Easter sunrise service held at Hammons Field

Area churches will hold a free, nondenominational Easter Sunrise Service at the stadium Sunday in what organizers hope will become an annual event.

Gates open at 6 a.m., and the service begins at 6:20 a.m. Witness and worship will take place until 7:10 a.m., when there will be a closing prayer.

The service will feature song, prayer and testimony by local religious leaders – and even a visit from a Springfield Cardinal, though event organizer Marilyn Raines said she has no idea who it will be.

Raines said she isn’t sure how many people will attend the event, but she hopes people will take advantage of the venue’s unique beauty.

“The stadium faces the sunrise, and we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all come together and have a service in that beautiful stadium?” she said.

Rev. David Hockensmith, Rev. Larry Maddox, Rev. Dwight Colbaugh and Rev. Tom Erickson will be present. Song ministry will be led by John Jones, Marie Alberti-Thomson will perform the Hallelujah Chorus, and John Shows’ Triumphant Trumpeters also will perform.