News at a Glance

• 54.5 Million See Link to Middle East Booklet
• New Educational Travel Program: Paris and London
• Three From St. Paul Ordained
• U.S. Feast Sites and Fragrance Sensitivities
• Chris Stewart Hired at Home Office
• Three Ministers Hired
• ABC Comparative Religion Class on the Web
• ABC Seminar Set for Calgary
• Regina Singers and Musicians Needed
• Jamaica Site Full
• Winter Camp: New Facility, No Conflict With Louisville
• ABC Chorale Alumni Invited to Sing in Louisville
• Brethren Needed to Distribute GN Brochures
• Calendar of Events
• What's New on the Web?

54.5 Million See Link to Middle East Booklet

From July through August, more than 54.5 million searchers looking for information about the crisis in the Middle East saw a link to an ad for our booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy appear on their computer screens. For several weeks this occurred at the pace of more than a million impressions a day.

Of these, 170,000 clicked on the link to find more information, and 10,600 ordered the booklet and became Good News magazine subscribers.

—Peter Eddington

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New Educational Travel Program: Paris and London

A new aspect of the United Church of God's education efforts involves guided, organized visits to international sites with a specific focus on the biblical record and prophecy. The first program will feature a 12-day itinerary Dec. 27, 2006, through Jan. 7, 2007, featuring the great cities of Paris and London with their incomparable museums and histories, and tailored for young adults 18 to 30 years of age.

There will be a guide for preparatory study, daily discussions and specific site visits related to the educational objectives of the program. Desired outcomes include gaining new knowledge, deepening existing knowledge, appreciating the reality and veracity of scriptural accounts and building friendships.

This first program will be led by UCG pastor David Dobson and University of California educator Dr. John F. Karlik. The itinerary, application and cost can be found on the Web at www.TravelGallery.com or obtained by mail by calling (800) 858-6999. For additional information, David Dobson may be reached at (423) 239-0501.

—David Register

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Three From St. Paul Ordained

Several ordinations took place on Pentecost during a combined service with the St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Eau Claire, Wisconsin, congregations. Peter McNair was ordained a deacon and Steve and Amy Allwine were ordained deacon and deaconess. All three attend in St. Paul.

—Gary Black

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U.S. Feast Sites and Fragrance Sensitivities

The United Church of God is aware of the increasing sensitivities and allergies to fragrances affecting our members and society in general. For the Feast it is nearly impossible to offer a room that eliminates all fragrances. However, most of our U.S. Feast sites attempt to provide some relief by either reserving a room (and prohibiting anyone wearing perfumes, etc. to enter) or designating a section of the meeting hall as a fragrance-free area. In many cases, these are not full solutions, but they can somewhat aid those who experience allergic reactions in their attempt to attend services.

The following U.S. sites provide some measure of assistance: Bend, Oregon; Branson, Missouri; Cincinnati, Ohio/Northern Kentucky; Escondido, California; Kerrville, Texas; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Panama City Beach, Florida; and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. If you need more details as to what the specific site that you want to attend offers, e-mail USFestival@ucg.org or call (970) 484-5878.

—Charles Melear

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Chris Stewart Hired at Home Office

Chris Stewart, a 2006 ABC graduate, was hired to work full-time in the Information Technology area of the home office, where he worked part-time during ABC. His training and experience in the computer field includes work at E.D.S., General Motors and S.H. Brown Forensic Research Firm. His job title will be programmer/analyst 1.

It has been a busy year for Chris, who served as student body president for ABC and married Elesha Kennebeck, a 2004 ABC graduate, during the year.

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Three Ministers Hired

Ministerial Services announced the hiring of three elders into the full-time ministry of the United Church of God. From a long list of candidates the Church made an offer to three men, and all three have accepted the offer.

They begin work after the Feast of Tabernacles as assistant pastors in their local areas. After a year of training in the local area plus additional training by Ministerial Services at the home office, each will be given an assignment during the summer of 2007.

Ronald Kelley and his wife, Nancy, will be hired to assist Randy Stiver in the Columbus and Cambridge, Ohio, area. Jonathan Pinelli and his wife, Debbie, will be hired to assist Lyle Welty in the Cincinnati East AM and PM congregations. And Paul Carter and his wife, Tracy, will be hired to assist Mike Blackwell in the Springfield and Joplin, Missouri, and Harrison, Arkansas, congregations.

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ABC Comparative Religion Class on the Web

Many members who are unable to attend the Ambassador Bible Center program have expressed an interest in listening to recordings of the classes. During the 2006 class year we were able to record the Comparative Religion class taught by Gary Antion. The audio files are available in MP3 format at www.ucg.org/abc/religion.

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ABC Seminar Set for Calgary

An ABC Continuing Education seminar is planned for Calgary, Alberta, on Nov. 11 and 12 (Remembrance Day weekend). ABC instructors Gary Antion and David Register will speak at Sabbath services and teach classes on Sabbath afternoon and evening as well as all day Sunday, for a total of 11 classes.

The purpose of the ABC Continuing Education seminars is to give members the opportunity to receive samples of some of the classes taught at Ambassador Bible Center. The seminars are beneficial for adults and young people. Some younger children in elementary school have received certificates!

Sabbath services and the seminars will be held at the Radisson Hotel, 2120–16 Avenue NE, Calgary, Alberta. The phone numbers for the Radisson are (800) 333-3333 and (403) 291-4666.

Sabbath services will start at 10:30 a.m. The classes will begin after lunch. The concluding time on Sunday will be about 5 p.m. with the distribution of certificates and awards.

