WITH TIME CHANGE, COLD WEATHER, EASTER SUNRISE SERVICES A TRUE TEST

The faithful will get up even earlier than usual for Easter sunrise services Sunday because daylight-saving time springs clocks forward an hour.

Many local churches will hold sunrise services to commemorate Easter. Local pastors say they hope their parishioners remember to change their clocks while making plans to attend the early services.

Clocks should be moved forward to 3 a.m. at 2 a.m. Sunday."I'm worried with the time change that Im not going to make it on time," joked the Rev. Grant Gillard of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, where sunrise service will be held at 6:30 a.m."It's a concern, but we had the same thing last year, and we still had people show up," Gillard said. "Usually those that really want to attend make the effort. My real fear is that people will forget, and when we're having regular services at 10 they'll come in at 11."The First Church of God in Cape Girardeau will hold its sunrise service at 6 a.m. Sunday."I told my people, you might want to have it at 7, but they wouldn't listen," said the Rev. Roger Christiansen of the church.

Centenary United Methodist Churchs youth group will hold a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. Sunday at Riverfront Park in Cape Girardeau."They've never done a sunrise service before, and they're saying, `We're doing a sunrise service, and it's even earlier than usual,'" said the Rev. Paula Austin, youth pastor. "I'm hoping that everyone will make it on time."The weather may cause more problems than alarm clocks that don't get changed for churches holding outdoor services. Winter temperatures have returned, and they've set in for the weekend.

Austin said the sunrise service will be moved to Centenary Methodist's sanctuary "if it's 10 degrees and snowing.""I thought about putting a sign outside saying all our services are inside because it's so cold," said the Rev. Larry Gallamore of Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. He said his church's service will be indoors.

Gillard said he has attended sunrise services where it was so cold you could see people's breath. "Everybody's huddled on muddy ground. Those are the truly faithful."Standard time -- when clocks "fall back" -- returns Oct. 27.