Our family tradition is to attend the Easter sunrise service at Home Moravian Church in Old Salem each year. Last year, it was cold! Some years it is raining. But this year, it was an absolutely beautiful morning.
Thousands of persons gathered to listen to the readings and songs, to walk together to the cemetery known as “God’s Acre”, and to worship the Risen Lord. After a litany, we walked in silence. Thousands walking in silence. (Here is some video of the morning from the local newspaper.)
As we walked, the brass band played. And this was one of the most significant parts of the morning experience for me. Part of the band was stationed near the church. Another part was stationed at the cemetery. A song was played antiphonally – a line of the song was played near us. It was loud and clear. Then, a brief pause before we heard the faint sounds of the band from the graveyard. It was not an echo and not a repeat of what was played. It was the next line.
I suppose the deaths of my mother and my father in recent years made me particularly sensitive to the symbolism of this. We are on “this side” of death, trying to be a community, trying to worship, trying to stay awake. But if we pause long enough and pay close enough attention, maybe we can find inspiration from those who are on “the other side” of the gate into God’s Acre.
This was the 245th annual celebration of a sunrise service for this church. After that much practice, they’ve got it right. And, generations will follow the steps we followed.
The Bible can be perceived as so many words on so many pages. But biblical passages come alive in these kinds of experiences, including this passage from Hebrews 12: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
