Reunion Weekend Summary

From President Wynder:

Many, many thanks to all who helped organize, produce, and attended the 30th anniversary Cypress Stake Reunion, June 2, 3 & 4, 2006. We were thrilled at the participation and especially pleased at the numbers of "alumni" of the Stake who came, some from great distances, to participate in the weekend.

While "numbers" don't begin to tell the story of the reunion, we estimate that during our "Day in the Newport Beach Temple," over 100 individuals participated in one or more "sessions" of the temple, including sealing sessions, endowment sessions, initiatory sessions, and baptismal sessions.

We were told that the 5:00 p.m. endowment session set a "record" for this new temple in attendance, with 65 members in that company, the majority of which came from reunion participants. Several hundred baptisms were performed, and the Temple seemed "busy as a beehive."

The Saturday reunion family picnic at the Cypress Civic Center Green was just fabulous. The YSA Ward served over 400 hamburgers (in fact, they ran out) and almost an equal number of hot dogs. We estimate that well over 600 people attended the picnic. Activities abounded, the entertainment and the D.J. were wonderful (we especially appreciated hearing from Cypress Stake's very own "Knudsen Brothers" [who traveled from Las Vegas just to attend]), but most important the entire picnic was filled with great fellowshipping, meeting and greeting people, and remembering old friends (in fact, we had to start cleaning up the park as a "hint" for families to leave).

As it turned out, we held the reunion on the hottest weekend of the year in Southern California (at least to date), so we had to "improvise" the adult dinner and social later that Saturday evening. To avoid having dinner outside in 93 degree weather, we welcomed people into the cool and beautifully decorated Stake Center. We decided to reverse the order of events by holding our reunion program first, let the outside temperature cool off some before dinner, and just look at the "Cypress Stake Remembers" walls in the Cultural Hall.

When the program ended, we were advised by Sister Christensen that dinner was served to over 500 attendees. The parking lot of the Stake Center was transformed into a lovely oasis and by dinner time the temperature had moderated significantly. While we had dessert under the "lights," the adult social was a most enjoyable evening. Thanks to Presidents Mackay, our hosts, ChrisCole events, for a delicious dinner, and Sister Marsha Brown (and helpers), for a beautifully presented venue.

The next day, our combined Stake reunion Sacrament Meeting had a near record attendance with slightly over 1,100 people attending (we needed almost every chair in the building). The reunion choir was marvelous, the YSA priesthood passed the sacrament flawlessly and with great reverence, and we enjoyed messages from past and present members of the Stake.

Last, but certainly not least, over 300 Saints stayed after lunch to watch the reunion showing of "The Award," with many members of the cast attending that event who offered insight and perspective in the making of the movie and its impact on their lives. Special thanks to Sister Dale Lake and Brother Tom Bay for acting as our "moderators" for this event.

So, save June 2016, for the 40 year reunion!!