There will be a minimal charge to help pay for the hall rental ($5 per person or $10 per family). Those who complete all 11classes will receive a certificate. The Radisson Hotel offers a group rate for those who wish to stay there. Feel free to make your own reservations.

If you would like to attend, please send the following details to Rainer Salomaa: Names of attendees, address, phone number and e-mail address. Send this information by e-mail to ray_salomaa@msn.com or by regular mail to Rainer Salomaa, 175 Sunlake Way SE, Calgary, AB, T2X 3H4, Canada.

—Rainer Salomaa

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Regina Singers and Musicians Needed

Attention all singers and musicians attending the Feast in Regina, Saskatchewan: If you would like to sing in the choir, play an instrument or present special music, please contact Wil Berg at wberg@dteworld.com or (307) 455-2432 or P.O. Box 1379, Dubois, WY 82513 U.S.A.

In addition to adults, teenagers are also encouraged to respond. Please state what choral part you sing (soprano, alto, tenor or bass) or what instrument you play. If enough are present the afternoon before the Feast (Friday, Oct. 6), there will be a rehearsal at 2 p.m. by the stage where the meetings will be held.

—Wil Berg

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Jamaica Site Full

The Jamaica Feast site is full and is closed to further transfers.

—Kingsley Mather

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Winter Camp: New Facility, No Conflict With Louisville

The 12th annual United Youth Winter Camp will be held from Wednesday, Dec. 27, through Monday, Jan. 1, 2007. There is no conflict with the Louisville Winter Family Weekend this year.

We have a whole new facility to enjoy in Montello, Wisconsin. Activities include basketball, capture the flag, Christian Living, cross-country skiing, dance, broomball, horseback riding, ice skating, snow speedaway, team challenge, tubing, volleyball, indoor games and more.

Camp and staff applications are being accepted now. Youth ages 12 to 18 are welcome as campers. Staff must be at least 17. Camper tuition is $175 and high school staff is $85. Camper and staff applications are available on the Web site at www.ucg.org/youth. For more information, contact Gary and Gale Black at (651) 769-8802.

Application deadline is Nov. 1 for staff and Nov. 15 for campers.

—Gary and Gale Black

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ABC Chorale Alumni Invited to Sing in Louisville

All ABC Chorale alumni who will be attending the Winter Family Weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, Dec. 22 to 26, are encouraged to contact Kenneth Shoemaker as soon as possible. A combined chorale is being formed to provide music for a full sermonette-length program.

Contact Mr. Shoemaker by e-mail at kshoemak@bright.net or by mail at 862 McCoy Rd., Peebles, OH 45660.

—Kenneth Shoemaker

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Brethren Needed to Distribute GN Brochures

Two new Good News "take one" subscription brochures are now available for distribution by our brethren in the United States. One brochure features a cover photo of a lion and lamb with the headline "Will Our World Ever See Lasting Peace?" The second covers a topic that always receives high response, "What Happens After Death?"

Members who occasionally visit stores, hairdressers, senior centers, restaurants, libraries or other places within their communities may find them to be excellent distribution locations for brochure displays. Even if only a single display is placed and maintained, it would be a valuable contribution.

Brethren are welcome to order a supply of brochures and displays by contacting John LaBissoniere at 198 McDeerman Road, Jacksboro, TN 37757, by toll-free telephone at (888) 369-9940 or e-mail at john_labissoniere@ucg.org.

—John LaBissoniere

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Calendar of Events

Sept. 4-21: Trip to Kenya, Jim and Sharron Franks, John and Merrie Elliott.

Sept. 26: ABC assessment meeting.

Oct. 28-29: ABC Continuing Education Seminars, Atlanta, Georgia.

Nov. 1-2: Senior pastors (those working in Africa and Asia) conference.

Nov. 4: World News and Prophecy seminar, Beloit, Wisconsin (steve_nutzman@ucg.org).

Nov. 4-5: ABC Continuing Education Seminars, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.

Nov. 11-12: ABC Continuing Education Seminars, Calgary, Alberta (see details).

Nov. 13-15: Regional pastors conference.

Nov. 16-17: Camp directors meeting.

Nov. 18: Milwaukee 50th Anniversary (see article July issue, page 16).

Nov. 18-19: ABC Continuing Education Seminars, Morton, Illinois.

Dec. 8-13: Council of Elders meeting.

Dec. 22-26: Winter Family Weekend, Louisville, Kentucky.

Dec. 27-Jan. 1, 2007: Winter Camp, Montello, Wisconsin (see article).

Feb. 16 to 19, 2007: Presidents' Day Ski Weekend, Salt Lake City, Utah. (801) 495-0412 or larry_salyer@ucg.org.

Please send calendar items to mike_bennett@ucg.org.

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What's New on the Web?

Local Congregations

View a list of both U.S. and international UCG congregations at www.ucg.org/about/church.htm. You can also access many local congregation Web sites from this location.

Good News Radio

Listen to or download over 100 online radio programs at www.gnmagazine.org/radio/.

Church Service Webcast

The home office Cincinnati East A.M. congregation is now offering onDemand Church services in video and audio format. Access the video and audio files at www.ucg.org/multimedia/webcast.htm.

UCG Commentary

“Iranian Nukes: The End of Israel ?”
“How Long Will Your Window of Opportunity Be Open?”
“ America 's Season of Anger”
“Diplomats Needed, Now”
“We Sure Could Use a Little Good News Today”

www.ucg.org/commentary/

Featured Link

Virtual Christian Magazine, monthly online magazine of inspirational and Christian living topics.
vcmagazine.org

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