Community Easter Sunrise Service in Borrego Springs

For over a decade, at every Easter, the Covid time excepted, the Borrego Ministers Association (BMA) has sponsored an ecumenical celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The location is a natural amphitheater behind the Borrego Springs Community Methodist Church. The time is the rising of the sun on Easter morning, this year of 2025 at 6:09am. It’s an ecumenical service—once embracing many congregations—much like the activities of the BMA—assisting neighbors in need no matter their ethnicity or religion. Ecumenical awareness emphasizes unity in diversity, in fact celebrate it.

So this year, as always, almost all the faith communities of the town were represented, both by their clergy and lay members. Pastor Mateo Mamea of the BS Methodist Church and his wife Nidia Y. Meza began the service with the Easter greeting, heard throughout the service: “Christ is risen. Indeed he is risen. Alleluia.” Then the prayer of the day was read both in English and Spanish by Pastor Mateo and Nidia. Several familiar Easter hymns were sung during the service, for example “Christ is Alive” and “He Lives.” Jinny Perrin, head of music at the Methodist Church selected these and led a choir from all the churches in John Purifoy’s anthem “Christ Has Arise.” Several scriptures lessons were led by BMA members: President Geoff Barton of the LDS Church, Heidi Madden and Fr. Tony Stanonik of St. Richard’s, Ellen Fitzpatrick of the Self Realization Fellowship, the Rev. Dr. George Abrams of the Methodist Church. Fr. Michael Plekon led the Apostles Creed and Fr. David Madsen of St. Barnabas preached the sermon. Commander Dale Jones of the American Legian Post 356. Martha Deichler explained the purpose and work of the BMA. Other BMA members assisted in various ways, and the hospitality of the Methodist Church was most welcoming to the more than a hundred who came to sing and pray the resurrection of the Lord. Michael Rue helped with the live streaming of the service on the BMA and Methodist Church facebook pages.

The service is in many ways the common liturgy of the Word in many church bodies. Readings from the Hebre Bible, the Acts of the Apostles and one of the resurrection gospels. No matter where you are in life, no matter your finances or your health, what those who come experience is the great and powerl experience of community, of recognizing each others as sisters and brothers in the lord, no matter what denomination or even if you attend church. All are surrounded by the scriptures of many centuries and the prayers of countless friends who have preceded us. We are sent out, back into our families, neighborhoods, back into the world with the good news of Easter—that no matter what hurt and wrong, what suffering even death face us, God’s is always present, always the love and the light in our lives. What we are commanded to do is what God does: forgive, give generously, accept the sister and brother no matter who they are, reconcile, build what is good and true, really turn creation back into what God intended. The work of the BMA continues after Easter, all the year through. Consider giving to help your neighbor in need. Contribute to our community by making a tax-deductible donation.

Please send your check to: Borrego Ministers Association, PO BOX 2183, Borrego Springs, CA 92004. https://borregoministersassociation.org/

Borrego Ministers Association is a
501c3 nonprofit (EIN 92-3678192)Springs, CA 92004

The Borrego Ministers Association (BMA) warmly invites residents of Borrego Springs, surrounding desert communities, and visitors from across the region to join us for the annual Easter Sunrise Service on April 20, 2025.

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