United News Weekly
Greetings from Cincinnati!
As I looked at the calendar the other day, I was surprised to see how quickly the final four Holy Days of this year are approaching—just over two months away! In light of that exciting time, we’re sharing a few important Feast updates today, including details about where we are in the planning process and how to get involved in special music. Be sure to check out the link for children’s choir music so your children can begin practicing! Finally, featured today are two abbreviated camp reports (the full versions will be included in the print United News) from teen Camp Cotubic and preteen Camp Ochoco.
We hope these updates encourage you and build your excitement as we prepare together for the wonderful months ahead.
Heidi Braun, Editor, United News Weekly
Preparing Today, Planning for Tomorrow
by Steven Britt, Senior Manager, Ministerial and Member Services
Excitement is building as we prepare for this year’s Feast of Tabernacles! At the same time, we’re already looking ahead to how our Feast sites can best serve the Church in the years to come. Ministerial and Member Services has the important responsibility of carefully planning for and evaluating those future needs.
That includes reviewing the number of U.S. sites, their distribution around the country and the role of satellite sites. Although there’s nothing specific to announce at this time, we want you to know that these discussions are taking place carefully and thoughtfully. We’re using data-backed analysis (I can’t help it; I’m a mathematician!) while also evaluating how each location can best serve the needs of the Church and the people and resources required to make it work well.
Having coordinated the Feast several times, I can tell you with confidence that each site is an enormous undertaking! Providing daily services for several hundred people requires about a dozen department heads and many additional volunteers at each site. Activities must also be planned for families, seniors, young adults, teens and other groups, both on-site and in the surrounding area.
Behind the scenes, our conference planner, Charles Melear, and many others have spent months planning and coordinating schedules, communication, contracts, budgets, equipment and other logistical details.
Our goal is for every Feast site to be spiritually uplifting and physically prepared. Achieving that requires being realistic about the people and resources needed to operate each site effectively. We need enough experienced people to carry these responsibilities without continually stretching our pastors and volunteers too thin or depending on the same people year after year.
So, while we’re reviewing the numbers and locations, we’re also excited about the opportunity to focus on quality—making sure each site is spiritually strong, welcoming and well supported, so that we, as members of one Body, can enjoy a truly meaningful Feast together and rejoice before God!
We’re working to find the right balance, and we would appreciate your prayers for God’s guidance as these plans develop. We look forward to sharing more in the months ahead.
Feast of Tabernacles
Children's Choir Music Available for Download
The Festival Children’s Choir music is now available for download on the UCG website. Simply click the link below to access the music, lyrics and guidelines: Festival Children’s Choir Music 2026. The page includes the Children’s Choir guidelines, vocal and instrumental recordings of both songs, and lyric sheets.
Parents, please review the guidelines and ensure your children have both songs memorized before arriving at the Feast. Children are expected to know the songs by heart so rehearsals can focus on singing together rather than learning the music.
Steve Myers, Operation Manager, Ministerial and Member Services
Music Volunteers Needed!
Special music is one of the highlights of the Feast of Tabernacles, adding inspiration and encouragement to our worship services. If you are a musician, we invite you to use your talents to praise and serve God and to edify your fellow brethren during the Feast.
Ephesians 5:19-20 encourages us to speak to one another “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Musicians are needed to help make each Feast site’s music program successful. Whether you sing, play an instrument, accompany others or can serve in another musical role, please consider volunteering.
When registering online for the Feast, select the “Music” volunteer option and indicate all the ways you may be able to contribute.
You may also contact the music coordinator listed for the Feast site you plan to attend. If you already volunteered online but have not yet heard from the music coordinator, please contact him or her directly for more information.
Steve Myers, Operation Manager, Ministerial and Member Services
United Youth Camps
Camp Report—Camp Cotubic
This year, 91 campers, 51 dedicated staff, and 10 mini-campers gathered at Camp Cotubic for an unforgettable week focused on living in the Zone and diving deep into what it means when Christ says to “Follow Me.” From start to finish, the week was filled with energy, encouragement and spiritual growth.
Each day began with Christian living classes centered around this year’s theme: “Follow Me.” Throughout the week we explored what it truly means to follow Jesus Christ—not simply believing in Him but walking as He walked. Following the morning classes, campers jumped into a variety of activities designed to stretch them mentally, physically and socially.
One of the greatest blessings this year was the positivity of the campers themselves. From the first day through the final dance, there was a genuine atmosphere of encouragement, respect and enthusiasm. Older campers naturally looked after younger ones, friendships formed quickly, and dorms became places where teens genuinely wanted to encourage one another.
Thank you to the parents for entrusting us with your teens for the week, and to everyone whose prayers and support made Camp Cotubic possible.
Joshua Creech, Camp Cotubic Director
Camp Report—Camp Ochoco
Greetings from Preteen Camp Ochoco, where 68 campers are enjoying the dry hills and ponderosa pine forests of Central Oregon. We know that God watches over our youth camps, and we have already seen signs of His protection. There was a small forest fire in the area, and the campers got to watch helicopters fly overhead with buckets of water before it was quickly contained! We can all thank our Creator for His love and protection.
Activities included Christian living class, swimming, aquatic kickball, archery, pickleball, wilderness explorers, arts and crafts, and dance. The oldest dorms got to try an exciting new activity: a climbing wall. These activities help campers grow in a safe environment, while embracing elements of “the Zone,” like having fun, being challenged, and building positive relationships.
From helping counselors with dorms, to running activities alongside staff, to assisting with kitchen cleanup, our 15 teen assistants are learning valuable lessons on service and leadership. In this way, we hope to create a family environment where we all help to serve one another while bringing up new generations in God’s Church.
Thank you for your continued prayers for of all of our United Youth Camps and the success of our young people.
Jeff Richards, Camp Ochoco Director
