Easter service brings tide of emotion

Guided by the beams of headlights and flashlights, Christians waded through the dunes off Field 6 at Jones Beach before dawn Sunday, clutching lawn chairs, blankets and morning coffee.

A dense fog obscured the eventual sunrise, and the ocean was apparent only by the sound of waves crashing.

But the weather conditions did not deter more than 150 participants from attending the Easter service, in which they reflected on and celebrated the resurrection of Jesus.

The Long Island Council of Churches has hosted the service at Jones Beach for 10 years. The service used to be in Eisenhower Park.

The ecumenical service included an Easter greeting and prayer by the Rev. Thomas Goodhue, executive director of the council, Bible readings by the Rev. Ron Garner, pastor of Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church, and a rendition of "Amazing Grace" by Soh Young Lee-Segredo of Freeport United Methodist Church.

"There are always people who come and walk the beach on Easter," said Goodhue. "We always thought of this as a better place for people who don't have a Sunday service."

Garner discussed the difference between people who just listen to the story of Easter as described in the Bible and those who realize the impact of the holiday on daily life.

"Sometimes I think we are verse 12 people living in a verse 11 world," he said of the contrast in a passage from Luke 24:11, which describes skepticism at the story of Jesus' resurrection, and one from Luke 24:12, the impact on the apostle Peter when he finds Jesus' remains missing from the tomb.

For some, it was their first time at the dawn service. "I've always wanted to do it and I felt the need," said Patti Woods, 53, of Merrick, a warehouse administrator, as she stood next to her beach chair. "I just felt it was special on Easter."

Donald Warner, 52, of Wantagh, a house cleaner, has been attending for 10 years. "I just felt like coming," he said. "I can say tradition, but that doesn't always hold with me sometimes. It's a service and it gives me something to wake up for."

Pattie Lantz, 49, of Wantagh came with the family in tow. Daughters Ashley, 18, and Kimberly Lantz-Martino, 29, also of Wantagh, wrapped themselves in blankets and scarves while clutching the leash of Lola, a 2-year-old cockalier.

"We did it on a whim one year and now it's tradition," said Pattie Lantz.

The Long Island Council was not the only group hosting an early-morning service on the beach. Arianna Ramos, 20, of Hicksville walked along the water's edge with friends after the Long Island Abundant Life Church held its service.

"I'm here for Jesus, for our belief. And it's Easter - He resurrected," she said. "If he was resurrected, then we also can get up at 5 a.m."

After the Council of Churches service ended, the Lantz family headed down the beach to peek at the ocean waves they had heard crashing during the ceremony.