NEW ZEALAND—Thirty-three members from as far as Australia and Malaysia celebrated the Night to be Much Observed together on April 3 in Ohinewai, New Zealand.

The group event was sparked by the desire of Associate Pastor John Macdonald and his wife to share the evening with all the brethren. The occasion marked the first time the entire North Island congregation spent the evening together as one group.

Coordinated by the ministry and members Gary and Philippa Labao, each member contributed to the night, bringing enough dishes for a set five-course menu as well as printed formal name cards.

After pre-dinner drinks, youths Camron and Dylan Labao escorted each attendee to dinner tables, which were decorated with white and gold tablecloths, candles and blood red roses. A group of two to four ladies plated and served each course, sitting down after their course as another group plated and served the next course. The method afforded all the ladies the opportunity to fellowship and to serve.

“[It was] an exquisitely elegant setting by which we could all contemplate where we had come from,” Malaysian member Hannah Ng said.

Mr. Macdonald called the meal “a beautiful and very special evening with extended family, fantastic food and fellowship.”