HOLMES BEACH – An estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people attended the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island’s 61st annual Easter Sunrise Service, according to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer.
The Easter Sunrise Service was held on the beach at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. Lasting approximately one hour, the service started at 6:30 a.m. and was held on a temporary stage set up near the Anna Maria Island Beach Café patio – surrounded by thousands of attendees sitting in beach chairs, sitting on blankets, standing in the sand or sitting in the café seating area.
Before the service began, members of the Holmes Beach Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office helped direct pedestrians and traffic. By 6:20 a.m., the beach parking lot was full and the unofficial overflow parking options included the nearby Publix, LaPensee and CVS parking lots; and also along Manatee Avenue, where parking is prohibited.
Serving as the host, Kiwanis Club Secretary Sandy Haas-Martens welcomed the large crowd on behalf of Kiwanis Club President John Chappie and the Kiwanis Club board members.
“I’d like to welcome you to our 61st sunrise service,” she said.
She then introduced Father Lee Miller, from the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation; Father Gerard Critch, from Saint Bernard Catholic Church; Rev. Stephen King, from Harvey Memorial Church; and Rev. Dirk Rodgers, from the Roser Memorial Community Church.
Cool Beans A.M.I. coffee shop owner Morgan Bryant then sang “O Praise the Name,” the first of several songs she sang while accompanying herself on the electric piano.
While giving the invocation, Rev. Rodgers said, “Father, we pray that your spirit would enliven, encourage, quicken, fill us with hope, fill us with joy, fill us with truth. And so, Father, we dedicate this service to you.”
Retired Air Force Colonel Darrel Shinn led the military prayer, which took on added significance due to the military conflicts currently taking place.
“Lord, we ask a special blessing today on our military personnel throughout the world, and especially the Middle East,” Shinn said. “Please keep them safe in your arms and return them to their families. Let us also pray for the end of conflict, for the Lord’s peace to reign on Earth.”
After Bryant led in the singing of “How Great Thou Art,” Father Critch (also known as “Father G.”) provided the scripture reading from John 20:1-10.
The scripture tells the story of Mary Magdalene arriving in the morning and discovering the stone had been removed from the entrance to the tomb that held Jesus’ body. She then alerted the disciples – some who ran away in fear, and some who entered the tomb and discovered the body of Jesus was no longer there.
In his deep, booming voice, Father Miller then gave an impassioned, philosophical and performative sermon that centered around the word “Risen.”
“There is only one day that makes this day different from any other day,” Father Miller said. “Yes, it could be just a day to put on vanity clothes and watch the kids hide the Easter eggs. It could be just a day to welcome spring weather and just have a good time. And for some people, I guess there is more. There is more because this is a very special day. One word: ‘Risen.’ Jesus Christ has risen.”
Father Miller discussed how the date of the Easter holiday changes on an annual basis because it takes place on the first Sunday that falls on or after the first full moon after the vernal equinox (March 21).
“It all depends upon the moon, that full moon,” Father Miller said. “And have you ever wondered why the kids hide the Easter eggs and they have the Easter egg hunts? It’s because of the moon. Because in ancient times the rabbit was the symbol of that time of the year – because that was the time when the moon gave enough light for the rabbits to come out and look for food. Well, that’s no reason for a big celebration, is it? It doesn’t really move you very much, does it? Well, it shouldn’t, because it can go beyond that, because Jesus Christ gave us a gift that special day as he rose from the dead.”
Father Miller said the various gospel writers tell the resurrection story differently.
“They agree only, I think, in one word, and that is ‘Risen.’ He is risen,” he said.
Father Miller shared some aspects of the resurrection story from the perspective of the women, not the disciples, who followed Jesus – and how they were frightened when they arrived at the tomb and the angels asked them why they were looking for the living in a cemetery. Father Miller said the women, unlike the disciples, needed Jesus.
“Even if he were dead, they needed Jesus. That’s a question today: Do we need Jesus? It’s easy, isn’t it? Sometimes we can convince ourselves that we don’t need Jesus – and our actions back it up. But there are times in our lives when we know we’re just kidding ourselves. We’re not being true to ourselves, that everybody needs a savior. That we all need Jesus, whether we will admit it or not. And maybe this is the day we’ll come to a real understanding that we do need something, someone, anything, but we need, mostly, Jesus. The women that day understood that. They understood it completely,” Father Miller said.
Father Miller encouraged people, in the most literal sense, to count their blessings one by one on a regular basis.
As his sermon neared the 25-minute mark, Father Miller brought it full circle and concluded by saying, “Understand there is really only one word that gives life any meaning at all. That one word: ‘Risen.’”
Haas-Martens then noted it was time for the offering.
“The Kiwanis is dedicated to changing the world one child, one community at a time. It’s our belief that when you give a child a chance to learn, experience, dream and succeed, great things will happen. The money collected today will be divided among the churches, along with Kiwanis, for our programs,” she said.
Wearing blue shirts, members of the State College of Florida Key Club helped gather the offerings that Haas-Martens noted could also be made online by scanning the QR codes on the Kiwanis signs.
While the offerings were gathered, Bryant sang a beautiful and spiritual rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” followed by Charity Gayle’s “Thank You Jesus for the Blood.”
Haas-Martens then called Rev. King forward to give the offering prayer.
“Good morning, everybody. He is risen. Father Lee, thank you. ‘Risen’ is the word. That is good news,” Rev. King enthusiastically said. “And thank you for what you’ve given to your offering today to make our Island a better place – to help our churches and our Kiwanis Club.”
Rev. Rodgers returned to the podium for the benediction, which he ended by saying, “The Lord bless you, and thank you for coming.”
Before the closing hymn. Haas-Martens thanked Chappie (who’s also the Bradenton Beach mayor) for his Kiwanis Club-related efforts.
She thanked local musician Chuck Caudill for providing the sound system and then said, “And Morgan, what can we say about these beautiful songs?”
She thanked the city of Holmes Beach, the Holmes Beach Public Works Department and the Holmes Beach Police Department. She thanked Manatee County for the use of the beach and she thanked the Beach Café.
“For those who want to stay, if you’re parked properly, breakfast is ready,” Haas-Martens said.
Chief Tokajer stepped forward and said, “It’s a blessing to see you guys all here. I’d say there’s between three and four thousand people. I think this is the largest crowd that we’ve had. I want you to be kind to each other as you’re leaving the parking lot – and wave with your whole hand (not your middle finger) when you let someone in. If you parked on the side road, we’re going to give you until eight o’clock to get your car moved and properly parked. Otherwise, you’ll receive a nice $65 citation. Have a blessed day, remember why you came here and be kind to everybody.”
Bryant sang the closing hymn, “Because He Lives,” and bagpiper Marty Gary, from the Sarasota-based Lion Rampant Pipes and Drum group, then closed the service with “Amazing Grace” and a snippet of “God Bless America.”
After attending her first Easter Sunrise Service, longtime Holmes Beach resident Margie Motzer said, “This is my first one. It was fantastic. Very inspiring. It was beautiful.”
