United News November - December 2020 Cover Page

United News: November - December 2020

Studying the bible?

Sign up to add this to your study list.

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

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Sprawling along the Gulf of Guinea on the south coast of Ghana, the historic fishing town of Winneba, 35 miles west of Ghana’s capital Accra, was the site for the Feast of Tabernacles for the third time.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

There were 98 in attendance, and some built grass shelters in addition to the 16 tents that had been brought from Verino.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

We held services each day and four Bible studies throughout the week. Several ministers were recruited to speak to the brethren. Though we could not meet in person, the spiritual nourishment from our ministers was bountiful, leaving us edified and...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Brethren from Greater Vancouver and Victoria, Vancouver Island, attended the Feast in Surrey, British Columbia, a suburb of Vancouver.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles has been celebrated in Italy, for the 20th year now, at the Oasi di Kufra Hotel on the western coast of Sabaudia.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Daytona Beach, with its miles of beautiful white sand beaches, oceanfront hotels, condominiums, homes and plenteous restaurants, was a new site for the Feast of Tabernacles this year.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

A small, restricted Feast site had been originally planned in Rapid City for 2020. But that changed almost overnight when a request was made to open the site to all who wished to attend there.

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.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

An average of 67 brethren attended from Kamuketha and from different congregations including Nairobi, Bagaria and Elburgon. Services were conducted in English and translated either to Swahili or the local language, Meru.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

This year’s Feast was another amazing time in Mufulira with 124 people coming from different parts of the country. This was our largest Feast yet and we are grateful to our Creator for such a successful event, especially in these...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Just over 50 brethren came together in a spirit of peace and unity to keep the Feast in Acacia Bay on the shores of beautiful Lake Taupo, Aotearoa, New Zealand.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

We were deeply blessed to hold the Feast of Tabernacles in Venise-en-Québec for 2020.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Our original plan was to travel to Estonia for the Feast of Tabernacles, but because of the travel ban that did not happen. So, we turned to plan B and traveled to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

More than 600 brethren came together to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this year.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

A small satellite Feast of Tabernacles site was conducted in Soldotna, Alaska, this 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.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

This year’s Feast began very well with prayers and Bible reading on the first day Sabbath. We had incredible messages, Bible studies and family day activities which added joy during the Feast.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

This truly was a unique and refreshing Feast with attendance topping 95 during the Feast.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

For the first time in the Philippines’ Church history, due to the pandemic restrictions, the Feast of Tabernacles was observed mainly at home by about 480 brethren. These restrictions did not prevent the brethren from joyfully keeping the Feast and...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Though fairly challenged in comfort, eight brethren enjoyed the entirety of the Feast together. They connected with the webcast from Panama City Beach for a couple of sermons, along with some Feast sermons sent that were given in 2019.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast was held in the newly built church pavilion sponsored by Good Works with 38 members attending.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

About 408 brethren were spread between four locations to accommodate for social distancing, with services being webcast to each building and room.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Despite the circumstances that brought us together, God used them to His advantage to help grow the family relationships He desires for us.
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...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles is the highlight of the year for members of God’s Church worldwide. It is against this background that the Blantyre congregation in Malawi celebrated the Feast. Among other things, this Festival offers opportunities to share food...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Around 70 people from across the state of New South Wales assembled each day of the Feast to fellowship, sing with joy and learn about the meaning of the Feast. Some had not seen each other for six months due...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

There were 40 brethren between the ages of 1 and 91 who completed a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles at Habarana Village in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Blessed and joyful, about 100 brethren worshiped and fellowshipped together at the Feast of Tabernacles in Montego Bay, Jamaica, this year.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Due to the situation that the world is in, it was decided to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day in a collaborative agreement between the countries of Chile and Mexico.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

More than 270 brethren gathered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to worship and rejoice before God

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

A first ever Feast site for the United Church of God, more than 1,000 attended scenic St. George, Utah.
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...
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?

