RADIO CHURCH OF GOD
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
PRESIDENT and PASTOR
Broadcasting
The WORLD TOMORROW
Publishers of
The PLAIN TRUTH
March 13, 1961
Dear Brethren in Christ,
GREETINGS, in Jesus' name! I am sending you this vitally
important SPECIAL LETTER with important announcements and
instructions about the coming PASSOVER and Days of Unleavened
Bread!
Full eight day services will be held in more places than
ever before this year, and Passover Services will be held in newly
established Churches--so, even though this letter will have to be
lengthy--be sure you read every word!
This year, the Passover comes on the date of March 31.
This corresponds to the 14th of Nisan (or Abib) in the Sacred
Calendar. (If you do not yet have one of the Sacred Calendars for
this current year, be sure to write in for one immediately.)
However, you must remember that the days begin the previous sunset!
This means that the actual Passover Service will be on Thursday
evening, March 30. Be SURE you remember this date--even writing it
down, placing it in your wallet, or carrying this letter on your
person. PASSOVER on Thursday evening, March 30, 1961. The
FEAST--the "night to be much remembered," which is the beginning of
the 15th of Nisan, begins the very next evening, or the night of
March 31. This will be a double Sabbath. This year, the first day
of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is an annual Holy Day,
corresponds exactly to the weekly Sabbath of April 1. However,
since the days begin at sunset this means that sunset on the 31st
of March, Friday, commemorates the beginning of this Feast.
The Days of Unleavened Bread continue through Friday, the
7th of April, and will be immediately followed by another weekly
Sabbath, April 8. This means we will actually have nine days of
services, since the last annual Holy Day will not be over until
sunset on Friday the 7th, and the weekly Sabbath immediately
begins!
And here's a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! Mrs. Armstrong and I
are overjoyed to tell you we are going to be at the Headquarters
Church, in Pasadena, for the very first Passover since 1951! We
fully expect the greatest attendance in the history of the Head-
quarters Church for this age!
The beautiful and imposing Pasadena Civic Auditorium has
been secured for the Friday, Sabbath and Sunday services. However,
Passover Services will be held at the Shakespeare Club.
This will truly be the greatest Passover season in the
history of God's Church since apostolic days! I hope as many as
possible of you can be here to share it with us! I want to urge
all you brethren from Arizona, Nevada, perhaps parts of New Mexico
and most of California to make every effort to be here for this
wonderful Feast with us!
Do you fully understand the TREMENDOUS significance of
this commanded Feast of God? This is the most solemn spiritual
Feast of the year--the beginning of God's Sacred Year, picturing
the very BEGINNING of the plan of salvation! The Passover is the
beautiful and solemn picture of the redemption of all mankind
through the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Saviour! By partaking
of the symbols which Jesus Himself instituted, we commemorate, at
the Bible COMMANDS, His DEATH! Then, during the Feast Days of
Unleavened Bread, we put all leaven completely out of our homes,
picturing the putting out of sin from our lives.
It is a vital and necessary part of the growth of every
one of God's people that he partakes of these annual Feast Days--
acting out the very PLAN of God that He is working out here below!
To MISS taking part in these Feast Days through sheer negligence,
through carelessness, or mere "forgetfulness" is a very serious
SIN! Perhaps only a small, minute FEW have done this--but some
have! Brethren, it is frankly inconceivable to me, as the servant
and minister of God, that some of the very PEOPLE of God--calling
themselves "Christian" could actually use as an excuse, that they
"forgot" the date for the Passover! How COULD a person actually
"FORGET" the very date commemorating the time when Jesus Christ
shed His blood and gave His very LIFE in sacrifice for YOU!
As you read in a recent article in The GOOD NEWS
magazine, God is truly BLESSING His Church! And now--no matter
where you may live in the nation--there will be Passover Services
held within, at the most, a few hundred miles from your home!
There may be a very few exceptions to this, of course, but only a
few. Several of our local Churches will be holding services for
the full eight days!
My son, Garner Ted and his family, will be at the big
Tabernacle near Big Sandy, Texas, again this year, Mr. Norman
Smith, ordained evangelist in God's Church, and director of our
radio studios, together with Mr. Ken Swisher, pastor of the local
Church at Gladewater, will be assisting. Also, perhaps other
ministers from Texas and surrounding areas will be at the big
Tabernacle for part of the Feast.
