teen
Festival Booklet
2017
Published by the United Church of God, an International Association 555 Techne Center Drive, Milford, Ohio 45150 Š 2017 United Church of God, an International Association. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. President: Victor Kubik Editors: Milan Bizic, Sue Dunkle, Linda Merrick Layout/Design: Linda Merrick, Mitch Moss Illustrations: Matthew Hernandez
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Trumpets
and You
Never the Same Again he history of man is full of a number of watershed moments. These are major world-changing events after which nothing is ever the same again. They represent moments in time and history where there is no going back to the way things were before the event occurred. Everything changes. The invention of the printing press, for example, enabled the written word to be distributed wider and farther than ever before, and allowed for the printing of the Bible so that any man or woman could possess and read it for themselves. Events like World Wars I and II, the attacks on 9/11, the release of the iPhone and the rise of Facebook: all of these events changed the way the world works and how people view it and their place in it. The events symbolized by the Feast of Trumpets will be the greatest watershed moment in all of human history. It will be an event where nothing will ever be the same again. You’ve likely celebrated the Feast of Trumpets with your family for years. You’ve heard a number of sermons and read articles, done festival activity lessons and have looked at the scriptures surrounding this Holy Day. Scripture tells us that the Feast of Trumpets is a memorial of a blowing of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24). It is a sacred assembly that is celebrated with numerous blasts of a Trumpet. Symbolically, it looks forward to a time in the future where a series of plagues will be poured out upon mankind—that lead up to the very return of our Savior, Jesus Christ (Revelation 8-11). This series of angelic trumpet blasts finishes with the seventh trumpet, when the Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdoms of our God (Revelation 11:15) and His Son returns.
Photo by Aaron Burden/Unsplash
T
by Ben Light
Just as the leaves change, there will come a time when the whole world will be changed.
First Thessalonians 4:13-18 describes the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an encouraging passage of Scripture that describes the events surrounding Christ’s return. What about you and your family? Where do you fit into this day? In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, those who believed in Jesus Christ, whether dead or alive at the time of Christ’s return, are mentioned. Those who have died will be raised immortal in the first resurrection. For those who are alive—they too will be changed to spirit beings (1 Corinthians 15:51-58), and both will be with the Lord forever! That’s you! And that’s me. The opportunity provided to you because of God’s calling is pretty incredible. The Creator of the entire universe desires a relationship with you. He wants you to respond to that call, to become baptized and receive the Holy Spirit and to live in accordance with His law. The events of the Feast of Trumpets show the end result of this calling—an opportunity to live eternally with our great God! The world will never be the same again, and you and I have the chance to be a part of that new world going forward. What an incredible opportunity and promise!
Questions to Consider: Read Numbers 10:1-10 and 2 Kings 9:13. Discuss with your family the different ways trumpets were used and who was responsible for blowing them. How does this connect with the meaning of Trumpets and the events that will occur in the future on this day? (Hint: Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16). 2017 Teen Festival Handbook 3
Photo by Matt Hernandez This is what the Day of Atonement is about: the freeing of humankind from Satan’s clutches.
A•tone•ment n.
means freedom
It
by Andy Diemer
is hard to understand all the suffering in the world: children who are the victims of terror bombings, a teenaged gunman shooting up a school, drug overdoses, suicides, broken families everywhere, and on it goes. The world is messed up in a lot of ways. God did not create it like that, because the Bible says everything that He made was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). How did we get to this point? Why are we hurting ourselves like this? Who is doing this to us? The answer is that we have been fooled by Satan the devil into sin. He tricked us into breaking God’s laws. Our world is so broken—we are paying a price for our sins. Imagine, in your mind, that the cause of all this evil will all be gone one day. This is what the Day of Atonement is about: the freeing of humankind from Satan’s clutches. Imagine that the world
is subjugated like a prisoner, and the prison guard is mean and cruel. Think of a World War II concentration camp. Millions suffered in those camps at the hand of their tormentors. Our world today is under cruel bondage like that, and most everyone in it has no idea that freedom is coming. The Bible says that the “whole creation groans” under the weight of sin (Romans 8:22). Such suffering is not good; that is not what God wants for us. Because He loves us so much, He is working out a plan to fix this big, terrible, awful mess that our world is in today. Mankind has an enemy who is like a cruel, spiritual prison guard. God calls him the “dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan” (Revelation 20:2). Jesus called him “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Right now, he is on the loose, walking about “like a roaring lion” seeking prey to kill and eat (1 Peter 5:8). He is feasting on our world and causing untold havoc.
