Nearly 400 families from across the United States will gather for the annual Feast of Tabernacles at Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel and Convention Center on Oct. 13-20. This is the first year in some time that the church has met in Chattanooga for the Festival and plans are underway for 2012 and 2013.
Minister James Sweat, Feast site coordinator for the Charlotte, N.C.-based church, explains that members will take part in daily worship services, family-oriented gatherings, and social activities that will take them to many of the Chattanooga area’s recreational facilities, restaurants and natural attractions.
One noteworthy feature of the church’s observance is that, in keeping with the Biblical command, members set aside about ten percent of their annual income to spend at these annual festivals, where they are refreshed by the many spiritual and recreational activities available for their families.
Historically, this has made Living Church of God members a welcome sight at recreational areas such as Chattanooga.
Though many are familiar with the Feast of Tabernacles by its Hebrew name, “Sukkot,” Living Church of God members keep the Feast as a Christian observance, following the example of Jesus Christ and the early Christian church. Along with observing the “annual Sabbaths” God revealed in Leviticus 23, members also adhere to the weekly seventh-day Sabbath.
The Living Church of God organized 46 Feast sites in 31 countries in 2010. The church has more than 300 congregations around the globe, and produces the “Tomorrow’s World” television program shown on more than 300 stations around the world.
The program can be seen locally, each Sunday at 6 a.m. on WGN; 6:33 a.m. on Discovery Channel; and at 7:30 p.m. on WORD. Along with the telecast, more than 320,000 subscribers receive the church’s bi-monthly, full-color magazine “Tomorrow’s World,” which explains the prophetic meaning behind world events today, and offers vital Christian living principles for families and individuals.