700 Attend Easter Sunrise Service at Lakeside

The sun made only a brief appearance after cresting Sulphur Mountain on Sunday morning, but that did not diminish the spirit of worshipers at Ojai Valley Community Church’s annual lakeside Easter Sunrise Service.

Wrapped in blankets to fend off the cold morning air, parishioners swayed and sang along to choral music and listened intently to Pastor Paul Bergmann’s holiday sermon.

As fog shrouded the lake, motor boats skimmed its glassy surface in the distance and herons and blackbirds flitted in the tall grass at the shore.

“I’ve been in cathedrals all over Europe, but nothing compares to a beautiful setting like this,” Bergmann said.

Churches across Ventura County held Easter services Sunday to celebrate the biblical story of Jesus’ early morning resurrection. The sunrise symbolizes the rising of Christ from the dead, because that was the time of day when followers found his tomb empty, Bergmann said.

The weather was picture-perfect for after-church egg hunts and barbecues. Morning fog along the coast gave way to clear and sunny skies by late afternoon.

Temperatures across the county ranged from lows in the 50s to highs in the mid-70s. Today, temperatures are expected to be mostly in the upper 60s to mid-70s, with coastal fog developing in morning and early evening hours.

Christians have been preparing for Easter for weeks. The season started March 8 with Ash Wednesday, the beginning of a 40-day period during which many of the faithful abstain from a favored food or drink as a way of repenting and reflecting.

Palm Sunday on April 16 commemorated the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem in the week of his crucifixion, and Good Friday five days later marked his death on the cross.

The third annual Ojai Valley Community Church sunrise service drew approximately 700 people, the largest ever for the nondenominational church.

“I don’t know what happened, but it’s really taken off,” said church usher Ron Salts.

Ojai resident Valerie Bullock said her family attends Easter service each year at the church, but Sunday’s was their first at dawn.

“We’re not normally early risers,” said Bullock, 40, bundled in a parka and resting in a lawn chair next to her husband. “But this year, we took it for granted we were coming for the sunrise service.”

Later that day she planned to put out Easter baskets, and her husband, Steve, planned to hide plastic eggs filled with money for their 12-year-old son, Tyler, she said.

New church member Jeff Graham said Sunday was his family’s first sunrise service as well, and he found the experience “awesome.” A construction worker, he did not have trouble getting up before dawn, but his children apparently did.

His 7-year-old daughter, Kayla, slept through most of the service wrapped in a blanket.

“She was in her own world,” said Graham, 29, after the service.

And Cameron, 5, was still sporting his red pajamas, while another son, Tyler, complained.

“I’m tired,” said the 10-year-old.

Graham said his wife, Lisa, planned to cook a holiday dinner for members of their extended family at the couple’s Ojai home.

As he headed back to the church on El Centro Street to conduct another service, Bergmann said he had not given any thought to an Easter dinner.

“It’s a big day, and by that time, I’ll probably be catching up on my sleep,” he said.