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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MARCH 8, 1985
families should eat and fellowship together in an attitude of thankfulness
and rejoicing for the deliverance from sin that we as New Testament Chris
tians experience. The host or leading man should ask God's blessing on the
meal and the occasion, but no further "sermonizing" should be done.
The meaning of the Night to Be Much Observed should be carefully explained
on the preceding Sabbath, and the brethren should be encouraged to bear
that meaning in mind as the background and focus of their spiritual fellow
ship during this special evening. Also point out how enjoyable it is to
open our homes to one another--to plan and serve together, helping and
fellowshipping with one another even in cleanup.
And make sure that no
widows or other single people are left out on this very important occasion.
Some have asked about the use of restaurants on this night. Although eating
in a restaurant is not prohibited, experience has shown that it is much more
preferable to have the meal for the Night to Be Much· Observed in homes
rather than in restaurants. The opportunity for quality fellowship is far
greater in a home than in a restaurant.
And since the Night to Be Much
Observed does celebrate coming out of the sin of this world, observing it
with brethren in an intimate, home atmosphere is much more meaningful.
A restaurant, even in a private room, provides too many possibilities for
things to go wrong that might spoil or put a damper on the evening. Plans
or reservations can be fouled up in many ways.
There could be too few
seats, wrong food served, improperly prepared food, poor service, unex
pected noise ("music") or other distractions, last-minute cancellations due
to sick children or auto problems, difficulties or sensitivities in comput
ing each family's share of the bill, etc. These things have actually hap
pened to various brethre� at one time or another when they ate in restau
rants on the Night to Be Much Observed. Many who have observed this very
special evening in restaurants felt they missed the spirit of the occasion.
On the other hand, we realize that there may be the rare situation where
some may find a restaurant setting appropriate.
Be sure to also remind the brethren to plan and prepare well in advance for
this spring festival period so they won't come up short at the last minute
because of meal needs on the first holy day. There should be two services
on that day as on all holy days except Atonement.
On another subject, we have been asked several questions about saving sec
ond tithe from one year to the next to visit an overseas Feast site, or a
distant one on one's own continent. If it is necessary for a member to save
his excess second tithe to make such a trip, he should first discuss it with
his local pastor. His pastor should help him evaluate the advisability of
transferring to a distant site.
The first priority concerning the use of second tithe is to properly
rejoice before God at one's assigned Feast site. Members should not "skimp
and save" during the Feast one year so they can travel to a faraway site the
following year. Not only should a member properly rejoice before God at the
Feast, he should fulfill his obligation to share his blessings with the
less fortunate by sending in some excess second tithe. He should also con
tribute the tithe of the second tithe to the Church. If he is financially
able to do all these things and still have extra second tithe, then he could
save the excess until he has sufficient to transfer to an overseas or other
wise distant Feast site.
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