Easter Sunrise Service

April 15, 2009 · By Deb Phillips – The Photo Gal 
The Unity Moravian Church band played at the Lewisville Community Sunrise Service at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, North Carolina (Forsyth County). Deb Phillips, photographer.

The Unity Moravian Church band provided the music for Lewisville's annual Easter Sunrise Service held at Shallowford Square.

Celebration and Communion

It was a beautiful morning for Lewisville’s Community Sunrise Service, which was hosted by six area churches. The beauty of the morning — punctuated by the sweet songs of birds — was a wonderful setting for the Easter message.

At the end of this post, I’ve provided a link to the photo gallery containing photographs made throughout the service, as well as a link to a condensed audio recording of the service. (The recording excludes the time during which folks filed in line to receive communion). Identified below are the ministers who led various portions of the service.

Service Details

Greeting and Call to Worship
Rev. Les Puryear – Lewisville Baptist Church

Responsive Reading (Psalm 118: 14–29)
Rev. Stuart Zimmerman – Unity Moravian Church

Scripture Lesson (Matthew 28:1–15)
Rev. Danny Leonard – Sunrise Methodist Church

Message (“What Story are You Telling?”)
Rev. Louis Hunter, Jr. – New Hope AME Zion Church

Prayer of Thanksgiving / Blessing of Bread and Cup
Rev. Robert C. Evans, III – Shallowford Presbyterian Church

Blessing and Benediction
Rev. Keith Bingham – Lewisville United Methodist Church

Photo Gallery

To see more photos of this beautiful service, please visit the Community Sunrise Service photo gallery.

Lewisville Community Sunrise Service 2009 (MP3, 28 MIN.)

Easter Egg Hunt

April 13, 2009 · By Deb Phillips – The Photo Gal 
A young child finds another Easter egg at Sunrise United Methodist Church Easter Egg Hunt in Lewisville, North Carolina (Forsyth County). Deb Phillips, photographer.

A young child finds another Easter egg at Sunrise United Methodist Church Easter Egg Hunt in Lewisville, North Carolina.

Eggs, Eggs and More Eggs!

I dropped by Sunrise United Methodist Church this past Saturday morning (April 11) to photograph their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Oh, what fun it was!

With every child that arrived, I could feel the energy and excitement level building! And when the signal was given, children and parents scurried outside to find the Easter eggs that had been so profusely placed on the property.

Everywhere I looked, I saw multiple brightly colored eggs, and I could just imagine the children’s excitement. (Wisely enough, a color-code procedure had been introduced during sign-up to ensure that every child could find enough eggs to fill his or her basket.)

Photo Strategy?

As far as photographs, I decided to concentrate on the younger children, thinking it would be somewhat easier to anticipate their moves and to get into position for some good shots. Well, they moved faster than I expected! But I just kept darting here and there as I saw children constantly moving toward unclaimed eggs.

It seemed that in no time, though, the hunt was over and everyone headed back inside the church building. That’s when the eggs were opened, and the goodies were retrieved. Kids and parents alike were opening eggs with such concentrated zeal that most of them seemed oblivious to me and my clicking camera!

More Fun and Food

Next, everyone headed outside for a group shot of the children, followed by games for the various ages, with parents and other volunteers assisting. Wrapping up the fun morning was a hotdog lunch provided by the youth.

Photo Gallery

Be sure to check out the Sunrise UMC Easter Egg Hunt photo gallery. You’ll get a real sense of the enthusiasm and fun that marked a very enjoyable morning.

Please share any thoughts the photos may evoke by clicking on the Comment link below. I hope you enjoy them.

  • Photo Moments

    “Lewisville’s“Lewisville“The
  • VISIT THE PHOTO GALLERY

    Visit the LewisvillePhotos.com Photo Gallery
  • Photo Quote (Rotating)

    A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed. —Ansel Adams
  • More Photo Moments

    Lewisville citizens pose at the Nissen Wagon at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).Held at Shallowford Square, the First Annual Best of Lewisville Festival was sponsored by Karate International of Lewisville and MediaFit.West Side Civic Theatre sponsored The Pirates of Penzance at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC.The Old Cemetery at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County). Photography by Deb Phillips.Shallowford Square with a beautiful covering of snow.Memorial Day Service by American Legion Post 522 in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County)The home of Dr. Joe and Barbara Brooks in Lewisville, NC is surrounded by beautiful flowers of all types, especially daylilies.James E. (Jim) Munden, Sr. spoke about The Great Depression to the Lewisville Historical Society in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).Brad Craver and his sons Austin and Andrew shared about the Civil War with the Lewisville Historical Society in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).The 4th Annual Yadkin Valley History Fair & Conference - Transportation in the Yadkin Valley Before the AutomobileLewisville celebrates its 25th year of incorporation” width=A redbird claimed his territory at the Veterans Memorial at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).The Lewisville Historical Society sponsored a graveyard tour which included Lewisville United Methodist Church. Host: Ruth HartleThe West Side Civic Theatre put on a splendid rendition of Peter Pan at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC.Llamas at Rivermont Llamas in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).The garden of Robin McBride in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County)The Lewisville Historical Society sponsored a Historic Graveyard Tour, including the graveyard at Lewisville Baptist Church.The West Side Civic Theatre produced the Hello, Dolly musical at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).A beautiful snow on a barn and field on Conrad Road in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).Sponsored by the Lewisville Historical Society, a graveyard tour was conducted of six graveyards in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).New Hope AME Zion Church in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County) celebrated its 125th anniversary on February 1, 2009.Jones Grocery Store resides on Shallowford Road in Lewisville, NC, not far from the Yadkin River (Forsyth County).A visit to Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County) on a snowy morning.The Lewisville Sesquicentennial Committee and the Yadkin Valley Historical Association hosted an exploration of the Shallow Ford.Meet dog, Missy, who was walking with her master at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).Oklahoma! was produced by the West Side Civic Theatre at Shallowford Square in Lewisville, NC (Forsyth County).