Dear Friends,

Today is the New Moon of the Eighth month. It falls on the fifth day of the week. The Sanctification process begins on the New Year which is on a Sabbath next year on 8 March of the pagan calendar and is thus early and the Lord’s Supper follows on from the Equinox, which is on the 13th day of the First month or March 20 at 07.48.

Thus there are five complete months from today to the New Year. We should develop a study program for the period from now until the Passover. The wall Calendar has a series of papers listed for each month, and the First month of next year (i.e. the 31^st year) is in the Calendar also, with a series of papers listed for the studies of the month over Sanctification to the Lord’s Supper, and the Death of the Lamb Service on 14 Abib.

We should all be preparing now for next year, as it is the Third year of the Sacred Calendar. You should have saved up enough over the last six years to cover your Feast expenses this coming Third year, as the Second Tithe goes to the Third Year fund to assist the needy. These aspects are all covered in the paper Tithing (No. 161).

We have found that God has always provided enough to help the needy over the seven years from one Third Year to the next. Please prepare and provide your funds diligently to the Third Year fund as it is important for the welfare of those less fortunate.

Next Passover we are required to spend the thirty-six hours out of our gates, but we can plan the Passover/Unleavened Bread Feast closer to homes in this year and return to our gates for the rest of the Feast. That does not mean that we can go back to work over the period, as we saw a few do last Third Year. Needless to say they are no longer with us, as it prevented them from membership.

Keeping the Faith is a serious matter and it requires dedication and diligent service. We have obligations to God in the regulation of the Calendar and our observance and we have obligations to each other. Most people can understand the The First Great Commandment (No. 252) but The Second Great Commandment (No. 257) is a little harder to comprehend and keep for some people. Some of us are "small l" liberal and "big S" Selfish.

Please be diligent in the Faith over the coming year. Prepare for it now and discharge your duties as best you can.

Look now at the build-up to the Passover and be dedicated to the work ahead. Use the five months as a period of grace in order for you to develop and grow in the Faith more diligently. For those of you that are not baptised use it as an opportunity to prepare for baptism for the Passover. For those not validly baptised by a CCG-recognised Church of God get rebaptised as it is too late to turn up at the Marriage Supper and find your garment is not acceptable and be thrown out at the last minute (see the paper Trumpets (No. 136)).

Wade Cox
Coordinator General