Celebrate Easter with us Sunday, April 21st at 7:00 a.m. at the First Security Amphitheater in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.  Every year, thousands gather on the banks of the Arkansas River and proclaim the good news that Christ is risen.

The service will also be broadcast live on KATV Channel 7.

The Annual Community Easter Sunrise Service is an ecumenical worship service sponsored by Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.

About

This years’ recipient is Central Arkansas Freedom School, a program of the Children’s Defense Fund that seeks to build strong, literate, empowered children. Summer and after-school reading enrichment helps to curb summer learning loss and close achievement gaps. Freedom Schools boost student motivation, increases self-esteem and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of the community. Freedom School works in partnership with Greater Center Star Baptist Church, Philander-Smith College, Daisy Bates Foundation, the US Department of Agriculture and others.

For more information, please visit their website.

Special Offering

This year’s participants will include:

  • Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott
  • Ross Owyoung, Director, UA Little Rock Downtown
  • Eve Jorgenson, Director, Moms Demand Action
  • Ross Noland, Director, Buffalo River Foundation
  • Dr. Ella Sargent, Director Freedom Schools
  • Sylvia Borchert, Lay Representative for the Arkansas United Methodist Conference.

Music will be offered by the combined choirs of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, Arkansas Youth Chorale, Philander Smith College Choir. Special entertainment will be provided by soloist Tania Kelley, Ozark Point Brass and New Creation Dance.

Participants

In 1989, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church utilized the newly built Amphitheater on the banks of the Arkansas River to provide an ecumenical community-wide Easter Sunrise Service. Long time PHUMC member, Swann Kohler, was the founding coordinator of this new service. Then Little Rock mayor Buddy Villines, Audrey Crites, Skip Rutherford and the late Tom Williams were the first participants. Beautiful music was offered by the combined choirs of Pulaski Heights UMC and Philander Smith College Choir. In the last 26 years many members of our community have participated in worship, including a US President, our congressmen and women, Arkansas Governors and other state officials, actors, athletes and TV personalities, students and clergy, dance teams and orchestras, brass ensembles, many soloists and school choirs from our county and city. The Gospel has been proclaimed and prayers have been offered. Offerings have been gathered to help local charities do good work in our community and around the state. Over 100 volunteers, plus monetary contributions of so many, make this event possible.


 