The Day of Atonement pictures the time when the cause of all suffering in the world, Satan the Devil, will be restrained and put away. Revelation chapter 20 describes this remarkable event when an angel will come down from heaven and cast Satan, bound with a chain, into a bottomless pit for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3). This day pictures the deliverance of our world from the bondage that is causing all this misery we see. It is like being let loose from the concentration camp while the cruel guard is locked up instead of us. The Day of Atonement is the binding up of Satan. And that means the freeing of the world from its prison. For now, the terror bombings will not let up, the school shootings will continue, and more lives will be wasted to drug and alcohol abuse and suicide. The Day of Atonement will remove the cause of all the world’s sins. It will begin the time when there is “no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying” (Revelation 21:4). May you have great understanding of this wonderful day and look forward to its fulfillment in the Kingdom of God!
Questions to Consider: How do you think the world will be different without the influence of Satan the devil? In what ways does Satan deceive the world today? 4 2017 Teen Festival Handbook
Using Second Tithe Photo by Sue Dunkle
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he Feast is a time each year when we experience what it’s like to be a little rich. You could possibly even find it challenging to be able to spend 10 percent of a year’s income in just over a week! If so, should you resort to wasteful splurging? Or should you perhaps buy some big-ticket item that you can’t normally afford? On the other hand, if you have extra festival tithe, are you obligated to donate it to charity or to the Church? What instruction can we find in God’s Word for how to spend that 10 percent we save up for the Feast? We tend to remember that Deuteronomy 14:26 says to spend second tithe for “whatever your heart desires.” I can attest that I have had heart-felt desire for quite a few things— many of which have little relation to keeping God’s Feasts! Is there more specific guidance? Yes, there certainly is! That same verse mentions food and drink, “to eat before the Lord your God . . . and rejoice.” To be honest with what the Bible is really saying here, we have to admit that it seems to mean primarily that I should spend festival tithe on whatever my heart desires—to eat! Certainly enjoying fine food is a highlight of the Feast. That holds true whether you like gourmet restaurants or a good burger and fries. God doesn’t tell us what type of food should be special to us. But is that His only instruction for using the second tithe? No, this chapter has other important guidelines too. One that is obvious is travel and lodging. Deuteronomy 14:25 tells us to “take the money . . . and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses.” As with food, this leaves a lot open to individual taste, but whether flying first class or driving your old clunker; whether staying in a motel or a luxury condo—all these are valid second tithe expenses.
by Frank Dunkle
A way you can use your second tithe at the Feast is spending time with friends and family.
A story in the book of Nehemiah mentions an important use for festival funds that we could easily overlook. Found in the eighth chapter, the account includes instruction for the people to “send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared” (Nehemiah 8:10). We will do well if, while we are enjoying all that extra money we have to spend during the Feast, we consider ways to help people who may not have so much. You may know someone personally who you can help, but, if not, a donation to the Church’s festival fund is a way to assist those that you may never know have such a need. Additionally, there is a category of spending this tithe that is not so clear cut, but is still very important. Scripture tells us to “rejoice” at the Feast. Surely staying in nice hotels and eating in fun restaurants is a way to rejoice, but what about riding a roller coaster? What about shopping for souvenirs? Scripture doesn’t mention those things, but they seem to fit within the intent, don’t they? Does buying a new phone or home stereo fit the intent of our festival tithe? No, perhaps not. As a rule of thumb, I rule out any purchases that don’t directly enhance my rejoicing during the Feast itself, rather than the rest of the year. Admittedly, this guideline is somewhat vague. So why not focus instead on the many good uses for festival tithe that are clear? God wants us to use a tenth of our income to travel to the Feast and while we’re there learning to fear Him, to eat, drink and rejoice!
