Greetings from Charlotte,
This week’s video update highlights two news reports. The first is titled “Why are European banks moving gold out of the United States?” The second shocking report comes from Mr. Nathan in the UK, where the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs warned of coming food shortages in the UK and encouraged citizens to prepare by setting aside a good supply of basic food stocks. See the video update for more details on both of these reports, as leaders recognize that our world is heading toward a serious crisis. Also troubling is the further rift between the U.S. and Canada, with Canada looking to become the first “associate member” of the EU as it turns away from the U.S. This has serious ramifications for the future of both countries. Trouble is on the horizon.
All of this is fitting considering what we are celebrating at this season: the return of Jesus Christ, the removal of the great troublemaker, the thousand-year reign of Christ, and hope for the majority of humanity, currently without hope. Let us remember to pray for one another and for all our Festival sites, and let us all be careful in our travels. Have a profitable Day of Atonement and a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day. —Gerald E. Weston
Feast of Tabernacles
Taking Hymnals
Brethren who don’t have a personal hymnal are encouraged to bring one or two hymnals per household from their local congregation to the Feast. For those who do so, please be sure to bring the same hymnal(s) back after the Feast. Also, make sure that all hymnals are clearly marked with the name of your home congregation so that all are returned to where they belong.
Regarding Health
If you are sick at the Feast, please do not pass it on! Please show love by staying in your hotel room or housing until you are well, so as not to allow sickness to spread.
Blessing of the Little Children
It is the practice of the Living Church of God to have the Blessing of the Little Children at the Feast. This practice follows the example set by Jesus Christ when parents of small children came to Him and asked Him to bless their children (Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16). If you have small children whom you can pick up for this blessing, listen for announcements from your Festival Site Coordinator to find out which day the Blessing of the Little Children will take place. If you have any questions, please contact your Festival Coordinator.
Caring for—and Watching—Your Children at the Feast
Parents have full responsibility for their children at the Feast, including at services. Although precautions are taken and there are activities for children, the Church does not take responsibility for the care of children at Church meetings or events. The ultimate responsibility for the care of children always remains with parents or guardians. Please ensure that your children are adequately supervised throughout the Feast and are fully under your control.
Parents should be aware of where their children are—including their teens—and not allow small children to wander unsupervised. Please remember that children are not permitted to run or engage in horseplay at the location of Feast services. Children playing near expensive equipment can damage it or injure themselves, and children running among brethren can be a tripping hazard, which can be dangerous or even deadly for our elderly brethren.
Children Sitting with Parents
Experience has shown that children, including teenagers, pay better attention during services and therefore learn more from the messages when sitting with a parent. Therefore, it is the policy of the Church to have children and teens sit with their parents during services, though an individual child or teen may be permitted to sit with a friend’s parents. Obviously, this does not apply to an older teen who may be attending without a parent.
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Be Lights at the Feast
The Feast of Tabernacles is the highlight of the sacred year. It pictures the coming thousand-year rule of the Kingdom of God, during which the saints will reign with Jesus Christ and bring peace to a troubled world (Revelation 20:4–6). The New Testament records that Jesus and His disciples kept the Feast (John 7:2–10, 37). The prophet Zechariah states that “all the nations” will keep the Feast under the reign of the Kingdom of God (Zechariah 14:16).
As we rejoice at the Feast, we need to remember Jesus’ instructions that we be lights that “shine before men” as examples (Matthew 5:13–16). How we talk, how we dress, how we conduct ourselves, and how we relate to everyone we meet—in services, in hotels, in restaurants—will reflect either positively or negatively on God’s Church and way of life. We are called to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), so let’s strive to let our light shine to everyone around us as we keep the Feast.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy
Europeans Want a Strong, United Europe
The European Council on Foreign Relations recently completed interviews with 5,800 people across six European nations, including the UK (The Guardian, September 9, 2026). Findings showed that “Europeans overwhelmingly want a strong, united and independent Europe but question whether it can get there.” In fact, 73 percent envision a politically integrated union. However, 74 percent also admitted that Europe was not dealing with problems effectively, and 56 percent felt that Europe’s future is “in danger.”
While 19 percent viewed current crises in Europe as catalysts for a “stronger, more integrated union,” 39 percent felt Europe’s best years were behind it. Thirty-one percent identified themselves as “uncertain” about Europe’s future—and it is this “uncertain” group that researchers feel could turn the tide of continent’s future if their attention can be captured. This “uncertain” group feels that their leaders speak a great deal but take very little action to improve Europe’s situation. They see their leaders as uncaring and out of touch with reality. Perhaps that is why Ulrich Siegmund was able to win the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, last weekend in a landslide victory (Politico, September 6, 2026). More than 40 percent of voters supported this right-wing candidate, perceiving him as representing change and decisiveness, standing for long-held German values, and caring about his constituents. And his party, the AfD, is growing in popularity, as are many right-wing parties across Europe—parties that have clear goals and plans and come across very different from what many consider a cold, inflexible, and elite establishment.
Bible prophecy confirms that there will be a united Europe when ten nations or kings give their power over to the “beast” for a short time (Revelation 17:12–13). This Europe will be smaller but more powerful—united politically, economically, religiously, and militarily under a German leader! To learn more about the coming united Europe and the “beast” who will lead it, read or listen to The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor, or Soon-Coming Reality?
On the Edge of Disaster
Most of the Middle East is desert, and what make it possible for large populations to live in many regions are desalination plants that convert sea water to drinkable water. This is true of the nation of Israel. However, Israel and Gaza have just faced a severe and telling crisis (Washington Post, September 4, 2026). Two weeks ago, five of Israel’s six desalination plants went offline due to algae clogging their intake pipes. The algae originate from the Nile Delta. As they drift north along the coast, they contact raw sewage from Gaza’s dysfunctional sewage treatment plants. Scientists believe the sewage and warming waters feed the bacteria, causing it to multiply and eventually clog the sea water intake pipes of the desalination plants. This recent episode resulted in water restrictions and the use of emergency water from aquifers and the Sea of Galilee. Gaza has had severe water restrictions for years. As of this writing, all but two plants were restored to working order (Engineering News Record, September 8, 2026).
Events like this major desalination plant shutdown illustrate the tenuous nature of life in this region of the world. While human ingenuity created technology that turns sea water into drinking water, that technology is still vulnerable, and for five of six plants to go offline at the same time is sobering. What would happen if all the plants in one country were to go offline—and for an extended period of time? What if they were bombed and could not be repaired?
The Middle East is a dangerous region for many reasons, and a vulnerable water supply is just one of them. To learn more about the future of this highly volatile and dangerous region, read or listen to The Middle East in Prophecy. —Scott Winnail and Francine Prater