Anna Maria Island’s largest Easter service will be celebrated as the with the sun rises Sunday, April 21.
The Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island Easter Sunrise Service will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
The service draws more than 1,100 people to the beach.
The Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe will be open at 6:30 a.m. Also, the island trolley will be in operation at 6 a.m.
Organizers suggest attendees bring flashlights and blankets and chairs for sitting on the sand.
The Rev. Matthew Grunfeld of the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation will deliver the opening prayer.
The Rev. Stephen King of Harvey Memorial Community Church in Bradenton Beach will deliver the benediction.
The Revs. Ed Moss of CrossPointe Fellowship and Douglas Kings of Gloria Day Lutheran Church, both in Holmes Beach, will read from the Scriptures.
An offertory prayer will be delivered by Matthew Nowicki, director of faith formation at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach.
The sermon will be delivered by the Rev. Dr. Bob O’Keef of Roser Memorial Community Church in Anna Maria.
The service also will feature music.
Collections at the service are shared among the island churches and support charitable work in Manatee County, including the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island scholarship program.
For more information, call Kiwanis member Sandy Haas-Martens at 941-778-1383.
Churches to host egg hunts
Roser Memorial Community Church will hold an Easter egg hunt following its 10 a.m. service Sunday, April 21.
The church is at 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.
For more information, call the church office at 941-778-0414.
The Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, also will host an Easter egg hunt at its 10 a.m. service April 21.
For more information, call the church at 941-383-6491.