Community members gathered at sunrise at Morgan Memorial Park for the 10th annual Bilingual Community Easter Dawn Service, a tradition that brought together local churches in a shared celebration of Easter and its message of renewal.
“It was 10 years ago today that three churches said, ‘we all share something in common as Christians, and that is the resurrection,” organizer Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews said at the start of the service. “And that is where this service began.”
Held along the waterfront overlooking Hempstead Harbor, the early morning service began around 7 a.m., with attendees standing together in prayer, music and reflection as daylight broke through the cloudy sky.
The event, which began in 2016 with the Presbyterian Church, Calvary AME Church and Iglesia Ciudad de Refugio, has grown into a multi-church gathering emphasizing unity across denominations and cultures. The service was conducted in both English and Spanish, reflecting Glen Cove’s diverse community.
Though unable to attend due to health reasons, Pastor Tommy Lanham of Glen Cove Christian Church delivered a recorded prayer centered on togetherness.
“As we come together as a body of believers from different churches, from different traditions, to worship you and to celebrate the resurrection of your son, Jesus Christ,” Lanham said.
Throughout the service, attendees took turns proclaiming “Christ is risen” in their native languages, reinforcing the event’s inclusive spirit.
Clergy members reflected on the meaning of the holiday and its symbolism of light overcoming darkness. The Rev. Fr. Philip Sandrick drew a comparison between the morning’s overcast sky and the message of hope central to the day.
“The physical sun is still shining just as that light of Christ’s truth shines in the darkness,” Sandrick said.
The Rev. Roger Williams emphasized the personal meaning of the resurrection, describing it as an opportunity for renewal.
“Resurrection this morning is about letting go so that the new and the unseen can come into your life,” Williams said.
Music and spoken word complemented the natural setting, while a 16-foot cross placed along the beach served as a focal point for reflection.
Easter, one of the most significant holidays in Christianity, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which believers say occurred three days after his crucifixion. The holiday is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, meaning its date varies each year. It marks the culmination of Holy Week, which includes Good Friday, and symbolizes hope, renewal and new life.
The Glen Cove service drew roughly 100 to 150 attendees and served as a unifying moment before many participants continued on to individual church services later in the day.
Over the past decade, the Easter dawn service has become a meaningful local tradition, offering residents an opportunity to gather across cultural and denominational lines in reflection and shared faith at sunrise.
