Local Announcements: 

Sabbath Services for September 28th, 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. Dan Apartian
          Sermonette: none
          Sermon: Mr. Rick Shabi (video)
          Bible Study: Mr. Nathan Ekama

Upcoming Events:
          Oct 3rd: Day of Trumpets, 10:30am & 2:30pm @ Comfort Inn
          Oct 5th: Sabbath services, 12:30pm @ Freedom Hall
          Oct 5th: Memorial for Ben & Wanda Gentry, 3:00pm @ Freedom Hall
          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.

Adult Choir: For those participating in the choir, there will be a practice before services at 12:30pm this Sabbath.

Children’s Choir: The Children’s Choir is performing this weekend, September 28th. Their sound check is tomorrow at 1:00pm. Please be at services by 1:00pm, ready to sing.

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

Feast of Trumpets Service: On the Feast of Trumpets (October 3rd) we will have a double service at 10:30am and 2:30pm at the Comfort Inn & Suites (201 East Ashland Street, Morton, IL 61550). As is commanded in Scripture, we will be taking up an offering on this day. If you would like to bring your meal for between the services or bring food to the Comfort Inn for lunch, there will be some tables set up for our use.

Memorial Service for Ben & Wanda Gentry: On October 5th, there will be a memorial service for Ben and Wanda Gentry. The memorial service will begin after services at 3:00pm at the Morton Freedom Hall followed by a shared meal. If you have any photos that you would like to share for a memorial slideshow of Ben or Wanda Gentry, please get those to Annie Radebaugh by September 29th.

Feast Homebound: Some of our local members will be unable to attend the Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day. If you would like their addresses in order to send them a card or drop them a note, please see Mr. Ekama or you can print the addresses off of the emailed announcements.

Springfield Bible Study: The next monthly Bible Study in the Springfield area will be on the Sabbath of November 9th 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 November 9th. It will take place about 10 minutes after services in the back room.

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.

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: Details about any 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.