DAYLIGHT TIME GOES INTO EFFECT TONIGHT

The nation springs forward to daylight-saving time Sunday. The time switch takes place on Easter Sunday, but it's not expected to create problems for sunrise worshipers.

The time changes at 2 a.m., but most people will move their clocks ahead one hour before retiring Saturday night.

The switch on Easter should actually make it easier for sunrise service worshipers. The sun normally rises on April 3 at 5:41 a.m. CST, but with clocks being moved ahead the sun will rise at 6:41 a.m. daylight time.

This year's Community Easter Sunrise Service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cape Rock Drive and Perryville Road. The pastor of the church, the Rev. Miles White, said because of the time change the service was moved from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m., to coincide with the rising of the sun.

White does not believe the time switch will affect attendance at Easter morning services. He said, "People who attend Easter Sunrise or morning church services are committed to attending, so they make it a point to set their clocks so they will be on time Sunday morning. I do not anticipate there will be any problems. There may be a few latecomers, but very few."

The weather should be good for services. The forecast calls for little or no rain Sunday and clearing skies.

In addition to moving the clocks ahead, people are advised to reset timers on lights, change timers on VCRs, and change batteries in smoke detectors.

The extra hour of daylight in the evening means more time for outdoor activities, which is one of the reasons daylight time is so popular.

The concept of daylight-saving time originated with Benjamin Franklin, but it wasn't until 1918 that Congress adopted daylight-saving time as part of the World I effort. It was scrapped in 1919, though some cities opted to continue it.

In 1942, Congress put the nation back on "War Time," setting the clocks ahead one hour. Again, after the war ended, daylight time was repealed in 1945.

In 1946, only six states had adopted daylight time statewide. For the 21 next years, the nation endured a hodge-podge of daylight time observances. For example, the entire state of Illinois observed daylight time, but only St. Louis and Kansas City observed it in Missouri. Motorists crossing the Mississippi River bridge from Cape Girardeau to Illinois automatically gained one hour.

The impact of daylight time on prime time television schedules in the late 1950s and early 1960s was even more confusing.

Finally, in 1967, to try to bring some order out of the time chaos, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which instituted daylight time starting at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in April, and ending on the last Sunday in October at 2 a.m.