WestRock Family News for August 3, 2014

Let us become true owners of Cheon il Guk who practice true love in resemblance to our Creator, the Heavenly Parent!

Important Happenings Around the World

TRUE MOTHER: She concluded the DP workshop for our youth in Hawaii. I believe she is back in Korea

SPECIAL DAYS FOR THE FAMILY FEDERATION WORLDWIDE:

 Next Ahn Shi Il is on Tuesday, Aug. 5  2nd Anniversary of True Father’s Seong Hwa will take place in Korea on Tuesday, Aug 12.  Members are encouraged to participate by joining in through the live broadcast on Monday evening, Aug. 11. Details to be announced

HERE IN AMERICA:

USA Holy Ground, God’s Hope for America Pilgrimage Tour, has concluded. Now, each local community needs to take the spirit of the tour and put it into action.

IN NY DISTRICT: Sport Festival in Barrytown, begins Wed evening Aug 6 and concludes Sunday Aug 10

AND IN WESTROCK: 1-Day Divine Principle Workshop: Saturday, August 23 Divine Principle Study & Discussion: held Mondays, 7:30-9pm at the White House.

The Sermon this Week (and last week) If you missed the sermon at Belvedere this Sunday by Andrew Compton, here are 2 videos, part 1 Those things that don’t change, and part 2 – Fundamentals of our Faith. Part 1: http://vimeo.com/102783700 Pat 2: http://vimeo.com/102788387

Pastor’s Weekly Greeting Greetings everyone!

I thought it would be good to hear from our President, Dr Michael Balcomb, on the conclusion of the God’s Hope for America Tour:

(This is from his facebook page) BLESS ALL MY CHILDREN Within just seconds of concluding the 48-state, 43-day, 55-Holy Ground pilgrimage, I felt the urgent voice of True Father ringing in my heart, asking the question: “So, what are we going to do now?” The answer I received is very clear and almost embarrassingly simple. In Father’s oft-repeated words, we “have to become small Reverend Moons, small True Parents, take on that mission and perfect it.” In other words, what we have to do now, to revive and expand our American Unification movement, is to do exactly what True Parents did when they began their mission to the United States, and to bring that work to successful completion. Father and Mother spent their entire lives witnessing to the love and truth of God. They spoke and talked about it every day without exception. They delivered the Word in major events and in hundreds of public speeches; and Father in particular shared intimately and directly at the meal table, at church, on the boat, on the road, and in every conceivable way. Today, our True Mother is doing the same, with much appreciated focus and conciseness. She is asking us to do the same. And so, at every Holy Ground, we’ve been asking the congregation to honestly answer this question: “Did you witness today? Did you testify today? Did you share the blessing of God today, not yesterday, not simply planning to do it tomorrow?”

For too many of us, the answer is “no.” We didn’t share today, yesterday, last week, or even last month. For some it has been years. But without doing this there is no way for God to bring the hoped-for Pentecost, awakening and revival in the United States and throughout the world. Let us be clear: Each one of us has to make a pledge and a determination to share the blessings we have received with at least one other person every day. We have to do it because we want to, because we can’t help it, because the truth cannot be contained, and because it simply not just for us, never was. What we don’t have to do is worry about the results or the outcome of that sharing. A large part of what happens next is God’s responsibility, some of it is the other person’s responsibility. We are simply called to plant the seeds, and God, or others, will help provide the water and the aftercare. Yet the honest reality—confirmed a the thin show of hands in every state and every city—is that as a movement and a church family we have NOT been paying attention to this simple but fundamental duty. Until this pilgrimage began, I wasn’t even doing it myself. Now I am, and I can feel the difference. I am absolutely convinced that once we all start doing it, everything will change. There’s one more thing: we have to share the Blessing of True Parents with the world. Father and Mother have made it very clear, time and again, that the Blessing is the gateway to salvation to being freed from the sinful lineage of history and being grafted into God’s True Family, and take our destined place as His True Sons and Daughters. We’ve neglected this too. Yes, it’s true that fifteen years ago we made great efforts to share the Blessing in external, symbolic ways. During this pilgrimage, I actually met many devoted members who had shared the Blessing in this way with hundreds and even thousands of Americans. Yet all admitted that the real transformational power of the Blessing had not yet been properly conveyed. Many said that they no longer felt worthy or capable of sharing the Blessing of God. It is vitally important for us to recognize and understand what is and is not our responsibility. We may indeed feel—I certainly often do—that we are far from worthy or sufficient to share the Blessing. That is the blunt truth. We may be hedged around with doubts and fears. It may even seem that our conscience is telling us that we just aren’t qualified, and we shouldn’t try to pretend to others that we are. But what True Father told me in Eugene yesterday was that none of that really matters. “It’s not your blessing I’m asking you to share,” he said. “It is God’s blessing, it is True Parents’ blessing. That blessing remains pure, effective and essential, today and forever.” “Nothing you can do can ever add or subtract from that blessing, he continued. “But you can and you must multiply that blessing, and that is the only way you and your families, America and the world can be saved and liberated.” God, our Heavenly Parent, told me that as soon as we have made that determination or redetermination, in a way that He can trust, He will show us what to do and how to do it, and He will quickly send all the people needed to finish the task. So what are we waiting for?

