Welcome home to those of you who have returned from traveling. All reports so far indicate that this was yet another blessed and uplifting Feast. We need to give God the glory, and I know we all want to say “thank you” to those who worked hard for our benefit and enjoyment – wherever we were able to “keep the Feast.”
We are hearing of a concerning number of Covid cases from Oxnard and other sites. Please be extra cautious both with your own health care and quarantining if you are unwell. Although it is a milder form, it is not something to be taken lightly.
Some questions have arisen as a result of our participation with COGWA in keeping the Feast of Tabernacles. Does this mean that COGWA and TFC are joining together? Why did Mr. Horchak of COGWA speak at the TFC Feast site?
The short answer to joining together is “no.” We are not moving to join with another organization.
Let me remind us all of the two main goals we set as what became TFC began. Quoting from our website, firstly, to develop an understanding of how our Father intends His shepherds to nurture and feed Christ’s flock in accord with the spiritual nature of governance (Ezekiel 34:1–4).
Secondly, to define a ministry of reconciliation — firstly, within the ministry itself and, secondarily, to seek reconciliation of the scattered flock — mending relationships with God and each other (2 Corinthians 5:17–20).
Both of these goals were bound up in this year’s Feast of Tabernacles.
From the beginning, we have wanted to lower the boundaries between organizations and for the members of the spiritual body to have more unity. Last Unleavened Bread, we held a combined service with the local UCG group. The pastor and I gave split sermons. A few weeks later, we held another combined service, but this time with the local COGWA group. Again, the local pastor and I gave split sermons. On the Feast of Trumpets, I was asked to help out with COGWA services as the pastor had been sent to Alaska. The head of media in COGWA — Clyde Kilough, and his wife came as guest speaker. They stayed here with us in our home. I spoke in TFC in the morning and then drove over to COGWA and spoke in the afternoon. It was seamless.
We are not integrating at the organizational level but at the member level – and the local members like it. I reached out to the COGWA leadership to consider sharing a Feast site here in California. They had concerns but agreed for any of their members who could not travel to their out-of-state sites, to visit with us. Doug Horchak volunteered to visit and speak, which we readily accepted in the spirit of reconciliation. We had members from many different organizations and from a number of independent groups, including COG 7th Day. It was a wonderful Feast.
One person asked what we envision will be the circumstances in a couple of years’ time. Hopefully, there will be more members prepared with a stronger spiritual foundation for the work Christ has in store for the Church.
As Mr. Armstrong said many times – the Church is a spiritual organism, not an organization.
Brian Orchard
