SABBATH ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS 

United Church of God, an International Association

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

SABBATH, AUGUST 24, 2019

Youngstown –11 a.m.              Wheeling – 2:30 p.m.

North Canton – 2 p.m.                        Pittsburgh – 10:00 p.m. 

Greetings brethren,

UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES

Do you have an understanding of the times in which we live? Such wisdom is vital because we live in spiritually—and also physically dangerous times.

Our Master and Savior Jesus Christ, the spiritual Head of God’s true church commands us to “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36). 

But we are mere humans. What do we watch for? How do we watch?

A critical clue comes from the time of King David as he re-consolidated the tribes of Israel into a single nation. All the various tribes had soldiers, farmers, wise men and such. But the tribe of Issachar had a culture of keen, watchful insight… “of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chron. 12:32).

What did vital knowledge did the Issacharites understand? What key things did they watch for to gather that understanding? 

Human nature. They saw that Saul’s kingship had failed because he never learned to rise above his human nature. He was a brave man, but couldn’t or didn’t learn to control his naturally selfish nature (see Jer. 17:9). That self-focus retarded his ability to see the big picture of what God was doing with His nation Israel. But David worked to control his human nature precisely because he understood it nefarious inclinations.

Divine nature. How does God think and work with His children we call mankind. That God is fully and truly good seemed to escape the mental grasp of Saul. But the sons of Issachar must have learned that God works in the affairs of men… “Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men” (Psalms 66:5). 

Whether David wrote that Psalm is not known, but he could certainly see God working among the 12 tribes of Israel to forge them back into a solid nation. Seeing God’s hand in the works of man, specifically in Israel was a vital part of the Issacharites’ understanding of those times.

We live even more frightful and incredible times—nearing the end of this age of history. Do we see the tragedy of man’s selfish ways? Do we understand the times that will bring the second coming of our Savior? Learn lessons from the men of Issachar—understand the tragedy of human nature. And even more vital—learn to see God’s hand in history, prophecy being fulfilled, and see that the Kingdom of God is coming soon!

Keep the true faith—and spread it,
Randy Stiver, Pastor 

Pastor’s contact information:  PO Box 1474, Massillon, OH  44648.  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). For emails regarding scheduling (church events, visits or counseling), please copy my wife Linda ldstiver@gmail.com. Announcements should be sent to my email and copied to our daughter Amanda at anstiver@gmail.com as she helps process them each week.

1. Church Circuit Schedule 

August 24	Sabbath services	Youngstown – 11 a.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Pittsburgh – 10 a.m.; Wheeling – 2:30 p.m.
August 31	Sabbath services	Youngstown – 1 p.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Pittsburgh – 2:30 p.m.; Wheeling – 10 a.m.
Sept. 7	Sabbath services	Youngstown – 11 a.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Pittsburgh - 2:30 p.m.; Wheeling - 10 a.m.
Sept. 13	Bible Study webcast	7:30 p.m. EDT  –  Title to be announced  https://www.ucg.org/congregations/north-canton-oh/webcast
Sept. 14	Sabbath services	Youngstown – 1 p.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Pittsburgh 2:30 p.m.; Wheeling - 10 a.m.

 

LOCAL PRAYER REQUESTS: 

• Ian Healey (grandson of Louis & Carol Petit in NC) – awaiting a kidney donor.
• Steve Richmond (Cambridge) – Fighting liver and colon cancer. 
• Todd Bickel (North Canton) – Bursitis and high blood pressure.
• Dave Ritter (North Canton) – Upcoming prostate surgery.
• Marcia Wehman (Pittsburgh) – Update from her daughter Pat: Thank you kindly for your prayers, cards, flowers, anointing, and visitors.  My mom has been moved to a rehab facility to help her gain some strength before returning home.  At this time the facial surgeon is not going to do surgery on her eye bones.  God spared her eyesight in the eye in which she suffered bone fractures.  My two sisters (Ruth and Cindy) and I are preparing for her homecoming with realization that there is no such thing as a fountain of youth since humans are mortal with a limited shelf life.

2.    FRIDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY – 

We will have only one Bible Study webcast in in September on Friday the 13th at the usual 7:30 p.m. 

