SABBATH ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS

North Canton & Youngstown, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; Wheeling, WV Congregations

United Church of God, an International Association

 August 1, 2020

North Canton: 2:00 PM at Gateway Event Center

Youngstown: 2:00 PM at Holiday Inn

Pittsburgh: 2:00 PM at Deer Creek Church

Wheeling: 10:30 AM at Wheeling Country Day School Gymnasium

 

2:00 p.m. local webcast -> https://www.ucg.org/congregations/north-canton-oh/webcast 

NEXT TWO WEEKS

(may be subject to change)

Friday, August 7	Friday night Bible study webcast – 7:30 PM (EDT) – Mr. Randy Stiver https://www.ucg.org/congregations/north-canton-oh/webcast
Sabbath, August 8	North Canton: 2:00 PM – Gateway Event Center Youngstown: 2:00 PM – Holiday Inn Express, Youngstown W.
Sabbath, August 15	North Canton: 2:00 PM – Gateway Event Center Youngstown: 2:00 PM – Holiday Inn Express, Youngstown W.

 

*For Pittsburgh and Wheeling times, please see updates from Mr. Keith Wilson

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Pastor’s contact information:  2206 Eastwood Ave. NE, Massillon, OH 44646. Home phone: 330-809-0566, Cell phone: 740-739-7248

Email addresses: randy_stiver@ucg.org  or rpstiver@gmail.com (both come to the same location). 

Scheduling: To my email for church events, visits or counseling, and please copy my wife Linda ldstiver@gmail.com. 

Announcements: Please send to my email and copy to Amanda Stiver at anstiver@gmail.com as she helps process them each week.

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1.       LOCAL PRAYER REQUESTS and UPDATES

(If you notice that your prayer request needs updating, please drop us an email or a call with an update. Thank you!)

• COVID-19 – Please keep the health of God’s people in your prayers, locally and around the world, in UCG and the greater Church of God, especially those who have come down with COVID-19. Please also remember those whose livelihoods have been affected by the economic impact of the outbreak. 
• Feast Planning – Please keep Feast of Tabernacles planning in UCG and the greater Church of God in your prayers. The complications of the coronavirus emergency levels, shut-downs, and partial shut-downs make it challenging for Feast coordinators and others planning Feast details.

Ongoing:

• Joe Szymkowiak (North Canton) – Prayers requested for healing of a Bell’s palsy condition which causes extreme tightening of the facial muscles.
• Linda Ritter (North Canton) – Linda would appreciate your continued prayers for overall health improvement. 
• Steve Richmond (Cambridge) – Steve continues to battle cancer, please keep him in your prayers.

2.      PITTSBURGH – WEDDING AT DEER CREEK HALL THIS SABBATH

The staff at the Deer Creek Church have let us know that there will be a wedding in the sanctuary at the hall this Sabbath, August 1. The wedding is planned for 4 PM and they will have about 12 guests. They have been told that we will also be there and to park away from our side of the building. This won’t affect where we meet, and it shouldn’t cause any problems for us, just a little extra noise and activity across the way. 

3.      DEATH OF DIANA CHEESMAN

Diana Cheesman, wife of elder Les Cheesman of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, congregation, died in her sleep in the pre-dawn hours of July 24, 2020, after a long battle with breast cancer. The cancer had spread to her lungs, and had been causing her some difficult breathing problems over several days prior to her death.

Les and Diana have been faithful servants in the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey area for several decades. Les will need our continued prayers and support going forward, as he has no other family members. Also, the entire Philadelphia congregation could use our prayers, as 2020 has been a difficult year for the congregation, which has now lost four members within the last 6 months.

-- Don McCoy, pastor

4.      THANK YOU NOTE FROM RHODA GABRIELE AND SHARON MARTELL

Here are a couple images of the lovely thank you note from Rhoda and Sharon in response to the care and concern of the brethren after the death of Jenny Luchitz:

-- NOTE: Please see attached PDF for photo images. -- 

5.      INTERNATIONAL MAIL SERVICE DISRUPTION

For U.S. congregations and individuals wanting to send cards and letters internationally, it is advisable to refer to the latest information published on the United States Post Office website, as they have suspended acceptance of mail for certain international destinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/

6.      UNITED YOUTH CAMPS – Teen Friday Night Bible Discussions

This Friday evening is the last in our series of six teen Bible discussions. Specific questions have been posted on the UYC site, so please take a look at them before the study begins. The password remains the same, but if you need it ask your pastor. The Bible Study video and Zoom discussion begin at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central or 7 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Mountain (pick your time). Log onto uyc.ucg.org at one of these two times this Friday evening, July 31.

-- Teen Camp Directors

7.      BOUNDARY WATERS ADVENTURE REPORT

A group of thirteen young adults and five adult staff experienced the Boundary Waters Adventure in Northern Minnesota from July 12-19. This Challenger Program provides young adults an opportunity to practice teamwork, initiative, and spiritual growth in a beautiful, wild setting. -- Participants ranged in age from 18 to 30, and came from all over the United States. Along with canoeing approximately fifty miles and camping in the wilderness, each young adult presented a sermonette or "trail talk," and took part in group discussions. Rain and wind presented particular challenges this year, but that made setting up camp in a spectacular setting all the more satisfying. -- This camp program was not cancelled because its participants were all adults and because, even without pandemic restrictions, only small groups are permitted in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. A number of young adults said this was one of the best experiences of their lives. Next year our Challenger camp will be available and plans are underway for another Boundary Waters Adventure in 2022.

-- Frank Dunkle

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SPECIAL RESOURCES FOR DURING THE COVID-19 SITUATION

GUIDELINES FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES

·        Several hymns will be played, but no hymns will be sung - except in our hearts.

·        Plan to arrive about 15 minutes before service start time.

·        Masks are mandatory for age 10 and above for Ohio. They are mandatory in PA for age 2 and above. In West Virginia masks are required for age 9 and up.

·        We will take attendance as you enter with three basic questions about your exposure to Covid-19.

·        An infrared, touchless thermometer will be used to check for fever if needed.

·        Ushers will seat you, if needed, to provide for the necessary 6-foot, social-distancing.

·        Family groups will be seated together.

·        There will be no food or drinks (personal water bottles are excepted).

·        Please remember to wipe down all surfaces touched when using the restroom (wipes are provided).

·        After services we will vacate the hall within 15 or so minutes, but we can visit outside. 

COVID-19 Links and Resources:

Ohio COVID-19 Risk Level Guidelines for the Public: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/OPHASM/COVID-19-Risk-Level-Guidelines-GP.pdf

National: https://www.coronavirus.gov/

Ohio: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/

Pennsylvania:https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

West Virginia: https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx

UCG Updates and Hymn links:

UCG home office: https://www.ucg.org/members/news/united-church-of-god-coronavirus-updates

UCG Hymnal recordings and other links: https://www.ucg.org/members/hymnal

PHONE HOOK-UP to Home Office Webcasts

If you need a phone hook-up to the webcast services from Cincinnati (2:30PM on Sabbaths) here are the directions:

Please call no earlier than 5 minutes before the service will begin. If the Home Office has not activated the meeting, the caller will be put on hold, and then asked to call again later.

Normal Calling Directions for Home Office Webcast:

For those who can pay for long distance calls or have an unlimited phone calling plan:

Call: 1-508-924-1634

No access code needed.

If you know someone who could use the phone hook-up number, but does not get the announcements by email, please call them and pass along the information! Thank you!

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