Community Joins Together for First Annual Bilingual Easter Dawn Service

Over a hundred people gathered from Glen Cove and the North Shore of Long Island for the First Annual Bilingual Easter Dawn Service held this past Sunday in the City of Glen Cove’s Morgan Park. While services have long been held in Morgan Park at Easter, this is the first time that the service has been shared in both English and Spanish. With the backdrop of the Hempstead Harbor and an eighteen-foot cross that was temporarily erected, the service began with songs and scripture readings in both English and Spanish. Pastors from three Glen Cove churches hosting the event (Calvary A.M.E Church, Iglesia Ciudad de Refugio and First Presbyterian Church) each shared a short message and song leaders from the congregations led all gathered in song. Pastors leading the community service included Rev. Craig J. Wright, Rev. Juanita Lopez and Rev. Joan Finck. Music for the half hour service was led by Merle Richards, Choir President at Calvary A.M.E; Josue Correa, Associate Pastor and Ericka Bautista, Song Leader at Iglesia Ciudad de Refugio; and by Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, Elder at First Presbyterian Church. Several elected officials attended the service including County Legislator Delia Deriggi-Whitton, City Councilman Tim Tenke, City Councilman Roderick Watson, and former City Councilman Tony Jimenez.

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Over 100 gathered for Bilingual Community Easter Dawn Service held in Glen Cove’s Morgan Park.

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Brenda Lopez translates as her mother, Rev. Juanita Lopez (Iglesia Ciudad de Refugio), shares an Easter message with those gathered for the First Annual Bilingual Community Easter Dawn Service in Glen Cove’s Morgan Park. Others leading the service from left to right included Merle Richards, Choir President at Calvary A.M.E; Ericka Bautista, Song Leader at Iglesia Ciudad de Refugio; Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, Elder at the First Presbyterian Church; Rev. Joan Finck Pastor at First Presbyterian Church; and Rev. Craig J. Wright, Pastor at Calvary A.M.E. Church.

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Organizers for the First Annual Bilingual Community Easter Dawn Service held in Glen Cove’s Morgan park erected a temporary cross on the beach. The cross and the harbor set the stage for a moving service attended by over 100 people from Glen Cove and the North Shore of Long Island.

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