Sacred and secular events across DeKalb County celebrate Easter

In the Christian community, Easter—or Resurrection Day—Sunday celebrates events sacred to the faith. The larger community often celebrates the coming of spring on and around Easter. Known as a “movable feast,” Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (the first day of spring). Thus, the calendar date for Easter varies from year to year. Dates of other holidays—including Mardi Gras, Good Friday, and Palm Sunday—draw on this same calculation. This year Easter falls on April 20.

Here is a sampling of events across DeKalb County that celebrate both sacred and secular aspects of Easter this year:

Stone Mountain Sunrise Service marks its 79th year
Continuing a nearly eight-decade-old tradition, on April 20, thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds will ascend Stone Mountain to watch the sun rise over Atlanta and celebrate Easter together.
The Easter Sunrise Service tradition began in 1944, when Stone Mountain First United Methodist Churwich congregant Lucille A. Lanford suggested that the church’s youth group climb to the top of Stone Mountain on Easter morning to watch the sunrise. From that humble start, the event grew and now each year attracts visitors from around the world.
This year, before dawn on April 20, park visitors will begin to gather for services at the top of the mountain and on Memorial Lawn at the foot of the mountain. Special guests Bryant Wright, Crawford Loritts, and Parker Wyatt will deliver nondenominational messages.
Park gates will open at 3 a.m. and the Summit Skyride will open at 4 a.m. to begin taking guests to the summit. Services will begin at 7 a.m. Both services will feature sign language interpreters for hearing-impaired guests. After the services, visitors may stay for family-friendly attractions, and recreational activities.
Tickets and additional event information are available at http://www.stonemountainpark.com.

Chamblee church prepares for egg hunt
Embry Hills United Methodist Church is now stuffing eggs with candy in preparation for its annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. until noon. The goal is to have 2,000 colorful eggs along with many entertaining activities. The church is located at 3304 Henderson Mill Road, Chamblee.
For more information, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4AA4A62BAAFACE9-54586519-easter.

Brookhaven has Easter Egg hunts for all
Peter Rabbit is heading back to Brookhaven on Saturday, April 19, to make appearances at three Easter egg hunts, all at Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Eggstraordinary Easter Egg Hunt, an event featuring sensory-sensitive activities specifically tailored for special needs youngsters, starts sharply at 10 a.m. This event will be wheelchair accessible.
At Easter Egg Scramble, egg hunts will be split into age groups—3 and younger; 4 through 6; and 7 and older—with separate areas for each. The Easter Egg Scramble hunts start sharply at 11:30 a.m.
At noon, the Dog-gone Easter Egg Hunt, and event for all residents and their “fur babies,” will be held at the Blackburn Park Softball Fields. Specially prepared Easter eggs containing pet treats will be hidden throughout the dog run.
Peter Rabbit will attend all the events to pose for photos.

Eggs to drop in Stonecrest
Easter Egg Drop will be held Saturday, April 12, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., at Southeast Athletic Complex, 5845 Hillvale Road, Stonecrest. Activities for the entire family will include eggs dropped from a helicopter, an egg hunt, food vendors, pictures with the Easter Bunny, face painting, arts and crafts.

South DeKalb event marks seventh year
Radio One in partnership with Amerigroup Community Care is sponsoring its seventh annual Easter Egg and Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, April 12, from 2 until 5 p.m. at Exchange Park, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur. Events will include Egg Dashes for children kindergarten through eighth grade, an adult Easter Egg hunt, food vendors, photos with the Easter Bunny and giveaways while supplies last.
Churches that have announced special events—recreational and sacred—during the Easter season include:
• St. Philip AME, 240 Candler Road, Atlanta, will have a special Good Friday presentation, 7 Last Words of Jesus Christ on the Cross, at noon on April 18. The session will be led by host pastor Anton G. Elwood Sr. and feature seven other area spiritual leaders.
• Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church on 1879 Glenwood Ave., Atlanta, has announced a Palm Sunday service at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 13; a Family Egg Hunt with activities for all ages on Saturday, April 19, 1 until 3 p.m.; a He Has Risen early service at 8 a.m. and a 9 a.m. service described as “a special music and dramatic presentation by the Music and Collaborative Arts Ministry, featuring ‘Endless Love,’ directed by Jeri Boone-Jones” on April 20.
• Shallowford Presbyterian Church at 2375 Shallowford Road, Atlanta, invites the community to a 30-minute Good Friday service of scripture, silence and song on April 18. There will be a children’s Easter Egg Hunt 10 until 11 a.m. on April 19 and worship services at 6:35 a.m. and noon on April 20.
• Gresham Park Christian Church, 2819 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur, will have an early worship service and breakfast at 9 a.m. and Resurrection Day worship at 11 a.m. All are welcome.