Mrs. Armstrong and I will fly from Pasadena during the
middle part of the Days of Unleavened Bread and will be able to
spend, God willing, the last few days with all you brethren at the
big Tabernacle near Big Sandy! Be sure to plan to stay the entire
eight days! Remember, we have ample facilities on the grounds and
in the surrounding area for all who would care to attend for the
entire time!
Mrs. Armstrong and I will have to go directly to New York
from the Tabernacle in Texas, and then go over to England to be
with the new college there. In this way, we can be with the
brethren of God's Church in the two biggest congregations during
the Days of Unleavened Bread.
And now, here are the detailed plans for all of our local
Church areas:
PASADENA (and all Churches in the local area--San Diego, Redlands,
Temple City, Sherman Oaks, Long Beach, Los Angeles and
the south Fresno area.)
PASSOVER: Services will be held at the Shakespeare Club beginning
promptly at 7:30 P.M. Thursday evening, March 30th. Since all the
Churches in the local area will be attending, it will be crowded.
However, if everyone will be patient and follow the directions of
the Deacons and their assistants, we should have no difficulty.
Remember, God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33) and His
Spirit in us should guide us in being orderly in everything.
Towels and pans will be available for all. No one need bring them
to the Passover Service in Pasadena.
FRIDAY March 31: There will be morning services only in the Civic
Auditorium on Friday--to permit ample time to prepare food for the
Feast and the noon meal on the following double Sabbath. Although
Friday is not a Holy Day, nor one of the Days of Unleavened Bread,
many who have come for the Passover the previous evening will be
able to attend this service.
FRIDAY EVENING FEAST: This is the "Night to be much remembered."
The Feast will also be held at Ambassador College Campus with about
a five minute introduction and prayer for the meal at the Tempietto
in the lower garden. Be sure to dress warmly or bring sufficient
wraps so that the coolness of the evening will not cause anyone to
take cold.
SABBATH AND SUNDAY: Morning and afternoon services will be held at
the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Between the services a potluck
lunch will be served at the Ambassador College Campus on the tennis
courts. Tables and chairs will be available for most of the people
on the tennis courts and in the lower gardens. There are also many
other places to sit and eat around the campus.
FRIDAY April 7: This is the last Feast Day or Sabbath of the Days
of Unleavened Bread. Services will be held in the local Churches.
Unless otherwise announced, Pasadena will meet at the Shakespeare
Club. Long Beach and Los Angeles Churches will meet in Gardena for
all day meetings and noon Feasts both Friday and Sabbath.
FOOD: It is suggested that every family bring covered dishes of
food for all the Feasts, unless that is not possible because of
distance. Those who come too far to bring prepared foods, items of
fruit or other staples or beverages may be purchased in advance.
Local people in the Los Angeles area are encouraged to bring extra
amounts for each Feast.
DIRECTIONS TO LOCATE HALLS AND CAMPUS: A detailed map is enclosed
to facilitate locating the various places of meeting.
GLADEWATER:
PASSOVER Services will begin promptly at 7:30 P.M. in the
big Tabernacle. The next morning, there will be a service in the
Tabernacle beginning at 10:00 A.M. That evening will begin the
Days of Unleavened Bread with the joyous Feast on the "Night to be
much remembered." Services on this evening will begin in the big
Tabernacle at 7:30 P.M. This will be a short service to be
followed by the Feast in the Dining Hall or old Tabernacle
Building.
Facilities: Do not plan to bring tents for this Spring
Feast! While God will surely give us good weather for
the Feast, the recent bitter weather throughout the South
brought ice, snow, rain and cold to our grounds in Big
Sandy--and we may have colder than usual temperatures.
There are ample motels, hotels, and apartments in and
near Gladewater, Big Sandy, Greggton and Longview for
all.
There will be ample house-trailer space on our own
grounds--and those desiring to stay in one of the metal
booths on the grounds may do so. Very few requests have
come in as yet for the booths--so, should you desire to
utilize one of them, you may be sure of accommodation.
However, these booths are not heated, unless some type of
portable heater or stove is brought, which is entirely
safe around children, and would not cause a possible fire
hazard.
Meals will be served, as usual, at cost, in the dining
hall. The charge is 75› for adults, 40› for children
from 6 to 12 years of age, and no charge for children
under 6.
Booths may be occupied for the entire time of your stay
for a donation to the building fund of $55.00 for a large
booth, or $40.00 for one of the smaller ones.
