Weekly Update

September 22nd, 2015

Greetings from Charlotte,

This coming Sunday evening, God's people will gather together at dozens of Feast sites around the world to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. The Feast pictures the soon-coming Kingdom of God that Jesus Christ will establish at His return to this earth. As we see the world spinning out of control with violence, corruption and all sorts of evils that pervade every society, we can begin to see why Jesus Christ is going to return and put an end to this world's misguided ways that are causing so much suffering to so many. It is exciting to know that God is working out His plan of salvation that will bring peace and justice, right government and right religion to the peoples of this world (Isaiah 9:6-7). May God help us all to grasp the enormity of that precious truth and the incredible privilege that God has given to each of us to be part of that plan. Dr. Meredith will open the Feast on Sunday night with a special video message and will give several sermons during the Feast at the site he is attending. Please pray that God will bless this coming Feast by inspiring the messages and the fellowship and that He will protect His people as they travel and wherever they are. As we gather to worship God at the Feast, let's strive to be lights to everyone we come into contact with so they can sense that we truly are "a special people"—the people of God.—DSW

Feast of Tabernacles

Opening Night—Just Days Away!

With more than 10,000 brethren and guests expected to attend at 52 sites in 31 countries, we are just days away from the opening to the 2015 Feast of Tabernacles!  The Opening Night service begins Sunday night, September 27.  Check with your Festival Site Coordinator for times of Opening Night services.  There will also be a special DVD welcome message from Dr. Meredith during this service.

From all of us in the Festival Office, we wish everyone a safe, inspiring, and spiritually-nourishing Feast of Tabernacles wherever you attend!

Instructions for Accessing Feast Services by Internet and Telephone

While many of us prepare to leave our homes to attend this annual highlight of the year, let us not forget those who cannot attend the Feast because of health reasons.  Our dear shut-ins will be in our thoughts and prayers during this Feast, that they may be uplifted and inspired, though under less-than-ideal circumstances.  If you will not be able to attend the Feast, please take note that many of our Festival Sites will offer remote, live services to shut-ins in the areas assigned to their Feast site.  Some sites will offer either live-stream (Internet), telephone hook-up, or both.  Here are instructions for connecting to video or audio live streaming:

Live-Stream Access to Services during the Feast

  1. Go to the Web site: www.lcgwebcast.org
  2. In the top right corner there is a green Feast of Tabernacles "Click Here" button. Click on that.
  3. Find your assigned Feast site and click on "Request Password." That will take you to an e-mail form to the Festival Site Coordinator, from whom you must request a password.
  4. Click on highlighted "Congregation" link and enter password to access services.

Telephone Access to Services during the Feast

If you would like access to telephone hook-up information for your assigned site (if the site is offering it), please contact the Site Coordinators directly.  Here are the names and contact information for the USA Festival Site Coordinators (below).  For international sites, please contact the Regional Office.

Beware of Bed Bugs

In recent years, bed bugs have made a "comeback," especially in hotels at some popular vacation spots. Therefore, it is prudent to check the beds of our accommodations when we check into our Feast hotels. If you see the signs of bed bugs, you should request a different room. Here is a summary from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on how to check your room for bed bugs. Essentially, one should look for "physical signs" of bed bugs, which include:

  • Rusty or reddish stains on the bed sheets or mattresses.  
  • Tiny dark spots (about the size of a "period" on a typed document) on bed sheets or mattresses.
  • The actual bugs themselves, in the seams of mattresses or cushions.

Bed bugs are not only painful and irritating, but can travel back home with you and are expensive to eradicate.

God can and will protect His Feast-goers from "bed bugs," if we are prayerful and vigilant. We also know that a prudent man foresees danger and hides himself (Proverbs 22:3).

2015 Festival Survey—Repeat Announcement

Every year we take a survey to get valuable feedback from brethren attending the Feast.  We will again have the Festival Survey available online, as well as having paper survey forms handed out at the Feast.  The Web address for filling out the Feast survey will be fotsurvey.lcg.org.  We ask everyone at the Feast to be sure to fill out the survey form (either the hard copy or online version) during the Feast, as it provides us with helpful information to assist with Festival planning for future years.

Hymnals—Repeat Announcement

Everyone is encouraged to bring a hymnal (one or two songbooks per household) from their local congregation's supply for use at the Feast, if they don't have a personal hymnal to take. For those who do take a congregational (blue) hymnal, please be sure to bring the hymnal(s) back to your congregation after the Feast, so that the number of hymnals returned to each congregation is equal to the number of hymnals taken. Please make sure that all hymnals are clearly marked as to which congregation they belong.

Sabbath Times/Contact Information for the Day of Atonement and Sabbath of September 26—Repeat Announcement

A chart listing the places, contact information, and times for Living Church of God services on the Day of Atonement and on the Sabbath of September 26 is now posted on the MyLCG Web site. Log in to your MyLCG account at the following address to access the chart: www.cogl.org. We hope this information will be helpful for you as you plan your travel, especially so you can minimize travel on God's Sabbath. Pastors, thank you for sending these details in.

Living Youth Program

Friday Evening Youth Bible Studies Resume October 16—Repeat Announcement

Friday evening online youth Bible Studies are planned to resume after the Feast of Tabernacles, on October 16. Mr. Sheldon Monson is scheduled to continue giving the Bible Studies and everyone, regardless of age, is welcome to "tune in." Information about joining the studies will be available on the Living Youth Web site at http://www.livingyouth.org after the Feast of Tabernacles.

Comments

Be Lights at the Feast:  The Feast of Tabernacles is the highlight of the sacred year. It pictures the soon-coming Kingdom of God when the saints will rule with Jesus Christ and bring peace to this earth. It will truly be a joyous time! To keep us mindful of this major step in the Plan of God, we are commanded to "keep the Feast of the LORD for seven days" and to "rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days… It shall be a statute forever" (Leviticus 23:39-44). The New Testament clearly indicates that Jesus kept the Feast and told His brothers, "You go up to this feast" (John 7:2-39). We also read in Zechariah 14:16 that "all nations" will keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the coming Kingdom of God. As we rejoice at the Feast, we need to remember Jesus' instructions that we should be "lights" and examples to those around us (Matthew 5:13-16). How we conduct ourselves at the Feast and how we relate to everyone we meet—in services, in hotels, at restaurants—will reflect either positively or negatively on God's Church and His way of life. As "ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20), let's strive to let our light shine to everyone we come into contact with.

Have a profitable Sabbath and a wonderful Feast,

Douglas S. Winnail