EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE

“We are Easter people this day. The day of Resurrection is just beginning! He is risen! Alleluia!” “He is risen indeed, Alleluia!” These words, spoken joyfully by Reverend Shawn Deterding, and then echoed by the worshippers, opened the first Easter Sunrise Service of “Water of Life,” Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, Forney, Texas, on April 4, 2021.

We had planned quite some time and especially been working to make it a joyous worship service the past two weeks. At the congregational workday and monthly Food Pantry, a week before the event, several members trimmed shrubs, planted new foliage, spread mulch, laid stones, purchased groceries for the Youth Group’s breakfast, and so much more; we hoped and prayed for a successful, glorious day.

Standing outside the church before the opening of our Good Friday Tenebrae Worship Service, Chuck Steinke (Head Elder), J. D. Franks (Congregational President), and I talked about the upcoming service and voiced some concerns about the time of the sunrise, the weather for that day, the breakfast menu, whether many folks would attend, etc., and one of us said, “We don’t need to worry; it will be GREAT no matter what!”

Sunday morning at 6:15, Katie, Vivian, and I drove to the Church on FM. Rd. 1641 and found seats by Weston (also an Elder), who had gone earlier to help make sure all was in order.

The parking lot was already “fuller” than most Sundays, with more vehicles turning in. The temperature was in the mid-50s, but not too cold; the grounds looked great; the sound and other equipments were in place; Pastor was greeting parishoners. It was still fairly dark—but a glow was upon the horizon! Willis Womack, one of our “older” mainstays these past years but who was hospitalized near death a few months ago, was able to make it to a seat, using a “walker.” I already knew it was a SPECIAL DAY!

Pastor Deterding waited about five minutes past announced starting time so that the final worshippers could find seats and then opened the service with the words with which I opened this article. The day was already wonderful and a success, not matter how the remainder “turned out.”

We opened with singing of “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today,” and we closed with “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” (played so heartily and well by Sam Teichelman, who had set up an organ system for outside use) and in-between listened to the Old and New Testament Bible readings, recited the “Apostles’ Creed” and the “Lord’s Prayer,” and celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

And Pastor’s sermon (message), “Who Rolled the Stone Away,” kept my rapt attention from start to finish; I could really tell it was doing the same for others when he asked—“And how many stones do you think there are going to be?”—and a very young boy answered, “Two!” When Pastor said, “No,” the boy then answered, “Three!” He was correct. #1—physical stone in front of the grave; #2—cornerstone that the builders (Church leaders of Jesus’s day) rejected; #3—the stone in front of your heart: Is it there to keep Jesus in or to keep you out?

At the conclusion of the service, Pastor again led us with, “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” And we all again responded with, “He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”

Congregants then exited the outside seating area and went into the assembly hall for a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, pancakes, tortillas, milk, orange juice, fruit, and “fixins.” A “contemporary” Easter Service followed at 10:30 for those who could not attend the early one or who wanted to attend again!

Many of us were already planning next year’s Sunrise Service!