|
|
News at a Glance
Note: For charts and graphs mentioned, see the PDF or printed versions. Challenger II Attendees SelectedThe following 14 individuals have been selected to participate in the Challenger II Rock Climbing Program in Southern Arizona this December: Tiffany Bullard, Joe Gatlin, Jonathan Magee, Mark Mirigian, Shaney and Stephanie Mullen, Jason Nitzberg, Tyler Smith, Melody Schmidt, Leslie Schwartz, Elainea Spivey, Jui Jin Yong, Stephanie Zajac and Zachary Zimmerman. Challenger II focuses on mentoring young adults of the Church in spiritual growth, insight and leadership in an adventure-based setting. The Challenger II Rock Climbing Program is being held Dec. 23 to 30 on Mt. Lemmon, in the Coronado National Forest outside Tucson, Arizona. —James Capo [ back to top ] Education Advisory Task Force MeetsThe EATF met in Houston, Texas, Nov. 16 to 18 to discuss assessments and outcomes. Five areas of education were specifically discussed: teen youth camps assessments, women's education survey, preteen camp outcomes, marriage seminar outcomes and race relations outcomes. David Myers, preteen camp coordinator, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Giese, marriage seminar coordinator and Todd Carey, Race Relations Committee chairman, were invited to the meetings to share the history of the programs and to discuss outcomes with the EATF. Church pastors will soon receive a survey from Ministerial Services asking questions about women's education issues. A new camp survey, developed by Julie Zutz, Linda Register and Mary Clark, to help assess outcomes and effectiveness of our camp programs will be implemented for our teen camps beginning with our Winter Camp in Wisconsin this month. We also plan to begin marriage seminars in the U.S. regions next year. We are also now ready to begin Focused Education seminars in various cities in the United States and Canada. Due to an extremely busy calendar, in addition to budgetary considerations, we are tentatively planning to schedule two or three seminars a year. David Register [ back to top ] ABC Deadline Dec. 15We have now accepted 34 students for 2008. We still have a few applications to review, and we are expecting a class of 40 or so this coming year. Classes begin on Jan. 7, 2008. The application deadline for the 2008 class is Dec. 15. David Register [ back to top ] Pastoral Training Classes to Begin in JanuaryJim Franks, Ministerial Services operation manager, announced that "in January we will begin the next round of pastoral training classes. This is a six-week program for the training and development of the pastoral ministry. We have invited 18 men and their wives to attend this program, with six from outside the United States" ( Ministerial Services Newsletter and Journal, Oct. 25, 2007). [ back to top ] U.S. Holy Day Offerings ReportedBelow is the reported U.S. Holy Day offering information and does not include what was mailed in by those who could not attend or who attended international sites. Feast of Trumpets: Attendance: 12,671 Reported offering: $762,633.65. (The actual should be around $790,000 when all offerings mailed in by individuals are processed.) This represents a 0.8 percent decrease in attendance and a 2.6 percent increase in the offering compared to the reported figures for the Feast of Trumpets 2006. Day of Atonement: Attendance: 12,881 Reported offering: $735,455.28 (the actual may reach around $760,000). This represents a 1.7 percent increase in attendance and a 0.9 percent decrease in the offering compared to the reported figures for the Day of Atonement 2006. Feast of Tabernacles: Attendance: 11,347 Reported offering: $590,926.31 (the actual should come to around $657,000). This represents a 5.2 percent decrease in attendance and a 7.2 percent decrease in the offering compared to the reported figures for the Feast of Tabernacles 2006. Last Great Day: Attendance: 11,113 Reported offering: $676,642.02 (the actual should reach around $755,000). This represents a 1.6 percent decrease in attendance and a 7.1 percent decrease in the offering compared to the reported figures for the Last Great Day 2006. Gerald Seelig [ back to top ] WNP Seminars See New ContactsTwo World News and Prophecy seminars have been held in recent weeks with an appreciable number of new contacts attending. On Oct. 27, Darris McNeely and Melvin Rhodes were in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ninety-six members attended along with 16 Good News/WNP subscribers. On Nov. 17, Mr. Rhodes and Robin Webber traveled to Worchester, Massachusetts, for a Sabbath seminar. There were 160 members and 16 subscribers. There will be a seminar at the Louisville Family Weekend on Dec. 23 and in St. Louis, Missouri, Jan. 26. Darris McNeely [ back to top ] Feast 2008 Update"After the Feast we chose not to renew the contract in Lancaster since they wanted to almost double their room rates," Jim Franks reported