With great reluctance and with an abundance of caution 81st Annual Easter Ecumenical Sunrise Service at Ft. Phoenix has been canceled, potentially to be rescheduled.
Easter Sunrise Service at Fort Phoenix has been a shared experience for Christians for 80 years. We gather in the night as one body sharing one faith, only seeing our diversity as the light dawns. Hundreds of people have come out every year from dozens of churches. Whether it be raining, snowing or clear, warm or very cold, it never deterred the faithful.
However, though wars, weather and recessions could not stop the gathering, this year of COVID-19 does. With government and medical officials pleading with us as a nation, state and community not to gather in groups larger than 10, we will not be there this weekend. We may plan for a great gathering when all this has passed and we can gather again and celebrate our own physical resurrection from the fear and isolation of our time spent sheltered and away from family and friends.
Though we may not be gathering in person this weekend we can be in the spirit. In Christ’s own words, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one, as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. (John 17:21).
Remember our faith and hope is in Christ for the very reason we celebrate Easter, it’s Resurrection Day and we serve a living Christ!
God Bless you all and may you experience a wonderful Easter service, but even more so a wondrous encounter with God!
Rev. David A. Lima , Executive Minister, Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford
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