Past Participants

1989: L.R. Mayor Buddy Villines; Audrey Crites; Skip Rutherford, the late Tom Williams
1990: Rev. Hezekiah Stewart; L.R. Mayor Buddy Villines; Dr. Joycelyn Elders; Governor Bill Clinton
1991: Dr. Myer L. Titus; Rev. Britt Skarda; Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines; Mimi Dortch
1992: Mary Steenburgen; U.S. Senator David Pryor; the late Raymond Miller, M.D.; Laurie Allen; Rev. Michael C. Morey
1993: Governor Jim Guy Tucker; Dr. Ann Die; Rev. William Robinson; Ashley Bonner
1994: Sherman Tate; State Representative Jim Argue, Jr.; Meredith Villines, the late Anale Yarbrough
1995: Charles Stewart; Will Faulkner; Sharon Priest; State Senator Jim Keet
1996: Everett Tucker, III; the late Winthrop Paul Rockefeller; Dr. Sandra B. Nichols; Sarah Cowan
1997: Governor Mike Huckabee; Judge Wendell Griffen; Sarah Spencer; Laura Hunter; Rev. Lynn Lindsey
1998: L.R. Mayor Jim Dailey; Fatima McKindra; Dr. Dean Kumpuris
1999: Swann Kohler; Karen Fuller; Rev. Howard Gardner; Rev. Robert Willigham; Eddie Armstrong; Dr. Trudie Reed
2000: Theodoshia Cooper; Rev. Lynn Lindsey; Dr. Jeff Hampton; Judge Rita Gruber; Jordan Johnson; Brittany Powell; Bruce Moore
2002: Rev. Harriett Akins-Banman; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Congressman Vic Snyder; Fredrick McKindra; Joya Hampton; Rev. Mark K. Norman
2003: Rev. Jeff Warrick; Dr. Kenneth James; Chief Lawrence Jonson; Senator Blanche Lincoln; Elizabeth Akama-Makia; Rev. Maxine Allen; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale
2004: Father John Antony; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Keith Jackson; Hall High Madrigals; Lori Dyer; Mike Beebe, Attorney General; Dr. Ray Higgins; Sankofa Performing Arts Dance Theatre
2005: Dr. Walter Kimbrough; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Jo Luck, Heifer International; Allison Presbyterian Church; Central Christian Hispanic Assembly of God; Rhoda Mae Kerr, LR Fire Chief; Alexandra Arjannikova, student from Russia; Rev. Harriett Akins-Banman; Rev. Jeff Warrick; Mary Ann Robinson
2006: Allison Presbyterian Church; Rev. Clefton Vaughan; Rev. Lynn Lindsey; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Christway Missionary Baptist Church; Thelma Jasper; Hall High School Choirs; Central Hispanic Assembly of God; Casey Orr; Rev. Logan Hampton
2007: Ozark Point Brass; Allison Presbyterian Church; Rev. Roger Shock; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Ar. Rep. Ed Garner; Miss Arkansas Amber Bennett; Parkview High School Choirs; Kakki Greene, student at the Academy at Riverdale; Chistway Missionary Baptist Church; Virgil Miller; Mary Wynston-Smith
2008: Father Salvador Marquez-Munoz; Lawrence Hamilton; Shelly Ehernger, LR Housing Authority; Janet Nelson, Interfaith Hospitality Network; Karen Clark; Clayton Gentry, student at Episcopal Collegiate School; Stephen Ray; Judge William R. Wilson, Jr.; Dr. Jeffery B. Hampton; Ozark Point Brass
2009: Greater Second Baptist Church Dance Ministry; Philander Smith College Choir; Christway Missionary Baptist Church Choir; Beatrice Biira, Uganda Student; Rev. Andrea Allen; Jessica Dean; Rev. Ronnie Miller-Yow; Jackson Edwards
2010: Allison Presbyterian Church Dance Ministry; Philander Smith College Choir; Ty Spradley; Parkview Magnet School Choir; Stacy Sells; Isaiah Bailey, baritone; LR Mayor Mark Stodola; Ark. First Lady Ginger Beebe; Christway Missionary Baptist Church Choir; Rev. Lynn Lindsey; Rev. Jeff Hampton; Rev. Victor H. Nixon
2011: Ozark Point Brass; Cindy Conger, Rev. Heath Bradley; John Two-Hawks, Chris Joy Quiamco, student at Parkview High School; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Director, Erma Hendrix, City of Little Rock; P. Allen Smith; Dustin McDaniel, Ark. Attorney General; Fr. Jason Tyler, Pastor of St. Edwards Catholic Church
2012: Ozark Point Brass; Andi and Carey Smith; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Rev. Victor H. Nixon; Rev. Aubrietta Jones; Veena Akama-Makia, Soprano; Sherece West; Fernando Cutz, My Soul’s Desire Dance Ministry of Wesley Chapel UMC; The Honorable Tim Griffin, U.S. House of Representatives; Walt Coleman; Dr. Jeffery Hampton
2013: Ozark Point Brass; St. Edward Catholic Church; Dawne Vandiver; Shannon Aston; Rev. Britt Skarda; North Little Rock High School Concert Choir; Brian Beckwith; Dr. Jeffery Hampton; Sharon Bale; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Anthony Lucas; Donna Terrell; Gov. Mike Beebe; Rev. Lynn Lindsey
2014: Ozark Point Brass; Penny & Gordon Wilbourn; Georgia Mjartan; Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School Lab Singers; Lee Isaac Frazier-Pool; Rev. Belinda Price; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Erin Hawley; Timothy Tucker; Steve Straessle; New Creation Dance; Kathy Webb; Rev. Britt Skarda; Dr. Jeffery Hampton
2015: Ozark Point Brass; Arkansas Youth Chorale; Drs. Melissa and Drake Hawkins; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Rev. Belinda Price; Rev. William L. Robinson; First Baptist Church of North Little Rock Choir; Alyse Eady Lemmond; Christine Donahue; Dr. Dexter Suggs; New Creation Dance; Brandon Matthews; Amanda Kuo; Rev. Britt Skarda; Kathy Webb; Rev. Jacob Lynn

