Christians on Long Island, worldwide celebrate Easter

The unifying belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ drew joyful Christians to witness the dawn of Easter Sunday from the sands at Jones Beach and fill pews in scores of churches — Catholic and Protestant — across Long Island.

“Sometimes people are afraid of death, because you don’t really know what’s going to happen and it’s scary,” the Rev. Thomas Goodhue said to more than 400 people gathered for the annual sunrise service, with the crash of waves and chirps of birds supplying the soundtrack for his sermon.

“But God and the people you love will be on the other side to welcome us and care for us,” he said.

Samuel Young-Well, 60 of Baldwin, was there with his wife and two daughters. He said it was his 13th time to attend the early-morning Easter observance.

“Jesus died for our sins so that we can be better people,” he said. “I want to be a better husband, father and son.”

Striving for betterment, kindness and loving hearts were common themes expressed by both clergy and congregants as millions the world over celebrated the holy day commemorating Jesus’ resurrection some 2,000 years ago.

Christians — who make up the world’s largest religion, with an estimated 2.2 billion followers — believe Jesus was crucified on what is known as Good Friday and that he rose from the dead on the third day. Easter comes at the end of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penance.

At Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Commack, the Brandel family came together as they do every year. Karyn and Tom Brandel, with their three children, traveled from their Maryland home to be with relatives here.

“It’s nice to be back at the church I attended as a kid, and to be with our families,” said Karyn Brandel. They were to have Easter brunch at her mother’s house and dinner with her husband’s family.

The Rev. Joseph Davanzo, looking out at the dozens who filled the church, emphasized joy and love in his homily.

“It brings me much joy to see the happiness and excitement families and children have on Easter, and I just hope they can bring this message into their family life and work life,” Davanzo said after one of seven Easter services.

He also stressed Christians’ social responsibility.

“Our world cannot heal itself. We Christians must heal us,” Davanzo said. “We must step up and step into this challenge.”

During the 11:30 a.m. service at Arumdaun Presbyterian Church in Bethpage, the Rev. Michael Hwang stressed the importance of the afterlife, saying that the brief time we spend on Earth has no meaning without the promise of heaven.

“For me, life without eternity, life without heaven — no matter how you beautify life, there is no ultimate purpose,” he said after the service, attended by hundreds from Long Island’s Korean community. “There must be an afterlife to make this unjust or chaotic world make sense.”

Easter reminds Christians that there is hope, because Jesus Christ made the “ultimate sacrifice for humanity” in his death, and in his resurrection demonstrated that “good can conquer evil,” Hwang said.

Members of the congregation echoed his message when discussing their own faith.

“Without the truth of resurrection, we are nothing,” Erin Choi, of East Northport, said after the service. “Easter is essentially how Jesus broke the power of death and is risen.”

The Rev. Charles A. Coverdale, at the First Baptist Church of Riverhead, reminded worshippers to think of immigrants — particularly in light of the volatile presidential election campaign.

“During this season of political hostility, encourage the immigrants amongst us,” he told the predominantly African-American congregation. “Greet strangers in love and kindness. Remind them we were once strangers in this land. . . . Welcome them as they seek to come from dangerous places, as they seek to find a living for their family.”

He said later he was referring to both Spanish-speaking immigrants and his Muslim friends.

Coverdale’s comments came as Pope Francis tempered his own Easter Sunday message of Christian hope with a denunciation of “blind” terrorism. The pope recalled victims of terror attacks and expressed dismay that people fleeing war or poverty are denied welcome as European countries squabble over a refugee crisis.

Despite suffering around the globe and the tense presidential campaign season, Coverdale urged his Riverhead congregation to tell friends and families about the joys of church.

He asked them to take out their cellphones and text someone they wanted to join them in church.

“Tell them this is a joyful time. Church was exciting,” he said. “You should never leave church sorry you went.”

With David M. Schwartz