SERVICE CONNECTS EASTER TO LIFE : SUNRISE MUSICAL RE-CREATION OF JESUS' RESURRECTION ELICITS REAL EMOTION IN AGUA DULCE.Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Daily News Staff Writer The traditional Easter Sunrise Service Traditional View Sunrise service is a worship service on Easter. It takes the place of the Roman Catholic tradition of the Easter Vigil, and is practiced by mainly Protestant churches. at Vasquez Rocks Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a 905 acre (3 km²) northern Los Angeles County, California USA park acquired by LA County government in the 1970s. It is in the Agua Dulce vicinity between the Antelope Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley just north of Los Angeles and seen easily offers a dramatic musical setting, quite realistic with actors portraying Jesus Christ's trial, crucifixion and resurrection, church members said. Marie Sheridan, 18, who plays the weeping woman in the 45-minute re-enactment, insists she is driven to real tears from the solemn moments. ``I do cry, especially in moments when everybody's serious,'' she said. ``It's the way the sun hits the rocks. The park is so perfect.'' Jenna DeHart, 14, of Agua Dulce Agua Dulce is Spanish for "sweet water". It also refers to various locations: In Mexico:
``It makes the whole story come alive, and you kind of get to experience what it was like. You realize what it would be like to be alive when it happened,'' she said, as a group of actors, dressed in colorful robes and turbans practiced shouting, ``Crucify him! Crucify him!'' On Sunday, 40 actors and singers, ages 6 to 60, from three Agua Dulce churches - Family Community Church, Agua Dulce Foursquare Church and the Christian Church - will gather at dawn to re-enact re·en·act also re-en·act tr.v. re·en·act·ed, re·en·act·ing, re·en·acts 1. To enact again: reenact a law. 2. the Crucifixion before thousands of people lounging in their vehicles, chairs and on jagged rocks at the free annual event. The churches have joined in the performance for the past three years, having the largest turnout last Easter with 2,600 people. The narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. , Reiner Schone, vividly recalled last year's emotional service with the sun breaking over the horizon, shining into Jesus's face at the moment he uttered the biblical words: ``Jesus has arisen, just as he said he would.'' ``It was like a heart stopper. I don't think we can repeat it. It was perfect,'' he said. ``I always found that it was a very spiritual place. This is like my back yard. It holds a certain magic. It's a very emotional enterprise.'' The Rev. Mike Sheridan Mike Sheridan (born September 17, 1958) is a state legislator from the 44th Assembly District in Wisconsin. A Democrat, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2004. He is currently (as of 2007) in his second term. of the Family Community Church, said he hopes to convey the significance of Easter to people. ``We want to minister a significant aspect of the Christian faith to people of our community,'' he said. ``The resurrection is a celebration of life and points to the hope of believers in Jesus Christ.'' One of the more punctuated moments is when Sheridan's son, Joshua, portrays Jesus, and after being whipped by Roman soldiers painfully stumbles up rocks, carrying a wooden cross after his people insist he be put to death. Mournful mourn·ful adj. 1. Feeling or expressing sorrow or grief; sorrowful. 2. Causing or suggesting sadness or melancholy: the mournful sound of a train whistle. music echoes across the tiers of towering rocks. This year, the Resurrection will be emphasized, Sheridan said, with several people dressed as angels, releasing some 25 live doves as the finale. The birds will fly back to Norwalk, where they were rented. An offering and benediction benediction [Lat.,=blessing], solemn blessing usually administered in the name of God by a priest or a minister. The temple worship at Jerusalem had fixed forms of benedictions, and Christians have always given them an important place in ceremony, especially at the , and a closing prayer will follow. The program will begin at 5 a.m. at Vasquez Rocks. From the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , take the Antelope Valley Freeway The Antelope Valley Freeway is a freeway in Los Angeles and Kern counties in southern California. It is signed as California State Highway 14 along its length. It connects Greater Los Angeles to the rapidly developing Antelope Valley. , exit Agua Dulce Canyon Road (from Antelope Valley, exit Escondido Canyon Road). Go north and follow the signs to the county park entrance. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos Photo: (1--Color on in SAC and AV editions) Performers from three Agua Dulce churches rehearse the Easter Sunrise Services, a re-enactment of the Gospels at Vasquez Rocks. (2--Color only in SAC and AV editions) Jan Sheridan sings to prepare for Sunday's musical services. (3--Color only in SAC and AV editions) Chuck Good, left, and Joel Sheridan, right, flank Josh Sheridan, portraying Jesus, in rehearsal for Sunday's morning ceremony. Tina Gerson/Daily News |
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