Thousands Wake Early to Greet Easter’s Dawn

The scene at first light Sunday seemed more like a concert at the park than a religious service.

Beneath a slowly vanishing moon, about 8,000 people of all ages gathered for Calvary Chapel’s annual Easter sunrise service, huddling shoulder-to-shoulder on blankets and towels, swaying and singing along to choir songs about hope and spiritual rebirth.

“This is a celebration, that’s what it’s all about,” said 39-year-old Eric Fickle of Orange. His wife, Luella, added: “It’s a day like this that reminds us to appreciate life.”

The couple, like many others who woke up in darkness to greet Easter dawn at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium, came to be inspired by the age-old story of Jesus Christ rising from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.

They were among tens of thousands of people throughout Orange County who attended half a dozen sunrise services to rejoice in the resurrection of Christ.

The Resurrection, Pastor Chuck Smith told the stadium crowd, is testament to the religious belief that life doesn’t stop with death. “Death is not the end of existence,” Smith said. “Life does not cease at the grave.”

Many of the adults had tears in their eyes as they listened to a children’s choir singing about the hopelessness of Friday, the day Christ was crucified, giving way to renewal on Sunday.

“I got a couple of friends who are going through Fridays right now,” said Luella Fickle, 48. “We just need to remember that the Sundays will come sooner or later. And they all could be as beautiful as today.”

Indeed, the sky became a clear blue and the day a glowing gold, a perfect foil for introspection on personal redemption, continuous hope and family togetherness.

“Something like this brings the family closer,” said Diane Larsen, 52, of Mission Viejo, whose 10-member family sat on the grassy field.

“When you leave, you see the world a little bit different. You come to something like this and hear the message of Pastor Chuck and you have second thoughts of what life is all about, that there is hope and there is love in the world.”

Even the few young ones who came reluctantly left changed, if only slightly.

The service “was nice; it wasn’t as bad as I thought and I’m really glad I came,” said 15-year-old Steven Owen, whose parents persuaded him to attend the service. To make sure he stayed awake, Steven brought along his Walkman with a tape of house-music rap.

But he didn’t listen to it, opting to pay attention to the live singers on the stage and the minister. Still, “I could have used a little more sleep,” the teenager said.

Marcia Dailey, a new member to Calvary Chapel, brought a friend, Aretha Riley, to her first sunrise service. Both were pleasantly surprised, they said, with the brevity of the service (90 minutes) and the fact that no money was collected.

“That definitely wasn’t expected,” said Riley.

Dailey was so into the spirit of the day that she decided to attend a regular service at the church later on.

“It’s a celebration,” the 32-year-old Costa Mesa resident said. “You can’t get enough of celebrations.”