BROOKINGS – People are encouraged to attend the Community Easter Sunrise Service, a nondenominational service to celebrate the ultimate Christian holiday on April 16.
Scheduled bright and early at 6:15 a.m. April 16 at Pioneer Park, the service will last an hour. The goal is not to replace any Sunday Easter services, but to supplement and enhance them through a simple, contemplative service that celebrates in a natural setting Christ’s victory over death.
The idea is also to involve as many churches as possible in an inclusive setting for different faith traditions.
Instrumental music will begin the service at 6:15, followed with reading Scripture and praying. There will be no preaching, however, a conscious decision on coordinator Bill Miller’s part.
“It’s just an open, victorious celebration. We’re not doing preaching; it’s one of those things I don’t think in an ecumenical fashion you should be preaching all the time. That’s saved for your individual churches and congregations, so we’re trying to do just a celebration with a drama portrayal,” Miller said.
After Scripture and prayer, the praise team from the Brookings First Assembly of God will lead with a few songs, followed by a dramatic presentation around the time of the sunrise.
The dramatic presentation, “A New Day, A New Life,” was written by Louis Whitehead to provide a fresh perspective of that Easter morning.
Miller said those coming should plan on a chilly morning and dress accordingly, although there will be fires to help keep warm. Chairs will also be provided.
Throughout the service, the gathering will be facing the east, with the praise team and worship leaders at the back. That way, they can focus on the sunrise and a dramatic presentation.
The event is thanks to the work of Miller, who organized one after not being able to find any after moving to Brookings last year.
“I came (to Brookings) last year, and I wanted to go to a sunrise service. I looked in the paper, and there were none,” he recalled.
The plans are for the service to happen even if it rains some.
“Hopefully this first year, it goes well. For future years, it would be nice to have a tent or something you could have in the background that everybody could come to if it didn’t work. But as of this time, we’ll have to stay with what we’ve got. … We’ll just see what happens, but we intend for it to happen. We’re just praying that everything will work.”
Only taking about an hour of someone’s morning, Miller said this is a great chance to celebrate Easter alongside other churches and traditions, and he hopes the service will become an annual ministry with lots of participation from local churches.
“I know most churches want to work together. They just don’t have that venue, and I think that venue needs to be there.”
Contact Eric Sandbulte at esandbulte@brookingsregister.com.
