Council Easter Sunrise Service
At 7:00 a.m. Easter morning, around 30 people from all different church congregations, gathered together for a sunrise service held in front of the cross on Fisk Hill, just outside of Fruitvale. It was a chilly but beautiful morning with clear skies. Pastor Wayne Freedman and Pastor Les Sheneberger from the Community church led everyone in singing “In Christ Alone” and “You Are My King”. Then Pastor Amy Schultz from the Nazarene church prayed and Freedman invited everyone to share how they have experienced the resurrection of Christ this past year. A few people shared, then Freedman shared a story about the cross the congregation was standing in front of. The cross was newly built by a man named Gene Plummer whose life has been completely changed by God. Plummer got the idea to replace the old worn out cross on the hill and made a new one. He then called Freedman and asked him to help install the new cross. Freedman was happy to help and the new cross was put up. Unfortunately, Plummer was not able to attend the sunrise service due to him recovering from pneumonia.
Sheneberger then led the congregation in singing “Christ Arose”, as they started singing the chorus “up from the grave He arose”, the sun rose up over the mountain and the first rays of sunlight lit up the sky. It was a glorious experience. Everyone sang two more songs in celebration, “Because He Lives” and “He is Lord”.
The service ended with Freedman inviting the congregation to assist with putting rocks around the new cross to help stabilize it. A few of the men moved larger rocks around the base of the cross and everyone else pitched in with smaller rocks. It was a wonderful community effort to ensure that the new cross will be there for people to enjoy for many years to come.
