Announcements

● Literature offer for December: Young People Ask book for a contribution of $1.50, or Bible Stories or Live Forever for $3.00. January and February: Any 192-page book published prior to 1980 that the congregation has in stock for the reduced contribution of 50¢, with the following exceptions: Family Life, Great Teacher, This Life, Truth, and Youth. There is a limited supply of Commentary on James that may be ordered from Brooklyn. (For obtaining credit, elders should refer to the guidelines in the Society’s letter of December 21, 1988.) If the congregation has no stock of books to be offered at the reduced rate, the Worldwide Security book should be offered for a contribution of $1.00. These books may be ordered from Brooklyn. March: The Bible​—God’s Word or Man’s? for a contribution of $1.00.

● The Memorial date for 1991 will be Saturday, March 30, after sundown. This advance notice of the date for the 1991 Memorial celebration is given so that brothers may make necessary reservations or contracts for available halls when there are too many congregations using one Kingdom Hall and they must find other facilities.

● The Watchtower in Hungarian and in Samoan will become semimonthly editions starting with the January 1, 1990, issue.

● The Awake! magazine will begin as a monthly edition in the Hungarian, Sepedi, and Tswana languages starting with the January 8, 1990, issue. Additionally, Awake! in Zulu will become a semimonthly edition as of the January 8, 1990, issue.

● The presiding overseer or someone designated by him should audit the congregation’s accounts on December 1 or as soon as possible thereafter.

● Congregations should begin ordering bound volumes of The Watchtower and Awake! for 1989 on their December literature orders. (See the 1989 Cost List, paragraphs 7-10.) The bound volumes will be available in Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. Until the bound volumes are available and shipments are made, these will appear as “Back Ordered” on congregation invoices. Bound volumes are controlled stock items and will be charged at $6.00 each for congregation, public, and pioneers.​—See the Cost List, paragraphs 23-25.

● Some adjustments will be made in future printings of the Live Forever book. The only significant change is with regard to the Sodomites, on pages 178 and 179. This change appeared in the Revelation book, page 273, and in The Watchtower of June 1, 1988, pages 30 and 31. You may wish to note it in earlier printings that you have on hand.

● If congregations have not done so already, they should order Examining the Scriptures Daily​—1990 with their December literature order. (See the

Corresponding With Prisoners

¹ People from many walks of life are being contacted with the Kingdom message. Our Kingdom Ministry for February 1982 gave direction regarding witnessing to prisoners. Since that time, positive reports continue to be received about incarcerated persons who have responded favorably. Bible studies and meetings are being held in a number of institutions. This has resulted in new disciples dedicating their lives to Jehovah and getting baptized.

² In many cases prisoners are being witnessed to by correspondence. In this regard, we feel it is necessary to repeat a word of caution. It has been found that some prisoners who are eager to correspond with others have questionable motives. While it would be appropriate to write to prisoners, providing Scriptural information and encouragement or Bible literature as needed, money or personal gifts should not be sent, despite the fact that such may be requested by the correspondent.

³ It is strongly recommended that only qualified brothers correspond with male prisoners. Qualified sisters should write to female prisoners. Individual members of the congregation should not indiscriminately visit prisons and have close association with inmates.

⁴ When interest is shown by prisoners, it is best to turn the names and addresses of such ones over to the congregation in the area of the particular institution. The qualified brothers there will visit these prisoners and, if possible, arrange to study with those who are sincerely interested in the truth.

⁵ If questions arise about writing to prisoners or visiting penal institutions, please review what was stated in the article referred to above. Additional written direction was provided for all bodies of elders in a letter from the Society dated December 1, 1981.

Question Box

● What are the duties of those who serve as attendants at congregation meetings?

Attendants are to extend a warm greeting to all who come to the meetings. Their duties include seating latecomers, recording attendance, maintaining order and security, and caring for the ventilation of the Kingdom Hall. Attendants should be friendly, responsible brothers who take the initiative in caring for their responsibilities.​—om pp. 63-4.

Attendants should be alert to the needs of new persons, make them feel welcome, and help them to find seats. All in the congregation should be ready to help new ones get acquainted and feel welcome. When guiding latecomers to available seats, attendants should endeavor not to disturb those already seated. At times they provide new persons with the magazine being studied.

Maintaining order during the meetings is essential. Since we encourage parents to bring their children to the meetings, there will be some disruptions at times. But when children continue to be restless or unruly, an attendant should kindly offer assistance, perhaps suggesting that the parent take the child out of the auditorium for a time. If parents with young children sit where they can easily exit when necessary, caring for the needs of their small children can be done with little distraction.

In areas where security is a problem, attendants should be assigned to protect against vandalism or disturbances by opposers. If someone inside the Kingdom Hall tries to disrupt the meeting, he should be asked to leave. If he refuses and persists in causing a disturbance, the elders may contact the authorities. (Elders have additional written direction that will be helpful to them in such a situation.) In some areas it may be necessary for assigned brothers to check the Kingdom Hall parking area during meetings.​—km 11/84 p. 4.

When the attendance count is taken, all adults as well as young children who are listening and benefiting, even to a limited extent, should be counted.​—km 7/79 p. 4.

Congregation Book Study

Schedule for congregation studies in the book Revelation​—Its Grand Climax At Hand!:

December 4: Pages 165 to 171#

December 11: Pages 171# to 176

December 18: Pages 177 to 181

December 25: Pages 182 to 186#

# To or from chapter heading.

September Service Report

Av. Av. Av. Av.

Pubs. Hrs. Mags. R.V. Bi.St.

Sp’l Pios. 221 126.5 90.7 54.2 5.0

Pios. 64,520 82.0 38.9 25.9 2.4

Aux. Pios. 37,484 58.8 27.9 15.3 1.3

Pubs. 698,288 9.6 6.3 3.6 0.4

TOTAL 800,513

Newly Dedicated Ones Baptized: 2,290

We rejoice to see a new peak of regular pioneers reporting in September.