By Mark McCulley
Festival Administration manager
Do you often wish for time away from the daily routine? Do you feel the need to spend time focused on the things of God?
If you're like me, that happens fairly often. The pressures of daily living take their toll. At times I want a break in routine to spend some time with God, to meditate on him, rejoice in his love and refocus my thoughts in his direction.
Well, how about spending eight whole days in the company of other believers? How about praying, singing, praising and worshiping with hundreds, maybe thousands of friends and relatives from all over the world?
How about sitting in the quiet of the afternoon with a friend, sharing your spiritual journey and encouraging one another in God's goodness?
How about going to a rousing worship service in the morning, then spending the afternoon repairing someone's house, or preparing food at a homeless shelter? How about having Bible studies and Christian-living workshops to attend just about every day?
All this and more is what we do at the Feast of Tabernacles. For more than 50 years Worldwide Church of God members have observed this Feast as a highlight of our year. We have traveled countless miles to get there, attended countless services and eaten countless meals together.
Today, when we gather to worship, we celebrate the richness of God's grace as revealed in Jesus Christ. Our theme for the Feast this year and for the future is "Celebrating the Kingdom of God."
The kingdom of God, of course, refers to more than just the second coming of Jesus Christ. It refers to the entirety of what some call "the age to come." That age, that kingdom, began with Jesus' first coming.
The kingdom continues in all those who believe the gospel and take up the life of discipleship, and it will blossom into full splendor at his second coming.
For each individual, life with Christ has the same progressive nature--it begins with accepting him as Savior, continues in daily life and blossoms into full-blown bodily immortality at his return.
So we gather to celebrate a kingdom that has, in fact, already begun. We don't have to wait until some future time, be it near or far.
"Celebrating the Kingdom of God" is something we can do every day, of course. But it becomes more exciting, more special, when we celebrate in the company of other believers.
We in the Worldwide Church of God gather during the dates of the Feast of Tabernacles because of our long tradition of worshiping God during this time. But we are not tied to Old Testament worship forms related to a harvest celebration, nor to our previous prophecy-focused interpretation.
We gather because the celebration has some specific, Christ-centered meanings that are useful to us.
When Israel wandered in the wilderness, living in tents, the Almighty tabernacled among them. Later, as we read in John 1:14, "the Word became flesh and lived (Greek, "tabernacled") among us." Today, he "tabernacles" in us every day as we live our lives in the flesh by faith in him (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5).
A tabernacle, then, is a metaphor that continues to be a useful reminder of important spiritual principles for us.
We look forward to seeing you this fall and "Celebrating the Kingdom of God" with you.
Money from the church's general income cannot be set aside for the Festival, so we ask members for a special donation to operate the Festival, as we have done for more than 30 years.
For those attending part or all of the Festival at sites in the United States and Canada, we are asking for $135 per family or $85 per single person for the Festival fund. It is important that sufficient donations come in to fund the Feast completely.
Please consider donating to help someone else attend if you can. When you give more than the requested amount, the rest is held for those who register and are unable to donate. Any amount not used for this purpose will be used for general Festival expenses.
We do not ask for donations in the United States from those who are traveling overseas, as most of our budget is geared toward domestic arrangements. However, if you transfer overseas, you will be asked to contribute financially to running the local site. Please be generous.
Members in the United States and Canada will receive a registration packet in the mail shortly. To attend in the United States or Canada, please return the form by mail with your first and second choices of sites. We will respond with a housing list, activity schedules and other information from the site to which you are approved.
We ask that you register before July 15 as the hotels that are holding space for church members will cease holding unreserved rooms July 31. However, if you register after that date, we will inform you what housing is still available from the original list.
To attend outside the United States and Canada, please see the list of sites on pages 10 and 11 and use the form printed there. Send the information on that form (by mail, fax or e-mail) to the office or person in charge of the site you wish to attend.
Some special Festival sites were listed for fellowship tours in the Feb. 18 Worldwide News. They are Lillehammer, Norway; Portugal; Ghana and Cameroon; Veracruz, Mexico; Guyana; Honduras; Vanuatu; Fiji; Cebu City, Philippines; and Kenya. You must be part of the tour group to transfer into these sites.
For the fellowship tour sites contact Church Administration, 300 W. Green St., Pasadena, California, 91129; or fax Fred Stevens at 1-818-793-2441.
Please print carefully
Mr. Mrs. Ms.
First name Last name
Street Address
City, State/Province, Country, Zip or Postcode
Local church area:
Site applying to:
Names of all applicants
Any special circumstances or needs such as wheelchair user, deaf, etc.
I certify that the information on this application is correct, and that my dependents and I are in adequate health and have sufficient funds to cover expenses:
Signature
Festival Administration in Pasadena released the following list of worldwide Festival sites for 1997. Please see the accompanying box for how to register to attend one of these sites. Other sites may be posted later.
Worldwide Church of God
Festival Office
P.O. Box 44 Station A
Vancouver BC
V6C 2M2
Canada
Fax: 1-604-294-9760
e-mail: festival.canada@wcg.org
(Prices are in Canadian dollars and do not include local sales taxes).
