Herbert W Armstrong

We are delighted to announce that copies of Mr. Armstrong's new book "Mystery of the Ages," have been mailed to all English-speaking ministers worldwide! Most of you should receive your copy well before you leave for the Feast of Tabernacles.

It is important that you ministers take the time to read it before the Feast. You should be able to discuss it knowledgeably with the brethren by the time they receive their copies at the various Festival sites. Your positive comments about it, and the fact that you have already read it, will encourage the brethren to read it all the sooner and with greater enthusiasm and interest. (Mr. Armstrong has instructed those of us here, and many of you during the Refreshing Program, to read it once, then read it again! I'm sure he won't mind if I pass along that instruction to all of you. As Mr. Armstrong said, you need to read it again right away, because there is so much in the book that you can't possibly get everything the first time through.)

On the subject of the Feast of Tabernacles, all pastors should make a special point of encouraging everyone in their congregations to attend the opening night service.

So often, it seems, many do not make the extra effort to attend the opening service, thinking it isn't really all that important. But those who miss this service miss out on the inspiration of Mr. Armstrong's opening message, and on a portion of the spiritual orientation they need to keep the Feast properly. The opening night service is important and due emphasis should be placed upon attending it.

We are pleased to be adding Mr. Steve Pelfrey to the U.S field ministry. Mr. and Mrs. Pelfrey, 1976 and 1978 graduates of Ambassador College in Pasadena, have helped to coordinate some of our student projects in Thailand and China, as well as served as a ministerial trainee couple in Glendora, California. Mr. Pelfrey was ordained as a local elder September 3, at the final banquet of the Ministerial Refreshing Program. The Pelfreys will be serving in the Belleville and Mount Vernon, Illinois, congregations with Mr. Dan Creed.

Along with the tape I mentioned in last week's “Pastor General's Report” of Dr. David Albert's sermon on “Fatherhood,” Mr. Armstrong has instructed me to send a copy of Mr. Clint Zimmerman's recent sermon on child rearing, entitled “We Are Teachers Now.” Mr. Armstrong felt that Dr. Zimmerman gave much needed instruction in this sermon that will be of great value to all God's people. Again, this sermon should be played in all congregations during a regular Sabbath service when most people will have the opportunity to hear it. And as with the tape of Dr. Albert's sermon, pastors may wait until a few weeks after the Feast to play it.

This past Monday, September 9, in a discussion with Mr. Aaron Dean and myself, Mr. Herbert Armstrong made the decision that we should no longer allow the acquisition or use of buses or vans for use in local churches. Mr. Armstrong made the decision after reviewing the results of a preliminary meeting in which Messrs. Leroy Neff, Dennis Stauffer, Chris Anderson and myself analyzed our current situation and future considerations.

We realize this will be disappointing for some pastors who have made effective use of buses in their local congregations. But as a result of skyrocketing insurance costs, as well as the inability to purchase satisfactory limits of liability coverage, it is no longer prudent to allow this opportunity.

While we understand the value that a centralized means of transportation affords for various activities, continuing to permit the use of buses and vans represents a serious liability threat to the Church, regardless of whether the insurance is purchased by our Insurance Department or by the church locally (minimum coverage acceptable would be $50 million).

Therefore, effective immediately, no buses or vans are to be purchased for local use and all currently owned buses or vans are to be sold. Insurance coverage will continue on these vehicles until they are sold, but they should no longer be used for any church activities. Please direct all questions to Ministerial Services.

In this issue of the “Pastor General's Report” we are running five important announcements regarding the Feast of Tabernacles. These should be read in all congregations worldwide. (Pastors of some international congregations may sometimes assume that certain announcements do not pertain to them and therefore don't read them to their congregations. Such pastors overlook the instructional value of such announcements for God's people, whether they apply directly or not.)

Finally, I want to ask that each of you pray about one another's speaking assignments at the Feast. Support and back each other through prayer that we might have the most inspiring and spiritually successful Feast yet. Remember also to pray for the success of Mr. Armstrong's live sermon on the first Holy Day. We must all do our part, but it is God who really does the job.

"Mystery of the Ages” Newspaper Article
The following newspaper article was submitted to 4,000 suburban weekly newspaper editors in the United States regarding “Mystery of the Ages.” It is expected to appear in about 10 percent of the papers to which it was submitted. We'd like all U.S. pastors to ask the brethren to notify them of the names of any newspapers they see it in, so that the pastors may then notify us.

**** TO BE READ IN ALL CHURCHES ****

1986 Festival Housing Assignments

Although the Feast of Tabernacles is still weeks away, much planning for next year's Festival has already taken place. One critical factor is housing. Because of the following reasons, we are requesting that all members wait until next spring when the Festival Planner is distributed to make housing reservations for 1986:

So please wait until the Festival Planner is distributed in the spring to make your 1986 Festival housing arrangements. Your cooperation will help make a better Feast for everyone!

Taping of Services at the Feast

Sermons or other parts of services should not be taped by anyone except those appointed by the Church to do so. The same policy applies at the Feast of Tabernacles. Please do not take your tape recorder to the Feast to tape the services, as taping will not be permitted. Those who are unable to attend may request to borrow sermon tapes from their pastors after the Feast.

Taking Pets to the Feast

The Church discourages members taking pets to the Feast. (The obvious exception would be seeing-eye dogs or those animals trained to aid the deaf.) If you cannot make arrangements to leave pets with a friend, in a kennel or at home, then you must arrange in advance with your hotel or motel to have pets in your room. However, any damage or other problems caused by the pets are your responsibility. In no way can the Church be involved or held responsible.

Family Togetherness at Feast of Tabernacles

Throughout the year family members of God's Church tend to function separately because of the demands of jobs, schools and other daily responsibilities and activities. But God's Feast of Tabernacles is a time for families to draw closer together as we worship Him.

Accordingly, it would seem only natural for parents and their children to want to sit together in services as they listen to God's ministers preach from His Word. Parents should therefore make sure that their teens and younger children sit with them.

Of course, it would be fine for teens or younger children to sit with their friends occasionally, provided parents of the friends are also there. However, unsupervised teens should not sit together in groups, as this hinders their attention to the messages and prevents family togetherness. Other problems have resulted from this practice in the past-­ problems that parents and teens should strive to avoid this year by sitting together.

When we come before God as a family, He will bless us individually and as a family. This is because worshiping God in this way glorifies the One who created family life for a great purpose. Let's do everything we can during this festival season to draw our families together!

**** TO BE READ IN ALL CHURCHES ****
ON SEPTEMBER 21

On-site Festival Assistance

— Joseph Tkach, Ministerial Services