Questions to Consider: What are some ways that you can share your blessing of second tithe with others during the Feast? 2017 Teen Festival Handbook 5
GIVE the
“Best Feast Ever”! by Howard Nitzberg
Y
Ask yourself, “How can I helps others have the best Feast ever?”
ou probably know and use slang terms like, LOL, IDK and K, when texting. And while talking, you might use words like “sick” or “photo bomb”—with some older people not even knowing what you are
saying. Similarly, the Church has its own slang phrases. One of them is: “Have the best Feast ever!” We tend to say it without thinking much about what it means, but could there be something wrong with it? Surprisingly, there could possibly be. Because focusing on making sure that I have the “best Feast ever” could lead me down a path of selfishness. The Feast is a family affair, not a time for everyone to do his or her own thing. Deuteronomy 14:26 instructs us to use our second tithe to enjoy whatever we earnestly desire at God’s Feast, but the command does not stop there. In verse 27 the New International Version says: “And do not neglect the Levites in your town, for they will receive no allotment of land among you.” God felt it necessary to remind His people that when they rejoiced at the Feast they had to remember those who did not share in all of their physical blessings—and then to share those blessings. Today, we could see this as direction for us to share the tremendous blessings of our second tithe: to share the good things made possible by our physical blessings from God.
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Additionally, when God said in Deuteronomy 14:26: “You shall eat there—before the Lord your God,” He also said, “and you shall rejoice, you, and your household.” God does not say only you—but He adds “and your household.” If you are a teenager, the Feast is not a time to leave your parents behind while you spend the entire Feast hanging out with your friends. On the other hand, parents and grandparents are not to ignore the teens, either. Singles should not see the Feast only as a chance to meet and date other singles. Even though meeting people at the Feast—even a potential future mate—is not a bad thing. We want to keep in mind that the Feast belongs to God—not you or me. In His infinite wisdom, God established the Holy Days and the festival tithe so that we can afford to come out of this world and we can have a small taste and experience of the Kingdom of God! With more money than I usually have, I could easily focus on what this extra money can buy me. I could over-indulge myself, while thinking I am having “the best Feast ever!” However, if I really want to make it the best Feast ever, I should ask myself, “What can I do to make sure that others have the best Feast ever?” I could ask others in my family what they want to do, where they want to eat, rather than me deciding for them. I could look for a need to be filled and then fill it! I could get out of my comfort zone and meet people I don’t know—make some new friends, rather than spending all my time with the same old people. If you want to have the best Feast ever, then give the best Feast ever! In fact, make it your best Feast yet! But leave room to outdo yourself next year. The Feast is a terrific time to give and to serve. If we focus on helping others to have their best Feast yet, God will make certain that ours is also the best!
Questions to Consider: What characteristics did Nehemiah possess that made him a faithful servant to God? 2017 Teen Festival Handbook 7
Creative Works creative:sketch
Ariella McNally Santa Cruz, California, U.S.A.
creative:verse What the Feast Means to Me What does the Feast Mean to me? It’s a time of rejoicing And harmony. It pictures the years There’ll be no pain, For this is the time That Christ shall reign. This is the time That brethren unite, We’re shown God’s love, And His glorious light. We eagerly await The day Christ comes, His rewards are waiting For His daughters and sons. 8 2017 Teen Festival Handbook
Peace Peace . . . This is the word I would choose to associate with God’s Feast of Tabernacles. For some, it’s all about the fellowship, which is definitely a large aspect, but personal peace is an essential take back from the Feast. Take time early in the morning, just before the sun comes up, to dig into your Bible and feel at one with your Creator. Soak up your surroundings and understand the full meaning of being ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’ If you incorporate this key aspect into your visit, you’ll come home feeling refreshed, spiritually revived and at peace with yourself.
