Announcements

Passover, NTBMO and Holy Day Update

In anticipation of restrictions remaining in place for the foreseeable future, we are not planning any organized gatherings for the Passover service, NTBMO, or services for the first Holy Day.

We will continue to offer services online as usual.

There is a Passover service online which can be accessed at any time to fit the time zone in which you will be taking Passover. A Passover in-home instruction letter is available upon request. You will need to plan ahead to prepare or purchase some unleavened bread and dry red wine. The service should begin as the sun sets on Tuesday, April 7.

Similarly, there will be a short meaning of the night available online for the NTBMO if needed.

The service for the first Holy Day will be prerecorded and will contain a reference to an offering as that is commanded in conjunction with the H/D. But since we cannot meet as local congregations, members should mail their offerings to the P.O. Box in Pasadena (address below). Please make a notation to indicate what is H/D offering and the day. (e.g., HDO FDUB or HDO LDUB).

Members can use their green HDO envelopes but should place them in a regular white envelope for mailing to avoid drawing attention to the contents.

If there is any way we can be of service to you over this important time, please let us know.

Coronavirus Update

As the coronavirus situation has unfolded it has become clear that it is no longer an option for us to hold formal services in our regular meeting halls. There are several directives we will adhere to:

1. The federal government is asking that there be no group gatherings in excess of 10 in number.
2. In California those 65 and older have been asked to stay home by the governor.
3. In the San Francisco Bay Area 6 counties are under “shelter in place” orders. This means we are to stay in our place of residence. All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a household or living unit are prohibited.

In Contra Costa County where we live and where the Concord church meets, that order is in place until 11:59 p.m. on April 7. We can still shop for food (and toilet paper!) and exercise so long as we are not in contact with anyone. But essentially it means to isolate in our homes.

This is applicable here in California and members across the country will have to be aware of requirements in their locations. However, the 10 limit is a national directive as of now.

We plan to have weekly Sabbath services streamed as usual.

As mentioned earlier, a Passover service is posted on our website.

Where groups were planning the NTBMO together, we need to rethink in terms of small groups in-home. The situation is too fluid and uncertain to proceed with plans for larger groupings being able to congregate for that night.

Obviously, the next few weeks are weeks of uncertainty. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly.

But let us be confident that God is totally in charge. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” We will do our part but our confidence is in Him.

Feast of Tabernacles 2020 Update

Feast of Tabernacles 2020 will be held in just one site in the US at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites, 5151 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712.

More information and registration here.