Show 23 k I 1 Z NATURES CHURCH towering vivid red limestone rocks silhouetted ed against again st a glo glorious ilous sunrise sky of red blue and gold create an awe inspiring setting for the annual easter sunrise service in colorados garden of mhd gods NOW OW THERE WAS AS A GARDEN easter sunrise service set in church carved by nature features Fe attires COLORADO SPRINGS COLO COIO COI O just as on the sunrise of the first eastern morn when a hope confidence and faith dawned upon a discouraged group of men and women so will some worshipers gain renewed hope and courage from the annual presentation of the easter sunrise service in a church fashioned a million or more years ago by nature the inspiring garden of the gods near colo rado springs here in n a setting of able beauty amidst the towering Urn limestone estone shafts 0 of the catl dral spires looming to fantastic anges of more than feet with the bill brilliant red of the rocks bathed in a golden light of an early colorado sunrise and with majestic enow capped pikes peak serving as backdrop the rev thomas dick jr will give the annual easter message the constellation of ideas gathered around th the easter faith is almost overpowering in its daring truth is stronger than falsehood good con iners fiers evil ean love is stronger than hatred haired human linnan beings are of worth and dignity god is an all tin unfailing failing source of security life it ft victor over death these thoughts thon gits constitute the theme of mr air dicks dick sermon acoustically and to the eye I 1 the church which nature carved out in the garden of the gods Is more magnificent than any since erected by mortal man the spectacle of people massed together in li this natural awe r ing setting Is a colorful incredible sight lending true religious significance to this easter sunrise service deep in the heart of the rocky mountains founded 28 29 years ago f the colorado springs ministerial alliance founder of the garden of the gods easter service 28 years ago again will sponsor the rites the service will be carried toradio to io radio w worshipers i coast to coast over the columbia network from 6 30 to 7 a in mountain standard time originating from station of colorado springs As P in previous pr years the garden araen of the gods service will be predominantly musical the colorado Col rado springs voice a cappella choir will bel featured the choir under direction of frank gilles to Is natio 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 for more than a quarter century vessey came to colorado springs from the fast east for his health I 1 ills his soto open the gates of the temple which he sings every year is h a favorite of thousands of music lovers mrs verda lawrie Color colorado adb springs is organist the gard garden en of the gods spa clous garden of overturned limestone rocks was waa revered by via uta indians as si a holy place for their god mantion long lone before the coming of the white man the big rocks according to the indians are barbaric hosts of giants which in prehistoric times threatened their domain the utes prayed to their god maul tou ou who lived at the top of holy mount pikes peak and who I 1 answered their prayers ing the giants and the monstrous beasts accompanying them to turn to stone geologically the explanation Is much simpler imp lerIn in prehistoric times the same parth 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 s segment lu st shows predominantly nan aly above ground in 1921 the rev A W lu luie e of the first christian church now retired was walking through the 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 mow in the pla place C e where he was wa 3 cru crucified C idled 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 was held with some worshipers attending the audience has been growing ever since now estima estimated aed to ve b e more than in addition to the thousands who receive inspiration from actually attending the service countless others aro are able to i benefit spiritually from this easter message by di dialing tiling the ice on their radio the noted dr js S parkes cadman once stated that unless alperson were to go to jerusalem where the first easter actually occurred he could find no more mora appropriate setting than the garden odthe gods with thousands of people massed together tog in the natural valley galley surrounded by io lowering peaks the harden garden of the gods was a part of public domain until 1879 1870 when it was bought by charles E ae perkins an eastern railroad tycoon he intended to build a home there but bui on move mone leisurely inspection deded decided that no vork of man should spoil the beauty of this natural garden |