Penney Memorial United Baptist Church congregants gather Sunday outside the Capital Judicial Center for a sunrise service in Augusta. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo

AUGUSTA — As the sun rose over Memorial Bridge, parishioners from Penney Memorial United Baptist Church in Augusta were celebrating Easter in person for the first time since 2019.

At 6 a.m. Sunday, about 50 people bundled and masked up and braved cold temperatures to gather outside the Capital Judicial Center. The location gave worshippers a clear view of the rising sun against the Augusta skyline.

The service lasted about a half-hour, and included prayer and song led by the Rev. Justin Frank.

Sunrise services are a tradition for many Christian denominations on Easter Sunday, which celebrates Jesus’s resurrection three days after his body was placed into a tomb following his crucifixion.

The Rev. Justin Frank, pastor at Penney Memorial United Baptist Church, leads members of the congregation in prayer during a sunrise service outside the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo

On Saturday, Frank said there were no services at the Water Street church in the lead-up to Easter of 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic had just taken hold and discouraged gatherings. Although the pandemic has extended into a second year, Frank said the absence of those services was difficult for the church.

“There was a real sense of loss,” he said. “Easter is a real celebratory, meaningful time of the year for us. We understood why, but it was sad and disappointing.”

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Frank said he was excited for Sunday’s service, even if the COVID-19 pandemic is not over.

“It’s a joy to be able to be together,” Frank said. “There are going to be some people that we haven’t seen in a year. Just to be able to see one another and celebrate together again, we’re excited.”

Suzanne Beyea photographs the rising sun Sunday during Penney Memorial United Baptist Church’s sunrise service outside the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo

Despite being in person, the sunrise service had a big change: No breakfast following the ceremony. Frank said he learned Friday a breakfast might have been allowed under changing pandemic guidelines, but it would have been too much to plan in a short time.

Following the Sunday service, some worshippers photographed the rising sun. Annette Beyea of Augusta said she has participated in the online services throughout the pandemic, and was happy to get together with others Sunday morning.

“I’m surprised by the crowd, and it’s a beautiful spot,” she said. “You can’t go wrong.”

Beyea, who said she has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, said she felt “a little bit” like things were returning to normal Sunday.

“I think being vaccinated has helped everybody feel a little bit at ease in situations like this, ” she said.

Joshua Hasbrouck of Augusta, who also took a moment to photograph the sun, said he attended the 2019 service, but returned on his own in 2020 to observe the sun rising.

“Last year, there was about half a dozen of us that showed up just to take pictures of the sunrise,” he said. “It’s nice to actually have everything here and get a chance to sing.”


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