DIRECTIONS FOR FINDING THE TABERNACLE: For those of you who have
not yet attended one of the Feasts at the Tabernacle, the following
information is given: The grounds are just off Highway #80, about
9 miles west of Gladewater, Texas, and 2 miles east of Big Sandy.
Gladewater is a little over 100 miles east of Dallas, toward
Shreveport, La. You won't be able to miss the huge steel
Tabernacle Building, which rears up above the surrounding
landscape, dominating the scene for miles. Turn in at the sign,
through the brick entrance way, and drive straight to the
Registration Booth, where you will receive a sticker for your car.
Those of you who come by train or bus can get taxi
service at Gladewater, and at Big Sandy. It would be more
advisable to go to your place you have reserved first, get settled,
and then go to the Tabernacle Grounds.
OTHER LOCAL CHURCH AREAS:
NEW YORK:
Services to be conducted by Mr. Wayne Cole and Mr.
Carlton Smith. All services will be held in the Diplomat Hotel,
108 West 43rd Street. Passover and the Feast night will be held in
the Crystal Room, 7:30 P.M. All day meetings will be conducted
April 1, 2 and 7 at 10:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. Evening services will
be held April 3-6 at 7:30 P.M. All services other than the
Passover and Feast night will be held in the Palm Room of the
Diplomat Hotel.
AKRON:
Passover ONLY to be held in IOOF Hall, 277 Mills Street
at 7:30 P.M. Mr. R. W. Hoops officiating. The rest of the Feast
to be held in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH:
Mr. Bill McDowell will conduct all services at the
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hall, Fifth Avenue and Bigelow.
Passover and the Feast night at 7:30 P.M. All day services April
1, 2, 7 and 8 beginning at 10:00 A.M.
CHICAGO-MILWAUKEE:
Mr. Raymond Cole and Mr. Dean Blackwell will conduct the
services. The Passover and Feast night will be held at 7:30 P.M.
All special Feast Days plus the weekly Sabbath, April 8, will be
held in the Logan Square Masonic Temple, 2451 North Kedzie
Boulevard. The all-day services will commence at 10:00 A.M., April
2-6; afternoon and evening services (time to be announced) will be
held at the regular meeting place, Wozniak's Lounge and Halls, 2530
Blue Island Avenue.
ST.LOUIS:
Mr. Hal Baird will conduct all services in the American
Legion Post #103, 3212 Sutton Avenue, Maplewood (St. Louis),
Missouri. Passover and the Feast night will be held at 7:30 P.M.
All day services on both the annual Sabbaths will be held at 10:00
A.M. and 2:00 P.M.
SPRINGFIELD:
All services will be conducted at the American Legion
Home. Passover will be at 7:30 P.M. with the Feast night, March
31, also at 7:30 P.M. The two annual Sabbaths and the weekly
Sabbath, April 8, will be all-day meetings with services at 10:00
A.M. and 2:00 P.M. conducted by Mr. Bryce Clark.
WICHITA-GARDEN CITY:
Passover Services will be held at 7:30 P.M. at the 20th
Century Club, 536 North Broadway. Feast night will be observed at
7:30 P.M. at the March Y.M.C.A. Auditorium, 402 North Market. Both
annual Sabbaths plus the weekly Sabbath, April 8, will be all-day
meetings beginning at 10:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. at the 20th Century
Club. Mr. Allen Manteufel will conduct all services.
DALLAS:
The Dallas Church and those in the vicinity will go to
the Tabernacle at Big Sandy.
HOUSTON:
Passover Services will be held at the American Legion
Hall, 1610 Chenevert Street, beginning at 7:30 P.M. The night of
the Feast will also be held at 7:30 P.M. There will be all-day
services, 10:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. on the annual Sabbath, April 1,
only. The last Holy Day and weekly Sabbath, April 7 and 8, there
will be no services in Houston. These days will be observed at the
Tabernacle in Big Sandy, Texas. Mr. Richard Prince will be
officiating.
OKLAHOMA CITY-TULSA:
Mr. David Antion will conduct all services at the
American Legion Hall in Chandler, Oklahoma. Passover and Feast
night services will be at 7:30 P.M. All-day services will be held
on both annual Sabbaths plus the weekly Sabbath, April 8,
commencing at 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M.
