100 Teens Reenact Carrying of Cross With 13-Mile Walk

To mark the anniversary of Jesus’ crucifixion, more than 100 teenagers from churches throughout the county walked nearly 13 miles--over freeway overpasses, down frontage roads and through mall parking lots--on Friday, taking turns carrying a 50-pound wooden cross.

“We’re showing the community what Jesus went through that day,” said Sarah-Lee Lynn, a senior at Buena High School in Ventura.

“Yeah, it’s like, exercise, and because Jesus did it,” chimed in Sarah-Lee’s younger sister, Amanda.

The teens trekked from Channel Islands Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Oxnard to the huge cross that sits above downtown Ventura in hilly Grant Park.

“It’s great seeing people’s reactions as you walk,” said Kasey Atkins of Ventura, who has done the walk twice before. “Most of the time they honk and wave, but sometimes people also get mad and flip us off when they see 100 kids in a crosswalk.”

Then, said Kasey, a member of Ventura’s Horizon Foursquare Church, “they realize what we’re doing. I’ve seen them park their cars and join the walk.”

What were Kasey’s other friends doing on Good Friday? “They’re probably all sleeping in or surfing,” he said. “But once you do this walk, you have to keep doing it.”

T-shirts with Christian slogans were common among the participants, whose ages ranged from 12 to 20.

“Hardcore Christian,” read the faded shirt worn by 16-year-old Joel Hickenbottom, who also sported leather-and-stud bracelets.

“I’m an oxymoron,” he good-naturedly explained. “You don’t have to be clean-cut; you just have to love Christ.”

Twenty-year-old Tom Radwich is a member of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship, which started the “Crosswalk” a few years ago. He wore a T-shirt that identified him as a “Bible totin’, scripture quotin’ Big Time Believer.”

Several marchers carried signs that simply said, “Honk If You Love Jesus.”

And honk the drivers did. The young walkers were especially thrilled when a big-rig tooted its horn.

A wagon, filled with drinks, water and nutrition bars, accompanied the parade of teens from Oxnard to Ventura. Lunch was a picnic on the grounds of College Heights Church, halfway to the cross in Grant Park.

Pastor Bill Coulter of Channel Islands Vineyard Christian Fellowship helped police the event.

“Remember,” he shouted from time to time through cupped hands. “No stopping at fast-food restaurants! No stragglers! Be courteous!”

Coulter had once lost four walkers to a mall hamburger restaurant for half an hour, but this year no one straggled and everyone was courteous.

“There were no problems at all this year,” Jack Thorpe of Oxnard said Friday evening after completing his fourth Crosswalk. “We had a lot more people honking and encouraging us this year.”

*

Near the end of the march, as the parade neared the steep incline by Ventura’s City Hall and headed up into Grant Park, participants did what they do every year. Just when most people would be on their last legs, they began to break into sprints.

“All the kids sprinted up the hill at the last,” Thorpe said. “Then, we gathered around and had a prayer at the cross for more people to come to Christ.”

And fortunately for the 120 who had just hiked all those miles, parents and friends were waiting at the cross to offer lifts home.

On Sunday, Channel Islands Vineyard Christian Fellowship will continue its observance of Easter with services at 9 and 11 a.m.

As usual, the Sunday evening worship service for 18- to 25-year-olds begins at 7.

The fellowship is at 1851 Holser Walk. For more information, call 485-0050.

Sunday will also see the grand opening of a new church in Camarillo, sunrise services and musicals. Those and other services include:

* Gold Coast Christian Church in Camarillo will hold its grand opening on Easter with worship celebrations at 9 and 10:45 a.m. Nursery, preschool and elementary programs will be provided.

A complimentary continental buffet will be offered 30 minutes before each service, and a special Easter Eggstravaganza will be held for all youngsters.

Gold Coast Christian Church “is a brand new congregation, sponsored by the Southern California Evangelistic Assn.,” said its pastor, Scott Wilson.

“We’ll be a Christ-centered church that welcomes people of all ages, races and denominational backgrounds in a casual atmosphere with contemporary music,” he said.

