WestRock Family News for March 17, 2013
2013-03-17 · Source: tparents.org
March 17, 2013 Era of the Victory, Liberation, and Completion of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind
Weekly Greeting Table of Contents Dear Brothers and Sisters,
. Weekly greeting Greetings! and Testimonies This past Friday I returned from a trip to Las Vegas where the District Pastors met with . Sermon Notes Dr Yang, Bishop Kim (our new Continental Director), and Dr Michael Balcomb. Also present were representatives from WFWP, ACLC, and UPF. . Light Thought for I wanted to provide you with a brief report with a few of the key points: the day Dr Yang . Testimony We have been through a crisis period, but with crisis comes opportunity. Always a price is paid before a new level of development is reached. A lot of “price” has . Providential News been paid over the last few months– now there is an opportunity for us to develop. The significance of Foundation Day: 1. Conclusion of the history of restoration . Quote for the Week 2. The launch of a new era – the era of True Mother’s leadership
. Announcements 3. Starting point of Cheon il Guk
4. The center of the new providence is Tribal Messiahship
From now on – Holy Blessing Ceremony of marriage will take place once a year, around the anniversary time of Foundation Day Coming 7 years – 2020 providence leading up to True Father’s 100th birthday and True Mother’s 77th birthday. During this time True Mother is directly overseeing the activities in Korea, Japan, and USA. Dr Yang and Peter Kim have been meeting with True Mother every day at 7 am for 1 or 2 hours. When difficult issues come or if there is uncertainty, True Mother will excuse herself and go to the room where True Father meditated and prayed to consult with True Father . She then returns with clear guidance. Korea has gone through a restructuring. Many younger members are now in leadership positions (50% of leaders were changed). Summit Conference will be held every 2 years (next one is in 2015)
Bishop Kim In order to establish the substantial Cheon Il Guk, we need to create a balance between our focus on our Blessed Families (our vertical alignment – vertical education, worship, experiencing 4 great realms of heart, hoondok Home Church, building model families and Blessed Family community) and reaching out to our communities (horizontal establishment – spreading our philosophy through education, service activities, expanding home church, spreading true families and the culture of heart). We need both – Foundation of Faith (Blessed Families) and Foundation of Substance (activities that extend out, - service activities, UPF programs, etc.) Our primary focus is on teaching and conveying the fundamental content of the Divine Principle (through activities such the OSDP workshops).
On the 2nd day, Bishop Kim expressed: 1. How important it is for us to understand that Father is the Messiah. Without that knowledge we will lose power
2. We must understand how blessed we are.
3. When we are asked to contribute manpower to other places we should not think that we are losing something. We need to think that this will enable God to bless us more.
4. Our 2nd generation youth need to be allowed to go through trials and difficulties. They can’t advance without that kind of experience.
5. We will become a mainline church.
6. We need to keep a positive attitude.
Dr Michael Balcomb He shared with us how True Mother, when she first agreed to wed True Father, made a determination that she would complete the work of restoration. Yes, there have been many problems – and if we want, we can look back at them, but Foundation Day is about forgiveness and looking forward. He encouraged us to work in our Districts to make a strategic plan. On the second day, he guided us through a study on Church Growth, that was conducted using information from 5,000 churches. The results were very interesting. I hope to share the results with everyone in the near future. The main point is that we want to understand what it is that we need to do to become a healthy-growing church community that is impacting the society around us.
District Pastors: We each shared our 3 greatest opportunities and our 3 greatest challenges. The good news is that, despite the numerous challenges, we have incredible assets – we have True Parents, we have God’s word, we have each other, amazing members – great men and women who are Blessed and who possess great faith and ability. In addition, we have passed beyond the history of restoration. The way is open for us, as we go beyond Foundation Day, to build God’s kingdom on earth in our homes and in our communities – and as the elder son nation in the world.
Dr Balcomb conveyed to us the goal for USA – which is to double our membership. Each of us needs to invest ourselves in order to bring one person.
Finally – all members should check out the new UC magazine. The word is out that it is really good. I want to encourage us all to get a one year subscription.
I, together with our local pastors will be working on a strategic plan. Please take time to talk with the members of your family, with your friends, with your small group teams, and with your local pastor – and consider True Mother’s directions and the content that I have shared here. I look forward to making a plan and working together with you. Let’s make it happen!
God Bless You
Andrew Compton
This Sunday Rev Compton gave a sermon at Belvedere on “Unity.” If you would like to listen to it you can go on line to https://soundcloud.com/pastor-andrew/sermon-03-17- 2013-compton (Click the orange button on the upper left)
Light Thought for the Day
A man died and went to heaven, where he met St. Peter sitting at a desk in the middle of a great hall. On the walls were millions of clocks.
“What are those used for?” he asked. St. Peter said, “There’s one of them for every living person on Earth ticking out the days of their lives.”
The newcomer noticed that the hands of some of the clocks were moving faster than others. “Why do they move at different speeds,” he asked. St. Peter said, “Every time you tell a lie you lose one hour of your life and your clock speeds up.”
The newcomer looked around and then asked, “Do you have one of these for my congressman?”
St. Peter answered, “Sure! It’s in the back room. We use it for a ceiling fan.”
Testimonies/reports
If you have a testimony or report to share please send it to me. The one below is from Rev Tom Corley, our pastor in Long Island.
Providential News
I heard that True Mother is in Hawaii and is planning to come to the continental US soon. The National Council will have their first meeting at 43rd Street in Manhattan, NY this weekend, March 23-24.
Quote for the Week
The essence of the beautiful is unity in variety. W. Somerset Maugham
Announcements
Announcements
Outreach OSDP/Bible Study: at the White House, the next study will be Monday, March 18. We will also have a bible study on Monday, March 25th. ACLC Prayer Breakfast: Sponsored by UTS at 43rd Street in Manhattan will take place Saturday March 23 at 9:00 am. Archbishop Stallings will be the speaker. WFWP Lunch and Learn: Sunday March 24th at the White House at 12pm. Outreach Meeting: We welcome all members to join us Sunday, March 31st, at 12pm at the White House. This is for people who are interested in participating in outreach activites.
Community Easter Egg Hunt and BBQ: we are looking for members to be on the planning committee. If you are interested please contact Rev Compton. Parent’s Matching Your Children: Meeting: If you are interested in matching your children, please join us on Saturday, March 23 from 11am - 1:30pm, at the White House. Lunch will be served and the cost will be $5 per person. Please contact David Okamoto or Diana Perkins if you would like to attend. Middle School Workshop: will be held March 26 – 28 at 43rd Street. The theme is Life of Faith: A Journey. If you are interested please contact Toby Gullery
WestRock Prayer by Conference Call: Sunday 7:45 to 8:10 am All are welcome. Prayer Continues for Jiau-Lan Weinstein: she is still fighting to overcome cancer. Also please pray for Laura Nabetani: her condition seems to have worsened some more, let our prayers give her strength.
Next Ahn Shi Il: Wednesday, March 27, 2013
MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!