MANSFIELD — The moon shone brightly in the dark skies through a break in the clouds Sunday morning as the faithful began to arrive at Kingwood Center Gardens.
The Christians — men, women and children — dressed for the weather with coats, hats, gloves and blankets. Some carried their own chairs, though many were already set up and available.
A nearby peacock shrieked a welcome of his own in the 39-degree chill as the 69th annual St. Mark’s Easter Sunrise Service began at 7 a.m. — a worship service that serves as a prelude to celebrations around Mansfield and the world.
In an hour-long multi-denominational service that included music by the touring gospel trio Glory Way, the central message by Pastor Paul Lintern was as clear as the nearly frosty morning air on the grounds of the Trimble Road gardens.
The stone has been rolled away and Jesus Christ has been resurrected.
That makes it the holiest day of the year for about 2.64 billion Christians around the world, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Nearly one in three people on Earth identify as Christians.
(Below are photos from the 69th annual St. Mark’s Easter Sunrise Service at Kingwood Center Gardens. The story continues below the photos.)
“That stone was meant to block all of humanity from what had happened that day,” Lintern said of when Jesus was entombed after his crucifixion on the wooden cross.
“It was meant to be permanent (but) the stone has been rolled away. It’s always important to ask the question … who rolled it away? And why?”
The 69-year-old pastor said the stone wasn’t moved to help Jesus.
“The stone was not rolled away in order for Jesus to get out … but for us to look in.
“He did not need a stone rolled away. We needed it rolled away because we have put a stone in front of our Savior for so many reasons.
“The stone of thinking we can do things on our own. The stone of grief, the stone of addiction or the stone of doing what we think we can do on our own without needing God,” Lintern said.
“The stone of our own sinfulness, the stone of our own stupidity. The stone of our own desires. The stone we put in place to block us from needing God.
“But God said, ‘I’ve got a different plan.’ So he rolls the stone away so we can look in,” Lintern said.
The pastor said the stone’s removal was meant to benefit people around the world, not Jesus of Nazareth.
“The rock has been rolled away so that we can see our Lord Jesus with us. He has conquered death. We do not fear death. We don’t need to fear death. In fact, death is the one thing the world cannot take away from us.
“Death is what releases us to life forever,” Lintern said.
He reminded those in attendance why they arrived in the pre-dawn darkness and made the walk up the hill to the service in front of Kingwood Hall.
“You came in here, you did an extra little extra walking here to get here. You came in as people thinking about how cold you were. You were wondering if you could see in the dark … you wondered if you’re going to step in a puddle.
“You’re worried about all sorts of things physically, but you will leave here fresh and renewed. Still cold. Still unable to feel your hands. But rejoicing that this is not a forever thing.
“God (in rolling away the stone) has given us forever life.
“The stone has been rolled away … look in … you are free.”
The annual event began in 1957 as a ministry of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on Springmill Street. The service, though no longer led by St. Mark’s, has been observed in at least six locations over the years, including Kingwood.
Lintern was joined in the Easter ministry by Overseer Renea Collins of Kingdom Grace Fellowship; Rev. Jameela O’Neal of Greater Mitchell Chapel AME; Jodi Titus of Awake in Shelby; and the Rev. El Akuchie of Godsfield Prayer Room, Fusion-Lexington and the Richland Prayer Network.
Music accompaniment was provided by Theresa Burkholder of the Way and guitarist Dale Powers. Rusty Cates helped emcee the service and also joined in the music.