God Bless You and your Family! (and don’t forget to make it a great week!) Andrew Compton

Prayer Requests

 Laura Nabetani is now at home – and doing better. Thank you all for your prayers!

 Jiau-Lan Weinstein

 Moses Kiely – 3 years old, grandson of Michael and Maria Kiely, diagnosed with leukemia

Testimonies/Reports

If you have a testimony or report to share please send it to me (comptonfamily@yahoo.com).

Light Thought for the Day:

The Writing on the Wall After arriving home from work, I found out that Courtney, our six- year-old daughter, had written on the washroom wall at school.

I talked to Courtney about the importance of respecting others and their property. Then I asked her how it was discovered that she’d written on the wall.

“I don’t know, Daddy,” she said.

After reading her a bedtime story that night, I asked again if she had any idea how the teacher had known for sure who had written on the wall.

“I don’t know, Daddy,” Courtney again replied.

Then I asked what she’d written.

“My name,” she said.

Announcements: Announcements

 1-Day Divine Principle Workshop: Saturday, August 23, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at the White House in Tarrytown. Fee is $20  DP Study & Discussion at the White House: Monday evenings 7:30 PM.

 True Father’s 2nd Seong Hwa Anniversary: we will show the broadcast at Belvedere on Aug. 11. Time – most likely 8 am. Watch your emails for details.

 Sunday, Aug 17 the WestRock Council will meet after Sunday service.

 Sunday, Aug 17 there will be a BBQ and sharing to celebrate the conclusion of the God’s Hope for America Tour, after Sunday service

 The Second Annual Eric Holt Memorial Golf Outing will be held on Sunday, Aug 31 at the Rockland Lake NY Golf Course following Sunday Service at Belvedere. Eric was an avid golfer and this was his favorite golf venue. Those interested in participating should contact Noah Ross

 2015 Recruitment of the 3rd Class of UPA Cadets

1. May the blessings and love of the Heavenly Parent and True Parents be with all regions and mission nations. 2. Since its establishment in the first year of Cheon Il Guk, Universal Peace Academy has put unceasing effort into educating young leaders of CIG who will guide the providence with spirit and truth in accordance with True Parents’ special directions. This is to announce the recruitment of the 3rd enrolling class of UPA cadets.

1. Qualification for application

Area of Recruitment Recruitment Quota Graduate school students: 00 3rd Class of UPA Cadets Language school students: 00 o A Unification church (reserve cadets) member with a model life of faith, good physical health, and a clear understanding of the providence o Graduation from a 4-year university, or having earned a degree of equal or higher status o Born after January 1, 1975 (Below 39 years old) o Neat personal demeanor, and without physical or mental handicaps

2. Application period August 1 ~ August 31, 2014.

3. Selection test and admission o On-site Candidate Selection Camp (Nations and regions abroad) Period: September 1 ~ Middle of October, 2014. o On-site Candidate Selection Camp in Korea(3 days 2 nights) Period: October 3 ~ 5, 2014. (The place will be announced later) o * The selection camp will be held internationally (2 days 1 night, or 3 days 2 nights). Determined after consulting with the headquarters of each nation. o Entrance exam: DP test, English language test, physical ability test, Korean language test (foreigners only), in-depth interview

o < style=”text-align:left;color:black;font-family:바탕,serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font- weight:normal;margin-top:0cm;margin-bottom:0pt;” >： www.upa1920.org * Recruitment information and application form available for download at homepage o Announcement of successful candidates: Scheduled at the end of October 2014.

4. Scholarship Tuition fee, dormitory fee, UPA uniforms and all educational expenses covered through True Parents’ scholarship, with the condition to fulfill the 3 year course and graduation requirements

5. Contact Tel. : +82-31-589-1580 (Vice Director Sungwoon Choi) E-mail: upa1@daum.net Address: 324-211 Misari-ro, Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do [477-852]

Apology Campaign: - The goal is 1,200 signatures per district. - We need to go beyond our membership to secure this goal. - The apology document is on the website https://familyfed.org/danburyapology/ (The pdf is attached again for printing if needed).

 Special Offering for the 2nd Anniversary of True Father’s Seonghwa

- Each individual and family is asked to donate $120 and $210 respectively. - Donations should be made to the local church by August 1. - National Memorial Service is planned for Sep. 20 in New York. Families and individuals, who wish to do so, are encouraged to double this donation to support the national event.

Ken Weinstein has an available apartment for rent from September 1st. He lives in Peekskill. If you are interested, his number is 845-667-1498

Make it a Great Week!