March 1935 Church Bulletin - Herbert W Armstrong

 

The BULLETIN of the CHURCHES OF GOD IN OREGON


VOL. III. NO. 1 March 1935


Address news letters to Herbert W. Armstrong, editor, at 560 Fourth Ave., West, Eugene, Ore.



THE LORD'S SUPPER AND DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD ARE HERE!

The most solemn and sacred occasion of the year, the observance of the Lord's Supper, will take place on Tuesday night, April 16th. This is the eve, or beginning of Abib 14th of the sacred calendar, which is April 17th. Jeans, Alvadore, and Eugene churches will combine for the occasion, meeting at the home of the editor in Eugene, at 560 Fourth Avenue, West. The editor will officiate, assisted by the deacons, E. E. Fisher, and W. M. Conn. Elder Ray will officiate at Oregon City, Elder Stewart at Salem, and Elder Severson at Harrisburg. We are unable to announce the places of meeting in these cities, but the brethren at each place will probably know, or can learn, where to go. Let all the brethren examine themselves, being sure that none partake of this sacred ordinance unworthily. If any feels unworthy, the Word does not excuse him from taking the supper, but rather: "Let a man EXAMINE himself, and so let him EAT of that bread, and DRINK of that cup." All are COMMANDED to observe it. Let us seek the Lord very earnestly. The Annual Sabbath Days

In connection with the Lord's Supper, or Passover, comes the SEVEN DAYS of UNLEAVENED BREAD, with the two annual holy days, or Sabbaths. All brethren should put all leaven out of their houses during this period. April 17th, or the period from sun-set Tuesday night until sunset Wednesday night, is the Passover and the Preparation for the annual High Day Sabbath. See John 19:14,31. April 18th, beginning Wednesday sunset until Thursday sunset, is the 15th of Abib---the annual "high day sabbath." "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an HOLY CONVOCATION": (the annual "high day" sabbath of John 19:31): "ye shall do no servile work therein . . . in the seventh day is an HOLY CONVOCATION: ye shall do no servile work therein." (Lev. 23: 5-8). "And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread . . . by an ordinance FOREVER." (Ex. 12:17). "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us KEEP THE FEAST." (I Cor. 5: 7,8). The "feast" is the annual holyday. See margin. The Church of God in the first century DID observe the entire seven days of unleavened bread. (Acts 20:6; 12:3,4). Therefore we must, today. They also continued to observe the other annual Sabbaths. (Acts 20:16; 18:21; I Cor. 16:8; Acts 27:9, see margin ---Day of Atonement.) Since all these annual Sabbath days were commanded to be kept FOREVER, and since I Cor. 5:8 commands the NEW Testament Church to KEEP the coming annual "high day" Sabbath, or "feast," and since SEVEN DIFFERENT NEW TESTAMENT TEXTS show the Church of God under Paul's supervision DID observe them, WE SHOULD DO IT NOW! The fact that some of us have not "seen" this in the past will not excuse us before such plain instruction in the Bible, any more than the fact that Sunday people never kept the Sabbath or "saw" it in the past will justify them in continuing in profaning the weekly Sabbath, after the light of God's Word has come. Let US be as honest as we think others should be! Many have believed Col. 2:16 abolishes the annual Sabbaths, but it does not. The "Sabbaths" here spoken of are the WEEKLY Sabbaths! Honestly study those texts, describing the MEAT AND DRINK OFFERINGS held ON THE annual sabbaths, monthly new moons, and weekly Sabbaths: Nu. 28:3-4,9-10,11,16-17; 26-27; Nu. 29:1-2; 7-9;12-14; Then I Chron. 23:31; II Chron 2:4; 8:13; 31:3; Neh. 10:33; Ezek. 45:17; Col 2:17. You will see that ALL these texts speak of the MEAT AND DRINK OFFERINGS held ON the annual, the monthly, and the weekly days. Now notice marginal reference for word "respect" in Col 2:16. It says "part." The Greek word is "morei" and lexicons define it as "sacrificial meat part." So this text is only abolishing MEAT AND DRINK ORDINANCES held on these days. Let us praise God for the TRUTH! Let all the brethren put all leaven out of their houses beginning Wednesday evening, April 17th, until sunset Wednesday April 24th. Let all cease work on the two "high" Sabbaths, Thursday April 18th, and Wednesday April 24th, beginning sunset the night before. Many have not done this in the past. It is hoped all will be DOERS of this truth not profaning ANY of God's HOLY DAYS!

