When the sun rises on Easter, these churches will gather to pray
For more than 25 years, people have gathered at Lake Benson Park in Garner on Easter morning for a sunrise service. It's a time of worship, celebration, fellowship and community on the holiest day of the year.
This year, the Garner Community Easter Sunrise Service begins at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 1.
“Sunrise was when Jesus was raised from the dead. It was at the crack of dawn the tomb was opened and he came forth,” said Vann Spivey, senior pastor at Saint Andrews United Methodist Church in Garner.
“The dawn is always a sign or a symbol of renewed life as the sun comes up every day," Spivey said. "It’s a reminder both of the historical event and the symbolic significance of it.”
Through the years, churches in Garner have joined together to make this a real community event. In addition to Saint Andrews, other participating churches are Garner United Methodist Church, Ernest Myatt Presbyterian Church, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Fellowship Baptist Church and Aversboro Road Baptist Church.
Shalom Christian Community Church and Room for One More Christian Church are joining the service this year.
More than 200 worshippers attended the service last year, and organizers say it is likely to be larger this year.
While there is a picnic shelter at Lake Benson Park, attendees may want to bring a portable chair to ensure that they are seated.
A cross will be flowered at the service. Participants may bring their own flowers or choose from what the church provides. For the second year in a row, the service will include Alleluia bells. Every time someone says “Alleluia,” worshippers will ring bells.
Lake Benson Park is at 921 Buffalo Road in Garner.
Raleigh sunrise services
▪ A group of downtown Raleigh churches will host the annual Easter sunrise service on Capitol Square. Worshippers are asked to gather together at 6:25 a.m. The downtown sunrise celebration is a collaboration of First Presbyterian, First Baptist on Wilmington Street, First Baptist on Salisbury Street, Davie Street Presbyterian, Hillyer Memorial Christian Church and Edenton Street United Methodist Church. This is a bring-your-own-chair service.
▪ Raleigh Moravian Church will host an Easter sunrise service on the grounds of the historic Oakwood Cemetery in the Moravian section. The service begins at 7 a.m. April 1. The public is welcome. Oakwood Cemetery is at 701 Oakwood Ave., Raleigh.
▪ North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village Shopping Center is the site for the sunrise service presented by Bayleaf Baptist Church. The service will take place on the center green and begins at 6:30 a.m. In addition to worship and music, coffee and doughnuts are provided. Lafayette Village is at 8450 Honeycutt Road, at the intersection of Falls of Neuse Road.
This story was originally published March 30, 2018 at 7:28 PM with the headline "When the sun rises on Easter, these churches will gather to pray."