Show ct M s U yn 1 lii j 1 l tal P i i v v 1 I lei 7 aul NATURES CHURCH towering vivid red limestone rocks silhouetted ted ed against a glorious sunrise sky of red blue anil and gold create au an awe inspiring setting for or the annual easter sunrise service in colorados garden of 0 the gods NOW THERE WAS A GARDEN GARDEI easter sunrise service set in church carved by nature WW features COLORADO SPRINGS COLO just as on the sunrise of the first eastern morn when a magnificent hope confidence and faith dawned upon a discouraged group of men and women so will some worshipers gain renewed hope and courage f from born the annual presentation of the easter sunrise ris e service ip in a church fashioned a million or more years ago by nature the inspiring garden of the gods near colorado here in a setting of 0 immeasurable beauty amidst the towering limestone shafts of the catl dral spires looming to fantastic angles of more than feet with the brilliant red odthe rocks bathed in a golden light of an early colorado sunrise and with majestic snow capped pikes peak serving as backdrop the rev thom thomas as dick jr will give the annual paster faster message the constellation of ideas gathered around the easier caster lath faith is is almost overpowering in its daring truth is is stronger stron str than falsehood good conquers ers evil love is is It stronger ronger than haired C human arn beings are of worth unit and dignity god is f dt an unfailing source of so security life is is victor over death these tb thoughts constitute the theme of mr air dicks sermon acoustically and to the ese ee the church which nature carved out in the he garden of the gods is more magnificent than any since erected by mortal man the spectacle of people massed together in this natural awe inspiring setting Is a colorful incredible sight lending true religious significance to this eastek sunrise service deep in the heart of the rocky mountains founded 28 years ago the colorado springs ministerial a alliance Il lance founder of the garden of the gods easter service 28 years ago aga again in will bill sponsor the rites the service will be carried to radio worshipers coast to coast over the columbia network from 6 30 to 7 a m mountain standard time originating from station of colorado springs As AB in pr previous eKlous years the garden of the gods service will be predominantly musical the colorado springs BOD voice a cappella choir will be featured the choir under direction of frank gilles Is nationally famous having won first place in the national choral society contest several times traditional with the service tor for many years is tenor bernard vessey who has been singing on the easter sunrise services tor for more than a quartet tei century vessey came to colorado springs from the east tor for his health his solo open the gates of the temple which he sings every year Is a favorite of thousands of music lovers mrs verda lawrie colorado springs is organist the garden of 0 the gods spa clous garden of overturned limestone rocks was revered levered by ute indians as a holy place for their god Maril mariatou tou long before the coming ot of the white man the big rocks according to the indians are barbaric hosts of g fi 1 ants which in prehistoric times threatened their domain the utes prayed to their god biall tou who lived at the top of holy mount blount pikes peak and who answered their prayers pra ers by causing the giants and the monstrous beasts accompanying them to turn to stone geologically the explanation Is much simpler in prehistoric pie historic times the same earth shaking movements that formed the rocky mountains caused an of limestone which extends underground from canada to mexico however it is only in the colorado springs garden of the gods that this limestone segment shows predominantly above groi ind in 1921 the rev A W luce of 0 the first christian church now retired was walking through the garden of 0 the gods his bible in hand trying to get an inspiration for his easter bermon sermon opening his bible to the book ot of john he be read now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden there they laid jesus while reading this his eyes fell on three gigantic shafts of rock which closely resembled cathedral spires the inspiration came to him that here in the beauty splendor and solitude of the garden of the gods was the ideal place to gather for worship and to observe the day in which christ was resurrected this inspiration became a reality and the first easter service was held with some worshipers worshiper a attending the audience has been growing ever since now estimated to b be more than in addition to the thousands who receive inspiration from actually attending the service countless others are able to benefit spiritually from this easter message by dialing the service on their radio the noted dr S parkes cadman once stated that unless a person were to go to jerusalem where the first easter actually occurred he could find no more mora appropriate setting than the garden of the gods with thousands of peo ped pie massed together in the natural valley surrounded by towering peaks the garden of the gods was a part of public domain until 1879 when it was bought by charles E perkins an eastern railroad tycoon he intended to build a home there but on moie leisurely inspection decided that no vork v ork of man should spoil the beauty of this natural garden |