in the Nov. 29 Ministerial Newsletter and Journal. "We are now working to locate a new site for the Northeast in 2008. Charles Melear will be bringing forward the options for consideration in the next few weeks. We should be letting everyone know about the Hawaii location in a few weeks as well." [ back to top ] Pittsburgh Prepares for 50thThe Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, congregation is making plans for the celebration of its 50th anniversary on June 21, 2008, at the Doubletree Inn in the western suburb of Moon Township. The Sabbath service on June 21 will be followed by a banquet and presentation highlighting the congregation's half-century history. The first Church of God congregation east of the Mississippi River, Pittsburgh has been home to many brethren. We hope that all of you who have had a connection with Pittsburgh over the years will be able to join us for the festivities. For detailed information and to register, visit our Web site at www.ucgnet.org/pittsburgh/50. Please check back at the site from time to time, as updates will be made as plans progress. If you have any photographs or other items to help document the history of the Pittsburgh congregation, we hope that you will be willing to share them with us. You can either scan in the photos and e-mail them to us, or send them (or other items) to us by mail and we'll return them to you. Be sure to put your name, telephone number and return address clearly on any items you send. Also please explain the setting of the photos and identify the people in the pictures. Items can be sent to Bill and Myrna Miller at millerwam@yahoo.com or by mail to 120 Dobson Rd., Mars, PA 16046. If you want information but don't have Internet access, please call the Millers at (412) 523-1934. Don Henson [ back to top ] Ski Weekend Deadline Dec. 20The Salt Lake City, Utah, United Church of God will host its annual Winter Ski Weekend over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, Jan. 19 to 21, 2008, in historic Park City, Utah. Even if you do not ski or snowboard, organizers urge you to consider coming for the fellowship. The weekend begins Sabbath morning with two seminars from 10 a.m. to noon. One of the speakers is David Register, director of Education Programs for United Church of God. Another speaker is to be confirmed. Light refreshments will be served between sessions. Sabbath services will begin at 2:30 p.m., with guest speakers providing split sermons. Afterward a potluck meal will be provided. Also, another potluck meal will be provided Sunday evening. All events will be held at the same location as in years past, the Cottontree Inn in North Salt Lake: 1030 North 400 East, North Salt Lake, Utah; reservations: (800) 662-6886; phone: (801) 292-7666; fax: (801) 296-9664. The motel is located off the Woods Cross exit on I-15, just north of the I-15/I-215 intersection. The Cottontree has a shuttle running from the Salt Lake City airport to the hotel. The room rate at the Cottontree is $73.76 including tax—the regular rate is $99. This includes two queen beds and a fabulous continental breakfast. The Cottontree will also allow multiple people, i.e. sleeping bags, in the room. At the time of this writing, we are still working to confirm group pricing for lift tickets. You can count on approximately $65. Be prepared to make payment Saturday evening. The actual skiing event will occur Sunday morning. You will be responsible for meals while skiing. For information and/or to register, contact Jon Pinelli, the pastor of the Salt Lake City congregation, by e-mail at jon_pinelli@ucg.org. The deadline to sign up is Dec. 20, 2007. [ back to top ] Branson Presidents' Day Family Weekend AnnouncedThe 13th annual Presidents' Day Family Weekend will be in Branson, Missouri, Feb. 15 to 18. It will be a full weekend with plenty of fellowship time, family seminars, Sabbath services, a fun show, family dance, more seminars, a skating party, a game night and a couple of surprises. Join us for this fun-filled weekend with brethren from around the nation. Special hotel arrangements have been made with rooms for $37 a night including a full breakfast each morning. For more information and a complete schedule, contact Mike Blackwell by e-mail at mike_blackwell@ucg.org. Mike Blackwell [ back to top ] Calendar of EventsDec. 