Marissa Fooshe Nashville, Tennesee, U.S.A.
creative:sketch
Brooklyn Booth Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.
creative:verse Everyday a message of hope is sent Through every page of the Holy Scriptures we learn To arm ourselves for a world at an end To prepare for a world after the serpent With faith in the humble King, the Lamb A reminder is set at appointed times To remember not only the days of our lives But to keep close the Holy Days in our hearts and minds For it is between God and us a sign That we may stay spiritually alive
Alice Nyamasoka Zimbabawe
As the stars and moon are a hope of day to come Dark falls as the sun falls to a slumber But hope always is with the dawn of the Father Hope for our soon coming King and Brother Eternity in the Kingdom we long for forever
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creative:sketch
Jared Denno Virginia, U.S.A.
creative:verse Tennessee We went to Tennessee last year, Our hearts and minds were filled with cheer, We’d teach and speak of God above, And grow in his eternal love, From highest mountains to lowest lakes, Determined to do whatever it takes, We’ll do it right, we were quite near, To speaking so the world could hear, The lovely mountains in that state, Seemed so high at that rate, But God is higher, than we know, Who knew we could be so low? Olivia Thomas Mango And so we are, that you see, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. But not forever will we be! And too soon it was time to go, But we left with a glorious glow.
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MY
Best Feast Ever!
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia by Cherie and Zoe Australia
It is a true blessing that the Feast of Tabernacles can be held at the beautiful Sunshine Coast in sunny Queensland. Every year, the warm weather does not disappoint. But more importantly, attendees there greatly appreciate the wholesome messages, as well as forming and strengthening long-lasting friendships. The vibe of the Feast is always positive and uplifting, while the environment is family-friendly. It seems there is always a new person to meet and greet! The Feast messages are a very special element of the Feast because they provide good spiritual food and encouraging lessons that keep the Feast spirit strong. During the Feast of Tabernacles in Kawana there are numerous social activities organized for all age groups. The annual family picnic is always a highlight, along with the teen and young adult sporting activities. Feast family dances attract many people who enjoy fellowship with like-minded friends and family whilst having a bit of fun on the dance floor. The Feast in Australia is a time to strengthen friendships and create new ones all the while being reminded of the amazing promises that our Father has given his people. There is no doubt that the Feast of Tabernacles 2017 will be a Feast to remember and look back on as being both spiritually uplifting and a lot of fun.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico by Yair Moran Mexico City, Mexico
For several years, the Feast of Tabernacles has been celebrated in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The name of the hotel where the Feast is held is called “friendly,” and that fits because it provides many amenities to celebrate the Feast. The site has a big hall, where brethren from various places around the country—and indeed, the world—come together to listen to the Word of God. We had services in Spanish and English. Another thing the hotel offers is food! Plenty of food in many varieties: salads, fish, fast food, desserts, drinks—there were many, many delicious dishes. During the Feast many organized activities helped the brethren draw closer together as a family. The activities included seminars, dances, trips to the downtown area, fishing and much more. The Feast in 2016 was unforgettable, because for the first time, we had a fireworks show on the beach. It was beautiful, and people were really pleased. Another highlight was a dance that was held on the beach, with the stars and the moon above us. At the hotel where most of the brethren from Mexico celebrate the Feast, almost everyone, including me, felt like one big family, like all will be during the Millennium. Other amenities for the hotel were the pool and the exclusive beach, which helped us to momentarily forget about the world around us. Although autumns in Mexico are mostly dry, occasionally it rains at night. Despite the rain, Puerto Vallarta is always warm and nice. I didn’t know there were many places to visit around Puerto Vallarta until my last Feast there. One day I visited the port area (puerto in Spanish) where there was a display that recorded the arrivals and departures of travelers. I also did some shopping at the artisan market, where there are wonderful handicrafts and precious traditional clothing. Most of the people really had fun, but I think the youth had the most exciting experience of all. This was partly because in Mexico there are few young people in each congregation, so it was exciting to have some time with young people from other places in Mexico and other countries. 2017 Teen Festival Handbook 11
