What would make you get up early? I was quite amazed when the 'Endeavour' came into Whitby harbour last October how many people from this community got up in time to journey over and see it enter the harbour in the early morning.

Even on holiday only a few miles away , we enjoyed our bed more than the prospect of

seeing the boat sail in.

However, one of my childhood memories is

getting up in the dark to watch the Apollo moon landing on television. It was a great adventure to be awake at 2am to view such a momentous occasion. But in general, we prefer a lie-in to an early start.

Maybe that is why the police car in Ilkley followed me up to the Cow and Calf rocks last Easter Sunday morning. The driver probably wondered why so much traffic was proceeding up Cowpasture Road at 6am.

The reason was the annual gathering for a sunrise service to greet the risen Jesus.

Last year everything worked to perfection. About 60 Christians from Ilkley and Addingham set their alarms and met for a short act of worship on the Moor.

We sang, read the Bible account of the first Easter morning, broke bread and prayed.

Just as we came to the end of the service the sun rose over the hills opposite us; God was with us and all was well with the world.

As we departed we shared Easter eggs and then went home for breakfast, to get ready for worship in church later in the morning.

For me this is a special occasion, well worth an early start. The resurrection of Jesus was a unique event and one which is worthy of

celebration.

To be there on Easter morning is to remind one that Christ is alive and with us still. To get up early, to 'rise with Christ,' makes the day

distinctive.

Whereas I normally stay in bed as long as possible, on this day at least I know I want to get on with life, to be there and see the dawn, the sunrise.

You might have seen one of the posters advertising the event this year, we have given in a new title 'Sonrise,' a shameless play on words which reminds us of the importance of why we are meeting for worship.

If the only reason you get up very early is to catch a charter flight on holiday, then why not set your alarm for 5.30 on Easter morning and join us at the rocks to greet the risen Son of God. Be awake enough this Easter to see the glory of God shining on your life.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.