Our neighbors at the Calimesa Seventh Day Adventist Church would like to invite the entire community to an Old Fashioned Campmeeting!
During the 19th century, various Protestant denominations held outdoor summer revival meetings. These meetings were typically held in pitched tents and people, young and old, would come and frequently stay for an entire week in smaller tents and would enjoy fellowship, preaching, singing of the old traditional hymns of the church, to promote the spiritual life of young and old, and frequently referred to as revival.
James McGready [1768 – 1817] of Kentucky is credited with the creation of the American camp meeting, however camp meetings were originally birthed by Scottish Presbyterians who then brought the idea to America. Over the decades, camp meetings gradually decreased but are still occurring in various parts of the US, modified in various ways but still targeting revival combined with fellowship.
The Calimesa SDA Church, under the encouragement of the lead pastor, Pastor Chris Oberg introduced an annual month of camp meeting Sabbath worship services to be held during the month of August, now called August at Calimesa when the congregation, with community invited are blessed by messages presented by guest speakers, inspiring music of both traditional and contemporary style, drama, a time for children, with focus of drawing young and old closer to our Creator. Aiming to create an atmosphere replicating the camp meeting of yesteryear, the sanctuary platform is decorated to create an atmosphere of sitting in a tent setting. 2024, is no exception as we continue the tradition of “August in Calimesa”, a time each Sabbath in August to enjoy music and the Word, both from local church talent and invited guest speakers and musicians.
This year’s theme, Discipleship, will feature guest speakers,
Dick Deurkson; Pastor, author, storyteller August 3,
Christine Pitt; Lead Pastor, Costa Mesa SDA Church August 10,
Will Penick; Ministerial Director, Southeastern California Conference August 17,
Kevin Wilson; Youth Pastor, Sunnyside Church, Portland, OR. August 24 and
Raewyn Orlich; Pastor, La Sierra University Church August 31.
Music which plays a large contribution of preparing attendees minds and hearts for revival and rededication will play a large part at each morning service being held at 11:15 AM.
Highlighting this month’s music will be a men’s chorus, Christian Edition, Loma Linda University Church Brass Quintet, “Sweet Tidings” Country Gospel Jam, the Yucaipa Ukes (a groups of 15 to 20 ukulele players); soloists Adrian Presley, Je Je Nevol and Claudette Sanders; Vocal duo Kellie and Shannon Barnes, formally of Cal Baptist; Praise teams, Dan Morgan and Devon Riley (Fiddlers, guitarists, vocal and instrumental).
Highlighting August will be a number of concerts, the first featuring the Christian Edition Men’s Chorus, Sabbath afternoon August 3 in the Church sanctuary;
Philip Hoch August 24, 4:00 pm • free admission;
Steve Green and Dick Tunney in concert at LLUC, August 17 at 7 PM.
A ticketed concert not to be missed (itickets.com). The resemblance of this camp meeting of yesteryear will end August 31 with the traditional vespers on the church lawn with watermelon, corn on the cob, corndogs and will culminate with a movie under the stars.
Calimesa SDA Church is located at 391 Myrtlewood Dr, Calimesa, CA 92320