When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb, and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
-- Mark 16: 1-8
Christians around the world will celebrate the moving of that stone and the resurrection of Christ. "Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise," they will meet to worship in Easter sunrise services.
Several area churches offer sunrise services Sunday in celebration of Easter.
• Mount Sequoyah Assembly in Fayetteville, 150 N. Skyline Drive, hosts its 94th annual Easter sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. Sunday at Vesper Point outdoor chapel. The Rev. Carl Palmer, associate pastor of Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, will deliver the message. Rebecca McBride and Arkoustic provide worship music. In case of bad weather, the service moves inside the Clapp Auditorium.
The lights at Mount Sequoyah's cross overlook currently are darkened. The cross will be relighted early Easter morning for the sunrise service.
Information: (800) 760-8126, mountsequoyah.org.
• Brightwater Memorial United Methodist Church, 14108 E. Highway 62 in Rogers, and Pea Ridge United Methodist Church, 1205 N. Davis St., celebrate Easter with a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. Sunday at Buttram Cemetery on Lee Town Road in Pea Ridge. Breakfast will be served at Brightwater, followed by a regular worship service at 9:30 a.m.
Information: 451-8161, 451-1616, bit.ly/bmumc.
• The Neighborhood Church in Bentonville, 2003 S.W. Regional Airport Road, plans Easter sunrise service at 7 a.m Sunday at the new church site, 2702 S.W. I St. in Bentonville. Easter worship is offered at 9 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. Sunday at the current church.
Information: 464-5030, lifeintheneighborhood.com.
• First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista, 20 Boyce Drive, participates in an Easter sunrise service for the community at 7 a.m. Sunday at the Metfield Clubhouse, 3 Euston Road in Bella Vista.
Information: 855-1158, lovelearnlead.com.
• Adventure Church in Bentonville, 305 S.E. 22nd St, plans a sunrise hike at 6:30 a.m. Sunday.
Information: 553-9342, adventurebentonville.org.
• Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Rogers, 1101 W. Hudson Road, offers an Easter sunrise service, with Thamburaj Samuel, a church deacon, speaking at 7 a.m. Sunday. An Easter communion service begins at 10:45 a.m.
Information: 636-1135, holytrin.org.
NAN Religion on 04/14/2017