Greetings from Charlotte,
The Feast of Tabernacles 2015 appears to have gone extremely well. Reports coming into Charlotte contain very positive comments about sermons, sermonettes, music, activities and warm fellowship. There have also been many positive comments on the "Behind the Work" film this year. Dr. Meredith gave four live sermons at the Feast site in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Ames spent the Feast in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Indian Wells, California. We also had a number of other traveling speakers who visited other sites around the world. As we return home, let's stay focused on the "big picture" that Dr. Meredith mentioned in his Last Great Day message—of preparing to become glorified members of God's Family and fulfilling our mission of reaching this world with the True Gospel of Jesus Christ and His soon-coming Kingdom.—DSW
Feast of Tabernacles
To All Servers at the Feast
A heart-felt thank you to everyone who served at the Feast this year—in Setup, Cleanup, Business Office, Audio/Video, Parking, Choir, Activities—you name it! As they say, "many hands make light work"! Each year this is dramatically illustrated at all of our Feast sites worldwide. Thank you to everyone who willingly gave of their time, energy, funds and enthusiastic effort to make the Feast a delight to other brethren.
And thank you especially to all of our festival coordinators who served in 52 sites around the world this year. A coordinator's work is virtually year-round—beginning in December and January with Feast write-ups for the Web site, and culminating in orchestrating and conducting all the moving parts that make a Feast site work. God certainly blessed the Feast of Tabernacles 2015 with outstanding examples of leadership and service. Thank you to all who made it possible!
Fill Out Your Festival Survey
If you have not already handed in a paper survey, or filled it out online, please fill out the Festival Survey as soon as possible. Every entry is read, and your comments are valuable! Deadline for filling out the Festival Survey is Tuesday, October 20. You can access the Feast Survey at fotsurvey.lcg.org.
Divine Interventions
We are extremely grateful for God's intervention in our lives, including at the Feast. Several situations saw God protecting and guiding His people through some potentially life-threatening circumstances. Here are a few of the details:
Car Accident in St. George, Utah
One of our families attending the Feast in St. George, Utah, was involved in a serious multiple-car accident, as they were rear-ended by another vehicle. Mr. Rodger Bardo, Festival Coordinator, reported that none of the brethren were seriously injured, but all were shaken up by the accident. All four family members were anointed, and one was hospitalized but later released. It was determined that she had no broken bones, and would only be very sore for a while. The car was damaged but drivable. It appears God intervened, and all made marked improvement almost right away.
Flat-Lining in Lake of the Ozarks
Mr. Gene Hilgenberg, Festival Coordinator of the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, Feast site, reported that during services on the first day, one of the elderly gentlemen passed out in the restroom. Mr. Hilgenberg writes, "With no explanation why, I had the urge to rise and walk to the back of the meeting room, and out into the hall past the bathroom right at the time he passed out. I anointed him right there and the medics arrived soon after. They hooked him up to a monitor and there was no pulse. We are not sure when he came back to us, as they wheeled him out and left for the hospital. We do know that by the time they arrived at the hospital, his heart was beating, but he did not wake up until the next morning. He attended services later in the Feast. When he goes home he is scheduled to go to his doctor for testing for a possible pacemaker."
Protection in Myrtle Beach
Our Festival Coordinator in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Mr. James Sweat, reported that during the Feast in Myrtle Beach, they had some heavy rain and some local flooding. It was much less severe, however, than other areas surrounding the Feast site (in areas such as North Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Columbia, SC). There was some temporary standing water on the resort parking lots due to stopped-up storm drains, and some roads were closed on the seventh day of the Feast. Some outdoor activities were adapted to indoors, and one activity was cancelled. God even provided the special treat of a dramatic rainbow that appeared after the last service of the Last Great Day! God certainly protected the Myrtle Beach Feast site from what could have been a much more difficult situation.
Living Youth Program
Friday Evening Online Youth Bible Studies Resume Next Week
Online youth Bible Studies are scheduled to resume next Friday evening, October 16. Mr. Sheldon Monson is scheduled to give the Bible Study and everyone, regardless of age, is welcome to "tune in." Information about joining the studies is available on the Living Youth Web site at livingyouth.org.
Comments
Goals for the Year Ahead: Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs, "Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:26-27). As we return from the Feast, inspired by the sermons and the fellowship, it is a good time to think about setting goals for the coming year. What changes would you like to make or do you need to make to improve your physical or spiritual health? What can you do to improve your relationship with God or with your family? What can you do to serve God and others more effectively? How can you prepare more effectively to be a king or priest or teacher in the Kingdom of God? Now is the time to pray and meditate about how you can grow in these important aspects of your life! The Apostle Paul urged fellow Christians to "walk circumspectly [carefully, diligently]" and to make the most of the time and opportunities at our disposal (Ephesians 5:15-16). The Apostle Peter exhorted his audience to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). As you plan for the year ahead, consider reviewing the Bible Study Course, reading a booklet per week or per month, studying a different book in the Bible each month or taking a Living University course. Make a list of what you want to accomplish in the coming year as you plan and prepare for the future.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail