The Memorial Is April 4 This Year - "Right Around The Corner"

[Medi-tator]

Susan B (formerly known as Driven) and I are going to attend this year's memorial at the Kingdom Hall in person. Because we ceased attending meetings (both live and memorex) over a year ago, we know we will be getting questions as to what we are doing and where we have been. So as to not detract from the beauty of attending the memorial, we are thinking about creating some cards (like business cards) to pass out to those who ask us questions. The cards will of course have our contact info but we also want to insert a little message on the back side, whether it be a scripture or the web address to some of Robert's content, something like that.

- Any ideas?
- What are your plans for this year's memorial?
- Thank you in advance!

Med

 

[SusanB]

I have a few suggestions:

Jeremiah 30:17: “But I will restore your health and heal your wounds,” declares Jehovah,“Though they called you an outcast: ‘Zion, for whom no one searches.’”

1 John 3:18: “Little children, we should love, not in word or with the tongue, but in deed and truth.”

Zechariah 8:16: “These are the things you should do: Speak the truth with one another, and the judgments in your gates must promote truth and peace.”

Matthew 10:27: “What I tell you in the darkness, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, preach from the housetops.”

 

[White Stone]

I will also attend in person. Just this February, our cong announced that unvax persons can now attend in person. I have been attending in person unmasked since Feb 22. Many still are becoming sick, I hope they don’t blame me.

 

[Ms_ladyblue]

Susan B (formerly known as Driven) and I are going to attend this year's memorial at the Kingdom Hall in person. Because we ceased attending meetings (both live and memorex) over a year ago, we know we will be getting questions as to what we are doing and where we have been. So as to not detract from the beauty of attending the memorial, we are thinking about creating some cards (like business cards) to pass out to those who ask us questions. The cards will of course have our contact info but we also want to insert a little message on the back side, whether it be a scripture or the web address to some of Robert's content, something like that.

- Any ideas?
- What are your plans for this year's memorial?
- Thank you in advance!

Med

I need to ask one or both of you a question. I’m not trying to raise an issue about this but a former witness sister and I were talking recently and she asked if I noticed that on the evening of the Memorial, which is April 4 this year but there’s not going to be a full moon that evening. I looked up the last three years for Memorial dates then Googled that month and what day it was a full moon. Well, we know that we have to take into consideration we are going by the Hebrew calendar so the day’s difference compensates for the day there.
But this year is different. When I Googled April 4 2023 full moon it says:

The Moon phase for April 4th, 2023 is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This is the phase where the moon is more than 50% illuminated but has not yet reached 100% illumination (which would be a Full Moon).

So the full moon for this year in April is actually on April 6. This says here:

In April, the Full Moon will also be called the Full Pink Moon, it will be on Thursday, April 6 at 12:34 a.m. EDT or 5:34 a.m. UTC. This will be the first Full Moon of the 2023 spring season.


I’m not sure this has any significance, but why the change after all these years?

 

[a watcher]

My congregation is meeting at a local hotel for the Memorial this year. I will be attending.

 

[SusanB]

I need to ask one or both of you a question. I’m not trying to raise an issue about this but a former witness sister and I were talking recently and she asked if I noticed that on the evening of the Memorial, which is April 4 this year but there’s not going to be a full moon that evening. I looked up the last three years for Memorial dates then Googled that month and what day it was a full moon. Well, we know that we have to take into consideration we are going by the Hebrew calendar so the day’s difference compensates for the day there.
But this year is different. When I Googled April 4 2023 full moon it says:

The Moon phase for April 4th, 2023 is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This is the phase where the moon is more than 50% illuminated but has not yet reached 100% illumination (which would be a Full Moon).

So the full moon for this year in April is actually on

I did not know that!! Thank you. I’ll have to check it out. Wow.

