Easter Service
It was late March of 1979 and I was irresistibly drawn to the welcome sunshine on the National Mall for a noontime prayer walk. At the reflecting pool, the thought came, “What a great spot for an Easter Sunrise Service!”
Friends said we would never be able to get permission for such a service (Easter always has a doubting Thomas).
And, they added, if you did, only a handful would come at 6:30 in the morning and what do you do if it rains?
Well on Easter Sunday morning, April 15th, 1979 as the sun rose over the United States Capitol building, a band of believers gathered at the Reflecting Pool singing Christ the Lord is Risen Today and He is Lord, He is risen from the dead, He is Lord.
The rest, as they say, is history. One hundred and twenty came that first year, and every year since this service has grown in size, influence and impact. I love the mix of the thousands of people who gather there every Easter morning. They come from every denomination or no denomination at all, and from every direction dressed in Easter’s finest or jeans or jogging suits. People now come from other states, planning their Easter around the sunrise service at the Lincoln Memorial.
We all gather to celebrate the central truth of our faith: the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. No attempt is made to be politically correct and all inclusive. Only one Messiah has come back from the grave, His name is Jesus. Easter is His day!
Local, national and global news organizations will focus their cameras on the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial, and around the world our voice will be heard declaring over this city and the cities and nations of the world, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Pastor Amos Dodge
Click here to read about the service in the Washington Post.