WESTOVER — While Sunday, March 24, may pass imperceptibly for many, millions around the world will gather at sundown to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.

Considered the most important day of the year for Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Memorial is observed annually on Nisan 14 of the Jewish calendar in adherence to Jesus’ statement found at Luke 22:19, “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”

Though there are over 8.6 million Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world, almost 20 million people attended the event last year.

“On the anniversary of Jesus death, millions of people who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses attend the Memorial worldwide. We hope that members of our local community in Somerset County will join us in remembering the death of Jesus Christ to show gratitude for his sacrifice,” said John Gay, spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“True, it is a solemn occasion, but as we reflect on what Jesus’ sacrifice has done for mankind, it is also a joyous one.”

The one-hour event will feature a talk highlighting the significance of Jesus’ death and what it means for all of mankind.

In Somerset County, a special campaign will be launched during March 2024 to invite local residents to attend the annual observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal as well as a special public talk that will be delivered the week before.

Titled “The Resurrection—Victory Over Death!", the special talk will be delivered at local Kingdom Halls on the weekend of March 16 and 17. This 30-minute, Bible-based public discourse will focus on the scriptural hope of a resurrection of the dead in the near future.

The Kingdom Hall in Westover is located off U.S. 13 North at 31281 Curtis Chapel Road and the program on March 17 is at 10 a.m. with the Sunday Memorial on March 24 at 7 p.m.

Meetings start and end with the singing of a song, as well as a prayer offered by a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The main feature of the Memorial is a talk about the importance of Jesus’ death and how we can benefit from what God and Christ have done for us.

The Memorial celebration is not the same as Easter which is a  celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. The Memorial commemorates the death of Jesus.

Jehovah’s Witnesses never take collections at their meetings.

“The special talk and Memorial have been highlights on our calendar for many years,” said Jermaine Bivens of Princess Anne. “Along with my wife Jayme and our two sons, it is an occasion for us to reflect as a family on what God and Jesus did for us and how we also can show love for God and neighbor.”

To learn more about how Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Lord’s Supper, visit the event’s Frequently Asked Questions page found on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

For more information about the 2024 Memorial and special talk and how to attend, please visit jw.org.