United Church of God

Announcement Bulletin for August 29, 2020

You are here

A Congregation of the United Church of God

Announcement Bulletin for August 29, 2020

Downloads

Downloads

Announcement Bulletin for August 29, 2020

×

SABBATH ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS

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

United Church of God, an International Association

August 29, 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 Belmont Gymnasium    

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

NEXT FEW WEEKS

(may be subject to change)

Sabbath, September 5

North Canton: 2:00 PM – Gateway Event Center

Youngstown: 2:00 PM – Holiday Inn Express, Youngstown W.

Pittsburgh: 2:00 PM – Deer Creek Church

Wheeling: 10:30 AM – Belmont Gymnasium

Friday, September 11

Friday night Bible study webcast – 7:30 PM (EDT) – Mr. Randy Stiver

https://www.ucg.org/congregations/north-canton-oh/webcast

Sabbath, September 12

North Canton: 2:00 PM – Gateway Event Center

Youngstown: 2:00 PM – Holiday Inn Express, Youngstown W.

Pittsburgh: 2:00 PM – Deer Creek Church

Wheeling: 10:30 AM – Country Day School Gymnasium

Feast of Trumpets,

September 19

North Canton: 2:00 PM – Gateway Event Center

Youngstown: TBA

Pittsburgh: 2:00 PM – Deer Creek Church

Wheeling: 10:30 AM – Country Day School Gymnasium

 

---------

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.

---------

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!)

Update:

  • Steve Richmond (Cambridge) – His ongoing cancer has not abated. The doctors are planning to try one or two additional treatments in the next two or three weeks. Steve's longer range plan is to move to his daughter's home near Toledo. Please remember him in your prayers especially in the weeks ahead. 

On-going:

  • Chuck Anderson (North Canton) – Recovering at home from a multiple bypass heart surgery. Specific prayers for healing of pancreas requested. 
  • Rose Szymkowiak (North Canton) – Lyme Disease diagnosis. 
  • COVID-19 – Please keep the health of God’s people in your prayers, 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 – Keep Feast of Tabernacles planning in UCG and the greater Church of God in your prayers. The complications of the coronavirus emergency make it challenging for Feast coordinators and others planning Feast details.
  • Cancelled Feast Plans – Remember our brethren in Europe, Asia, parts of Africa, Australia, Canada and other places where Feast gatherings are prohibited because of COVID-19 lockdowns and regulations. Please keep them in your prayers for encouragement and joy despite the challenges of distance.

2.      FALL HOLY DAY SCHEDULE

The Fall Holy Days are rapidly approaching. Below are the dates and times at present, they will be updated as we get closer and as details emerge.

Feast of Trumpets – Sabbath, Sept. 19, 2020:

  • North Canton – 2 PM, Gateway Event Center
  • Youngstown – TBA
  • Pittsburgh – 2 PM, Deer Creek Church
  • Wheeling – 10:30 AM, Country Day School Gymnasium

Day of Atonement – Monday, Sept. 28, 2020:

  • North Canton – 2 PM, Gateway Event Center
  • Youngstown – TBA
  • Pittsburgh – 2 PM, Deer Creek Church
  • Wheeling – 1 PM, Belmont Gymnasium

Feast of Tabernacles – Sabbath, Oct. 3 – Friday, Oct. 9; Last Great Day, Sabbath, Oct. 10:

  • Many will be traveling to specific Festival locations, some few will be staying home. Please pray for safe journeying and meeting for those traveling, and encouragement and joy for those staying at home.

First local Sabbath service after the Feast at our regular locations will be on October 24, 2020.

3.      REMINDER : OHIO AMISH COUNTRY FEAST SITE – BERLIN, OH – 2020

The United Church of God is sponsoring a satellite feast site in Berlin, Ohio in the heart of Ohio Amish Country. Nestled in the pastoral hills of northeast Ohio, Berlin is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world that is usually overbooked during the time off the Feast of Tabernacles because it is the middle of fall foliage. This year due to COVID-19 cancelations, space is available at discounted prices for us to celebrate in a truly millennial setting.

Our primary hotel is the Berlin Grande with overflow to other participating hotels. Rooms are $119 per night with breakfast. Services will be held at the nearby Amish Country Theater, which normally seats 650 people allowing for social distancing. The COVID-19 case load in Holmes County is low with only 338 confirmed cases to date. Restaurants and area attractions are open and operational.

Reservations must be made before September 4th by calling the Berlin Grande at 877-652-4997. The conference code is “United Church of God.” Rooms are available for October 2 arrival and October 11th departure. Email your registration information for the Berlin site to Debbie Kuhns at debbiekuhns51@gmail.com and provide the names and ages of those attending along with any special needs or areas in which you are willing to serve. United Church of God members should also register as attending “US/Canada Satellite Sites 2020”. Address other questions to the Berlin Feast Site hotline at 330-275-3701.

4.      DEATH OF ELSIE HOOSER

On Friday, August 21st, my dearly beloved wife Elsie went to sleep until the resurrection. On behalf of my three children and the rest of the family, I want to thank all of you who have prayed for Elsie and me during the past few years. Over the years, we had prayed that when our lives ended, the death would be peaceful and dignified without great suffering. God did indeed grant Elsie that blessing. And our daughter Amy and I were with her the moment she died.

As the Scripture says, "The righteous is taken away from the evil to come" (Isaiah 57:1). In the last few years, we've been heartsick about the growing percentage of people who have rejected the Bible and embrace all kinds of lies and evils. So I'm glad Elsie won't have to see any more terrible happenings.

Elsie and I met at the Feast of Tabernacles at Big Sandy in 1962. I quickly introduced myself to her because she was the prettiest woman there, but soon was quite inspired by her sincere godly character and sweet personality. Then we got married in 1966, two days after my graduation from AC at Big Sandy. Our honeymoon was driving from Big Sandy to Akron, Ohio, to work as a ministerial trainee and we served together in the ministry ever since. She was naturally somewhat shy but she was a good sport about being a minister's wife. We were blessed with three children and today all three and their spouses are in the United Church of God.

God has blessed us in countless ways including long lives. Elsie was almost 81. But the greatest blessing is knowing that God's people will eventually be healed of every health problem and we will be together forever in God's promised land. Again, thank you for your prayers.                        -- Don Hooser, elder, Dallas, Texas

5.      CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE REPORT

California wildfires are affecting our brethren in Northern California. With over a million acres burned and over 600 separate wildfires burning, it is hard to imagine that we are now also experiencing the 2nd and 3rd largest wildfires in California history--having gone through in recent years what seems like an annual nightmare of destruction and uncertainty. Most fires were started by dry lightning strikes--over 12,000 in a week. The fires have claimed seven lives at last count and thousands of structures have been destroyed.

Some members have evacuated, while others are near evacuation and still others suffer from some of the worst air pollution in the world at the present time. We have established alternatives where members can evacuate and stay with other members and everyone is pulling together. We had planned to restart in-person, outdoor church services last Sabbath (we haven't had in-person church services since March 7), but the poor air quality delayed our start and the situation may cancel this week's services as well. We continue to be patient and thankful for God's protection.

Visibility is now very low (and it has been for a week), but when the fires first started you could see the smoke going up and then heading toward you. I have attached a photo from my front porch where I watched a smoke plume rise from a new blaze.                                                  

-- Tim Pebworth, pastor, San Francisco Bay Area, California

---------

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:

UCG Updates and Hymn links:

PHONE HOOK-UP to Home Office Webcasts

Phone hook-up to the webcast services from Cincinnati (2:30PM on Sabbaths) directions:

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

Calling Directions:

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.

-END-