Bedford's Ecumenical Easter Celebration

Bedford's Easter Dawn service took place on Sunday morning at Fawn Lake -- Image (c) Bob Bass, 2012 all rights reserved — *The sun began to light the tree tops during Bedford’s Easter Dawn service on Sunday morning at Fawn Lake — Image (c) Bob Bass, 2012 all rights reserved*

Bedford’s 62nd annual Easter Dawn service took place at Fawn Lake on Sunday morning, with a crowd of attentive worshipers, a brass choir and an ecumenical cast of celebrants representing five of the town’s religious congregations.

*Service leaders Marion Bryan, Jeannette Pothier, Lee Vorderer, Matt Skavenski and Cheryl Pespisa*

Organizer of this year’s service was Marion Bryan from First Baptist church. She was assisted by Jeannette Pothier from the Parish of St. Michael, Roman Catholic; Cheryl Pespisa from First Church of Christ Congregational; Matt Skavenski from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; and Lee Vorderer from First Parish on the Common, Unitarian Universalist.

*The Ecumenical Brass, led by John Bridgeman*

Music was provided by the Ecumenical Brass, directed by John Bridgeman from First Church of Christ. Musicians included Robby Bridgeman, Matthew Bridgeman, Demetra Green, Marlena Simoneau, Michaela Simoneau, Lorene Simoneau, Kathy Harris and Roy Kring.

According to one participant, “Fawn lake was covered with fog, some ducks rose up in the middle of the first hymn, and we all loved hearing the brass band.”

Marion Bryan pins a corsage on Doris "Mickey" Webber as Webber's son looks on — *Marion Bryan pins a corsage on Doris “Mickey” Webber as Webber’s son looks on*

During the service, Doris “Mickey” Webber was acknowledged as one of the event’s founders and was presented with a corsage donated by Bedford Florist’s Nancy Tripodi. The son of other founders Peg and Charlie Schwerin recalled coming to the event as a child, in his pajamas, and lying on a blanket on the ground while the service went on around him.

After the service, participants and celebrants were invited to a festive Easter Breakfast was served in First Church’s Fellowship Hall. The room was set up as a dining room and looked like the inside of an Easter basket, with eggs, chicks, actual baskets and yellow everywhere.

Members of the congregation’s youth group dressed in their Easter finery manned a a waffle station and served oatmeal, baked goods and plenty of coffee and tea. Cheny Bell and Amy Dalrymple were in charge of preparing the feast, assisted by Rick Burke, Allyson Printtz, Lisa Sackett, Cheryl Pespisa, Rev. Gail Wright, Kathy Register and the youth of the congregation.

Next year’s Dawn Service will be coordinated by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.