On Easter Sunday, April 20th at 7:30 AM at the Covered Picnic Area at the Malad City Park, the Interfaith Council will present a program to celebrate the greatest day in history, when Jesus Christ rose from death, defeated darkness and bathed the world in stunning resurrection light. 

There is no doubt that the original “Sunrise Service” occurred the morning Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome went and entered the tomb and saw a young man dressed in a white robe. He said to them, “Don’t be alarmed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 

In 1732, a group of young Moravian men in Hemhut, Saxony, Germany held the first sunrise service as we know it today. They gathered at their cemetery at sunrise to worship the memory of the women who went to the tomb on the first Easter morning and discovered it empty, and to praise the Risen Lord. The Moravian immigrants brought the custom to America in 1773. 

The Sunrise Service has been a traditional gathering of the Presbyterian Church since the late 1800’ s, according to long-time resident and Interfaith Member, Edna Palmer. Services were held up on Two Mile Road or at the Malad City Cemetery, weather permitting. 

The Oneida Interfaith Council began hosting the Easter Sunrise Service in 2012 to bring all faiths together in the Community to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The program shares inspiration, scripture, music and songs of the Easter Season. 

This year’s service will share The Youth Choir singing “I Know My Redeemer Lives” and “Redeemer of Israel” lead by Seth Goeckeritz and accompanied by Taylor Smith and Danielle Pettis. Emily Christiansen, Carrie Ann Jensen and Pennie Wolf will sing as well as Mary Ann Nielsen. Scriptures and Inspiration will be offered from faith leaders and everyone will join together to sing favorite hymns including “In the Garden” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”. 

Everyone is invited to the service and to the breakfast that follows at the Victory Baptist Church at 448 So. Main Street in Malad. 

The Interfaith Council invites all faiths to come together for this celebration. Dress warm and enjoy the program while the sun rises over the eastern mountains!