Jehovah’s Witnesses commemorate death of Christ
Staff Writer | Monday April 4, 2022 05:49
The event will be in an in-person format for the first time in two years since the onset of the pandemic in Botswana. However, it will also be available in virtual format.
Jehovah’s Witnesses observe this memorial each year on the anniversary of Jesus’ death according to the Bible’s lunar calendar. He introduced the observance after sundown on Nisan 14, 33 C.E.
Witnesses continue to observe the memorial on this date each year, following the practice of early Christians. Although Nisan 14, 33 C.E. is a Friday this year, the anniversary of that date might fall on a different day of the week each year. The date on which Nisan 14 falls each year is determined by using the same method as was used in the time of Jesus, rather than applying the method used for the modern Jewish calendar.
The weekend before the day of the memorial event, on Sunday 10th April, there will be a 30-minute Bible based public lecture on the topic, “Where Can You Find Real Hope?” which will be hosted worldwide by congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses which will also be in-person at their Kingdom Halls and virtually. The public is also invited to attend this faith-building event that gives real hope for the future and to cope with the many challenges we all face today.
Admission to both programmes, in-person at one of the Kingdom Halls near you or virtual is free, and no registration is required.
The two events come hot on the heels of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ return to Kingdom Halls for in-person gatherings starting today. The virtual means of attending will be retained as a complement to the in-person meetings wherever possible.
Since March 2020 even before government restrictions were announced to curb the spread of COVID-19, all in-person meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses across the country and worldwide were suspended.
The decision was motivated by respect for life as a gift from God and this means putting his principles ahead of personal preferences. To care for the spiritual needs of over the 4,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses and others across the country who attend meetings each week, all spiritual programs and public ministry work were conducted through video or telephone conferencing such as Zoom.
Mr Jonnah Pongaponga, the spokesperson for Jehovahs’ Witnesses in Botswana says, “Even when some restrictions were lowered by the authorities it was still felt that it was necessary to wait until vaccines were more widely available and the infection rate of Covid were at an all-time low. So Kingdom Halls can open now, with hygiene protocols such as mask-wearing, sanitizing, and social distancing. That will make everybody coming to the Kingdom Hall comply with the protocols but also feel safe that they are in a clean and hygienic environment.”
He further clarified that door-to-door preaching will not yet resume.
For more information please visit www.jw.org