History

In 1989, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church utilized the newly built Amphitheater on the banks of the Arkansas River to provide an ecumenical community-wide Easter Sunrise Service. Long time PHUMC member, Swann Kohler, was the founding coordinator of this new service. Then Little Rock mayor Buddy Villines, Audrey Crites, Skip Rutherford and the late Tom Williams were the first participants. Beautiful music was offered by the combined choirs of Pulaski Heights UMC and Philander Smith College Choir. In the last 26 years many members of our community have participated in worship, including a US President, our congressmen and women, Arkansas Governors and other state officials, actors, athletes and TV personalities, students and clergy, dance teams and orchestras, brass ensembles, many soloists and school choirs from our county and city. The Gospel has been proclaimed and prayers have been offered. Offerings have been gathered to help local charities do good work in our community and around the state. Over 100 volunteers, plus monetary contributions of so many, make this event possible.


 

Past Participants

1989: L.R. Mayor Buddy Villines; Audrey Crites; Skip Rutherford, the late Tom Williams
1990: Rev. Hezekiah Stewart; L.R. Mayor Buddy Villines; Dr. Joycelyn Elders; Governor Bill Clinton
1991: Dr. Myer L. Titus; Rev. Britt Skarda; Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines; Mimi Dortch
1992: Mary Steenburgen; U.S. Senator David Pryor; the late Raymond Miller, M.D.; Laurie Allen; Rev. Michael C. Morey
1993: Governor Jim Guy Tucker; Dr. Ann Die; Rev. William Robinson; Ashley Bonner
1994: Sherman Tate; State Representative Jim Argue, Jr.; Meredith Villines, the late Anale Yarbrough
1995: Charles Stewart; Will Faulkner; Sharon Priest; State Senator Jim Keet
1996: Everett Tucker, III; the late Winthrop Paul Rockefeller; Dr. Sandra B. Nichols; Sarah Cowan
1997: Governor Mike Huckabee; Judge Wendell Griffen; Sarah Spencer; Laura Hunter; Rev. Lynn Lindsey
1998: L.R. Mayor Jim Dailey; Fatima McKindra; Dr. Dean Kumpuris
1999: Swann Kohler; Karen Fuller; Rev. Howard Gardner; Rev. Robert Willigham; Eddie Armstrong; Dr. Trudie Reed
2000: Theodoshia Cooper; Rev. Lynn Lindsey; Dr. Jeff Hampton; Judge Rita Gruber; Jordan Johnson; Brittany Powell; Bruce Moore
2002: Rev. Harriett Akins-Banman; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Congressman Vic Snyder; Fredrick McKindra; Joya Hampton; Rev. Mark K. Norman
2003: Rev. Jeff Warrick; Dr. Kenneth James; Chief Lawrence Jonson; Senator Blanche Lincoln; Elizabeth Akama-Makia; Rev. Maxine Allen; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale
2004: Father John Antony; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Keith Jackson; Hall High Madrigals; Lori Dyer; Mike Beebe, Attorney General; Dr. Ray Higgins; Sankofa Performing Arts Dance Theatre
2005: Dr. Walter Kimbrough; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Jo Luck, Heifer International; Allison Presbyterian Church; Central Christian Hispanic Assembly of God; Rhoda Mae Kerr, LR Fire Chief; Alexandra Arjannikova, student from Russia; Rev. Harriett Akins-Banman; Rev. Jeff Warrick; Mary Ann Robinson
