Sunrise church service celebrates the resurrection

A sunrise service on Easter morning will take place in Steinbach.

“It’s just a beautiful way to (celebrate). We come in quietly in the dark of Easter Sunday morning and by the time we finish the service and the sun is up it’s a time of celebration,” said Shannon Sawatsky, co-chair of the Eastman Choral Association who is putting on the event.

“The choir just wears brightly coloured, multi-coloured, bright shirts,” noted Sawatsky. “We go from the gloom of darkness of Good Friday and on Easter Sunday we wear bright colours just to signify joy.”

The service will last for one hour starting at 7 a.m. More than 40 voices from the Southeast will sing hymns and spirituals like Thine Is The Glory and Up From The Grave He Arose. The choir will be accompanied by musicians playing guitar, piano, and organ, including the Southeast Brass Quintet who will “shake the floorboards with their big sound.”

“This is about the 25th or 26th year that we’ve put this on,” said Sawatsky.

“I think it was just a way to bring musicians together from all around our area and to do something a little bit different to celebrate the resurrection of the savior.”

“I think it’s just a coming together of people from all different churches and communities that believe the same things. So bringing people of faith together to celebrate.

Rehearsals lasted for six weeks and Sawatsky said they have already started planning for next year’s service.

The service will be held at Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach. While there is no admission a good will offering is appreciated.