Recently several pastors asked whether they should have one large congregational group meal for the "Night to be Much Observed," or have the members continue to observe this occasion in smaller family groups. The following is a quote from a pastoral letter of April 8, 1970 giving Mr. Armstrong’s last official statement on this subject:
Mr. Herbert Armstrong had intended to write you all a note regarding how to conduct the "Night To Be Much Observed." However, with the financial crisis and many other things, he has been extremely busy and unable to. In fact, he is out of town today. So he told me to go ahead and tell you that he has now decided that there should not be any type of service or Bible Study on that evening with the new format we will now be using.
He said to simply tell the brethren to have two or three families eat and fellowship together on that evening in an attitude of thankfulness and rejoicing for the deliverance from sin which we as New Testament Christians experience. The host or leading man should ask God's blessing on the meal and the occasion but no further "sermonizing" will be necessary or helpful since the brethren will be meeting, for the most part, without an ordained minister present.
You ministers be sure to explain carefully the Sabbath before the meaning of this night of rejoicing and then tell the brethren to bear that in mind as the background and focus of the spiritual fellowship through that particular evening. But we feel it is better NOT to give them an outline of some kind of service... they will all get to hear from God's ministers twice on the very next day, the Holy Day, anyway. So, no Bible Study or sermonizing is necessary on the previous evening. It will merely be your responsibility to appoint elders and deacons to check with the brethren and be sure that the widows and other single people are included in the dinner and fellowship with one or more families-so that no one is left out of the fine feast and fellowship on this night which pictures Israel's thankfulness and rejoicing in coming out of Egypt and our deliverance from sin.
For those who have already made extensive preparations and commitments for having a large group meal on that night, it will be okay to go ahead with your present plans. For the rest of the churches, the "Night To Be Much Observed" should be kept as explained above.
Guidelines for "Night to Be Much Observed"
Worldwide Church of God