Service Meetings for September

Week Starting September 6

Song 190

10 min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry.

17 min: “Are You Working With a Purpose?” Limit introductory comments to less than a minute, and follow with a question-and-answer discussion. Include comments on Our Ministry book, pages 88-9. Encourage all to be consistent and thorough in their ministry.

18 min: “Parents​—Set a Good Example for Your Children.” Brief introduction by an elder, followed by a discussion of the article by two brothers who are parents. They express concern about safeguarding their children from the negative traits that they are exposed to at school, by television, and by non-Witness relatives and others. The brothers consider disrespectful attitudes, worldly speech and grooming, and unwholesome entertainment. After reflecting on the need to set a good example, they discuss ways to build up greater enthusiasm for the family study, the congregation meetings, and field service.​—See July 1, 1999, Watchtower, pages 8-22, and September 22, 1991, Awake!, pages 8-9.

Song 101 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting September 13

Song 171

10 min: Local announcements. Accounts report.

15 min: How Did We Do Last Year? A talk by the service overseer. Review highlights from the congregation report for the 1999 service year. Give commendation for good things accomplished. Point out areas where improvement may be needed. Focus on how the congregation has done in meeting attendance and in conducting Bible studies. Outline practical goals for the coming year.

20 min: “What Will You Say to a Hindu?” Questions and answers. Emphasize the advantage of establishing common ground with a person, and point out where we are likely to agree with a Hindu. Show how the suggested presentations can be adjusted to witness to people of any religious background. Demonstrate a well-prepared presentation of witnessing to a Hindu. For more information on Hinduism, see February 1998 Our Kingdom Ministry insert; Reasoning book, page 22; and Mankind’s Search for God, chapter 5.

Song 140 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting September 20

Song 193

12 min: Local announcements and field service experiences.

15 min: Local needs.

18 min: Make Good Use of the Creator Book. Talk and demonstrations. The April 1999 Our Kingdom Ministry explained that the Creator book may be offered any time we meet people who (1) do not believe in God or (2) believe in God but have no real concept of who he is or what his qualities and purposes are. The thought-provoking questions and comments on the back cover can be used to stimulate interest in reading the book. Or page 152 can be used to good advantage. A publisher might ask: “Where can we find the very best advice on how to solve our most perplexing problems?” He can show the person how noted authorities have praised Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, ask him to choose one of the seven highlighted points that interests him most, and then read a few of the cited verses. Demonstrate both of these suggestions for offering the Creator book, mentioning the donation arrangement in each presentation. Encourage all to carry the book in the field service, being ready to offer it whenever appropriate.

Song 175 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting September 27

Song 141

15 min: Local announcements. Remind publishers to turn in field service reports for September. Encourage all to make plans for a full share in magazine distribution during October. Review some of the suggestions that appeared in the October 1996 Our Kingdom Ministry, page 8, on how to prepare presentations. Using the current magazines, mention some good talking points and demonstrate one or two brief presentations. Show how to mention the donation arrangement to the householder.

15 min: Question Box. Talk by an elder.

15 min: “True Worship Is Expanding in Eastern Europe.” Elder conducts question-and-answer session. Cite experiences or evidence of increase in countries represented, as reported in recent Yearbooks.

Song 87 and concluding prayer.

Announcements

◼ Literature offer for September: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. October: Individual copies of The Watchtower and Awake! Where interest is found on return visits, subscriptions may be offered. November: What Does God Require of Us? or Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. December: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life with the New World Translation.

◼ When in the ministry, you may meet a person who is deaf. If there is a sign language group or congregation functioning in your area, you should follow the direction provided in the Society’s October 15, 1998, letter to all congregations in the United States. It explains: “The Please Follow Up form will be used to make a note of people, whether in your congregation’s territory or not, who speak another language, including sign language. Generally, it should be used for this purpose even if the individual does not show interest in the Kingdom message. . . . After filling out the Please Follow Up form, it should be given directly to the congregation secretary or placed in the box for field service reports at the Kingdom Hall.” With each publisher being alert to cooperate in this way, sign language congregations will be able to compile a list of deaf people located in their area.

◼ The presiding overseer or someone designated by him should audit the congregation’s accounts on September 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. When this has been done, make an announcement to the congregation after the next accounts report is read.

◼ U.S. Selective Service regulations require that all men register at the post office when reaching 18 years of age. All those required to do so should take care of the matter promptly, viewing it as a Christian’s obligation to the superior authorities. Elders will want to have this in mind and give appropriate reminders to young brothers nearing the age of 18. Questions as to the young Christian’s responsibilities in this regard may be answered by the elders.

◼ The elders are reminded to follow through on instructions given on pages 21-3 of the April 15, 1991, Watchtower, regarding any disfellowshipped or disassociated ones who may be inclined toward becoming reinstated.

◼ It is important that groups of 20 or more persons planning to visit the Society’s facilities first correspond by mail with the Central Tour Desk at 100 Watchtower Drive, Patterson, NY 12563-9204. The Central Tour Desk will care for groups that will be visiting the Society’s facilities at Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill, New York, or the Assembly Hall at Jersey City, New Jersey. Please send information on the number coming and the dates and times for visiting each location. The Society will provide a description of the tours that are available as well as a map giving directions to each location. LODGING INFORMATION HAS BEEN SENT TO THE CONGREGATION ELDERS AND MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE CONGREGATION SECRETARY. Before your visit, please review the March 1998 Our Kingdom Ministry Question Box.

◼ Those associated with a congregation should send all new and renewal subscriptions for The Watchtower and Awake!, including their personal subscriptions, through the congregation.

◼ The Society does not fill individual publisher’s requests for literature. The presiding overseer should arrange for an announcement to be made each month before the congregation monthly request for literature is sent to the Society so that all interested in obtaining personal literature items may advise the brother handling literature. Please keep in mind which publications are special-request items.

◼ The 1998 “God’s Way of Life” District and International Conventions were truly a blessing for all in attendance. Among those present were 2,764 missionaries and international servants who were able to visit their home countries with the aid of generous donations from the congregations. Support of this arrangement is very much appreciated. With the conclusion of these conventions, the remaining funds donated for this purpose will be used to support the worldwide preaching work.

◼ New Publications Available:

A Book for All People​—Danish

Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life​—Luvale

◼ New Videocassettes Available:

Noah​—He Walked With God—​Greek, Thai

The Bible​—Accurate History, Reliable Prophecy—​Albanian

The Bible​—Its Power in Your Life—​Albanian, Arabic

The Bible​—Mankind’s Oldest Modern Book—​Albanian

◼ Beginning with the September 1, 1999, issue, The Watchtower will be available in Kazakh as a monthly edition.

June Service Report

Av. Av. Av. Av.

Number of: Hrs. Mags. R.V. Bi.St.

Sp’l Pios. 134 121.3 101.2 53.6 4.7

Pios. 76,575 61.6 44.1 20.6 1.6

Aux.Pios. 33,440 49.5 37.0 12.2 0.8

Pubs. 800,181 9.2 8.0 3.4 0.3

TOTAL 910,330 Baptized: 4,068

The combined total of 110,015 regular and auxiliary pioneers is the highest number ever reported for the month of June!