A decades-long Easter worship tradition in Little Rock will not be held this year because of covid-19.
The Easter Sunrise Service, an annual outdoor service sponsored by Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, was included in a list of events in April the church has canceled to limit the spread of the virus. Also included on the cancellation list was the church's in-person Holy Week services, which will be livestreamed, and an Easter egg hunt that had been set to take place Saturday in Allsopp Park.
The service is traditionally held at Little Rock's First Security Amphitheater, with attendees spread among the venue's 1,375 fixed seats, or standing or sitting sprawled on blankets or towels on the surrounding grounds. As many as 2,000 have attended the live service in good weather, Pulaski Heights spokesman Tyler Lindsey said.
The offering collected each year benefits a charity. The money donated at this year's live service was to have benefited the Arkansas Foodbank, Lindsey said. Donations can still be made remotely at arkansasfoodbank.org.
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The church has continued to broadcast its 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship service on KATV and on YouTube at youtube.com/user/PulaskiHeightsUMC.
Metro on 04/07/2020