Gathering to worship at the first light of dawn

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

The message proclaimed numerous times at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau drew loud cheers, amens and hallelujahs from worshippers early Sunday morning.

A short line of thunderstorms washed out the planned outdoor Downtown Council of Churches Easter sunrise service, and worshippers moved indoors to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

About a dozen congregations are represented in the Downtown Council of Churches. The Easter sunrise service brought close to 100 people from the congregations together for the fifth annual service, which is typically held outside on the riverfront.

Dianna Carter of Cape Girardeau is a member at Second Missionary Baptist Church but enjoys the the fellowship of members from other churches at the annual service.

"If we all believe in Jesus, we should all come together," Carter said. "Today Jesus is alive, and we should all praise and thank him for dying for us."

That was the message Rev. Cecil Thomas, of Second Missionary Baptist Church, preached at the service.

"This morning we have come to the empty tomb because Jesus is alive. Amen!" Thomas proclaimed during the service.

He encouraged the crowd to share the Easter story, and not just on Easter Sunday. "We can make things happen in Cape Girardeau if we tell others that Jesus is alive," Thomas said. "He's tired of us talking about him only on Easter. There are other days we should be talking about Jesus."

Thomas told the worshippers to spread God's word and embrace all people regardless of race.

"Embrace somebody because Jesus has risen," Thomas said as the Rev. Jeff Long went up to the pulpit and hugged Thomas.

Pauline Clendenin, of Cape Girardeau, was among the crowd at First Presbyterian Church to worship Easter morning.

"I've always loved Easter sunrise service," she said. "I can't express how I feel, but I love it."

The wife of a former member of the Army, Clendenin said the couple traveled frequently and often attended Easter sunrise service together. On Sunday, her granddaughter Kristin Clendenin, of Chicago, was worshipping with Clendenin.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246