Wilson said he served as senior pastor of Thousand Oaks Christian Church before “accepting the challenge to begin this new congregation in west Ventura County.”

The new church meets at the Cowan Conference Center, 550 Airport Way, within the Camarillo Airport grounds. For more information, call 485-5433.

* The message of Easter comes alive at 7 p.m. today in Ojai’s Libbey Park Bowl with the production of “Easter in the Park,” featuring a cast and crew of more than 100, “full stage lighting, original dance choreography and music score . . . plus flying angels,” said Keith Johnston, a member of the Church of the Living Christ in Ojai.

Peggy Edwards wrote the script and is producing the show. Linda Felgar directs, and Brad McKee arranged the music. Kellye Lynn choreographed the production.

The drama is free and runs one hour. Seating is first come, first served, with additional seating on the grass.

The show begins at 7 p.m. and will be interpreted for the hearing impaired. For more information, call the church at 646-1296.

* The Monte Vista Presbyterian Church in Newbury Park will celebrate Easter at 8:30 and 10 a.m. in the sanctuary. Pastor Steve Davis will deliver a special holiday message and the Monte Vista choir will sing songs of praise.

Nursery care is provided. The church is at 3797 W. Lynn Road. For more information, call 498-8213.

* The public is invited to the traditional Easter sunrise service at the Thacher School’s outdoor chapel in Ojai at 7 a.m.

The Rev. Norman Slert will speak. Golf cart transportation from the parking lot will be available.

Refreshments will be served after the service.

Bring a warm coat. The Thacher School is at 5025 Thacher Road. Call 646-4377 for more information.

* All Saints Episcopal Church in Oxnard will hold Easter worship services at 8 and 11 a.m. in English and at 9 a.m. in Spanish.

The church is at 144 South C St. Call 653-7519 for more information.

* Ojai’s Libbey Park Bowl will host an outdoor Easter service at 10 a.m. The service will feature live music and a special Easter message. Activities for children will immediately follow.

Ojai Church of the Living Christ will host the service at the park, which is on Ojai Avenue. Call 646-1296 for more information.

* At St. Anthony’s Church in Oxnard, Easter Sunday Masses will be celebrated at 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. in English, and at noon and 1:30 p.m. in Spanish.

St. Anthony’s is at 2511 South C St. Call 486-7301 for more information.

* Easter breakfast will be served at 7 and 10 a.m. at Oxnard’s Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, with Holy Communion services at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

The church is at 721 Doris Ave. Call 983-0612 for more information.

* Easter services at Oxnard’s First Presbyterian Church begin at 8:30 a.m. with contemporary worship. A continental breakfast follows at 9:30. The Easter egg hunt starts at 9:45 and the traditional worship service begins at 10.

The 10:30 a.m. service will be in Spanish.

The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. Call 983-0204 for more information.

* Paseo Community Church of Camarillo will produce “Celebrate Easter: A Presentation of the Easter Story” at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Paseo Camarillo Theater, 390 Lantana St.

Pastor Merle Blerma will speak.

* Unity Center Church of Thousand Oaks will meet for an Easter sunrise service at Old Meadows, 1600 Marview Drive, at 7 a.m.

“This will be a casual service with prayer, meditation and a brief message--’I Am the Light of the World,’ ” said the Rev. Irma Oestmann.

The Easter flower service begins at 10 a.m. and features Andy Rawn, who has appeared at the Crystal Cathedral. For more information, call 496-6901.

* Moorpark United Methodist Church plans a full morning of Easter services, including a pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. that will follow its 6:30 a.m. sunrise service.

A traditional service with Holy Communion begins at 8:30 a.m., and contemporary worship and Holy Communion will be offered at 10 a.m.

Child care is available for ages 6 and younger at the 8:30 and 10 a.m. services.

The church is at 261 Flory Ave. For more information, call 529-1401.

* Easter sunrise services begin at 6 a.m. on the patio at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oxnard, and all are welcome.

The Rev. Alan Gorsline’s sermon at 10 a.m. will be on “Did You Hear the Story About?” based on Matthew 28:1-10.

