Churches spring to life with Easter services

Young Chang

When it comes to Sunday services, egg hunts, special vigils and

everything else Easter-related, Newport-Mesa churches will be hopping

with celebrations this weekend.

The Liberty Baptist Church presented its last performance of the

musical “The Highest Place” Friday to dramatically portray the life and

resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We wanted “to make it come alive for people who have never considered

what the crucifixion meant,” said music director Danny Thomas.

Most area churches also started the observance this week and will

continue their worship through the weekend.

Harbor Christian Fellowship in Costa Mesa ([949] 631-7730) will hold a

service titled “Look for Life, Not Death” on Sunday, which will follow

with an Easter egg hunt involving 500 eggs on the church’s yard. Harbor

Christian is at 740 W. Wilson St.

Harbor Trinity Baptist Church ([714] 556-7787) will present services

at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday, as well as a 7 p.m. service called “One --

Community Worship,” to be held by candlelight.

Pastor Ric Olsen will give the evening sermon, which will include

baptisms to commemorate new life in Christ. The church is at 1230 W.

Baker St. in Costa Mesa.

St. James Church ([949] 675-0210) will also hold baptisms at 4 p.m.

today during the children’s service, which includes a Eucharist. At 7:30

p.m. today, St. James will present the “Great Vigil of Easter.” On

Sunday, services will be offered at 7, 9 and 11 a.m.

“They’re all communion services,” said receptionist Sharon Pressnall.

“We have a lot of wonderful music with brass and drums and all kinds of

instruments.”

The church is at 3209 Via Lido in Newport Beach.

Today, St. Michael and All Angels ([949] 644-0463) will hold a morning

prayer at 9 a.m., an evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m. and a “Great Vigil of

Easter” at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, the church will have a festival choral

Eucharist at 8 and 10 a.m. and an Easter egg festival at 11:30 a.m. The

church is at 3233 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar.

Christ Lutheran Church ([949] 631-1611), which started celebrating

Easter on Wednesday with musical concerts, will hold a service at 5 p.m.

today, an “Easter SonRise” service at 6:30 a.m. Sunday and an “Easter

Worship Celebration” at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The church is at 760

Victoria St., Costa Mesa.

RockHarbor Church ([949] 548-2600) will present its Easter

celebration, titled “Resurrection Weekend,” at 10 a.m. today and 9 a.m.

Sunday at the Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

Rick Ash, a Costa Mesa resident who portrayed Jesus for Liberty

Baptist’s musical last week, said that for him, Easter this year has

meant getting to know Jesus a little better.

“It’s been kind of sobering,” he said. “We hear the story so often but

when you’re sitting there portraying him, you can’t help but understand.”