3.    SPOKESMAN CLUB  - September 8 

The next meeting of our local, four-church Spokesman Club will be Sunday morning, September 8 at the YWCA in Steubenville, OH. For those of you men who haven’t yet gotten involved for Spokesman Club, this could be your first meeting!  Please talk to Mr. Stiver, Freeman Kuhns, Keith Wilson or Jim Kocher to get involved in the premiere personal growth and leadership training program in God’s true Church from 1960 to 2019!

4.    MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DALE HARMAN – SABBATH, SEPTEMBER 14

The memorial service for Dale will take place on the Sabbath of September 14 after services at the North Canton church hall. We have invited our COGWA brethren to join us for the service and refreshments afterward. The memorial will begin at 5:30 p.m. following a slightly shorter church service (about 90 minutes). Debbie Kuhns is coordinating refreshments for afterward.

5.    COUNCIL OF ELDERS MEETING – update

The COE accomplished a long list of agenda items at last week’s Council meeting thanks in great part to Chairman Don Ward’s timely prompting. Mr. Stiver will provide a verbal review in North Canton & Youngstown this Sabbath, and in Wheeling & Pittsburgh on the Sabbath of September 7th since next week is a fourth Sabbath of August.

6.    NORTH CANTON CHURCH OUTING:  CANAL BOAT TOUR – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Come join us on Sunday, September 15 at Canal Fulton to take the Canal Boat Tour! The tour includes: a short film on the history and the boat ride (pulled by horses) with a tour guide. The boat has a roof and is shaded and cool on the water. It goes 3 miles per hour and is an activity young and old can enjoy, with plenty of assistance getting on this very stable boat! The tour begins at 2:00 PM and lasts about an hour. 

Prices are $8 for Seniors (60+), $9 for Adults, $5 for kids and, Free for kids under 5 years old. Afterwards, for those interested, we can stop at the Cherry Street Creamery across the street for some ice cream. 

In addition, about 8 minutes away at Clay’s Park Resort is the Yankee Peddler Festival (historical reenactments, entertainment, food and artisans), open that Sunday from 10:30 AM to 6 PM. If you want to extend your day, arrive early and see the festival, then join everyone for the Canal Boat Tour. Prices for the festival are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $3 for kids, and free for kids under 5. See their website for more information: https://www.yankeepeddlerfestival.com/tickets

The address for the Canal Boat: 125 Tuscarawas St NW, Canal Fulton, OH 44614

Address for the Yankee Peddler Festival: 13190 Patterson Street NW, North Lawrence, Ohio 44666

If you are interested please contact Mark or Amanda Miller (amandamiller52216@gmail.com).

7.    UPCOMING FALL HOLYDAY DETAILS 

·        Feast of Trumpets on September 30th at Global Gateway for North Canton & Youngstown

·        Day of Atonement on Wednesday, October 9 at Holiday Inn Express—Akron South, 898 Arlington Ridge East, Akron, Ohio

·        Meeting times will be finalized later. 

If you still have any questions about the Feast of Tabernacles, please check with your local Feast advisors:  Freeman Kuhns & Mark Miller in North Canton; Jimmy Guy in Youngstown; Nathan Courtney in Pittsburgh, and Jim Kocher in Wheeling. 

8.    LOCAL BIBLE READING PROGRAM – Read Isaiah by the Feast

Starting with our recent Bible Study webcast entitled, “Bible Biography – Isaiah the Prophet” (still available to view on the North Canton website), here is our latest set of chapter summaries to go along with your Bible reading leading up to the Feast of Tabernacles. Each week we’ll post the chapter summaries for the upcoming week’s reading assignments. If you have Bible Study questions, please send them to Mr. Stiver.

ISAIAH Bible Reading Project leading up to the Feast of Tabernacles            

Human author: Isaiah, the son of Amoz.  Written: approx. 740-698 B.C.           

DATES                                  WEEK               CHAPTERS

July 28-Aug. 3            --Week 1            --1-6

August 4-10               --Week 2            --7-13

August 11-17             --Week 3             --14-20

August 18-24             --Week 4            --21-27

August 25-31             --Week 5            --28-34

September 1-7          --Week 6            --35-41

September 8-14        --Week 7            --42-48

September 15-21      --Week 8            --49-55

September 22-28      --Week 9            --56-59

Sept. 29-Oct. 5          --Week 10          --60-63

October 6-12             --Week 11          --64-66

ISAIAH CHAPTER SUMMARIES  

(Each week we’ll publish a brief chapters summaries by Mr. Stiver.)

