Getting up for Easter

Luis Pena

Easter services typically begin at 9 or 10 a.m. inside a church, but

a few early-rising souls brought their blankets and lawn chairs to

hear sunrise services on the beach.

As Christians made their way one by one onto the sand at 14th

Street on the Balboa Peninsula, a tall wooden cross surrounded by

lilies awaited them as Christ Church by the Sea United Methodist

welcomed its own parishioners along with worshipers from other

churches.

The Rev. George R. Crisp began services at 6:30 a.m. by playing

gathering music on his guitar with worshipers singing “allelu,

allelu, alleluia, amen.” The service later had a choir singing along.

“It’s a pleasure to have an army of people to begin planning for

these services,” Crisp said. “Most of all it’s important that you are

here.”

“What a more glorious way to celebrate Easter morning than on the

beach, the ocean that God has created,” said Joan D’Ardenne, who

began the Easter sunrise service with another Christ Church by the

Sea member 14 years ago.

D’Ardenne said people come on bikes, walk and bring their dogs to

the service, which has turned into a community event. A lot of

families have made it a tradition to attend the services, she said.

Having the services out at the beach makes it unique, more

inviting and nonthreatening to those who aren’t regular churchgoers,

D’Ardenne said. Savannah Burgardt of Newport Beach agreed, saying she

likes being able to dress casually, relax, sit in the sand and bring

her Yorkshire terrier, Macy, along with her.

“It’s the only day I feel that church is not enclosed and I feel

one with God that day,” Angela Sparks said.

Rock Harbor is Costa Mesa resident and USC student Bernadette

Sanicola’s regular church, but she and her girlfriends have made it

an Easter tradition to attend the sunrise services on the beach.

“[The ocean] helps you focus a little more and having that sunrise

of course is like the start, like the rebirth,” Sanicola said.

“Easter is supposed to stand for the sun coming up, the waves

crashing. It really gets you in the mood for a new day.”

One of the things Chuck Remley of Balboa enjoys is getting out

early and watching the people come out in ones and twos, adding that

it’s almost like an invisible call to people to come out.

* LUIS PENA is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at luis.pena@latimes.com.