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 4, according to the congregation’s senior pastor, Jon Ciccarrelli. The events are part of the dressed-down, casual programming adopted by the congregation every August, reprising the spirit of a summer tent meeting in the past century, he says.
Free concerts, food, and special guest speakers and musicians are all stirred into the mix of community-oriented programming in the church at 391 Myrtlewood Drive, Calimesa. Guest speakers for morning worship services on all four August Saturdays will present messages developing the camp-meeting theme, “I Surrender All.”
Visitors are welcome at both Saturday services each week – the first starting at 8:30 a.m. and the second at 11:15 a.m., the pastor notes.
First among the speakers, on August 4, is Marlene Ferreras, Ph.D., assistant professor of practical theology at La Sierra University’s HMS Richards Divinity School in Riverside. Her message is entitled “Enough.”
Members and guests that day will 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 11 will be Joanna Shedd, assistant dean of the Loma Linda University School of Nursing, speaking on the topic “Listening to the call, and surrendering even when you’re afraid.”
Also on August 11, the public is invited to a sacred classical concert at the church beginning at 4 p.m. Featured in the event are Paulette Jumalon, soprano, and Javier Gonzalez, tenor. Both vocalists teach and perform at La Sierra University and have earned national and international recognition for their musical artistry and interpretations.
William Johnsson, Christian author and longtime former editor of the church periodical Adventist Review, will be Calimesa’s featured camp meeting speaker at the August 18 morning services. His presentation is titled “It’s all about Jesus.”
The Christian Edition men’s chorus, under the direction of Calvin Knipschild, will return to Calimesa for a free sacred concert in the church at 4 p.m. on August 18 The popular southern California chorus was also featured in the local camp meeting series last year.
The final morning guest speaker for this year’s series, on August 25, is singer, songwriter, and speaker Tad Worku. Born in California to Ethiopian immigrant parents, he directs his music career to help under-served world populations. His camp meeting message is titled “Everything for everything.”
The final event of the August program series 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.
In addition to the two scheduled afternoon concerts, musicians from the local church and special guest artists will be featured in sacred music presentations throughout the August programs. Included are the Riverside Kansas Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church Praise Singers (Aug. 4), baritone vocalist Desmond Clark (Aug. 11), tenor Anthony Leon (Aug. 18), the Sweet Tidings Gospel Jam (Aug. 25), the Calimesa Vocal Band and Singers (weekly), and others.