First Sunrise Service




A newspaper article detailing the Easter Sunrise Services in the Garden of the Gods appeared on 17 April 1922 in the Colorado Springs Gazette. It was titled "First Sunrise Service," although in actual fact it probably was the third:
"Snow and Easter are incompatible; but yesterday was Easter and it snowed with profusion equaled only by the storm of this time last year, when a spring blizzard tied up traffic.

"While the storm prevented the traditional appearance of worshippers in spring toggery, it failed to cut down attendance at the elaborate devotional services in the churches of the city.

"The storm started too late to prevent the sunrise services conducted by the Rev. A.W. Luce of the West Pikes Peak Christian church in the Garden of the Gods. The snow began falling just as the last hymn was being sung, an hour too late to spoil the initial Easter ceremony in the open.

"As the first rays of dawn tinged the Cathedral spires, 300 worshippers in the natural ampitheater at the base of the rocks, bowed their heads as O.P. Bottorff prayed for 'worldwide Easter hope and joy.' The services were impressive amid the natural surroundings of the Garden of the Gods, and received such praise from the congregation that the sunrise meeting will be repeated next year, when it is hoped that every church in the city will participate."


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