Show 1 es t i C t tI I c ce e i k I IC C 4 r t 4 NATURES NATURE'S CHURCH Towering vivid red limestone rocks sil silhouetted slI- slI against a glorious sunrise sky of red blue and gold create an inspiring awe setting for the annual Easter sunrise service in Cob Colo Colorado's Colorados rados rado's Garden of the Gods NSW 1 NOW flOW THERE WAS A GARDEN Easter Sunrise se Service SetIn Set SetIn SetIn In Church ch Carved ved by y Nature e Features COLORADO SPRINGS COLO Just Just as on the sunrise of the first Eastern morn when a magnificent hope confidence I and faith dawned upon a discouraged group of men and women women wom worn I en so will s some me worshipers gain renewed hope and nd courage from the annual presentation of the Easter sunrise sunrise sunrise sun sun- rise service in a church fashioned a million or more years ago by nature the nature the inspiring Garden of the Gods near Colorado Colorado Colo Cob rado Springs Here In a setting of immeasurable 0 able beauty amidst the towering limestone shafts of the cat caU idral spires looming to fantastic anges angles of more than feet with the brilliant brilliant brilliant bril bril- red of the rocks bathed in a golden light of an early Colorado sunrise e and with majestic now enow- capped Pikes Peak serving as backdrop backdrop back back- drop the Rev Thomas Dick Jr will vill give the annual Easter message The constellation of ideas gathered around the Easter Easier faith is almost overpowering over over- powering in n its daring Truth is stronger than falsehood good conquers conquers con con- quers et evil I love is stronger than hatred human beings be are of worth and dignity dignity dig dig- nily God is an unfailing source of se security se- se life is victor r over Ofer death These thoughts constitute the theme of Mr Dicks Dick's sermon Acoustically and to the eye the church which nature carved out inthe inthe in inthe the Garden of the Gods is more magnificent than any since erected by mortal man The spectacle of people massed together in inthis inthis inthis this natural inspiring awe-inspiring setting Is 15 a colorful incredible sight lending lending lending lend lend- ing true religious significance to this Easter Eastel sunrise service deep Inthe in inthe inthe the heart of 01 the Rocky mountains Founded 28 Years Ago The Colorado Springs Ministerial alliance founder of the Garden oft of the t e Gods Easter service 28 years ago again will sponsor the rites The service will be carried to radio 1 worshipers coast to coast over the Columbia network from to 7 a. a m. m Mountain Standard Time originating from Station of Colorado Springs As in previous years the Garden of the Gods service will be predominantly predominantly musical The Colorado Springs voice a cappella choir will be featured The choir under direction of Frank Gilles is nationally nationally nationally nation nation- ally famous having won first place in the National Choral society contest contest contest con con- test several times Traditional with the service for many years is tenor Bernard Vessey Vessey Ves Ves- sey who has been singing on the Easter sunrise services for more than a quarter century Vessey came to Colorado Springs from the East 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 the Gods spa spa- clous cIous garden of overturned limestone limestone limestone lime lime- stone rocks was revered re by Ute Vie Indians as a holy place for their god Manitou 1 long before the coming of the white man The big big- rocks according to the Indians Indians Indians In In- arc are barbaric hosts of gi giants gl ants which in prehistoric times threatened their domain The Utes prayed praed to their pod god Manitou Manitou Mani Mani- tou who lived Jived at the top of Holy Mount Pikes Peak and who answered their prayers by causing causing causing caus caus- ing the giants and the monstrous monstrous mon mon- beasts accompanying them to turn to stone Geologically the explanation is much simpler In prehistoric times the same shaking earth 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 Garden Garden Gar Gar- den of the Gods that this limestone segment shows predominantly predominantly above ground In 1921 the Rev A. A W W. Luce of the First Christian church now retired retired re reo re- re tired was walking through the Garden Gar den of the Gods his Bible in hand trying to get an inspiration for his Easter sermon Opening his Bible to the Book of John he 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 cathedra cathedral spires The inspiration came to him that here in the beauty splendor splendor splendor dor and solitude of the Garden of the Gods was the ideal place to gather for worship and to observe observe observe ob ob- ob- ob serve the day in which Christ was resurrected This Inspiration became a reality and the first Easter service was held with some worshipers at at- tending The audience has been growing ever since now estimated to be more than In addition to the thousands who receive inspiration inspiration in in- from actually attending the service countless others are able to bene benefit t spirit spiritually ally from tram this Easter message by dialing the servo service ice on their radio The noted Dr S. S Parkes Cadman once stated that unless a person were to go to J Jerusalem Jerusalem Jeru Jeru- eru salem where the first Easter actually actually actu actu- ally occurred he could find no more appropriate setting than the Garden of the Gods with thousands of people peo peo- pIe massed together in the natural valley surrounded by towering peaks The Garden of the Gods was a apart apart part of public domain until 1879 when it was bought by Charles E. E Perkins an eastern railroad tycoon He Intended to build a home there but on mote mOle leisurely inspection decided that no york vork of man should spoil the beauty of this s natural gar gar- den |