Edmonton, Alberta
Lodging $45-$75 per night. Meals $40-$45 per day.
Granby, Quebec
Lodging $45-$75 per night. Meals $30-$45 per day. French language only. No translations.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Lodging $45-$85 per night. Meals $30-$45 per day.
Penticton, British Columbia
Lodging $35-$80 per night. Meals $30-$45 per day.
St. John's, Newfoundland
Lodging $45-$125 per night. Meals $30-$45 per day.
Toronto, Ontario
Lodging $55-$90 per night. Meals $30-$45 per day.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lodging $50-$90 per night. Meals $30 per day.
Worldwide Church of God
Festival Administration
300 W. Green St.
Pasadena, California,
91129
Fax: 1-818-304-6130
e-mail: festival.us@wcg.org
Meal costs at U.S. sites run from $20 to $60 per person per day. Prices are in U.S. dollars and do not include local sales taxes.
Anchorage, Alaska
$49-$59 per night; $75-$85 suites. Lodging Local and sales tax: 8 percent.
Meals and other expenses are substantially higher than most other U.S. Festival sites.
Caribbean Cruise
Depart Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Oct. 14 and return to Fort Lauderdale Oct. 24. Cabins $1,099-$3,073 per person double occupancy. For information and an application, call 1-800-858-6999 or 1-818-304-6110.
Chicago, Illinois
Details to be announced.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Lodging $35-$100 per night. Local and sales tax: 7 percent.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Lodging $17-$52 per night, campground $11-$16, cabins $26-$35. Local and sales tax: 6-10 percent.
Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii
Location: Turtle Bay Hilton. Lodging $105 single or double per night. Extra person $30 (children free in parents' room). Local tax: 10 percent.
Meals and other expenses are substantially higher than most other U.S. Festival sites.
Melbourne, Florida
Details to be announced.
Lexington, Kentucky
Lodging $29-$105 per night. Local and sales taxes 11.3 per
cent.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Lodging $24-$120 per night. Local and sales tax: 7 percent. Condominiums available.
Palm Springs, California
Lodging $27-$93 per night; campground $20. Local and sales tax: 10-10.8 percent.
Rockville, Maryland
Just outside Washington, D.C. Close to national parks and monuments.
Lodging $40 and up. Tax: 10 per cent.
Saratoga Springs, New York
Hotels $34-$65; bed and breakfast $45-$75; condominiums $100; homes $500-$1,500. Tax: 7-8 per cent.
Seaside, Oregon
Hotels $28-$80; condominiums $29-$89; bed and breakfast $35-$80. Vacation homes available. Tax: 7 per cent.
Vail, Colorado
Hotels $40-$43; condominiums $40-$94. Town of Vail sales tax: 8 percent. Town of Avon sales tax: 12 percent.
For Scarborough, Paignton and Ireland please contact:
Worldwide Church of God
Festival Office
P.O. Box 111
Borehamwood, Herts.
WD6 1LU
United Kingdom
Telephone 011 44 (181) 953 1633
Fax 011 44 (181) 207 1216
e-mail: festival.uk@wcg.org
Paignton, Southwest England
Scarborough, Northeast England
Ireland
Site to be determined. Please contact above address in United Kingdom.
London, England
For full details, please send a self-addressed envelope (about 7 inches by 10 inches), to London Festival, P.O. Box 25, St. Albans, Herts, AL2 3YJ, England.
e-mail: www.bogo.co.uk/npc/feast97.htm
Oban, Scotland
Contact Russ Couston, 102 Viewlands Road West, Perth PH1 1EJ Scotland.
Arcen, Netherlands
Please contact:
Ambassador Publishing
Postbus 20
4170 AA Herwijnen
Netherlands
Arco, Italy
German- or Italian-speaking people only (no English translations)
Contact
Daniel Bosch
Via F Roncelli 17/a
24030 Almenno
South Bartolomeo (BG)
Italy
Telephone 011 (39) 35 54 99 09
Fax 011 (39) 35 54 82 05
e-mail: daniel_bosch@wcg.org
Bonndorf, Germany
Please contact
Santiago Lange
Carlo Mierendorffstr 40
67574 Osthofen
Germany
Telephone or fax: 011 (49) 6242 7055 (if necessary to call Mr. Lange, please call between 1 and 5 p.m., Central European Time).
e-mail: santiago_lange@wcg.org
Sliema, Malta
Please send your name, address and number of people in your party to Feast Department, P.O. Box 128, Valletta CMR 01, Malta.
Spain
Information will be available later in the year.
Portugal
See the Feb. 18 Worldwide News.
