Circle of life

Bryce Alderton

Cloth banners in red, green and blue, with the words “Love” and

“Sacrifice” written on them, draped down from the ceiling as worshipers

gathered to sing, reflect and pray to celebrate Easter on Sunday.

On Easter, Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection into

Heaven, which for most believers symbolizes the forgiveness of sins and

hope for eternal salvation.

On Sunday, about 3,000 members and guests of Rock Harbor Church in

Costa Mesa turned out for two Easter services inside a tent at the Orange

County Fairgrounds to reflect on the messages Easter brings to them.

“It’s an awesome power and love God has for us. It’s awe-inspiring

that [Christ] was willing to give up his life for us,” said Rachel Vidal,

22, who came with mother Sunshine.

Newport Beach resident Julia Brock, 34, stood outside the tent sipping

coffee alongside boyfriend Joe Spano and friend Laurie Maurer.

“For me, [Easter] is the most significant Christian holiday . . .

because it’s based on the resurrection of Christ,” Brock said.

Sunday marked the third year the church has celebrated Easter at the

fairgrounds, said David Trotter, who oversees all volunteer teams and

communication services for the church.

Even with 27 staff members, volunteers provide a valuable service in

preparing the stage and hoisting the tent for the church’s Easter

weekend, which also included two Good Friday services, a reflection time

on Saturday and two Easter services, Trotter said.

“The key is volunteers,” Trotter said. “To pull this off requires 300

or more volunteers. [The volunteers] are the backbone of our church.”

Those gathered inside the tent witnessed testimonies from congregation

members about how their lives have changed after they devoted themselves

to Christ.

Churchgoers also enjoyed a dramatization of a man wearing gray who

leaves the mundane “Circle of Life” -- symbolizing fast-paced life and

everyday ruts people can fall into -- and enters a new world with Christ.

In the brief production, a woman clothed in glittery silver with red

and blue stripes tempts the man with a sunflower that represents Christ’s

world. At first, he’s resistant to take the sunflower, but gradually

makes the decision to grab it.

“There’s a lot more to this life,” preached Troy Murphy during the

first service Sunday.

“The flower is a life of change,” he said. “The theme for this Easter

is God chose us. That’s a story worth telling. I saw myself in the

‘Circle.’ [God] chose to create you and I. He wanted to give you a choice

to say, ‘I love you’ to the ones you love.”

Murphy is one of six pastors on the church’s teaching team that

rotates between pastors each week since the church does not have a lead

pastor.

In September, church officials announced they had asked church founder

Keith Page to step down as pastor after learning he had an extramarital

affair with a female church member.

In a letter Page wrote to the church, he admitted to sinning against

God, his family, himself, his friends, his mistress, the church body and

the entire body of Christ.

Next week, church elders will begin deciding on a process for

selecting a lead pastor, Trotter said.

Through the initial disappointment of learning about Page’s affair and

departure, congregation members say the church has handled the situation

appropriately.

“Christians are sinners, but I loved the way the church cared for

him,” said 30-year-old Fullerton resident Tiffany Hoekstra. The church

“was very Biblical in their response to leadership. He continued to be a

part of the Body of Christ.”

Erich and Laney Meltvedt, Newport Beach residents and church members

for three years, prepared to visit his mother’s house in Aliso Viejo for

an Easter egg hunt with daughter Grace, 1 1/2.

When Erich learned of Page’s affair, he noticed an initial drop in

attendance, but said it didn’t last long.

“The church took it hard; it was tough on a lot of people,” he said.

“I know a lot of people were seeking truth and then this happens to their

pastor. I looked to Keith as the ‘main guy.’ I think we lost members, but

now the church is packed and it’s definitely moving forward.”

Trotter, too, has noticed the church returning to the right direction.

“People are continuing to move forward,” Trotter said. “We’ve not

experienced any significant loss in attendance. The church is full of

life and ready to move forward.”

* Bryce Alderton is the news assistant. He may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at o7 bryce.alderton@latimes.comf7 .