Over 1,700 Brethren at ten (10) independent Feast sites throughout the U.S. received copies of the First Edition of the LRCOG Directory, which were distributed during the Fall 1996 Feast of Tabernacles. The LRCOG Directory is a service project for Brethren undertaken by the Greater Seattle LRCOG. "LRCOG" is an abbreviation for Living Room Church of God.
The LRCOG concept includes independent Brethren who may meet more formally in halls as well as meeting less formally in homes. While most Brethren in the LRCOG's and in other independent fellowships do not consider themselves part of any large corporate organization, Brethren who regularly attend corporate fellowships are welcomed and invited to fellowship with LRCOG Brethren who list their groups in the LRCOG Directory.
One major purpose of the LRCOG Directory is to validate the identity and the existence of these independent forms of COG organization. Robert Bodkin, project manager, estimates that there are more than 5,000 Brethren in the USA alone who regularly attend and participate in Sabbath and Holy Day keeping fellowships in some form of independent groups including LRCOG groups.
Now that many of these Brethren will have access to the LRCOG Directory, Bodkin believes that many more will be encouraged to participate both within and between the independent groups. Furthermore, he stated that more Brethren, regardless of past or present COG affiliations, are likely to want to participate and/or to visit this growing and personally interactive form of worship and fellowship. The LRCOG groups can be of particular service to individuals who were offended by larger groups and have stopped attending completely.
The LRCOG Directory First Edition contains 25 listings of LRCOG's and independent groups covering 17 states plus the province of Ontario. Since the First Edition was published, the following additional geographical listings have been received:
California: Riverside, Escondido, Ventura, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Bakersfield, San Jose, Cupertino, Berkeley, San Ramon
Florida: Ft. Pierce, Melbourne, Titusville
Missouri: Eldon, Columbia, Jefferson City
Mississippi: Biloxi, Laurel, Hattiesburg
New York: Syracuse area
Oregon: Coos Bay, Lakeside, Florence
Pennsylvania: Lehigh Valley, Kunkletown (NE Penna / NW N.J. areas)
Texas: Houston area, Lufkin, Pollok area
The Second Edition is planned for publication at the end of this calendar year for mailing/publication in January. Over 100 listings total from groups in nearly every state are expected.
Most of the listings in the Directory at the present are from groups of brethren numbering between 6 and 20 who assemble on the Sabbath typically in the homes of Brethren for worship services. These worship services usually consist of prayer, interactive Bible Study, singing, listening to a taped message, and lots of fellowshipping. The effort is to recapture the vitality and power of this 1st Century traditional form of Church organization.
Brethren who would like to receive a copy of the LRCOG Directory Second Edition are requested to send a business letter sized envelope, self-addressed and with $1 postage pre-stamped to the address below.
For those wishing to list their LRCOG and/or independent group, please supply the information shown in the box, below. Also, Directory Listing Request forms can also be obtained from the Directory Project address below. Fellowships as small as 2-3 Brethren are welcome to list in the LRCOG Directory.
The address for the LRCOG Directory Project is:
c/o Robert Bodkin
11913 - 93rd Lane N.E. #203
Kirkland, WA 98034.
E-mail: RBODKIN4@aol.com