SABBATH ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS 

United Church of God, an International Association

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

SABBATH, NOVEMBER 16, 2019

Youngstown – 1 p.m.                Wheeling – 2:30 p.m. 

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

Greetings brethren,

America’s best day of the year is headed our way in a couple of weeks—Thanksgiving.

But Thanksgiving is considered by some a dinosaur holiday when viewed through the myopic perspective of the bulk of our selfish, secular nation. Would that it wasn’t so!

Secularism has poisoned the national spirit, eroding the already weakened morality of this great “land of the free.” Even the small vestige of biblical morality is fast turning invisible to most Americans.

Let’s separate our thinking from that morass, and let us teach this to our children… “Where there is no revelation [called vision in the King James translation], the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law,” (Prov. 29:18). The world doesn’t understand God’s law—most of the religious ones erroneously think it was done away when Christ died on the stake of crucifixion. But we in God’s Church do understand and see what God is doing in the world today and in the coming world tomorrow!

Let’s help our young ones to see and understand that God is going to deal just judgement to our nation, plus all the other nations descended from the ancient tribes of Israel—and ultimately all the rest of the nations as well: 

“Therefore the Lord said

‘Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden’” (Isaiah 29:13-14).

The dishonoring of God by our modern society has serious consequences. Mankind must learn to reject the way of sin and consciously choose God’s way of righteousness and justice for all. And that is exactly the lesson Christ has taught over the many years to the brethren of the true, Church of God. We know His way—and therefore, that wisdom and understanding (see v. 14) is obvious to us. The way of truth will not perish, but we must continuously choose to be a part of it!

The good news of that passage is the “marvelous work” that God has been and is still doing through His people of preaching the true gospel of His Kingdom to the world as a witness. That work is our sacred duty and honor to do. As we note the moral contrast in our society, the ingratitude in the face of a national holiday that symbolizes gratefulness before God, let us continue to be about our Father’s business!

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

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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.

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1. CHURCH CIRCUIT SCHEDULE (may be subject to change)

November 16	Sabbath Services	Youngstown-1 PM; North Canton-2 PM*; Pittsburgh-10 AM; Wheeling-2:30 PM  *Sabbath Bible Study in North Canton before services at 12 Noon.
November 22	Bible Study Webcast	Webcast will begin at 7:30 p.m. at https://www.ucg.org/congregations/north-canton-oh/webcast.
November 23	Sabbath Services	Youngstown-11 AM; North Canton-2 PM (regular 4th Sabbath Potluck); Pittsburgh-2:30 PM; Wheeling-11 AM
November 30	Sabbath Services	Youngstown-1 PM; North Canton-2 PM; Pittsburgh-2:30 PM; Wheeling-11AM
December 7	Sabbath Services	Youngstown-1 PM; North Canton-2 PM; Pittsburgh-2:30 PM; Wheeling-10AM

 

2. LOCAL PRAYER REQUESTS: 

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

• James Guy (Youngtown) – After being hospitalized for a severe E-coli infection James is now home, however he is still having setbacks. He has contracted a Clostridium difficile infection (C. diff) which is caused by disruption to intestinal ecology (overgrowth of the wrong bacteria) from heavy antibiotic dosage and is very serious. Your continued prayers are appreciated.

ONGOING:

·         Marlene Ware (North Canton) – Still healing from a leg fracture. She is very pleased to be able to be back in her motorized wheelchair, but would appreciate your continued prayers, especially for a sore on her leg that is slow to heal.

• Jenny Luchitz (North Canton) – Recuperating from a severe throat infection from earlier this Fall. 
• Steve Richmond (Cambridge) –Continuing to fight liver and colon cancer.
• Todd Bickel (North Canton) –Continued challenges with high blood pressure and pain from bursitis.
• Marcia Wehman (Pittsburgh) – Recovering from a fractured eye socket from a fall at home.

3.     SABBATH BIBLE STUDY – This Sabbath- November 16, 2019

Bible study will be presented by John Miller at 12 Noon, with services at 2PM. Please bring a pack lunch and enjoy the fellowship before services.

4.     FRIDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY – November 22, 2019 – 7:30 PM

The next webcast Bible Study will be on November 22nd at the usual 7:30 p.m. time at https://www.ucg.org/congregations/north-canton-oh/webcast.

5.     POST-FEAST PHOTOS AND POTLUCK – Sabbath, November 23, 2019

Along with our regularly scheduled 4th Sabbath potluck we will have a display of this year’s Feast photos. Please bring your favorite Thanksgiving-themed dish, casserole, side, or dessert. 

Photos should be given to Estachia Rodgers on a USB drive. If you wish to email them, please see her for the necessary details.

6.     HANDEL’S “MESSIAH” – PERFORMANCE IN CANTON – December 1, 2019

One of the local churches in Canton is hosting a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” during which the audience is welcome to join in. If you are interested, this is a free public event and will begin at 6:30 PM on Sunday December 1, 2019. The location is 627 McKinley Ave., NW Canton, Ohio 44702. 

For more details please see Amanda Miller or visit this link: https://tinyurl.com/y5m8r788 

7.     WOMEN’S ENRICHMENT WEEKEND – CLEVELAND – April 24-26, 2020

The ladies of the Cleveland UCG congregation will be hosting a women’s enrichment weekend this coming spring, April 24-26, 2020. 

The theme for the weekend is “The Secret Garden, Stepping Stones to Spiritual Growth”.

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ,” 2 Peter 3:18.

The growth of God’s family began in the garden and it will come to full fruition in a garden. Let’s explore how we can best play our part in this garden to garden work.

To register (deadline is March 7th), and for additional information, please visit: http://women.ucg.org/enrichment-weekends/cleveland-ohio-2020

8.     UNITED YOUTH CAMP (UYC) DATES FOR 2020

For those planning in advance, below are the complete UYC dates for 2020:

Camp Cotubic—June 21-June 28 (staff June 20)

Camp Pinecrest—June 28-July 5 (staff June 28)

Camp Hye Sierra—June 28-July 5 (staff June 26)

Northwest Camp—July 19-July 26 (staff July 18)

Camp Woodland—July 24-July 31 (staff July 23)

Winter Camp—late December

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