SABBATH ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS 

United Church of God, an International Association

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

SABBATH, SEPTEMBER 28, 2019

Youngstown – 11 a.m.                     Wheeling – 10:00 a.m. 

North Canton – 2 p.m.                     Pittsburgh – 2:30 p.m.

Trumpets, Trumpets Everywhere…

A Sabbath commentary by Randy Stiver

One of my favorite pieces of music is English composer Jeremiah Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary.”

Not being an official music student, at least I know the music I like. I greatly admire the stirring, rolling, energizing peal of well-played trumpets.

Of course, I was slightly chagrined to find that Trumpet Voluntary was written to be played with the trumpet stop of a great pipe organ—and not specifically on a trumpet at all. Happily, many fine trumpeters in orchestras also play those notes on magnificent silver or brass trumpets.

The early trumpets--which God Himself immortalized in Scripture—were called shofar. They were actually ram’s horns. A sheep’s horn curls close to the head. The horns of a mature ram may have two or possibly three full curls. The extracted horns were heated in hot water or carefully steamed over a small fire and largely uncurled. If the warm, wet horn is then tied in place to dry, it will assume a new and perhaps more convenient shape—but the same, stirring sound remains.

In ancient Israel just after the Exodus Moses—as per God’s instructions in Numbers 10—had two magnificent, sliver trumpets made for critical communication in the movement of the tribes of Israel as they journeyed across the Wilderness of Sinai. Combinations of the sliver and the shofar trumpets were used in the nation of Israel to communicate warnings, call assemblies to worship God on His annual holydays and to signal various messages across the nation.

One of God’s primary holydays, the Feast of Trumpets, comes in early autumn literally heralding the upcoming Day of Atonement and shortly after, the Feast of Tabernacles. Each of those commanded assemblies carries profound meaning in picturing how God is offering salvation to all mankind in careful stages.

The Feast of Trumpets signals both the first and the soon-to-happen second coming of Jesus Christ to rule all the nations on earth. Christ will return at the sound of a great, angelic trumpet, which will also mark the literal resurrection of the dead to eternal life (read 1 Cor. 15:50-52 and 1 Thess. 4:16-18). In that moment those whom God has specially called to His way through the centuries—His true saints—will be resurrected from the dead (or changed if still physically living) to eternal life in the one and only Kingdom of God!

With so many divinely significant events tied up in the call of that instrument, God the Father and Jesus Christ must also love the stirring sound of well-played trumpets!

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 

September 28	Sabbath Services	Youngstown-11 AM; North Canton-2 PM; Pittsburgh-2:30 PM; Wheeling-10 AM
September 30	Feast of Trumpets	North Canton and Youngstown at Global Gateway-10:30 AM and 2:30 PM Pittsburgh and Wheeling at Chartiers Community Center-10:30 AM and 2:30 PM
October 5	Sabbath Services	Youngstown-1 PM; North Canton-2 PM; Pittsburgh-2:30 PM; Wheeling-10 AM
October 9	Day of Atonement	Services at 12 Noon at Holiday Inn Express Akron—South (see announcement below for address).
October 12	Sabbath	NO Sabbath Services in North Canton and Youngstown due to Feast timing.
Oct. 14-20, 21	Feast and LGD	Feast of Tabernacles (Oct. 14-20) and Last Great Day (Oct. 21)
October 26	Sabbath Services	Youngstown-11 AM; North Canton-2 PM; Pittsburgh-2:30 PM; Wheeling-2:30 PM
November 2	Sabbath Services	Youngstown-1 PM; North Canton-2 PM; Pittsburgh-2:30 PM; Wheeling-10 AM

 

LOCAL PRAYER REQUESTS: (have had no recent updates for most on the list, but please continue praying for them) 

·         Jenny Luchitz (North Canton) – In the hospital with a severe throat infection. 

·         Marlene Ware (North Canton) – Leg fracture recuperation and healing. Will be several months in a cast.

·         Ian Healey (grandson of Louis & Carol Petit in NC) – Awaiting a kidney donor. UPDATE: Despite health challenges, Ian is pursuing a job as well as his school work.

·         Steve Richmond (Cambridge) – Responding to treatment as he fights liver and colon cancer.

·         Todd Bickel (North Canton) – Continued challenges with high blood pressure, finding the right medication to control it, and, in addition, pain from bursitis.

·         Dave Ritter (North Canton) – Dave is continuing to improve and recover. He and Linda thank you for your cards and prayers!

·         Marcia Wehman (Pittsburgh) – Recovering from a fractured eye socket from a fall at home.

2.    SENIOR APPRECIATION SABBATH – THIS SABBATH - SEPTEMBER 28

We will be honoring our seniors 80 years and over during the potluck this Sabbath, September 28. Those seniors 80 and over do not need to bring any food or drink. All they need to bring is their appetite! Please come and join us as we recognize and enjoy the fellowship of our 80 and over senior members of the church.

Conversely, if you are under 80, please be sure to bring your usual generous potluck dishes to share! 

