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Throughout the West, Salvationists are busy planning Easter events celebrating the risen Christ. Programs will include:
Easter Sunday at Bakersfield Temple Corps, Calif., begins at 5:00 a.m. with a Sunrise Service, followed by a community breakfast at 8:00 a.m. No reservations are required, and the community is asked to join in both the service and the breakfast as well–usually around 200 people. From there it’s off to the park, where an Open Air Sunday school will be followed by a great Salvation meeting at 4:00 p.m.
Envoys Ramon and Linda Garcia helped open Bakersfield Temple in 1987. Since then their good relations with local people, their enthusiasm and innovative programming have made the corps grow to an attendance of around 130 at morning services and 80 to 90 on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.
The Garcias, their seven children and one soldier make up a group called “Karisma,” with guitar, drums, keyboard and bass. They keep things lively with their contemporary music–a fine addition to the varied programs at this corps.
Anchorage Adult Rehabilitation Program (Captains Marvin and Carol Samuelson, administrators) gets into the spirit of the season by having a bread and broth service on Good Friday. To benefit World Services, they pass out small hand-sewn burlap bags which soldiers and friends are asked to fill with “30 pieces of silver.”
South Anchorage Corps (Captains Eric and Cheryl Lo, corps officers) for the fourth year is holding a traditional Seder Feast to explain the importance of our Jewish “spiritual fathers.” For 12 weeks before Easter, they present “portraits” of people close to Jesus. Getting close to the thoughts and involvement of each one in the important last days of our Savior, slides show biblical scenes while a stirring narration comes from off stage.
Seattle Temple Corps (Captains Steve and Sheila Bradley) is preparing for an outstanding Easter weekend, with Chief Secretary Colonel Bill Luttrell and Colonel Gwen Luttrell as special guests. Divisional Commander Lt. Colonel Chris Buchanan will lead a Sunrise Service at 7:45 a.m., followed by a Men’s Fellowship breakfast and Sunday school. The high point of the Holiness Meeting will be a mini-drama based on Max Lucado’s “In the Grip of Grace,” a story of the Resurrection.