The public is invited to a month-long series of “old fashioned camp meeting” worship and musical events at the Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church beginning August 3. The church’s senior pastor, Jon Ciccarrelli, says the events are part of the dressed-down, casual programming adopted annually by the congregation for each August weekend, recreating the feel of a summer tent meeting in the past century.
Free concerts, food, and special guest speakers and musicians are all features of the community-focused programs in the church at 391 Myrtlewood Drive, Calimesa. Guest speakers for morning worship services on all five August Saturdays will present messages developing this year’s camp-meeting theme, “The Good News!” Visitors are welcome at either of the two Saturday morning worship services each week, the pastor notes.
First among the speakers, on August 3, is Sandra Roberts, president of the Riverside-based Southeastern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Dr. Roberts will speak at both the 8:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services.
Members and guests that day are invited to enjoy a complimentary Haystack Banquet, described as a “taco-salad extravaganza,” at the close of the second service (about 1 p.m.).
Following as guest speaker on August 10 will be Saul Barcelo, a pediatric chaplain at Loma Linda University Health. He was formerly on the pastoral staff at the Calimesa church. Also on August 10, the public is invited to a free sacred-music concert in the church beginning at 3 p.m. The Christian Edition men’s chorus, under the direction of Calvin Knipschild, is a popular southern California-based gospel concert and recording group.
At both morning services on August 17 the camp meeting speaker will be Terry Swenson, campus chaplain at Loma Linda University and assistant professor in the university’s School of Religion.
The fourth guest speaker for this year’s series, on August 24, has just accepted new responsibilities as corporate director of mission identity and spiritual care for Adventist Health hospitals in central and southern California. He is Sam Leonor, who for 20 years until this summer had been chaplain and pastoral counselor to students at La Sierra University.
Later on August 24 will be a family-oriented church-community social, starting at 6 p.m. on the church’s tree-shaded front lawn. Food, a family film under the stars, and activities for all ages will end the month-long program series on a fun, relaxed note, the pastor notes.
On the final morning of camp meeting, August 31, Terry and Chuck Haenny, Redlands residents and members of the Calimesa church, will tell how a devastating accident last year changed their lives and brought new understanding of their relationships to God and others around them. Their journey will be featured in both morning worship services that day.
In addition to the scheduled afternoon concert by Christian Edition, musicians from the local church and special guest artists will be featured in sacred music presentations throughout the August services. Included are the Bluegrass 4; the Calimesa Singers; tenor Anthony Leon; Adrian Presley; Kellie and Shannon Barnes; the Kim Strings; the Brass 5; and others.