News at a Glance

• New Festival Web Site Launched
• Editorial Staff Meets
• Elder Ordained in Florida
• Receptionist, Administrative Assistant and Four ABC Students Hired
• Singles' Web Site Changing
• Feast Returns to Maui; to Be Restricted Site
• Portland Hosts Northwest Weekend and ABC Seminar
• Southeast Regional Prom Set for March 8
• Register if You're Planning to Attend Pittsburgh's 50th
• Summer Jordan/Israel Youth Corps Project Plans
• Calendar of Events
• What's New on the Web?

Note: For charts and graphs mentioned, see the PDF or printed versions.

New Festival Web Site Launched

Up-to-date Festival news can now be found at the new Feast Web site for UCG members at feast.ucg.org.

For example, this new Web site reports that three sites are under consideration to replace Lancaster: the Poconos area; Johnstown, Pennsylvania; and Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A decision will be made soon.

This Web site will be routinely updated, giving announcements, answering your questions and allowing members to make suggestions for future sites and housing. We will also be posting housing survey results, interesting statistics for registration and attendance.

Have you heard a rumor about a new site? This will be the place to find quick, accurate information. Currently questions related to the Feast can be sent to USFestival@ucg.org.

—Charles Melear

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Editorial Staff Meets

President Clyde Kilough and Media operation manager Larry Salyer met with five publication managing editors on Monday, Jan. 28, then with a larger group of those involved with production and writing of Church publications on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Vertical Thought staff stayed for an all-day session on Thursday.

Mr. Kilough stressed to the group that in a world glutted with media outlets, all of our efforts to preach the gospel must stay focused on the principles of Mark 1:14-15.

Many topics were discussed, "most of which centered on assessing our current efforts and brainstorming on what we can do in the future to improve our impact and expand our reach," Mr. Kilough said.

"Media types are creative by nature, so naturally these discussion points generated a swarm of interesting suggestions, some of which we could implement immediately. Most of these ideas, however, will require some digestion time now before we can determine what, when and how to implement them," Mr. Kilough said.

"It was a very profitable week, and over time it will lead to productive improvements in more effectively fulfilling the commission God has given us to preach the gospel."

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Elder Ordained in Florida

On Dec. 22, 2007, Fred Davidson was ordained an elder. He and his wife, Sandy, serve in the Ocala, Florida, congregation.

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Receptionist, Administrative Assistant and Four ABC Students Hired

Ina McLemore, a deaconess and 2007 ABC graduate, took on the job of home office receptionist the week of Jan. 22. Besides answering phones, this job involves work with mail processing and personal correspondence areas. She will also be handling the catering of meals for major meetings in the home office.

She replaces Wendy Lovelady, who will now be administrative assistant to Larry Salyer, Media and Communications Services operation manager.

The Media area is also hiring four ABC students part-time. Jim Springer and Devon McCaulley are working in the mailing area, and Michael Ball is assisting Clint Porter in the video area. Karen Claunch is working in the mail processing data entry area.

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Singles' Web Site Changing

The UCG Singles' Web site will now require pastors to approve anyone wishing to register on the site.

Many singles want to follow the scriptural advice of marrying someone in the faith. The UCG Singles' Web site was established five years ago to help singles meet other singles in the faith. Up to now the site has been open to anyone who wished to register. That policy has led to some problems such as singles corresponding with someone through the site, only to find out later that the person they are writing has never kept the Sabbath. In some cases, people who are still married or whose marriage is considered binding by the Church have registered on the site, in essence declaring themselves "available" to other singles. These things led to the policy change.

Beginning immediately, we will announce the policy change on the site and begin asking people to register on the new version of the site. Both sites will be functional for a few weeks to allow registered users to copy over their short biography, photo and list of interests. They may also use the same login and password on the new site. However, before they will be placed on the e-list for the new site (the means by which they can communicate with other singles), they will be required to state their church area and pastor. The site will then generate an e-mail to the pastor, asking him to approve the registration.

—Ken Treybig

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Feast Returns to Maui; to Be Restricted Site

The Feast in Hawaii for 2008 will return to the Maui Theatre in Lahaina. Members should not make flight reservations at this time. Maui will be a restricted site due to the expectation of registration exceeding the 700-person capacity of the Maui Theatre. Anybody is welcome to apply for Hawaii this year, but unfortunately there might be some people turned down.

—Charles Melear

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Portland Hosts Northwest Weekend and ABC Seminar

This year Portland, Oregon, was host to both the annual Northwest Weekend and an ABC Continuing Education seminar conducted by faculty members David Register and Gary Antion.

Northwest Weekend, more than 35 years old and traditionally a basketball weekend, has gradually expanded to include a formal teen dance, young adult dance, volleyball, basketball, cheer demonstrations, choral and ensemble music, along with seminars for teens, parents and young adults. Skiing at Mt. Hood has also been added when weather permits.

The weekend, held annually during the school winter break, draws teens and adults from all the Northwestern states, northern California and the western Canadian provinces, along with guests from other parts of the country.

The weekend began with Sabbath morning interactive studies for teens followed by afternoon services and split sermons by Gary Antion about "Mary, Mother of Jesus" and David Register about "Historical Drift." The annual teen formal and young adult dances were held that evening.

Sunday, normally set aside for sports activities, centered on teen and adult basketball, volleyball and a preteen/teen cheer demonstration.

ABC Continuing Education seminars filled both Monday and Tuesday. The 157 attendees ranged from preteen to late 70s. They heard Mr. Antion give two Bible study based sessions—"The Book of 2 Peter" and "The Miraculous Book of Jonah." Mr. Register made presentations on "Winning the Battle in Our Postmodern Culture" and "What in the World Are God the Father and Jesus Christ Doing Now?"