Photo by Kelsey Phelps
Gatlinburg, Tennesee, U.S.A. by Olivia Thomas Mango Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. I had a wonderful trip to Tennessee last year. We got a mountainside cabin, and it was gorgeous. We had a hot tub, pool table, three jacuzzis (the hot tub was a jacuzzi too, and so were the two baths) and a lovely reading room where you could peer out the window and see the cabins below you. It was a truly beautiful scene, especially during sunrise (when the fog comes up) and the sunset (when the low sun beamed out on the colorful trees, making it nearly impossible to not take a picture or two, or five . . . or twenty). The ride down the mountain was definitely exciting too. There were no guardrails, and I always got nervous when we went down. Then there was the Strip. The Strip was amazing. There were shops that cover everything you could imagine, from stuffed peacocks to cars, to chocolates, to diamond rings—you could literally find it all. We spent hours there. If you go to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you have to check out the strip. I would also recommend the Five Guys burger joint in the strip. Then for church we met in a lovely building. It was huge! There we were able to learn about God together. I was also in the teen choir. The Eighth Day was sad; none of us wanted to leave. If you don’t know where to go, please consider going to Tennessee. Whatever kind of person you are, I can guarantee happiness there. Also check out some of the nature hikes, and keep an eye out for black bears! They are not at all dangerous, so you won’t have to worry about them attacking, unless you touch them or get near a mama’s baby. Please, have a happy, happy Feast of Tabernacles!
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Panama City Beach, Florida, U.S.A. by Kelsey Phelps Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. I have enjoyed going to many different Feast sites, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be 2015 in Panama City Beach, Florida. My favorite things about the Feast were the wonderful sunsets, the many things to do and the fellowship with my friends. That year, there was a bad storm and it brought in the red tide. It caused many people to get sinus infections and colds. But on the last day of the Feast, the sky cleared up, and there was gorgeous weather. That night, my family and I enjoyed the lovely orange and pink sunset. One thing I learned that year was that no matter what the weather is, the joy of spending time with God’s people doesn’t change. I did so many things at the Feast this year, I can’t even list them all. While we were on the way to Florida, we stopped at the Corvette plant, and I watched many cars being built on an assembly line. During the Feast, I got to try amazing foods, including macaroons, ahi tuna and donuts. In my opinion, nothing is better than donuts! Some of my highlights were spending time with my cousins and having a sand fight on the beach with one of my friends. I didn’t expect that some of the smallest things I did would be highlights of that Feast. I got to meet people of different ages. I’m still great friends with many of them, and we keep in touch regularly. Ever since this Feast, I’ve been pushing myself to meet new people every year at the Feast. The Feast is a great place to meet people because we all have the same beliefs. What a wonderful thing that is!
Bible Stumpers Do you have the answers to these Bible questions?
1.
What was Nehemiah’s job in Shushan?
2.
What is the name of the star which falls from heaven and destroys a third of the rivers?
3.
Whose threshing floor did the Angel of the Lord stop at in Jerusalem?
4.
What did Naomi change her name to?
5.
What disability did Mephiboseth suffer from?
6.
What were the two columns called on the temple built by Solomon?
7.
What job did Priscilla’s husband have?
8.
How many rivers were formed from the river that went out of Eden?
9.
Who was Abraham’s second wife?
10.
Which two animals in the Old Testament spoke to humans?
