Unity dawning on Easter morn
“It provides a witness to show our neighbours that we are united.”

Elizabeth Mabie
Spur Ottawa Correspondent

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! To celebrate this most significant event in all of history, Ottawa Christians of all denominations will join together, bright and early on Easter morning, for the annual Easter Sunrise Service. The ecumenical gathering takes place on Parliament Hill in front of the Peace Tower.

“This service acts as a sign and symbol that proclaims the lordship of Christ at the bottom of the Peace Tower, outside the House of Parliament, which governs an increasingly secular society,” says Brent Russett. “We proclaim that Jesus is Lord, whether He is acknowledged as such or not.”

For nearly two decades, three local pastors have been organizing the Easter Sunrise Service: Russett (Sunnyside Wesleyan), Doug Ward (Kanata Baptist), and Dave Crawley (St. Peter & St. Paul’s Anglican).

“We proclaim Jesus’ resurrection and offer the gospel as the hope of the world.”

“When the service fell off the radar [years ago], the three of us wanted to fill the gap,” Ward explains. “We put a simple service together and, no matter what the elements, we proclaim Jesus’ resurrection and offer the gospel as the hope of the world.”

This year’s service begins at 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, April 1, with a sermon from Brent Stiller, rector of St. Peter & St. Paul’s Anglican Church. After the service, participants will be invited to share breakfast together at St. Peter & St. Paul’s, by city hall.

The Easter Sunrise Service serves as a way to inspire unity in the Church in Ottawa. Each denomination may have their own theology, but all Christians believe in Jesus as their Saviour who paid the ultimate price.

Russett explains that at the sunrise service, “unity is emphasized, particular churches are not.”

“Anytime the Church is together, working among the different bodies and denominations, it provides a witness to show our neighbours that we are united,” Stiller says. “We are united by who Christ is, united by the gospel, and united by the grace we’ve known in Jesus and the hope we have through His death and resurrection.”

“Anytime churches come together to worship is very important.”

Stiller plans to emphasize this principle in his message. He says he wants to communicate that the truth of the gospel is through Jesus’ sacrifice, but also that His gift to us is one that all humans share. It’s a Christian’s duty to share this knowledge with others, making them aware of this gift and its importance.

“Anytime churches come together to worship is very important,” Stiller states. He adds that the Easter Sunrise Service “is a wonderful place to be encouraged, but also to celebrate together and provide a witness to the city, by unity in the gospel.”

“All three of us [Ward, Crawley, and Russett] strongly believe that Christ needs to be reintroduced to the public square,” explains Ward. “The service is just one way to stand at the center of our nation’s life and proclaim God’s sovereignty over all our hopes and aspirations.”