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Services began daily at 10:30 a.m. with singing, sermonettes, recitation of Bible verses by Sabbath school children and sermons delivered by Cephas Chapamba, Haiton Thungula and Francis Ngopola.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

“A special, wonderful time with a feeling of togetherness and unity” was one comment made after the Feast in Western Australia. It was a blessing to have all the congregation present as no one had been able to leave the...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

There were 37 brethren, comprising the two local congregations that meet in the north and south of this island state of Australia, who combined to keep this year’s Feast of Tabernacles at Fern Tree, a mountainside district overlooking Hobart, Tasmania’s...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Twelve brethren kept God’s Feast of Tabernacles in Soufriere, St. Lucia, this year.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Beautiful Amish Country in Berlin, Ohio, provided a millennial setting for 152 individuals keeping the Feast of Tabernacles this year. The fall foliage on the rolling hills of Holmes County and nice weather provided the perfect setting for this “Feast...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Despite a number of Feast sites canceled this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, we were able to once again observe God’s eight day Feast in New Braunfels.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Tucson, Arizona, served as a Festival location for the 57th consecutive year, as either an official or satellite Feast site.

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.
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...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

This year, 123 enthusiastic participants attended a successful Feast in Mossel Bay, South Africa.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

The Sunshine Coast Feast site lived up to its name. Every day was sunny and the pleasant temperatures kept the beaches a popular place for surfing, swimming or just strolling.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast in Cochrane went very smoothly. We had a high of 139 and about 150 registered. To social distance, we used an overflow room with two large TVs and one large screen which was hooked up by HDMI cable...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

We had an average service attendance of 69 connections with a peak of 76 on the first morning.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Approximately 50 brethren rejoiced at the Feast site in Big Sandy in our own beautiful church building. All services this year were live.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

The Oceanside satellite site was a blessing for all who were a part of this unique experience in the challenging year of 2020.

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...

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.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Altogether we had 37 adults, 22 youths and 15 preteens in attendance.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Due to limited hall availability, the elders in Victoria were able to webcast a full service on the two Holy Days only. At all other times, members logged into the webcast from the Sunshine Coast Feast site in Queensland. Members...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Families and small groups of friends went out to enjoy the area attractions of boating, golfing, horseback riding, winery tours, go-karting and even just hanging out around the pool with brethren. It turns out you don’t need a lot. If...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Despite the constant threat of COVID-19 restrictions, the brethren in France were blessed to again celebrate the Feast at the all-inclusive Club Vacanciel resort in Roquebrune-sur-Argens on the French Riviera.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Coordinating the Feast of Tabernacles in Branson, Missouri, during COVID-19 was not without some major challenges. However, our great God answered the many prayers of the brethren and we were blessed in ways almost too numerous to count.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

More than 550 brethren gathered for an inspiring and refreshing Feast of Tabernacles in Panama City Beach this year.

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.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

More than 12 Festival satellite sites were held in Portuguese-speaking Angola across seven regions.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

This Feast site was attended by 162 people. Members came from all 10 congregations around Zambia. Some of the activities that we had were family day, women’s day, youth day and a seniors’ lunch.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

Here in Agra, India, seven of us celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles and pictured the Kingdom of God. We celebrated the first day together, and also gathered together on the Eighth Day. The other days, we watched the webcasts and...

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles at the local Feast site in historic St. John’s proved to be a positive and uplifting experience despite the COVID-19 restrictions.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

This year saw a change of Feast site for the German and Dutch-speaking brethren for the first time in more than 20 years.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

About 280 brethren gathered in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day. The cool, sunny autumn weather and the warmth of fellowship provided an atmosphere of peace during the Feast.

2020 Feast of Tabernacles

More than 160 brethren kept the Feast of Tabernacles in the quaint and fall-colored town of Pewaukee, Wisconsin. We had an average of 30 online connections as well.

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.