United News November - December 2020 Cover Page

United News: November - December 2020

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Welcome to the special November-December 2020 issue of United News, featuring Festival reports from Feast sites all over the world! Beginning on page 2, you can read about Feast experiences and unique ways brethren stayed connected and kept the Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day despite unusual circumstances that have characterized the year 2020.

The regular United News begins after the Feast photos, on page 17. Learn lessons from the book of Jonah in the Council Letter, written by Mario Seiglie. Media updates from Peter Eddington as well as an update on the construction of the Agua Viva school in Angola (written by Jorge de Campos) can be found on page 18. Announcements are on page 23. Local church news can be found on pages 26-27. Read about a women's enrichment weekend, a UYC camp and local outreach. An article on planned giving can be found on the last page of this issue, along with a Beyond Today TV program airing schedule. 

In the Good News section (pp. 19-22), subjects covered are praising God even in times of trouble, serving and bearing fruit in the later years of one's life, how to have appropriate conversations about your faith at work and, for co-worker readers, the story of Florence Nightingale, who believed in "doing religion" rather than just "talking it."

Thank you for your continued support of this publication. Please email un@ucg.org to submit articles, announcements, local church news, questions or feedback. 

 

Table of Contents

Brethren Around the Globe Celebrate the Feasts of God

Even in a time of uncertainty and global crisis, faithful members of God’s Church observed the Feast of Tabernacles.

Women’s Enrichment Weekend Held in Eastern Zambia

Eastern Zambia—On July 23-24, women gathered from several areas to attend the Women’s Enrichment Weekend. However, participants spent the Sabbath together before dispersing on Sunday, July 26.

Council Letter

Jonah, God’s Work and Us

Letting Our Lights Shine at the Feast

Lancaster, Pennsylvania—The Feast of Tabernacles is a powerful opportunity to let our light shine as God’s people. How we interact with each other and the community at large can be a powerful testimony of God’s Spirit and love working in...

Updates from Ministerial and Member Services

MMS updates as included in each issue of the United News.

ABC Fundraiser Announcement

The Ambassador Bible College class of 2021 is once again offering magnetic calendars as a fundraiser.

Family Study Guides Now Available

The Making God Real family study guides are now available.

Youth Camp Held in Mufulira, Zambia

Mufulira, Zambia—We would like to thank our Creator in heaven for making it possible to hold such a successful and fruitful youth camp, especially in this trying time as the world is shaken with the dangerous pandemic caused by COVID-19.

You Can Help Preach the Gospel!

An opportunity is available for U.S. members of the United Church of God to help preach the gospel in their communities.

ABC Selects Class Officers for Academic Year

Cincinnati, Ohio—Ambassador Bible College has appointed students to leadership positions for this school year.

Água Viva School Construction in Angola

The Igreja de Deus Mundial in Angola, officially collaborating with United Church of God, an International Association in preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God in Angola, provides a community service of educating local children that are unable to...

Cincinnati Brethren Distribute Farm-to-Family Food Boxes

Cincinnati, Ohio—On Oct. 26, after receiving a shipment of “Farmers to Family Food Boxes,” Church members distributed 1,248 18-pound boxes of fresh food to members of the community. The retail value of the food was more than $56,000.
As we praise Him and refresh our memories of His goodness, we remind ourselves that we can trust Him for mercy and goodness.

Praise in Times of Trouble

6 minutes
When should we praise God? Is praise reserved for times of joy, or should we praise God in difficulties?
Photo of a young girl on the left and old man on the right, walking along a paved trail in a park, each with an arm around the other.

Still Bearing Fruit in Old Age

4 minutes
Seniors have much to give to their families, communities and the Church. How can they use their lifetime of experience to bear fruit in old age?

What is Planned Giving?

2 minutes
Planned Giving, a part of an overall financial and estate plan, is the process that allows someone to make a charitable gift during one’s life or...
Having respectful and appropriate conversations about our faith with coworkers is an important way that we can live out our faith.

Apologetics in the Workplace

6 minutes
It is important that we know how to give a defense for our way of life, doctrinal beliefs and the existence of God in respectful and appropriate...
Photo of two women walking under a parasol; an elderly woman with a walker being helped by a middle-aged woman.

“I Believe in Doing Religion, Not Talking It”

7 minutes
So said Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing and a woman who dedicated her life to serving others. What can you and I learn from her...