Between the services, a pancake breakfast in the fellowship hall will be offered by Boy Scout Trout 202 for a $5 donation. An Easter egg hunt will follow the second service.

Spanish- and Japanese-language services are also planned for Easter Sunday.

St. Paul’s is at 1800 South C St. Call 487-2711 for more information.

* The Rev. Jacqueline Holland’s topic will be “I Make All Things New” at Camarillo’s Church of Religious Science special family Easter service.

Meditation begins at 10 a.m., with the Easter service and children’s church starting at 10:30 a.m.

The church is at 340 N. Mobil Ave. Call 484-1137 for details.

* A 6:30 a.m. sunrise service will begin Easter Sunday at Newbury Park’s St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church.

Worship services are also set for 8:30 and 10 a.m., when the Rev. Lynne Austin will deliver the message “Earth-quaking, Ground-breaking.”

The chancel choir, directed by Steve Hobson, will sing at the 8:30 and 10 a.m. services.

After the 10 a.m. service, St. Matthew’s youth will serve an Easter brunch and host an egg hunt for the younger children.

St. Matthews is at 1360 Wendy Drive. Call 498-6910 for more information.

* Easter services at the San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura will begin with the Easter vigil liturgy at 7 p.m. today.

Easter Masses will be celebrated at 7:30 and 9 a.m. Sunday with Easter hymns; at 10:30 a.m. with the Spanish choir; at noon with Easter hymns; and at 1:30 p.m. in Latin.

After each Mass, light refreshments will be served at the recently completed foundation slab of the new Holy Cross School and Mission multipurpose building, behind the rectory.

Msgr. Patrick O’Brien invites the public to celebrate the 217th birthday of the old mission, which was founded by Father Junipero Serra on Easter Sunday in 1782 near today’s mission.

The mission is at 211 E. Main St. Call 985-0314 for more information.

* St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ventura will hold an Easter vigil with baptism and Holy Eucharist at 7:30 p.m. today.

Festival Holy Eucharists are also scheduled for Easter morning at 8 and 10:15.

The celebrant will be the Rev. Jerome Kahler, assisted by the Rev. Faye Hogan.

A flowering of the cross will be held at both services. Music, under the direction of conductor Charles McDermott, will include trumpets, the St. Paul’s choir and solos by John Kinney.

Child care is provided from 8 a.m. to noon.

St. Paul’s is at 3290 Loma Vista Road. For more information, call 643-5033.

* Breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday at Our Saviours Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oxnard, followed by a special Easter service at 9.

The church’s weekly schedule includes Sunday school for all ages at 10:45 a.m., a Wednesday Bible study group at 7:15, and a youth group at 7 p.m.

On Mondays, a 12-step recovery group meets from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The church is at 905 Redwood St. Call 486-5383 for more information.

* Everyone is invited to an Easter sunrise service at Lake Casitas at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, said Pastor Paul Bergmann of the Ojai Valley Community Church.

Coffee and doughnuts will be available.

The morning will include a message from Bergmann and music from the worship band and worship team.

Drive to the front gate of Lake Casitas to be directed to the service, Bergmann said. Entrance to the lake will be free.

Dress warmly and bring chairs. For more information, call 646-4324.

* First Baptist Church of Camarillo invites the public to a special musical presentation, “The Way of the Cross--a Journey to Calvary,” at 10:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday.

The story is told from the perspectives of those who knew Jesus from childhood to Calvary. Dave Clark wrote the musical, which Associate Pastor Ray Buford is directing.

Call 484-2879 for additional information. The church is at 1601 Temple Ave.

* Sonrise Christian Fellowship in Simi Valley will hold Easter weekend services at 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. today and at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

The fellowship is at 2350 Shasta Way. For more information, call 581-1628.

* Easter events at Moorpark’s Community Christian Church will include a musical on Sunday and a special Friendship Sunday service, “Christ in the Passover,” on April 11.

Regular Sunday services are held at 9 and 10:45 a.m. at the church, with Bible school classes for preschool through junior high also at 9 and 10:45.

Call the church for more information on weekly Bible study and choir ministry classes.

Community Christian is at 216 Moorpark Ave., No. 200. For more information, call 529-3572.