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Photo by Sue Dunkle
A Better Time Coming
B
by Sue Dunkle
ecoming a teacher has been one of my greatest accomplishments. As a little girl, I dreamed of being in front of the classroom as I gathered my chalk and chalkboard, and pretended to teach eager students. However, the idyllic classroom of my imagination was a far cry from the reality I eventually faced in my first year of teaching. My first real teaching assignment was in a relatively new middle school in Northern Kentucky. A 20-minute drive from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, our school was surrounded by woods and subdivisions. Yet being away from the city did not spare my seventh grade students from serious problems. A number of the students were diagnosed with behavior disorders. Some had a hard time controlling their emotions and energy. Some dealt with extreme anger. One sad case from that year involved a boy who had been carving and cutting into his arms with pencils, staples, paperclips—anything he could use to cut himself. He had also been threatening to harm others. When we teachers discussed our concerns with his parents, they simply said: “Well what do you want us to do about it? We just lock him in his room at night.” After a day like that, I would go home and thank my
parents for loving me and teaching me God’s way of life. Now, I don’t want to give the impression that every day was full of only problems and stress. There were fun and humorous times too! One vivid memory that stands out is after coming back from the Feast. Of course I had arranged for a substitute teacher for the eight days, but had not thought to tell my students why I was gone. Upon my return, one student in my first period class told me he had heard that I was in the hospital. I explained to the class that I was perfectly fine. Another student asked, “Well, where were you?” I replied, “I was at the Feast of Tabernacles.” “Where?” the whole class asked. I explained that it was a festival celebrating when Christ would return and set up His Kingdom on earth forever. A boy in the front row asked, “Oh—well, did you eat a lot of food?” I replied, “Yes!” Even after 23 years I can still picture the faces of these students, and I remember both the bad times and the good. I wonder where they are today. Have they overcome their emotional problems? I don’t know, but what I do know is that a time is coming in the future when God will heal them. I have hope for them and the many other people suffering in our world today. That hope is explained in Isaiah 35:5-6, where it says: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” We believe there will be similar healing of emotional and mental illness too. God does not want people to suffer—the whole world will be healed during the Millennium. We find further proof of this in Revelation 21:3-4: “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’” I pray that I am there to greet these kids after they are resurrected so that I can teach them about God. And maybe, just maybe, they will say—“Oh, I remember Mrs. Dunkle. She kept the Feast a long time ago!
Questions to Consider: Who are the people that you look forward to teaching God’s truth in the future? How do you think these individuals might feel when they hear the truth of God’s plan for the first time? 14 2017 Teen Festival Handbook
Pioneers in the Faith by Sue Dunkle When I was little I loved to hear the stories that my parents and other Church members would tell about past Feasts of Tabernacles. I was interested to hear of the people they met, the sermons they heard and the many shared meals and activities they enjoyed—along with what it was like in the early years of the Church. Their excitement and enthusiasm about keeping God’s feast days was contagious. As I think of my parents and the other early members of that era of God’s Church—the word “pioneer” comes to mind. Many of us are familiar with that term, meaning, “someone being the first to explore a new land.” It can also be used as a verb meaning “to develop or be the first to use or apply a new method, area of knowledge or activity.” The early members of the modern Church of God did just that—they were excited to be learning the new-found truth of God’s way. Below are a few of the stories of those pioneers.
Leroy and Laura Cole Leroy Cole was 8 years old when he kept his first Feast in 1947. At that time, Belknap Springs, Oregon, was the only Feast site of the Church—then called the Radio Church of God. Mr. Cole remembers that even though he lived only 70 miles from the Feast site, it took most of a day to drive to Belknap Springs! One of his fondest memories is that the hall where services were held overlooked the Mackenzie River. Hanging over the river was a swinging bridge that the kids would have loved to play on, but the adults deemed it too dangerous for the youngsters! Leroy said he would get so excited seeing the big fish jumping out of the water! There were only 60 to 70 people attending the Feast that year. Families brought a lot of their own food, and the Church hired a cook named Mrs. Wallace to prepare all of the meals. The brethren would eat their meals together. Because many of the brethren lived scattered across the country and there were not any local congregations for them to attend regularly, the blessing of little children and many baptisms were conducted during the Feast of Tabernacles. Today, Leroy and his wife Laura Jean live in Pennsylvania and pastor the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, church.