ISAIAH 28 – When a prophecy begins with “Woe” it’s not foretelling happy news! The “drunkards of Ephraim” (v. 1-7) is not just about the English people who are the descendants of the tribe of Ephraim. Jereboam, the first king of the House of Israel (the 10 tribes in the northern part the nation) was an Ephraimite. Therefore, this chapter address the drug drunkenness (alcohol and other drugs) of all the nations descended from the 10 Tribes—especially including England and the USA. Drunkenness via alcohol or other drugs is a great sin that must be repented of and overcome! Verses 9-13 is a key to Bible study and understanding: piece by piece, line by line… we learn God’s Word and then His incredible plan of salvation!  Verses 14-15 – all Israel and all nations have presently a “covenant with death” in that they reject the true and only God of the Bible.  Verses16-22—is a Millennial prophecy of Christ’s return and Millennial rule. Verses 23-29 – is the wisdom of farming instructed by God.

ISAIAH 29 – V. 1-8 – Prophecy of the Great Tribulation. “Ariel” = alter hearth, and is a prophetic reference to Jerusalem and the worldwide warfare centered there. Afterward it will seem like a night vision (v. 7). Verses 9-16 address the spiritual blindness of sinfulness. People think they just talk about God without obedience (v. 13), but note the millennial prophecy in v. 14. Verses 17-24 – Millennial prophecy of humanity learning true wisdom from God’s Word and way of life!

ISAIAH 30 – V. 1-7 – “Rebellious children” (Hezekiah’s foolish advisors) foolishly advise going to Egypt (as a type of this present, evil world) to gain wisdom. “Rahab-Hem-Shebeth” is another name for Egypt. V. 8-17 – “Rebellious people” will even hear the law of God (v. 9). You can run, but you can’t hide from God’s judgment (v. 16-17). Versus 18-24 – a famous Millennial prophecy of good teachers teaching God’s way (“this is the way, walk in it”). Verses 25-26 – Man’s rebellion and God powerful rebuke in the time of the end. Verses 27-33 – a prophecy of Great Tribulation judgment (punishment) on Assyria and other nations allied with it. However, v. 26 is magnificent interlude prophecy about when peace does come in the Millennium and all the world comes to keep God’s Feast!

ISAIAH 31 – V. 1-3 – Woe to those who go down to Egypt (a type of this present, evil world) for help…, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel. Verses 4-9 – God will intervene in the world war of the Great Tribulation. Return to God and throw away all false religious beliefs. The world’s power typified by Assyria and all allied with her will fall. The final battle will be at Jerusalem (the vortex of this world) when Christ returns.

ISAIAH 32 – V. 1-8 – Christ’s millennial reign of righteousness. Sin will be seen for the evil it is (v. 5-8). Verses 9-15 – Woe to the “complacent women” (the principle also applies to men) who are at their ease and don’t take God’s way seriously. Change will come after Christ’s return when, “…the Spirit is poured upon us…” Verses 16-20 – When Christ returns “justice will dwell in the wilderness” and peace will be the result.

ISAIAH 33 – V. 1-4 – Conditions in the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord just prior to Christ’s return. Verses 5-6 are a Millennial prophecy of the times of true wisdom and stability. Verses 7-9 – an endtime prophecy when “the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly” (indicating that some few do try to seek peace then). Verses 10-13 – The return of Christ when mankind will be forced to acknowledge God’s might! Verses 14-16 – the words of a pilgrim song (typically sung as faithful Israelites came to Jerusalem for God’s feast days, compare with Psalm 15). Verses 17-19 – This describes the second coming of Jesus Christ in all His great, spiritual beauty. Verses 20-24 – Millennial Feast-keeping in Jerusalem when all recognize Christ as their Judge, Lawgiver and King.

ISAIAH 34 – V. 1-3 – address the Great Tribulation when Christ directly intervenes in world events. Verse 4 speaks of God’s indignation in the Day of the Lord near the end of the 3 ½ year Great Tribulation. Verses 5-17 describes God’s judgment on the armies of the nations (typified by Edom here), and a part of Edom’s territory will become an uninhabited wasteland as a testament to man’s rebellious way of sin. In verse 11 the words “confusion” and 
“emptiness” are rendered “without form and void” in Genesis 1:2. By the end of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord mankind’s rule under Satan’s evil deceptions will have come to its end – except for a short reoccurrence at the very end of the Millennium (see Rev. 20:7-10). 

- end-