SABBATH ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS 

United Church of God, an International Association

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

SABBATH, JULY 6, 2019

Youngstown –1 p.m.                Pittsburgh – 2:30 p.m. (to be verified locally)

North Canton – 2 p.m.            Wheeling – 10 a.m.  (to be verified locally)

Greetings brethren,

Our journey west ended this week in southwestern Montana at the home of Linda’s brother and sister-in-law near the town of Victor. Part of this journey followed the Oregon Trail through Nebraska and into Wyoming. Part of it then traversed the trails of Lewis and Clark’s Expedition—in particular along the trail of one of the Expedition’s members, John Colter. He travelled through much of what is now Yellowstone National Park. Finally, we cruised along modern highways that basically followed parts of the Bozeman Trail into Montana.

Along with the Santé Fe and other trails that opened up the American southwest, these trails were pathways that inter-connected the extended territory God provided for the descendants of the Israelite tribe of Manasseh. 

As with especially the eastern half of Manasseh’s inheritance in ancient Israel, the modern homeland has included significant numbers of non-Israelite populations. History repeats itself, so ancient tribal proclivities often have modern counterparts. Judges chapters 11 and 12 record the historical battles of ancient Manasseh under the leadership of their judge Jephthah in the 1100’s B.C. when forced to go to war first against the army of the Ammonites, and then against the Israelite tribe of Ephraim (a sort of harbinger of America’s Revolutionary War). 

As part of the heritage of Joseph the favored son of Jacob, Manasseh along with Ephraim inherited a double blessing of territorial jurisdiction compared to the rest of the sons of Jacob/Israel. But God also promised eventual judgment on those descendants of Jacob if they persistently refused God’s revealed standard of conduct—based on His divine law. 

Sadly, our America has chosen in these end times to persistently and now systematically reject God’s way. Prophesied trouble is on the horizon, but after that—a wonderful future under the soon-coming leadership of Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God on earth. Godspeed that event and that great day!

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 Calendar 

July 6	Sabbath service	Youngstown – 1 p.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Pittsburgh - ??:??; Wheeling – ??
July 13	Sabbath service	Youngstown – 11 a.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Pittsburgh - ??; Wheeling - ??
July 20	Sabbath service	Pittsburgh – 10 a.m.;  Wheeling – 2:30 p.m.;  Youngstown – 1 p.m.;  North Canton – 2 p.m.;  North Canton Bible Study – 12 noon
July 26	Bible Study	7:30 p.m. EDT  –  Title to be announced  https://www.ucg.org/congregations/north-canton-oh/webcast

LOCAL PRAYER REQUESTS: (*new or updated) 

·        We have no new updates at this time, but please keep the brethren on our list in your prayers.

2.    THE NEXT NORTH CANTON SABBATH MORNING BIBLE STUDY – JULY 27 – AT 12 NOON

Until Daylight Savings Time changes back to standard time this fall, the third Sabbath morning of the month Bible Study will start at 12 noon at the Global Gateway hall. The study is planned to be webcasted.

3.    FRIDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY – SUMMER CHANGE (reminder)

Our regular Friday night Bible Studies will be only once-a-month on the Friday night before the 4th Sabbath of the month for July & August. On those evenings it will be webcasted at the usual time of 7:30 p.m.

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