3-4: Senior pastors/associate senior pastors annual meeting, home office. Dec. 11-13: Council of Elders meeting, home office. Dec. 21-25: Winter Family Weekend, Louisville, Kentucky (Friday evening through Tuesday late night). Dec. 23-30: Challenger II–Rock Climbing program, Tucson, Arizona. Dec. 23-25: ABC continuing education classes in Portland, Oregon. Dec. 24-25: ABC continuing education classes in Louisville, Kentucky. Dec. 27-Jan. 1: Winter Camp, Montello, Wisconsin (gary_black@ucg.org). Jan. 3-10: Pastoral training first session, home office. Jan. 6: ABC orientation, home office. Jan. 13-15: South Central Region ministerial conference, Houston, Texas. Jan. 16-17: Special Council meeting on strategic planning, Houston, Texas. Jan. 18-20: Women's Enrichment Weekend, "Becoming Women of Courage and Compassion," Garden Grove, California, area, www.ucg-gg.org (look under events-photos). Jan. 19-21, 2008: Winter Ski Weekend, Park City, Utah (jon_pinelli@ucg.org). Jan. 28-31: Editorial meetings, home office. Feb. 9: Family Dance, Receptions Eastgate, Cincinnati, Ohio (FouchB@greatoaks.com or cincywd@fuse.net). Feb. 15-18: Young Adults' Presidents' Day Regional Weekend, Dallas, Texas (www.ucg-dallas.org/ya). Feb. 15-18: Presidents' Day Family Weekend, Branson, Missouri, mike_blackwell@ucg.org. Feb. 26-27: Special Council meeting on strategic planning, San Antonio, Texas. Feb. 29-March 5: Council of Elders meeting. May 18-19: GCE annual meeting. June 21: Pittsburgh 50th, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (www.ucgnet.org/pittsburgh/50). Please send calendar items to mike_bennett@ucg.org. [ back to top ] ABC Continuing Education on the MoveBy the end of this calendar year we will have finished eight years of taking Ambassador Bible Center Continuing Education seminars out to a variety of local congregations in the United States and Canada. ABC faculty members have been quite busy since the Feast, conducting four ABC Continuing Education seminars, with three more scheduled before the end of the year. On Oct. 20 and 21, the St. Louis, Missouri, and Fairview Heights, Illinois, congregations hosted a seminar at the church hall in Fairview Heights. David Johnson and David Register conducted sessions on "Postmodernism," "What Are God and Jesus Christ Doing Now?" and "Colossians—the Hope of Glory." Nearly 100 brethren attended services on the Sabbath, and many of them stayed through the afternoon for the first sessions of the seminar. About half of those returned on Sunday to complete the seminar, with approximately 45 receiving special certificates for completing the entire seminar. The following weekend, Oct. 27 and 28, Jim Franks and Ralph Levy conducted classes for members in the Chicago, Illinois area (see article, page 12). On the weekend of Nov. 17 and 18, two seminars were conducted at opposite ends of the country—Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Spokane, Washington. Brethren who attended in Allentown heard presentations from Clyde Kilough and Richard Thompson on "The Dynamics of Spiritual Growth," "An Overview of the Gospel of Mark" and "The Nature of the Godhead." Well over 100 people attended portions of the seminar, with 81 receiving completion certificates. In Spokane, 126 people attended services with 118 remaining for the first round of classes. Seventy were able to return on Sunday, with 53 receiving certificates. Jim Franks and David Johnson presented classes on "Introduction to Doctrine," "Origin of Fundamental Beliefs," "Sabbatarians of New England," "Understanding the Plurality of God and Divinity of Christ" and "Colossians—the Hope of Glory." As we go to press, one more weekend seminar is scheduled in the Oakland, California, area on Dec. 1 and 2, where David Johnson and David Register will present classes on "Postmodernism," "What Are God and Jesus Christ Doing Now?" and "Colossians—the Hope of Glory." Attendance is again expected to be just over 100. The final two seminars for this calendar year are scheduled during the Winter Family Weekends in Portland, Oregon, and Louisville, Kentucky. Gary Antion and David Register will be conducting classes in Portland, and David Johnson, Clyde Kilough and Ralph Levy will be holding classes in Louisville. Subjects have not been finalized for those sessions at press time. ABC is so convinced of the value of these seminars that we have built most of the costs into our budget. The local area provides the hall and any refreshments, and we provide the transportation and expenses for the two presenters. David Johnson [ back to top ] What's New on the Web?Members' Web site. Be sure to check out the Members' Web site (members.ucg.org) where you can view About Our Father's Business videos, see upcoming events or listen to archived Sabbath services. Breaking Free Journal. New articles have recently been posted on the Breaking Free Journal Web site at breakingfree.ucg.org. Parenting Resources at UCG Youth. View numerous articles that provide helpful information for parents, youth workers, instructors and anyone interested in the development of young people. Easy access at www.ucg.org/youth/parents/. UCG Weekly Commentary. "Environmental Debates and the Bible" "Is Acceptance of Religions Key to Stability?" "Does Your Thankfulness Last?" Featured Link
If you have questions or comments, please contact: webmaster@ucg.org |
|
© 1995-2006 United
Church of God, an International Association | Request
Free Literature Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. |