 

[White Stone]

Susan B (formerly known as Driven) and I are going to attend this year's memorial at the Kingdom Hall in person. Because we ceased attending meetings (both live and memorex) over a year ago, we know we will be getting questions as to what we are doing and where we have been. So as to not detract from the beauty of attending the memorial, we are thinking about creating some cards (like business cards) to pass out to those who ask us questions. The cards will of course have our contact info but we also want to insert a little message on the back side, whether it be a scripture or the web address to some of Robert's content, something like that.

- Any ideas?
- What are your plans for this year's memorial?
- Thank you in advance!

Med

I think a scripture would be better. If its a web address, they may consider it apostate material and not engage further with you as you are currently disassociated, the same standing as being disfellowshipped.

 

[Ms_ladyblue]

I did not know that!! Thank you. I’ll have to check it out. Wow.

Also read the rest of my reply I quoted. At first it didn’t post my whole comment. Go figure…

 

[SusanB]

Also read the rest of my reply I quoted. At first it didn’t post my whole comment. Go figure…

Where is the rest of your reply?

 

[White Stone]

I need to ask one or both of you a question. I’m not trying to raise an issue about this but a former witness sister and I were talking recently and she asked if I noticed that on the evening of the Memorial, which is April 4 this year but there’s not going to be a full moon that evening. I looked up the last three years for Memorial dates then Googled that month and what day it was a full moon. Well, we know that we have to take into consideration we are going by the Hebrew calendar so the day’s difference compensates for the day there.
But this year is different. When I Googled April 4 2023 full moon it says:

The Moon phase for April 4th, 2023 is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This is the phase where the moon is more than 50% illuminated but has not yet reached 100% illumination (which would be a Full Moon).

So the full moon for this year in April is actually on April 6. This says here:

In April, the Full Moon will also be called the Full Pink Moon, it will be on Thursday, April 6 at 12:34 a.m. EDT or 5:34 a.m. UTC. This will be the first Full Moon of the 2023 spring season.


I’m not sure this has any significance, but why the change after all these years?

They are one day ahead of the hebrew calendar. I have also searched it and they have done it also on 2019. I would like to know how they calculated the date for the memorial.

 

[SusanB]

I think a scripture would be better. If its a web address, they may consider it apostate material and not engage further with you as you are currently disassociated, the same standing as being disfellowshipped.

That’s what Medi-Tator said too.

 

[SusanB]

I need to ask one or both of you a question. I’m not trying to raise an issue about this but a former witness sister and I were talking recently and she asked if I noticed that on the evening of the Memorial, which is April 4 this year but there’s not going to be a full moon that evening. I looked up the last three years for Memorial dates then Googled that month and what day it was a full moon. Well, we know that we have to take into consideration we are going by the Hebrew calendar so the day’s difference compensates for the day there.
But this year is different. When I Googled April 4 2023 full moon it says:

The Moon phase for April 4th, 2023 is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This is the phase where the moon is more than 50% illuminated but has not yet reached 100% illumination (which would be a Full Moon).

So the full moon for this year in April is actually on April 6. This says here:

In April, the Full Moon will also be called the Full Pink Moon, it will be on Thursday, April 6 at 12:34 a.m. EDT or 5:34 a.m. UTC. This will be the first Full Moon of the 2023 spring season.


I’m not sure this has any significance, but why the change after all these years?

The website I am looking at says the full moon is April 5, 2023.

 

[White Stone]

That’s what Medi-Tator said too.

I’ll try searching again if they have done it also prior 2019 to see a pattern.

 

[SusanB]

I’ll try searching again if they have done it also prior 2019 to see a pattern.

Yeah it may be a Jewish calendar thing.

 

[SusanB]

I need to ask one or both of you a question. I’m not trying to raise an issue about this but a former witness sister and I were talking recently and she asked if I noticed that on the evening of the Memorial, which is April 4 this year but there’s not going to be a full moon that evening. I looked up the last three years for Memorial dates then Googled that month and what day it was a full moon. Well, we know that we have to take into consideration we are going by the Hebrew calendar so the day’s difference compensates for the day there.
But this year is different. When I Googled April 4 2023 full moon it says:

The Moon phase for April 4th, 2023 is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This is the phase where the moon is more than 50% illuminated but has not yet reached 100% illumination (which would be a Full Moon).

