Home Office Weekly Update November 26, 2025

From the President...

Don’t Have a “Me” Mindset

Greetings brethren,

Our human focus often is on things we have and things we don’t have. From childhood we compared what we were given to what someone else had. Our parents seemingly couldn’t do enough, didn’t spend enough time, didn’t give us enough stuff, enough excitement, nice enough clothes, toys, etc. A person who is focused on “me” can never get enough, and so he or she derides those who they feel are responsible. Too often that mindset continues on into adulthood with harbored resentments about what one did not receive. God warns us about having a “get/take” mentality:

“The leech has two daughters—Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, four never say, ‘Enough!’: the grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water—and the fire never says, ‘Enough!’ The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother…” (Proverbs 30:15-17).

Remember how excited you were to have new school supplies at the beginning of the year? Remember how your new clothes were just a bit stiff the first time you put them on? Or, how that new pair of sneakers made you feel like you could run a hundred-miles-an-hour? Remember when you finally got an outfit to wear at church? Or, when Mom made you that dish that nobody has been able to copy since? Remember your favorite teacher in school, your favorite class and the sport you did well at? Remember that summer at camp where your skills blossomed among new friends? Those fond memories weren’t actually about you. They were sums of gifts and sacrifices made for you.

We don’t remember our diaper days, or our teething fits, or the tens of thousands of hours and dollars spent in feeding, training, teaching, housing, clothing, transporting, protecting, babysitting, helping, consoling and encouraging that was done by our parents, teachers and church members who sacrificed in order to enrich our lives.

While we humans relish close encounters with exotic creatures and environments, how much should we relish close encounters with other humans? The gifts of life and family were made by parents who devoted a big part of their lives to us. We are each a gift from the love, nurturing and sacrifice of others. Yet how often do we critique those gifts instead of showing appreciation for them? A selfish mindset ignores sacrifices made by family, spouse, employer, friends, the Church and even God. If not realized and repented of, one’s pursuit of self-fulfillment is repulsive to those around him and results in isolation:

“There is one alone, without companion: he has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, ‘For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?’ This also is vanity and a grave misfortune” (Ecclesiastes 4:8).

Rather be thankful

There are so many aspects of life right now to be thankful for, for which we could spend the rest of time expressing our gratitude. Every drop of water, every ray of sunshine, every living cell, people, the entirety of the universe and our ability to perceive it. God the Father and His Son have devoted their current existence to giving you and me everything They possibly can: life, Their likeness, Their Spirit, and Jesus’ own life. What do They ask of us in return?

“Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:2-4, emphasis added).

Their great gifts of love should be mesmerizing to us in their breadth and scale. God’s creation and our place in it reveals a wonder too great for us to really even comprehend. And, with our destiny as firstfruit-co-heirs in the divine Family of God, we literally have it all!

Brethren, let’s focus on becoming love like God is, while appreciating all that is given to us by so many. In doing so, we will be provided with our real needs in life:

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mathew 6:31-33).

Let’s each be thankful for and appreciative toward God and our fellow man, and all they have been doing for us,

With appreciation for you in Christ’s service,

John Elliott, President

WFW Countdown: Sports Brackets are Locking Soon!

Winter Family Weekend (WFW) is just one month away! Excitement is building as we gear up for our biggest event yet, and we can’t wait to see everyone in Hamilton for a weekend “Fueled by Faith.”

Sports Update: The Brackets are Forming

To ensure our tournament brackets are ready for the opening whistle, the deadline for Team Creation is this Saturday, Nov. 29, at 11:59 p.m.

Please Note the Difference:

CLOSING SATURDAY NIGHT:

• New Team Creation: The ability for captains to start a brand-new team in the system. We must close this on Saturday night to finalize the brackets.

STILL OPEN (You can still register!): Registration remains fully open for everyone else at wfw.ucg.org! You can still sign up for any of the following options after Saturday:

• Spectator.
• Participant.
• Athlete (you can still register as a player and join an existing team).
• Additional Sports Team.

Captains: If you haven’t set up your team yet, please log in and create it before 11:59 p.m. this Saturday!

Everyone else—visit wfw.ucg.org to register today and get ready for an incredible weekend!

—Dave PerMar, Winter Family Weekend Coordinator

Wamatochick Young Adult Weekend

NEW: Registration site now available: https://ucg.regfox.com/wamatochick-weekend-2026

Young adults, you are invited to join your brothers and sisters for the fifth annual UYA Wamatochick Weekend, Feb. 13-16, 2026 in the picturesque pines of Northern Arizona!

The theme is “A New Creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The presentations will invite and encourage us to be active and growing in our walk with God. The Sabbath will include interactive presentations and discussions. Sunday will feature additional presentations as well as indoor and outdoor activities including hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking, weather permitting. Everyone is welcome to stay an additional night to extend the weekend into Monday to enjoy further fellowship and activity time!

Ages are 18–32, and married and single are welcome. Cost is $165 per person, including sleeping arrangements and seven meals. Camp is outside of Prescott, Arizona and the Phoenix airport is a two-hour drive from camp. Rides from the airport can be arranged. Please plan to arrive no later than 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, and depart no earlier than 1 p.m. on Monday. Check-in starts at 4 p.m. on Friday at Camp Wamatochick.

Registration Deadline: Feb. 10, 2026.

Please text or email Grant Fogelson (623-238-2044; grantfogelson@gmail.com) or Katarina Fogelson (469-858-1720; katarina14.reinoso@gmail.com) if you are interested in attending or for more information.