For nearly two decades, the Calimesa Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church has annually enjoyed “Campmeeting” tho held in the main sanctuary of the church which is located at 391 Myrtlewood Drive in Calimesa.
“Campmeetings” were more common in the past and were predominately outdoor religious annual revival meetings (typically held in tents) popularized on the southern frontier during the nineteenth century. Meetings frequently lasted over several days and attracted people who traveled significant distances and then actually camped on site for the duration of the meetings which lasted 2-3 or more days. Old fashion hymn singing and revival-type preaching plus the fellowship of believers predominated.
“August at Calimesa” as it is named presented annually at the Calimesa SDA Church in an attempt to reduplicate the old traditional campmeetings of the past. A special time of worship highlighted by the singing of traditional old hymns and contemporary Christian songs augmented by guest musicians ministering; children’s story time, drama, and challenging preaching by guest speakers all done in a more comfortable setting but with the church platform decorated with hay bales, old farming equipment, sunflowers, etc. to reflect the atmosphere of the tent meetings of yesteryear (though now blessed with modern air conditioning, and absence of flies, and dust straw-covered floors).
This year’s Calimesa theme is “The Family of God” campmeeting services will be held each Sabbath morning in August at 11:15 a.m. at the Calimesa SDA Church, 4th and Myrltewood in Calimesa. The community is invited to attend.
The August 5 service will feature Manny Vitug (lead pastor at the Redlands Filipino SDA Church) as guest speaker; August 12 will feature Iki Taimi (lead Pastor at La Sierra University Church); August 19 will feature Laffit Cortes (Lead Pastor of Escondido SDA Church). August 26 Rochelle Webster (lead Pastor of Paradise Valley SDA Church). Guest musicians during the month of August in Calimesa will feature Christian Edition Men’s Chorus, The Graceforce Quartet, violinist Adrian Presley, Jerrod Naughton, Marisa Wright, and Kellie & Shannon Barnes.
Highlighted the month of August will be the non-ticketed concerts in the church sanctuary featuring Christian Edition Men’s Chorus at 3:00 p.m. on August 12 and the Graceforce Quartet at 3:00 p.m. on August 26. An offering will be received.
For additional information, you can call (909) 795-9741.