ENOUGH SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR ALL

The same principle applies to our reading the publications of the Watch Tower Society. Some have more time to read than others; some read faster than others; some can grasp things more quickly than can others. We might liken our spiritual provisions to a great banquet being spread for many guests, old and young, large and small. Not all can eat the same amount of food, but there is an abundance for all. So it is with our spiritual food.​—Isa. 25:6.

Not everyone may be able to read all that the Society publishes. But certainly all should endeavor to find time to read the Bible regularly and to read the Society’s official journal, The Watchtower, from cover to cover. If we find that we are not doing this we may well ask ourselves, Are we making the best possible use of the time at our disposal? Could it be that we are spending time reading worldly magazines that could be spent reading The Watchtower? Or are we spending more time than we should with the daily paper or watching television?

What about reading the Awake! magazine? So as to appeal to many different kinds of people it contains a great variety of different articles. A sister may not be interested in what it has to say about mechanical care for autos and a brother may not be interested in an article about sewing. But there is something for everyone, a wide variety of subjects for persons in varying circumstances.

However, do not minimize the value of Awake! If you can, read each issue from cover to cover. Awake! protects us from the creature worship that worldly magazines encourage by featuring personalities, and at the same time it gives us the theocratic perspective on everything it discusses. For example, worldly magazines may tell of the rise of “situational ethics,” but they do not give us God’s view regarding these. They may have interesting accounts about haunted houses but they have no idea what is back of it all. Awake! articles are prepared by God’s organization, which is interested in our spiritual welfare.​—Rom. 8:6.

As Christian witnesses of Jehovah, we do have much to do in the way of personal Bible reading and study of Bible literature, meetings to attend and field ministry to perform. But if we appreciate why we have so much to do​—because of the importance of our work and the urgency of our times—​we do not complain. Having so much to do is a real safeguard for us. And by using the spirit of a sound mind we can strike a happy balance between what there is to do and what we are able to do, to Jehovah’s praise and to our own well-being.

“Disciple-making” District Assemblies

Memories of the “God’s Sons of Liberty” District Assemblies held during 1966 have not yet faded. In fact, in South America and the Caribbean those assemblies are still in progress. Those who attended any of these assemblies were deeply moved by the things that they saw and heard and they are looking forward to the next assemblies arranged by the Watch Tower Society. So the question is already being raised: Where will we have our assemblies during 1967?

Arrangements for these assemblies have been under way for some time now, and we are glad to pass on to you the details now available concerning the dates and cities. The assemblies will be spread throughout the entire period of the northern summer, and they are conveniently located so that every reader of The Watchtower should find it possible to attend. We encourage you to make plans now to be sure that your vacation dates include one of the 1967 “Disciple-making” District Assemblies.

Each assembly will open on Thursday afternoon and conclude on Sunday evening at about 6 p.m. Will you be present all four days? We encourage you to do so. Those who came to the assemblies only for the weekend last year were disappointed to find that they had missed some of the choicest portions of the program. We feel confident that, with Jehovah’s blessing, the program this year, right from the first day, will be just as delightful and spiritually upbuilding as was the one in 1966.

Unless otherwise indicated, the programs for the assemblies listed below will be in English, but, as you will note, some of the assemblies in the United States will provide a program in Spanish.

UNITED STATES

June 22-25: Kalispell, Mont.; Stockton, Calif.

June 29–July 2: Aberdeen, S.D.; Amarillo, Tex. (Spanish also); Galveston, Tex.; Sedalia, Mo.; Utica, N.Y.

July 6-9: Allentown, Pa.; Asheville, N.C.; Lansing, Mich.; Salina, Kans.; Taunton, Mass.; Tucson, Ariz.; Waco, Tex.; West Palm Beach, Fla. (Spanish also)

July 13-16: Laredo, Tex. (Spanish only); San Jose, Calif.; Savannah, Ga. (tentative); Trenton, N.J.

July 20-23: Manchester, N.H. (tentative); Ogden, Utah; Springfield, Mo.; Tuscaloosa, Ala. (tentative)

July 27-30: Fresno, Calif.; Madison, Wis.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Yakima, Wash.

August 3-6: Eugene, Ore.; Grand Island, Neb.; Jersey City, N.J. (Spanish also); Pomona, Calif. (Spanish also); Raleigh, N.C.

August 10-13: Columbus, Ga.; Peoria, Ill.; Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.; South Bend, Ind. (tentative)

August 17-20: Costa Mesa, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; Worcester, Mass.

August 24-27: Jackson, Mich. (tentative); Laurel, Md. (tentative)

Tentative; No Dates Set: Chicago, Ill. (Spanish only); East St. Louis, Ill.; Evansville, Ind.; Hattiesburg, Miss.; Lafayette, La.; Rochester, Minn.; Vicksburg, Miss.

BRITISH ISLES

June 29–July 2: Romford, Essex; Charlton, London; Torquay, Devon.

July 6-9: Reading, Berks.

July 13-16: Oxford, Oxon.

July 20-23: Swindon, Wilts.; Peterborough, Northants.

July 27-30: Barnsley, Yorks.

August 3-6: Blackburn, Lancs.

August 10-13: Newcastle-on-Tyne, N’land; Brighton, Sussex.

August 17-20: Dundee, Angus, Scotland; Hamilton, Lanarks, Scotland.

August 31–September 3: Wood Green, London.

September 7-10: Swansea, Glams., Wales.

Note: It is hoped that two more assembly locations will be added to this list.

CANADA

July 6-9: Saskatoon, Sask.

July 27-30: Sarnia, Ont.

August 3-6: Truro, N. S.

August 10-13: Barrie, Ont.; Oshawa, Ont.

August 17-20: Moncton, N. B.

Note: It is hoped that eleven more assembly locations will be added to this list. Plans are being made for two assemblies in French.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

Jehovah’s witnesses carry on their ministry in an organized way, under the direction of their Fine Shepherd and Jehovah’s Principal Servant, Jesus Christ. In harmony with Jesus’ own instructions, those in the congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses who take the lead are not an exalted clergy class, but the servants of their Christian brothers. Together, as a united group, they cooperate in announcing Jehovah’s kingdom. During January they will be doing this from house to house by offering to interested persons this Bible magazine, The Watchtower, which, as its front cover shows, is devoted to “Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.” A year’s subscription, along with three Bible booklets, will be offered for $1.

HOW DO YOU VIEW THE BIBLE?

How long has it been since you heard someone belittle the Bible or try to minimize its value? More and more such expressions are becoming commonplace. But if you are one of the many sincere persons whose faith has remained unshaken by the materialistic trend of this world, you will be glad to know that this magazine you are holding, The Watchtower, is still an outstanding champion of the Bible and of our Creator’s Godship. The Watchtower remains steadfast in its determination to bring you the truth from God’s Word and to help you appreciate this Book of Books’ practical value in our day. Read it regularly. Send now and receive free three timely booklets on vital Bible subjects. One year, $1.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

February 19: Making Grateful Use of a “Penny.” ¶1-34. Page 41. Songs to be used: 58, 103.

February 26: Making Grateful Use of a “Penny,” ¶35-39, and The Modern Fulfillment of the “Penny.” Page 49. Songs to be used: 55, 34.