Pastors’ Update 03-03-2023

Hi Everyone and Happy Sabbath!

Linda and I hope and pray you are all well and staying warm!

We returned home early Thursday morning from a quick “pre-con” trip to Hawaii to meet with the Convention and Catering Manager for our Feast of Tabernacles to take place at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort. Since we will be meeting, and most members staying, at this new venue on the Big Island, we wanted to review our unique needs, and tour the meeting and breakout space we have reserved for the 2023 and 2024 Feast of Tabernacles. Our meetings were very helpful and constructive. All of our services, meetings, hospitality and banquet meals will take place on property at the resort, and we need a few months to prepare at this new venue. We also made contact with a couple of vendors for special activities that may take place off-property, like the Family Sail and Snorkel trip.

The weather in Hawaii has also been unsettled and unusual this winter. While it was warm and sunny on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island, the winds were unusually high and we could see storm clouds dropping rain on the volcanoes as they rolled through. We also talked with people from a couple of the other Islands who said it had been raining for weeks with few breaks in the unusually wet weather. Like California and the West Coast, Hawaii has been suffering drought conditions for the past few years. So, the rain is welcomed by the residents, but many visitors seeking sunny skies and warmer weather have been disappointed this winter, especially those traveling to Oahu, Kauai and Maui.

Sign-up lists for the Night To Be Much Observed (Wednesday, April 5th) are on the Announcement Table(s). Please sign up early to reserve your spot(s). We have two locations for the Stockton congregation: The Chez Shari Restaurant in Manteca, and the Rossmoor Stanley Dollar Mansion in Walnut Creek. For those in the Redding and Reno congregations check with Tom Provine or Mark Fike for more information and to sign up for the NBMO in Red Bluff and Reno. Mark has reserved space in The Atlantis Hotel for this special occasion and meal.

This Sabbath in Lodi, we will have a Teen Bible Study before services. Teens should plan to arrive at, or before, 2:15 pm, and meet in the North side of the Social Hall. The Bible Study will go for 30-40 minutes, then teens will join Sabbath services in progress after the sermonette.

Tomorrow, we will have Sabbath services for Redding, Reno and Lodi congregations at 2:30 pm. For those who cannot meet in person, the webcast will originate from Red Bluff this week. Linda and I plan to be in Red Bluff for the Sabbath.