By Diana Graettinger

Shimmering sunshine, peaceful palm trees, and the Lord’s Prayer all brought alive the Easter Sunday Sunrise Service at the Sun Bowl in Sun City. More than 600 people attended.

For the past three years, the United Church of Sun City at 11250 N. 107th Street has hosted this Easter morning event in association with the Recreation Centers of Sun City. The church, the first established in Sun City, has been around for more than 50 years.

The morning began when the church choir reprised the Palm Sunday Cantata, “What Love is This?” Music Minister Ginni Summers led the choir through the musical masterpiece about the resurrection. Pianist Beverly Fletcher accompanied the choir.

Starting at 7:00 a.m. Rev. Brady Abel, Senior Pastor of United Church, shared a greeting and call to worship. “What a powerful moment, in such a beautiful outdoor setting, to lead the worship service celebrating Jesus’ resurrection,” Rev. Abel said.

During his sermon, Rev. Abel talked about the resurrection, “The good news is, the magnificent love of God, apparent in the story of the resurrection, is present at other times and in other ways every day,” he said.

The people who attended dressed in everything from Bermuda shorts to Easter finery joined the choir in singing “He Lives,” and “Christ the Lord Has Risen.”

After the sermon, the Rev. Abel and the church’s Assistant Pastor Susan Aurich invited all present to join in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

“It was a spectacular morning with wonderful spiritual energy surrounding us all,” commented Rev. Abel. “We look forward to this service every year.”