Mood:
lazyTopic: Backgrounder
There are several assemblies throughout the year. There are circuit assemblies and district assemblies. I believe the circuit assembly is smaller and shorter.
The Jehovah's Witnesses, being a centrally controlled organization, run a very tight ship for scheduling and planning. ALL CIRCUIT ASSEMBLIES will have the same printed agenda. Here's the general outline of an assembly:
The meeting will start punctually with a short announcement from the speaker and piped music to remind attendees to make it to their seats.
Start with a song.
A variety of talks and mock dialogues will be conducted throughout the day, broken up with a song here and there (to wake up your behind).
Just before lunch on Saturday, baptisms will be announced. Typically the first couple rows of the auditorium will be roped off for them. The speaker will give a short talk on the significance of the baptism, and will ask the candidates to stand. Candidates are not announced individually. They respond to two questions from the speaker and then file out to the applause of the assembly. They are baptized at noon, often surrounded by a small crowd of well-wishers. They are asked to bring their own bathing suit and a modest t-shirt for the baptism.
Everyone else has a lunch they have packed for themselves, typically in the same facility. If a space has been designated for lunch, a clean-up crew will shoo them back to their seats when the meeting is about to start again.
A variety of talks and mock dialogues will be conducted throughout the afternoon, broken up with a song here and there (to wake up your behind).
A keynote speaker typically wraps up the day. They are often a fairly high-ranking personage in the organization, perhaps a Bethelite. Couched in his talk will be any changes in direction or policy from head office. He will speak louder at the conclusion of the talk as a signal to the audience for a little enthusiasm.
The second day is a repeat of day one except there is no baptism, there is a reading of the accounts (they always announce they are a little short) and a prayer.
Everyone goes home.
The meeting place:
Year texts will be displayed prominently around the room.
The stage will be quite plain. There will be a podium with seats and microphones arranged for the various presentations.
Perhaps off to the side or in a separate room will be the baptismal tank.
There will be designated slots for receiving contributions, perhaps discreet boxes placed at the entrance in to the facility.
Here are some pictures from the Circuit Assembly from an amazing Jehovah's Witness meeting hall, the Stanley Theatre. Most meeting places are not this ornate. Circuit Assembly, Stanley Theatrehttp://family.webshots.com/album/192410240ilMmnJ
Here are detailed notes from a Circuit Assembly last year:
Notes from a typical circuit assemblyhttp://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/105774/1.ashx
And a YouTube portrayal of a typical DISTRICT ASSEMBLY (slightly larger). Note the badges, which are given only to members who are pioneers or publishers. My husband, who is not COMPLETELY accepted by the Jehovah's Witnesses, worries every year if he will be given his own badge.
YouTube Circuit Assemblyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVaRRIKJ08c&NR=1