A wonderful unity of purpose and encouraging atmosphere characterised the Resurrection Sunday service held at dawn at Lillydale Lake, attended by people from several Baptist churches in Melbourne’s outer east.
More than 100 people from Kilsyth South, Lilydale, Ferntree Gully, Upwey, Heathmont and Mooroolbark Baptist churches braved the early hour and were rewarded with fellowship, scriptural truths and a glorious sunrise.
Pastors from several of the churches helped to coordinate and lead the event, including simple worship music, prayers, readings and a sermon shared just as dawn was breaking. The service gave people an opportunity to enjoy being out in God’s inspiring creation and to dwell more deeply on the morning when the women went to the tomb and discovered that Jesus had risen.
“It was a chance to reflect on the idea of hope, with the new dawn combined with hearing the resurrection story,” said Susan Ambrose, Children’s and Families Pastor at Kilsyth South Baptist Church. “It was lovely to experience this way of waking up and being outside. We could hear birds start to wake and the day come to life. It gave you a depth of experience and an identification with the story and the celebration that sometimes we can miss.”
The service was also an opportunity to bring churches together, and to be out in a public space visible to the community. “It was good to be a witness and to give the people walking by an opportunity to look and listen. Not many stopped this time, but they still noticed what was happening.”
She said many people had found the service encouraging and she hoped there would be more combined dawn services in the future, perhaps with a further evangelical slant such as giving coffee to passersby.
“Sometimes we’re just too busy to slow down and engage in the message of the resurrection. Dawn upwey baptist churchservices are very meaningful, helping you connect with God’s word in a different way.”