Nassau, Bahamas
Robert McKinney
P.O. Box N-3934
Nassau, Bahamas
Telephone: 1-809-393-1113
Fax: 1-809-394-1774
Christ Church, Barbados
Clifton Charles
P.O. Box 1021
Bridgetown, Barbados
Telephone: 1-246-436-9042
Fax: 1-246-436-2267
Bridgetown, Barbados
Worldwide Church of God
Mount Hill
St. George, Barbados
Hamilton, Bermuda
Cecil Pulley
P.O. Box HM 908
Hamilton HMDX,
Bermuda
Telephone: 1-441-234-5500
Fax: 1-441-234-5477
Roseau, Dominica
Crisford Vidal
P.O. Box 352
Roseau, Dominica
Telephone: 1-809-448-8589 (home)
1-809-448-3233 (work)
Kingston, Jamaica
Michael Mitchell
P.O. Box 544
Kingston 5, Jamaica
Telephone 1-809-978-2059/2063
Fax 1-809-978-2062
Castries, St. Lucia
Paul Krautmann
P.O. Box 780
Castries, St. Lucia
Telephone 1-758-453-7574
Fax 1-758-453-7574
e-mail Krautmannp@zeus or paul_krautmann@wcg.org
Kingstown, St. Vincent
Frederick Forbes
P.O. Box 780
Kingstown, St. Vincent
Telephone 1-809-457-1237 (home)
1-809-457-1082 (work)
Buenos Aires and Ezeiza, Argentina
Carlos Espinosa
Grito de Asencio 106
Telephone 011-541-758-1324
1684 El Palomar, BA
Argentina
e-mail Carlos_Espinosa@wcg.org
Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Luis and Gabriel Chavez
Casilla 537
8000 Bahia Blanca, BA
Argentina
Telephone: 011 (54-91) 55-8476. No fax
e-mail: Luis_Chavez@wcg.org
Cafam-Melgar, Colombia
Hector Barrero
Cra. 13 #66-47
Telephone: 011 (57-1) 255-9185
Edif. Forfa Apto. 1004
Bogota, DC
Colombia
Acapulco, Mexico
Alberto Esquivel
1A Cerrada De Caliz 4
011 (52-5) 610-02-57
Col El Reloj
Mexico, D.F.
04640 Mexico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Fred Lopez
1686 San Cosme
1-787-282-6166
San Juan
Puerto Rico 00927
Montevideo, Uruguay
Michael Medina
Casilla 10976,
Suc. Pluna
11100 Montevideo
Uruguay
Telephone 011-598-2-626770
Fax 011-598-2-622472
e-mail Mike_Medina@wcg.org
Salto, Uruguay
Javier Grilli
Misiones Orientales 250
Telephone 011-598-73-28664
50000 Salto
Uruguay
Contact
Worldwide Church of God
Sheryl Richardson
PO Box 202
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Australia
Fax: 011 61 7 55934662
e-mail: festival.australia@wcg.org
Caloundra, Queensland, Australia
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia
Lakes Entrance, Victoria, Australia
Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Rotorua, New Zealand
Queenstown, New Zealand
Sri Lanka, site to be confirmed
India, site to be confirmed
Phuket, Thailand
Baguio, Manila, Makati, Quezon City, Batangas, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Legazpi
Cebu, Bacolod City, Tacloban City
Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, Zamboanga, Don Carlos, Bukidnon
Malawi
Worldwide Church of God
PO Box 517
Blantyre
Malawi
Contact Gardner Kunje
Telephone 011-265-620288
Or 011-265-671287
Tanzania
Worldwide Church of God
P.O. Box 47135
Nairobi
Kenya
Contact Daniel Wanjie
Telephone: 011-254-336732
Fax: 011-254-213099
e-mail:
james_r_henderson@wcg.org
Uganda
Same as Tanzania
Kenya
Same as Tanzania
Seychelles
Same as Tanzania
Accra, Ghana
Worldwide Church of God
P.O. Box 9617
Kotoka International
Airport
Accra, Ghana
Contact Gabriel Ojih
Telephone
011-233-021-502817
Fax 011-254-732260
e-mail: gabriel_ojih@wcg.org
Nigeria
Worldwide Church of God
PMB 21006
Ikeja
Lagos State
Nigeria
Contact: Eke Udeagha
Telephone: None at moment
Fax: 011-254-732260
e-mail: gabriel_ojih@wcg.org
Togo and Benin
Atsu Dravie
BP 4431
Lome
Togo
Contact: Atsu Dravie
Telephone and fax: 011-228-221243
e-mail: gabriel_ojih@wcg.org
Strand, Western Cape
Ron Stoddart
Telephone: 011 (021) 998-569
Fax: 011 (021) 998-569
e-mail: Ron_Stoddart@wcg.org
Durban, Kwazulu-Natal
Gordon Green
Telephone: 011 (031) 86-7575
Fax 011 (031) 86-7575
e-mail: Gordon_Green@wcg.org
Gauteng
Morgen Kriedemann
Telephone: 011 082 567 4939
Fax: 011 (012) 809-0637
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
John White
Telephone: 011 (041) 304-375
e-mail: John_White@wcg.org
Lusaka, Zambia
Kalengule Kaoma
Telephone: 011 (260) 1 294-704
Fax: 011 (260) 1 294-704
Harare, Zimbabwe
Aldrin Mandimika
Telephone: 011(263) 4 308-231
Aldrin_Mandimika@wcg
Mauritius
Yves Nayna
Telephone: 011 (230) 425-1324 (home); 011 (230) 425-5379 (work)
e-mail: Yves_Nayna@wcg.org
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