Both presenters were pleased with the attendance and consideration is being given to whether the ABC Seminar might become a regular part of the annual Northwest Weekend calendar of events.

—Daniel Graham

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Southeast Regional Prom Set for March 8

The Atlanta, Georgia, area congregations will be hosting the ninth annual Southeast Regional Prom on the evening of March 8 in the Grand Ballroom of the Gainesville Civic Center in Gainesville, Georgia. This year's theme is "Drifting on a Memory."

Sabbath services will be in the same hall beginning at 2:30 p.m. followed by the formal/semiformal dance for those 13 through young adult starting around 8 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend the dance as well. Light snacks, a dessert buffet and beverages will be available.

Discounted tickets are available in advance at $20 per person with a maximum charge of $40 per family. Reservations are requested by Feb. 29 to help with the planning. Please send payment to Robert McCurdy, 368 Shadow Brooke Cir., Loganville, GA 30052, made out to "UCG–Atlanta."

Additional information about motels, seminars, senior recognition and directions will be available on the Web at www.ucgatlanta.org or call Bruce Gore at (678) 376-0543.

—Bruce Gore

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Register if You're Planning to Attend Pittsburgh's 50th

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, congregation is continuing to develop plans for its 50th anniversary celebration set for June 21. Registration and detailed information are at www.ucgnet.org/pittsburgh/50.

It's very important that you register if you plan to attend, so all the arrangements can be finalized. We're also in need of photographs and other memorabilia (which, of course, we will return to you) and additional information about the development of the congregation over the years.

If you would like to contribute to the documentation of our history, you can contact Bill and Myrna Miller at millerwam@yahoo.com or by mail at 120 Dobson Rd., Mars, PA 16046.

If you don't have Internet access, you can register and request detailed information about the Sabbath service location, banquet, etc., by telephoning the Millers at (412) 523-1934.

—Don Henson

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Summer Jordan/Israel Youth Corps Project Plans

As announced in the November 2007 United News, a six-week Youth Corps project is being planned for June 16 through Aug. 3 in Jordan and Israel. Eight to 10 qualified young adults will serve at youth camps in Jordan, tour Israel and participate in an archaeological dig in Israel for four weeks. The cost for each participant will be about $4,000. More details can be found at members.ucg.org/youthcorps/. Matthew and Mary Ann Bates are helping arrange the details for the Jordan part of the project, and here is their report (see "Jordan Project: Couple Teaching in Amman" for more on their current project):

For United Youth Corps, we are helping to coordinate the details for two summer camps in 2008. A few weeks ago we visited the Young Muslim Women’s Association Centre for Special Education. The center educates young people with mental handicaps from ages 5 to 30. The director of the camp was very excited to discuss ideas for creating a special week of art, drama, exposure to English and field trips for the older, more independent students.

The enormous smiles that followed us as we admired the students’ weaving, woodwork and pottery make us anticipate a very rewarding experience for next summer’s volunteers.

The second camp benefits a kindergarten in southern Jordan, in the village of Al Rajif, near Ma’an. Amman Baccalaureate School sponsors this kindergarten in one of Jordan’s impoverished rural areas, where public programs do not provide for early childhood education.

For these children, we are planning a weeklong day camp filled with sports, arts, handicrafts and English games. Something as simple as playing with paints or beautifying a wall with a mural will be an exciting new learning activity for these children.

It has been very encouraging to meet with the individuals involved and to project what our volunteers will be able to accomplish here next summer.

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Calendar of Events

Feb. 12-13: U.S., Canadian and Caribbean Festival coordinator meetings, Dallas, Texas.

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. 16-17: Combined services and special family weekend activities, Wooster, Ohio.

Feb. 26-27: Special Council meeting on strategic planning, San Antonio, Texas.

Feb. 29-March 5: Council of Elders' meeting, San Antonio, Texas.

March 8: Southeast Regional Prom, Gainesville, Georgia (www.ucgatlanta.org).

March 11-19: Second round of current Pastoral Training Class, home office.

March 22-23: Families for God weekend, Minneapolis, Minnesota (www.ucgstp.org/FamiliesForGod).

March 23-25: Southwest Region ministerial conference, Los Angeles, California.

March 29: South Central Regional Teen Formal, Dallas, Texas (www.ucg-dallas.org/teenformal).

April 16-25: Greece Educational Spring Holy Day Tour, (800) 858-6999.

May 2-4: 11th Annual Spokane Women's Educational Weekend, Spokane, Washington; theme: "Women of Valor."

May 18-19: GCE annual meeting.

May 21-22: Council of Elders' meeting, Mason, Ohio.

June 21: Pittsburgh 50th, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (www.ucgnet.org/pittsburgh/50).

Aug. 12-14: Council of Elders' meeting, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Please send calendar items to mike_bennett@ucg.org.

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What's New on the Web?

Booklet in Audio Format.
The following booklet is now available in MP3 audio format: The Road to Eternal Life. Visit www.ucg.org/booklets/ to access the audio Web page link.

United Youth Corps.
Check out the 2008 United Youth Corps locations and download applications at members.ucg.org/youthcorps/.

New Feast Web site.
Visit feast.ucg.org to get up-to-date Feast planning information.

About Our Father's Business.
Recent updates on United Youth Corps; "Prayer, Preparation and Pastors"; ABC; interviews about Ghana, East Africa, Dominican Republic and Cuba; etc.
members.ucg.org/fathersbusiness

Featured Link

UCG Council Meeting Reports and Chairman's Commentaries.
members.ucg.org/council/reports/

If you have questions or comments, please contact: webmaster@ucg.org