Local Announcements: 

Sabbath Services for August 31st, 2023: This week's Sabbath will be held at the Freedom Hall  (349 W Birchwood St, Morton, IL 61550) @ 1:30pm. The services will also be webcast on our local congregational website​ (link for local webcast) as well as offered via audio only for those who would like to call in (701.791.9819). These connections typically go live about 15-minutes prior to the start of services.
          Song Leader: Mr. Patrick Kurtas
          Split-sermon: Mr. Nathan Ekama
          Split-sermon: Mr. Nathan Ekama

Upcoming Events:
          Sep 14th: Sabbath services, 1:30pm @ Comfort Inn
          Oct 3rd: Day of Trumpets, 10:30am & 2:30pm @ Comfort Inn
          Oct 12th: Day of Atonement, 1:30pm @ Freedom Hall
          Oct 17th-24th: Feast of Tabernacles & 8th Day, (No local services)
          Oct 26th: No local services

Excused Absence Forms: If you are in need of an Excused Absence Form for the Fall holy days, please let me know. I can deliver them in electronic or paper form.

Congregational Photo: After services we will take a congregational photo to share for the Smith’s recognition. For any individual or family who would like to have photos taken for the online directory, that will be an option after the congregational photo.

Springfield Bible Study: The next monthly Bible Study in the Springfield area will be on the Sabbath of September 14th at the Curran Township building (6220 Moffet Street, Curran, IL 62670) at 10:00am.

Sabbath School: Our next Sabbath School is scheduled for the Sabbath of September 14th. It will take place about 10 minutes after services in the back room.

September 14th Sabbath: On the Sabbath of September 14th we will not be meeting for services at our normal location. Sabbath services on September 14th will be at 1:30pm at the Comfort Inn & Suites (201 East Ashland Street, Morton, IL 61550).

Recognition of Gary & Liz Smith: This December, the Houston congregation will be recognizing Mr. Gary Smith and his wife Liz for 40 years of service to God's people. Mr. Smith served here in Central Illinois (Peoria) as a local elder and Associate Pastor from September 1977 through July 1985. If you have any memories of the time that Mr. Smith served here, any pictures of the Smiths, or any pictures of the congregation from that time that you would like to share, please get in touch with Nathan Ekama. We will also be taking a congregational photo to send on August 31st. Please make sure that all items you want to share are sent by September 15th.

Choir Practice: For those participating in the choir, there will be a practice before services at 12:30pm on Sep 28th.

Central Illinois Bible Study: Our next monthly Bible Study will be on the Sabbath of September 28th. We will continue our study of the Book of Obadiah about 15-minutes after services. If you are not able to join us in person, here are a few ways that you can join our Bible Study:
          - Here is the link to access our Bible Study via our local webcast.
          - Here is the phone number to call for an audio-only connection: 701.791.9819

Congregational Directory: If you have not yet signed onto the online congregational directory, created your account, or would like some help with getting your contact information and/or picture uploaded, please feel free to reach out and ask Nathan Ekama, Dan Apartian, or Patrick & Sandy Kurtas for a hand.

Health & Safety Protocols: We ask that any who exhibit symptoms of illness practice the biblical principle of quarantine.

Home Office Announcements:

Daily Bible Reading Program: We’d like to announce a special daily bible reading program for all. God encourages us all to read His Word that we would hear and learn (Deuteronomy 31:12). As His people, united by His Spirit and led by our Savior, Jesus Christ, all of us around the world will read the book of Deuteronomy together as we prepare for the Feast. 
Here is a link from the home page of UCG.org to the chapter to be read that day, along with the commentary from our own United Church of God Bible Commentary (https://www.ucg.org/members/news/daily-bible-reading-the-book-of-deuteronomy).
This is a wonderful opportunity for daily Bible reading and study. If you have a family, be sure to read the chapter and commentary together, and discuss it with your mate and children, following the teachings of Deuteronomy 6. Let’s take advantage of this unifying activity as the entire Church throughout the world reads and meditates on the same passages each day.  
May God bless us as we draw near to Him and focus on His Word in preparation for the upcoming Holy Days.

Feast of Tabernacles Registration: Registration for the Feast of Tabernacles is open. You are welcome to register for your preferred site, unless it is already closed/full. Housing reservations can be made for all sites.

Teen Instagram Account: We are using the existing Compass Check account to share encouraging and fun spiritually uplifting content, including Q&A’s, updates on local events and special sneak peeks of ongoing projects. We would also encourage feedback of content you would like to see. This project is specifically for our youth, and we want to hear from you! Make sure to follow us at compasscheck on Instagram (instagram.com/compasscheck) and DM us for any more info, suggestions and questions.

Light of Hope Helpline: The United Church of God is providing a new service available to its ministry and members. Light of Hope is a helpline supported by Church members who are licensed social workers, counselors and other clinical professionals.
They will provide mental health and addiction resources to those in need including individual, couple, family and teen consultation. These specialists will also assist in connecting people in need with appropriate resources in their communities while keeping all information confidential.
The Light of Hope helpline is available at any time. When you call, it will initially record your message so that one of our professionals can respond within 24 hours. This service is also provided in several different languages including Spanish, French and German.
Light of Hope also plans to develop online materials on a variety of topics such as depression, anxiety, stress management, suicidal thoughts, communication skills, problem solving strategies, teen issues, parenting issues, etc.
The helpline number is (888) 241-6211.

Prayer Updates: The home office has created a web page where church members may access recent church-wide prayer requests at any time. The address is register.ucg.org/intranet/PrayerRequests and the password for the page may be obtained from your pastor.

Job Opportunities: The United Church of God is accepting job applications for a number of positions. Details about all of the current job postings for the Church may be reviewed at ucg.org/members/news/current-job-openings.

Beyond Today: Beyond Today airs locally in Illinois (Springfield/Decatur/Champaign) on WICD 15 ABC, Sundays at 10:00 a.m..
          **BT content is also available via our YouTube channel and via Roku and other smart devices.**

Online UCG Radio from Australia for the whole world: The online radio station for United Church of God is now streaming 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. You can listen to booklet and magazine readings, Bible readings, Bible Q&As, sermons, Bible class lectures, podcasts, the BT Daily series, music and more! A radio schedule in PDF can be downloaded which will show you upcoming programs. You can reach it easily on your computer at https://www.ucg.org.au/radio or from the UCG Streaming Radio app that allows you to listen on your mobile device. Simply search your app store for "UCG Radio" to install the free app.