ELDER SEVERSON COMES TO OREGON

Elder Ed Severson, from Oklahoma, has moved with his family to Oregon to take up evangelistic work in northern Oregon and Washington, especially among the Scandinavian people of that section. Elder Severson has spoken at all-day meetings held at Alvadore, February 9th, the day after his arrival, and at Jeans February 23, and at Harrisburg March 30, so most of the brethren of the state have been privileged to hear him. At the present Brother Severson is conducting a meeting at Ingram Island school house, about two miles north-west of Noraton school, and between Harrisburg and Monroe. Good interest is reported. We ask all the brethren to pray earnestly for the success of his effort there, that many will be led into Christ and into the whole truth of the Word of God.



WORK PROGRESSING IN EUGENE SECTOR

We praise God for the harvest He has given in the Eugene sector, where three new churches have been raised up, nearly altogether of new members, during the past eighteen months. Under the three-point campaign started by the editor the first of last year---including the radio campaign, the Plain Truth magazine, and the evangelistic campaigns, this work continues to progress. We have received about as many letters at the radio studio, from listeners, during the first three months of this year as were received all of last year. This mail indicates the radio audience has almost doubled since last Summer, and now about 8,000 to 10,000 people are in the large invisible audience every Sunday. For the past seven weeks we have been preaching on God's Holy Law. The current issue of The Plain Truth is the largest ever issued, and goes out to about 200 new homes. The editor plans to open a new evangelistic campaign within a few days, in either Springfield, where we have a large radio following, or at Clear Lake school house, near Alvadore. Please PRAY, very earnestly, for this campaign. Tithes and offerings to keep this big campaign, now reaching many thousands, going, have slowed up considerably the past two months, and this whole campaign will have to stop unless the brethren come quickly to the rescue. GOD HAS BLESSED THIS WORK with the largest harvest ever experienced in Oregon. Shall we let a work thus approved of God stop?


 

ALL-DAY MEETINGS CONTINUE TO BLESS

The March all-day meeting, held the 30th at Harrisburg, was blessed with the largest attendance ever enjoyed there. The April meeting will be held at Alvadore, our newest church being host for the second time. It is hoped to break all attendance records. The meeting starts at 10: A.M., April 27th. Everyone COME!

LETTERS FROM THE BRETHREN

"Dear Readers, and all saints scattered abroad: "Grace be unto you and peace from God your Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. "I praise God for having given me victory over sin and the longer I serve God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the more I can appreciate the great sacrifice His beloved Son has made for us on the cross. We can show our appreciation to Christ to the greatest extent by our every-day living. Christ said we are to be followers of Him, and to walk in His steps; and as we stop to think and examine ourselves, how many times have we fallen short? "Since accepting Him, we have gotten beside HIS path, and into rough paths before we knew it. Dear readers, when we realize that we are not as earnest and sincere, after some time in our Christian walk, and have taken liberty in the flesh, which lusteth against the Spirit, we must go back in an humble manner and pick up our cross where we left it. "Now one may say 'if the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed.' Yes, praise God. He is able to make us FREE from our sins, but it does not give us freedom to fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Read Paul's instruction in Gal. 5:13,19,21. "Let us not permit the devil to hinder us, but do as Paul said in Phil. 3:13,14. Satan will tempt in our weakest points, but let us not fear, for thru Christ we can obtain victory over sin. 'In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.' (John 16:35). It takes a greater power than our own moral goodness. 'For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our FAITH.' (I Jno. 5:4,5). "May God grant thru His great mercy and love that we all may be overcomers and heirs of the great promise in Rev. 21:7. So let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, and give the same testimony Jesus gave, 'I come to do THY will, O God.' Greetings to all the saints. ---Eva McGill. Jet City.

"Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: "Only a few words from Chula Vista California. Bro. Severson has been here, and a few are interested in the Commandments, and the last two Sabbaths we have met in a vacant house, about ten present. And Oh, I am so happy to have someone else that believes as we do and as the word of God teaches. The harvest is great, and the laborers few. 'WATCH YE, therefore, and PRAY ALWAYS, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.' (Luke 21:36). Now may the Lord bless one and all in His vineyard, that souls may be saved. And PRAY FOR US. Your sister in the blessed Hope in Christ. ---Bessie J. Ellis.

Young People's Meeting is held every Friday night, at the home of the editor. Attendance has increased to about 15. Alvadore Church holds prayer meeting every Tuesday night at different homes.