Symbolic gesture meant to remind

Just as Jesus Christ walked the Way of Sorrows with the cross he soon would be crucified upon, Dallas Ramsey and Paul Sitze carried a cross south on Carson Street to remind people Friday of the real meaning of Easter.

"Easter is not all bunny rabbits and chocolates," said Ramsey. "That is fine for the grandchildren. But Easter is much more than that.

"And that is why we're doing this. To remind people that Christ died for us, to save us from our own sins, and was raised from the dead on Easter."

Ramsey is outreach coordinator and assistant pastor of the Center Street Mission in Reno. He is a member of Christ the Keystone Church.

This is the fifth year Ramsey and Sitze have made the five-and-a-half mile walk down Carson Street on Good Friday. One will begin walking with the cross with the other at his side. As one tires, he will stop for a moment and switch the cross.

"It's not so much what we're doing but why we're doing it," said Sitze.

"It's all about what Jesus Christ did for us 2000 years ago. He did this to save us from our sins. And we're doing it to remind people of that."

Among the services scheduled for Easter Sunday in the Carson area are:

- A sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. on the front lawn of First United Methodist Church on Division Street at Musser. Easter worship services are scheduled for 8:05, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Nursery care will be available at all services except the 6:30 Sunrise service.

- Worship services on Resurrection Sunday at High Sierra Fellowship are at 9:30 a.m., 1516 Highway 395, Suite E in the Haas Center in Gardnerville, by the Rev. Rich Lammay, who will prech, "Where did they put Him?"

- Victory Christian Center at 300 Hot Springs Road will worship at 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., with classes provided for children to 12 years of age. The Victory Kids choir and other special music will be presented during the morning worship service. An Easter egg hunt for the smaller children will be held immediately after the morning worship service on the church grounds. Nursery and preschooler care will be provided in the children's ministry facility.

- Fountainhead Foursquare Church at 3690 Highway 395 in South Carson City, services at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. An Easter egg hunt for the children will be held at 10:30 a.m.

- First Christian Church at 326 E. John St. will present a special musical Easter message featuring recording artist Joani Tabor at 8 and 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

- United Religious Science Church of Carson City plans a special music program at 10:30 a.m. Pianist Thomas Honesco will open the service with Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" from the Symphony No. 9. The Rev. Gil Linsley will play "Easter Parade" on his flugelhorn and soloist Carolyn Grey will sing "An Open Heart" and "You'll Never Walk Alone." The church is at 675 Fairview Drive, Suite 218.

- Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 1837 Mountain St. will hold a Sunrise service at 6 a.m. and Easter services at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.

- Christ Presbyterian Church will hold an outdoor Easter Sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. at the cross on the church property, 1701 Lucerne St., Minden.

A second service will be in the church sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. An indoor Easter brunch will be served between the two services. The community is welcome to attend.

- Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church at 1575 Railroad Drive, will have an Easter breakfast and Easter egg hunt at 9:30 a.m., with an Easter Celebration Service at 10:30 a.m.