CORPUS CHRISTI-SAN ANTONIO:
Services will be held all day on both annual Sabbaths
plus the weekly Sabbath, April 8. Passover and the Feast night
will be conducted at 7:30 P.M. The all-day meetings will begin at
10:00 A.M. and again at 2:30 P.M. All services will be conducted
by Mr. Roger Foster at the Assembly Hall at the Fair Grounds in
Beeville, Texas. Follow Corpus Christi Street west from Highway
181 to Quinn Street, left on Quinn one block and then left again
one-half block.
DENVER-PUEBLO:
Services will be conducted by Mr. Herman Hoeh and Mr.
Burk McNair at the Victory Grange Hall. From Denver, take Highway
40 (Colfax Avenue) east to KOA Radio transmitting towers, turn left
(north) and go one-quarter mile. Plates, cups and napkins will be
provided locally. Passover and Feast night services will begin at
7:30 P.M. Morning services will be held each day at 10:00 A.M.
with either afternoon or evening services which will be announced.
SACRAMENTO:
Services at 7:30 P.M. for Passover and Feast night with
a Friday morning service March 31 at 10:00 A.M. All-day meetings
will be held April l and 2 and again April 7 and 8. All morning
services will be held at 10:00 A.M. with the afternoon services at
2:30 P.M. All services will be held at the IOOF Hall, 9th and "K"
Streets on the third floor with the exception of the Passover
services which will be held in the basement. Mr. Ron Kelly will
officiate, assisted by Mr. Les McCullough.
PORTLAND-SALEM:
The first four meetings will be held in the Neighbor's of
Woodcraft Building, 1410 S.W. Morrison Street. All services will
be conducted by Mr. A. J. Portune, from the Headquarters Church,
and Mr. Dale Hampton, the local minister. Passover and the Feast
night will be held at 7:30 P.M. All-day meetings commencing at
10:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. will be held April 1 and 2 in the same
building. Beginning April 3 through the 8th, the meetings will be
conducted at the regular meeting place, the Washington Masonic
Lodge #46, 722 E. Burnside. A potluck lunch will also be served on
these days with the services starting at 10:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M.
SEATTLE-TACOMA:
All services will be held at the Norselander Hall, 300
Third Avenue West. Passover and the Feast night will be held at
7:30 P.M. The annual Sabbaths will be conducted in the same hall
with services commencing at 10:00 A.M. Mr. Jimmy Friddle will be
in charge.
Brethren--it is a vital PART of your Christian life that
you ATTEND THESE FEASTS! They are to keep you constantly in
remembrance of God's great PLAN He is working out here below,
showing the great PRICE that was paid in our stead--the life and
body of Jesus Christ Himself--that our sins might be forgiven, and
that we might receive physical healing when we're sick! It is a
time of solemn SEARCHING of the self--and also a time of real
spiritual REJOICING! Your very life depends on it!
And so PLAN to come! Make EVERY effort to be there! If
there are circumstances which are real, and are not just carnal
"excuses" or lack of real spiritual ZEAL--then your Heavenly Father
surely understands--but if you simply don't attend, when you ARE
ABLE--God will hold you accountable.
Remember, only those who have completely REPENTED of
their past sins, who have been CONQUERED of God, given themselves
to Him in unconditional surrender, should partake of these symbols
of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR THE
PLACE TO BRING UNCONVERTED FRIENDS OR RELATIVES! THIS IS NOT an
"evangelistic" service for the world--but a solemn occasion FOR THE
PEOPLE OF GOD ONLY!
All brethren should remember the seriousness and
solemnity of the Passover. If arriving from a distance and seeing
old friends and other brethren--do not visit, or engage in anything
more than a quiet, brief greeting on the night of Passover. Put it
off until the following day, or the night of the FEAST--a more
appropriate time for visiting and fellowship.
Finally--REMEMBER to be extremely careful! As God's
minister I call upon all of you to PRAY for each other's safety.
I'm going to pray for YOU--and I want you to pray for ME, and all
of God's people. It seems, each year, we must be saddened to hear
of some accident, or mishap to one or two. DON"T LET IT HAPPEN
THIS SPRING!
Some have perhaps assumed that nothing can happen to
God's people--that God will supernaturally intervene, no matter HOW
CARELESS WE GET! That is NOT true. It will be a terrible thing if
I am forced to announce that any of God's own called ones have been
injured or killed in a car wreck!
In closing--PLAN TO COME! You can't afford not to.
Let's all rejoice in this Holy Day season--and GROW in grace and
knowledge, spiritual ZEAL and strength, and in love of the
brethren!
Sincerely, in Jesus' name,
Herbert W. Armstrong