Jekyll Island, Georgia, in the 1960s. During this time the Feast was kept by many in this giant tent. Many pioneers in the faith experienced their first Feast and many after right in this tent.
Angie Smith Born in 1926, Mrs. Angie Smith (wife of long-time elder Ed Smith) first came into the Church in 1952—at that time there was no church in Duncan, Oklahoma, where they lived. So Mr. and Mrs. Smith, along with their two young daughters, drove to Big Sandy, Texas, for their first Sabbath service—the family would repeat this 271-mile journey to attend Holy Day services as well. The Smiths’ first Feast was kept in Big Sandy, Texas, but the construction on the Feast building was not complete. Mrs. Smith remembers: “The building did not have doors on it yet, so the men hung heavy sheets or drapes to help keep the cool air from blowing in!” Another fond memory is that her husband was always concerned about the brethren’s welfare, so they made visits to Piney Woods (a pine-tree forest where many members camped) to see if the brethren needed anything. Such visits usually resulted in the family being invited to share snacks and meals as well as warm fellowship long into the evening! She remembers the people being so happy to just be together! By the early 1960s the Church had grown substantially, and in the United States there were then three Feast sites— Squaw Valley, California; Big Sandy, Texas; and Jekyll Island, Georgia. 2017 Teen Festival Handbook 15
Henry and Wanda Ward Henry and Wanda Ward kept their first Feast in 1966. Because the membership had grown rapidly, the Church began assigning whole congregations to particular Feast sites. That year the Wards were assigned to Jekyll Island, Georgia. Their lodging was also assigned to them—the members did not choose where they stayed during the festival. One memory that stands out to Henry is that they only had $500 in second tithe with which to keep the Feast that year. The Wards had just started attending church in May of that year, yet Mr. Ward said, “God provided more than enough funds to keep the Feast and rejoice that year!” Another vivid memory for the family is of a hurricane that was predicted to hit Jekyll Island during the Feast. One of the ministers asked the 8,000 attendees to pray that God would send the storm back out to sea—and God did! Henry stated: “God heard our prayers, and the storm stayed out at sea and even took a different path than had been forecasted!” In fact, the hurricane did not hit the U.S. until after the Feast had ended! By the 1970s the Church continued to grow and expand, and there were Feast sites around the globe.
Matthew and Lisa Fenchel Matthew Fenchel was 7 years old in 1972 when he kept his first Feast in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. The Fenchel family lived in the state of Washington; however, the closest Feast site for them to attend at that time was in Canada. At the Penticton site, church services were held in a big, circus-like tent. Matt recalls having to wear a heavy winter coat and taking blankets to church services every day because of the cold. One unique item from this period was the introduction of the Feast “bumper stickers” for the cars. Mr. Fenchel remembers this well—the bumper stickers were bright green for most members, and bright orange stickers were for handicapped members. “We would travel in a caravan with some other members and when we would stop to eat or get gas it was always exciting to identify other Church members by those bright bumper stickers,” Matt recalls. Back then people didn’t eat out as much as we do today. However, he remembers taking a special smoked turkey or roast from home so that his family could share a meal with other church members during the Feast. Finally, once Mr. Fenchel was old enough to earn and save second tithe—he especially liked to spend it on video games! He and his friends would go to Chuck E. Cheese, not for the pizza, but instead to play all the latest video games of the time! Currently, Matt and his wife Lisa live in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Matt serves as an elder.
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Sermon Notes
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Sermon Notes
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Sermon Notes
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#ucgfot Share your 2017 Feast of Tabernacles experiences on Twitter and Instagram, and we’ll share them on the UCG Feast website.
United Church of God an International Association