1 8699 5831
Belgium: +32 2 290 9360
Belgium: +32 2 585 5574
The Zoom meeting room will open at 1:30 p.m. and services will commence at 2:00 p.m. (Montreal/Charlotte Time).
Tomorrow’s World Presentations—Carrying on the Legacy
Live presentations are not new. In the Radio Church of God and later the Worldwide Church of God, “personal campaigns” or “personal appearances,” as they were called, were a vital part of bringing the Gospel to live audiences. Our current program of Tomorrow’s World Presentations builds on that legacy. It’s worth noting that when Mr. Ames was speaking to 32 guests in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, January 8, 2022, it had been 45 years since doing a similar presentation in Jacksonville in the Worldwide Church of God! (At that time, however, it was a two-week series of nightly presentations, which Mr. Ames shared with another minister.) Mr. Ames enjoyed telling the gathered crowd in Jacksonville he promised to come back every 45 years.
We are grateful for the dedication and legacy of those who have gone before—and who continue to drive themselves to further the Gospel message! For more information on last week’s TWPs, check out Mr. Gerald Weston’s video member update (https://members.lcg.org/weekly-member-updates).
Please remember this weekend’s TWPs in your prayers:
- Big Sandy, Texas…………………...Mr. Jonathan McNair
- Tyler, Texas………………………...Mr. Jonathan McNair
- Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina…Mr. Wallace Smith
- Jacksonville, Florida…………….....Mr. Joe Brown, Follow-up
- Ocala, Florida………………………Mr. Ryan Dawson, Follow-up
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama………………Mr. Anthony Stroud, Follow-up
- El Paso, Texas………………………Mr. Stephen Elliott, Follow-up
Passover 2022—Repeat Announcement
Important Notice to All Pastors: In 2022, the Passover Service will be observed on Thursday evening, April 14. 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). Passover Service recordings for 2022 were made by Mr. John Strain in English and by by Mr. Yvon Brochu (translating a 2021 Passover service by Mr. Rod McNair) in French. To ensure timely delivery and to save on shipping costs, we need this information before January 28 for international congregations and by March 18 for U.S. congregations.
Also, please 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, and whether they will need a CD or a DVD. International requests should be received before January 28 and U.S. requests before March 18. Please direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected] as soon as possible.
These dates take into consideration the slowdown of mail service in some places because of the pandemic.
Television Department
Your Input About the Telecast
If you have been attending Sabbath Services with the Living Church of God for less than 18 months and regularly watched the Tomorrow’s World telecast prior to attending services, we would like to ask about your experience of watching our program. We are working to make improvements to the telecast and would appreciate your feedback. If you are able to help us, please email Deborah Stephenson at [email protected] or call her at 704-708-2263 and she will set up a convenient time.—Mike DeSimone
Comments
The Church as a Watchman: The Church of God today has the same job as the ancient biblical prophets—to proclaim the good news of a coming Kingdom of God and to warn of a coming time of judgment on the Israelite nations as well as the world (see Ezekiel 3 and 33; Matthew 24). In order to fulfill this mission, we need to watch world events and trends and proclaim a warning as we see ancient prophecies coming alive today (Matthew 24:42–44). Pointing out that there will be serious consequences for the sins being committed today will not be a pleasant job (Isaiah 58:1; Ezekiel 3:4–9). However, God says that He will provide an “open door” for His Church to fulfill its mission as we approach the end of the age. Along with the warning, we can share the exciting “good news” that Jesus Christ is coming back to save mankind from what will appear to be ultimate destruction. Let’s strive to be “effective watchmen” that God can use to fulfill this vital mission.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—January 20, 2022
Starvation in Afghanistan: When America pulled out of Afghanistan four months ago, it left a power vacuum that the Taliban quickly filled. Over the decades, the Taliban have shown themselves to be far more interested in their own agenda than in serving the people they rule. Since the departure of the U.S. and other coalition nations, Afghanistan has plunged further into chaos and poverty.
Recently, former British prime minister Gordon Brown observed that more than half the population of Afghanistan is facing extreme hunger and that, based on economic projections by the International Monetary Fund, one million children are at risk of starving to death (The Guardian, December 29, 2021). He also stated that the West is “sleepwalking into the biggest humanitarian crisis of our times.” Brown went on to discuss how, if the situation in Afghanistan is not rectified, Europe could face being overrun by refugees from the starving country. He also poignantly warned that, if nations fail to step up and assist the Afghani people, “not just for moral reasons but for self-interested reasons, this will come back to haunt us.”
The growing crisis in Afghanistan is a sad and sobering situation. It is a quagmire where, during the last century, some of the most powerful nations in the world—Britain, the former Soviet Union, and the United States—have failed to bring peace and order to a people in need. The peacekeeping attempts in Afghanistan prove once again that man’s efforts, apart from God’s laws and His righteous government, cannot bring lasting peace. However, lasting peace is coming with the return of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6–7). To discover how this peace will become a reality, watch “Hope for the Future.”
No Nuclear War? Deutsche Welle reports that, at a recent meeting of five of the world’s nuclear powers—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—leaders “pledged to prevent the proliferation of nuclear arms and have also said that nuclear war is not an option” (January 3, 2022). In their collective statement, representatives of the nations said, “A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought”—echoing, as Deutsche Welle notes, the sentiments of previous international proclamations, such as those made in 1985 by former U.S. and Soviet leaders Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. The statement goes on to say the nations would work toward nuclear disarmament, and that any existing nuclear weapons should only be used for defensive purposes and to “deter aggression, and prevent war” (Reuters, January 3, 2022).
The P5 nations—the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—seemed positive following the meeting, with some expressing hope that it would increase trust among the five powers. While tensions have increased in recent years among these countries, this meeting was viewed by some as a stopgap measure that will lower the geopolitical temperature. The effects of such discussions, if there will be any at all, remain to be seen. In 1928, world leaders actually “outlawed” war… not long before entering World War II.
Bible prophecy warns that as the end of the age approaches, there will be a lot of talk about peace, but to no avail. Leaders will say, “‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). The Bible also accurately prophesied past international meetings in which leaders claimed to be working together, yet whose hearts were secretly “bent on evil” and who chose to “speak lies at the same table”—past events that may yet foreshadow future realities (Daniel 11:27). As we approach the end of the age—a time fitting Isaiah’s description, “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street” (Isaiah 59:14)—we must remember that peace will eventually come, but not through the works of mankind! To learn more about this vital subject, read “The Impossible Dream.”—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, and Chris Sookdeo