For additional information, please see Joe and Rose Szymkowiak.

3.    ASTRONOMY OUTING – THIS SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 28

The ACA Observatory in New Franklin (15 minutes from Global Gateway) is hosting a free star gazing event. On the evening of Saturday, September 28th at 7:30 PM they will be viewing three star clusters, the double star Albiero, and constellations--weather permitting.

The telescope is outdoors so we would like to take advantage of this event during the milder weather before the Feast of Tabernacles. Anyone interested in going is welcome to stop at Mark and Amanda Miller's home after the Sabbath potluck and before sunset, since they live nearby.

IF the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will plan to reschedule after the Feast.

Address for Astronomy Club of Akron – Observatory:Portage Lakes State Park, 5031 Manchester Rd, New Franklin, OH 44319.

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

4.    UPCOMING FALL HOLYDAY DETAILS (these are the times, locations and plans for North Canton & Youngstown combined):

·         Feast of Trumpets on September 30th at Global Gateway for North Canton & Youngstown (10:30 AM/2:30 PM). For those interested, a potluck is being planned for lunch between services on the Holy Day. Roasted meat and noodles will be provided. Please contribute a side dish and a dessert. Bottled iced tea or juice is also welcome. Coffee will be provided. Please see Debbie Kuhns with any questions.

·         Day of Atonement (North Canton and Youngstown, combined) on Wednesday, October 9 at Holiday Inn Express—Akron South, 898 Arlington Ridge East, Akron, Ohio 44312 (NOT at Fairlawn). Services will be held at 12 noon. This is God’s commanded annual fast day. If you have serious health issues or are on medication be sure to check with your medical professional.

NOTE: Times, locations, and details for Pittsburgh and Wheeling services will be announced locally. 

·         Feast of Tabernacles – If you still have any Feast related questions, 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. 

5.    LAKE JUNALUSKA FEAST ACTIVITIES: LAST CALL TO SIGN-UP!

If you are attending the Lake Junaluska Feast site:

Action is Needed for 3 Activities - Registration Due by September 30th (Trumpets)

1. Family Day Lunch - Want to enjoy lunch with the group before the fun family activities?  Sign up for BBQ/Hot Dog Lunch on the registration form.

2. Tuckasegee Train Excursion (with Open Air Gondola)- Sign up for this group train ride through the Great Smoky Mountains- lunch included. Limited to first 200 to Register (as of 9/26, there are only 25 seats left)

3. Senior Lunch (Age 60+) sign-up will also be available during the Feast

Sign Up For Activities Now:  https://forms.gle/HstkpjmZeKXEnbaB9

6.    NO LOCAL SERVICES ON OCTOBER 12th – Sabbath immediately before the Feast

Please make a note: there will be no local church services in North Canton or Youngstown on the Sabbath of October 12thdue to Feast travel and the proximity of opening night the next day. The webcast from the Home Office will be available online as usual at 2:30 p.m.

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

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 our local, 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: 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  

(Brief chapter summary by Mr. Stiver.)

ISAIAH 60 – V. 1-7, “Arise, shine” describes the resurrection of the saints who will rule under Christ during the Millennium. The various peoples of earth will come to worship the true God at the world capital of Jerusalem. V. 8-9 – “ships of Tarshish” here indicate trade and travel around the world. V. 10-18 – speak of the new millennial Jerusalem as the capital of the world. Gates always open indicates world peace in all aspects of human life under Christ. V. 19-22 – the prophecy of the New Jerusalem of the Millennium blends with the prophecies of the eternal New Jerusalem of Rev. 21-22.

ISAIAH 61 – V. 1-3 are considerably cited by Jesus in Luke 4:18-18 at the launch of His ministry. V. 4-5 prophecy of the world’s cities being rebuilt in the Millennium [as an aside, this means that in the cataclysmic destruction of the Great Tribulation the coastlines and major geography will remain fundamentally the same, and cities have always been by suitable geography, so many of the same sites will be reused]. V. 6-7 reveals that resurrected saints will serve as the priests and ministers of God then. V. 8-11 describe the coming marriage between Christ and the resurrected Church which is symbolized by Jerusalem (see Gal. 4:26 & Psa. 137:4-6). 

ISAIAH 62 – V. 1-5 – the theme of the divine marriage continues. V. 6-9 – God will set watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls who will constantly “make mention of the LORD.” V. 10 – The people will be encouraged to go to Jerusalem (where Christ’s throne on earth will be located) to worship God in truth. V. 11-12 – continues the beautiful prophecy of Jerusalem in the Millennium and beyond.

ISAIAH 63 – V. 1-6 – describes the second coming of Christ, v. 2 “apparel dipped in blood” (see Rev. 19:13) from the east (where Bozrah is relative to Jerusalem) to west (see Matt. 24:27). V. 7-14 – a summary history of God’s dealing with Israel. V. 15-19 – the prophet’s prayer of penitence toward God. Note the reference in v. 17 of the Tribes of Israel returning to God and to their historic homeland (at the beginning of the Millennium).

 

- end-