2006: Allison Presbyterian Church; Rev. Clefton Vaughan; Rev. Lynn Lindsey; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Christway Missionary Baptist Church; Thelma Jasper; Hall High School Choirs; Central Hispanic Assembly of God; Casey Orr; Rev. Logan Hampton
2007: Ozark Point Brass; Allison Presbyterian Church; Rev. Roger Shock; Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale; Ar. Rep. Ed Garner; Miss Arkansas Amber Bennett; Parkview High School Choirs; Kakki Greene, student at the Academy at Riverdale; Chistway Missionary Baptist Church; Virgil Miller; Mary Wynston-Smith
2008: Father Salvador Marquez-Munoz; Lawrence Hamilton; Shelly Ehernger, LR Housing Authority; Janet Nelson, Interfaith Hospitality Network; Karen Clark; Clayton Gentry, student at Episcopal Collegiate School; Stephen Ray; Judge William R. Wilson, Jr.; Dr. Jeffery B. Hampton; Ozark Point Brass
2009: Greater Second Baptist Church Dance Ministry; Philander Smith College Choir; Christway Missionary Baptist Church Choir; Beatrice Biira, Uganda Student; Rev. Andrea Allen; Jessica Dean; Rev. Ronnie Miller-Yow; Jackson Edwards
2010: Allison Presbyterian Church Dance Ministry; Philander Smith College Choir; Ty Spradley; Parkview Magnet School Choir; Stacy Sells; Isaiah Bailey, baritone; LR Mayor Mark Stodola; Ark. First Lady Ginger Beebe; Christway Missionary Baptist Church Choir; Rev. Lynn Lindsey; Rev. Jeff Hampton; Rev. Victor H. Nixon
2011: Ozark Point Brass; Cindy Conger, Rev. Heath Bradley; John Two-Hawks, Chris Joy Quiamco, student at Parkview High School; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Director, Erma Hendrix, City of Little Rock; P. Allen Smith; Dustin McDaniel, Ark. Attorney General; Fr. Jason Tyler, Pastor of St. Edwards Catholic Church
2012: Ozark Point Brass; Andi and Carey Smith; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Rev. Victor H. Nixon; Rev. Aubrietta Jones; Veena Akama-Makia, Soprano; Sherece West; Fernando Cutz, My Soul’s Desire Dance Ministry of Wesley Chapel UMC; The Honorable Tim Griffin, U.S. House of Representatives; Walt Coleman; Dr. Jeffery Hampton
2013: Ozark Point Brass; St. Edward Catholic Church; Dawne Vandiver; Shannon Aston; Rev. Britt Skarda; North Little Rock High School Concert Choir; Brian Beckwith; Dr. Jeffery Hampton; Sharon Bale; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Anthony Lucas; Donna Terrell; Gov. Mike Beebe; Rev. Lynn Lindsey
2014: Ozark Point Brass; Penny & Gordon Wilbourn; Georgia Mjartan; Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School Lab Singers; Lee Isaac Frazier-Pool; Rev. Belinda Price; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Erin Hawley; Timothy Tucker; Steve Straessle; New Creation Dance; Kathy Webb; Rev. Britt Skarda; Dr. Jeffery Hampton
2015: Ozark Point Brass; Arkansas Youth Chorale; Drs. Melissa and Drake Hawkins; Philander Smith Collegiate Choir; Rev. Belinda Price; Rev. William L. Robinson; First Baptist Church of North Little Rock Choir; Alyse Eady Lemmond; Christine Donahue; Dr. Dexter Suggs; New Creation Dance; Brandon Matthews; Amanda Kuo; Rev. Britt Skarda; Kathy Webb; Rev. Jacob Lynn

History

The Annual Community Easter Sunrise Service will be held at Riverfest Amphitheatre located on the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock.
Click here for a larger map.

Riverfest Amphitheatre

Location