So the full moon for this year in April is actually on April 6. This says here:

In April, the Full Moon will also be called the Full Pink Moon, it will be on Thursday, April 6 at 12:34 a.m. EDT or 5:34 a.m. UTC. This will be the first Full Moon of the 2023 spring season.


I’m not sure this has any significance, but why the change after all these years?

I’m not sure if this explains it but I found this info on the jw.org website:

“The modern Jewish calendar determines the beginning of the month of Nisan by the astronomical new moon, but that technique was not used in the first century. Instead, the month began when the new moon was first visible in Jerusalem, which can be a day or more after the moment of the astronomical new moon. This difference is one reason why the date on which Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Memorial does not always coincide with the date used by modern Jews for the Passover.”

 

[SusanB]

I need to ask one or both of you a question. I’m not trying to raise an issue about this but a former witness sister and I were talking recently and she asked if I noticed that on the evening of the Memorial, which is April 4 this year but there’s not going to be a full moon that evening. I looked up the last three years for Memorial dates then Googled that month and what day it was a full moon. Well, we know that we have to take into consideration we are going by the Hebrew calendar so the day’s difference compensates for the day there.
But this year is different. When I Googled April 4 2023 full moon it says:

The Moon phase for April 4th, 2023 is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This is the phase where the moon is more than 50% illuminated but has not yet reached 100% illumination (which would be a Full Moon).

So the full moon for this year in April is actually on April 6. This says here:

In April, the Full Moon will also be called the Full Pink Moon, it will be on Thursday, April 6 at 12:34 a.m. EDT or 5:34 a.m. UTC. This will be the first Full Moon of the 2023 spring season.


I’m not sure this has any significance, but why the change after all these years?

From what I have looked up the full moon is actually April 5 but according to the Jewish method of calculating days that day begins at sundown on April 4. So apparently that is why April 4 after sundown is the memorial.

 

[Ms_ladyblue]

I’m not sure if this explains it but I found this info on the jw.org website:

“The modern Jewish calendar determines the beginning of the month of Nisan by the astronomical new moon, but that technique was not used in the first century. Instead, the month began when the new moon was first visible in Jerusalem, which can be a day or more after the moment of the astronomical new moon. This difference is one reason why the date on which Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Memorial does not always coincide with the date used by modern Jews for the Passover.”

Yes, I understand that but what about the date chosen for the Memorial this year, the moon not being a full moon as it’s always been in the past? Does that have anything to do with the explanation you just gave, and if so, how?
Maybe I’m missing something here…

 

[A B]

I’m not sure if this explains it but I found this info on the jw.org website:

“The modern Jewish calendar determines the beginning of the month of Nisan by the astronomical new moon, but that technique was not used in the first century. Instead, the month began when the new moon was first visible in Jerusalem, which can be a day or more after the moment of the astronomical new moon. This difference is one reason why the date on which Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Memorial does not always coincide with the date used by modern Jews for the Passover.”

We noticed that also, the full moon is April 6th in Jerusalem. We found the issue goes back to the new moon....something to do with when it actually is new and when it is observable as a crescent. I don't understand it well enough to explain/repeat information about it, but when I encountered the explanation, I thought it made sense.

 

[A B]

oh yeah...see Driven's comment above !! That was it.

 

[Ms_ladyblue]

From what I have looked up the full moon is actually April 5 but according to the Jewish method of calculating days that day begins at sundown on April 4. So apparently that is why April 4 after sundown is the memorial.

But the last previous 3 years were a day apart, taking into consideration the Hebrew calendar and the next day would start at 6:00 by modern day standards. So why did the info I looked up say the full moon in April would be the 6th?