Photos: Easter Sunrise joy at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills

A crowd arrived early on a chilly Sunday morning to experience the Easter Sunrise Service held at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles.

Attendees, gathered outdoors in the Court of Liberty at the top of the park, listened to a choral prelude, “Sing” by Israel Houghton, performed by the City of Angels Community Choir.

The Rev. Ruby Varghese, from Evangelical Covenant Church, lead the service with a morning prayer, a scriptural reading of Psalm 42:1-5, and a spirited Easter message “Let It Rise” sermon.

Interspersed during the service, the public was invited to participate in two joyful songs with the choir, conducted by Richard Medrano, as they celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The hour-long service – sunrise was at 6:34 a.m. on Sunday — concluded with a benediction by Varghese, a choral benediction and a release of doves.

Vicky Franco, vice president at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills, gave welcoming and closing remarks at the free admission service. The Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills location has been holding annual Easter Sunrise services since at least 1981, according to their records. The first Easter Sunrise Service, by the way, was in 1924 at the Forest Lawn-Glendale location.

The service was among the six, 6 a.m. regional Easter Sunrise events presented by Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks and Mortuaries (Covina Hills, Glendale, Long Beach, Cypress, Cathedral City). forestlawn.com/events/easter-sunrise-service

The “Living Hope” theme chosen for the 2026 Easter Sunrise Service was a message to Christians who attended that “as the resurrection of Jesus assures us of the hope we have that death does not have the final say; we can live with hope that Jesus’ loving presence will carry us through the joys and sorrows inherent in life,” from an email press release sent by Nicole McClurg, clergy services and grief support director for Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks and Mortuaries. The theme was used at all six locations.