Hello Everyone:
The Feast of Trumpets is less than a week away with the Day of Atonement following along quickly nine days there after.
This year we will have finished observing the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day even before the month of October actually arrives!
Even though some parts of the country have had a hot and humid extension of the summer season, signs of an early autumn are already appearing here and there.
It is timely to let you know of recent developments in the United Church of God here in Canada. As of September 1, Michael Erickson began working for the church full time. He has been named the pastor of the Prince George, Kelowna and Penticton congregations. Similarly, Patrick Read also began working for the church full time on September 1. He has been named pastor of the Kitchener and London congregations as well as associate pastor of the Hamilton congregation. We are grateful for the increased quantity and quality of service that will consequently be rendered to all of these congregations.
For those who may have missed a previous announcement I wanted to reiterate that Dennis Horlick was named the interim pastor of the Ottawa, Montreal and Sussex congregations. The Horlicks have already been to the Ottawa church for the Sabbath and then, subsequently, to the Montreal church for a Sabbath as well. They are planning to be back in Ottawa for the Feast of Trumpets. They have changed their schedule to be in Moncton for the second half of the feast in order to join the Delongs and Gary Steeves to help serve the brethren who will be keeping the feast in New Brunswick.
In the middle of August the Council of Elders issued an appeal which, in part, reads as follows: “It is the Council’s sincere desire that this process will lead to reconciliation. As this process continues, the Council will strive to be respectful of all parties …. The leading parties in this process request that everyone refrain from inflammatory statements on the internet and in private that would undermine our efforts.” Clearly, 2 Corinthians:5:11 declares that the church has been given “the ministry of reconciliation”. The church must not only preach this important reality, it must also model it.
May this year’s autumn holy days be especially blessed for all of God’s precious people all around the world. May this year’s autumn holy day observance be a turning point, a source of healing, a source of strengthening and genuine reconciliation.
In Christian Sincerity,
Anthony Wasilkoff
