Warmer weather greets Easter dawn worshipers on Mount Penn

Part of the tradition of the Easter dawn service atop Mount Penn is dressing for a chilly morning. Families wrap themselves in blankets while wearing heavy winter coats, scarves and mittens.

This year, the temperature during the 112th annual service nearly hit 60 degrees by the time it was over, but a stout wind kept the morning from being a truly sweater weather experience.

Easter, known as a moveable feast because of its changing dates, can occur between March 22 and April 25, determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.

This year’s relatively balmy temperature drew more than 300 worshipers to the service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower in Lower Alsace Township.

A 15-minute delay in the start time due to power issues prompted emcee Mike Reinert, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Reading, to remind the congregants that “Jesus spoke at a mountaintop service without a microphone” as he was preparing to proceed without the electronic aids.

While waiting for power to be restored, Noah Lash, 9, munched on hard-boiled Easter eggs surrounded by his extended family, which arrived at the service in a large passenger van. His mother, Connie Lash of Mohnton, said loading up a van and heading up Mount Penn for Easter is a family tradition started by her father 38 years ago.

First-time attendees the Rev. Jim Gutacker and veterinarian Dr. Becky Frank met that morning while both were running up Mount Penn to attend the service, he from South 18th Street near Neversink Mountain and she from Friedensburg Road in Mount Penn.

A retired pastor from New Jersey, “a flatlander,” Gutacker and his wife moved to Reading after they retired.

“I’m making peace with the mountains,” he said with a laugh, “800 feet of climbing.”

Gutacker had just heard about the event and thought: “I run that mountain all the time.  I might as well run up for the service.”

Frank learned about the sunrise service from a fellow choir member of her church, St. John’s Reformed in Sinking Spring. When she told the church organist, who also leads the choir, of her plans to run up the mountain with her dog Twister, the choir director told her: “Well, don’t break anything.  Don’t break your lungs.”

“I’ll have a warmed up voice since I ran here, and then I’m running home,” Frank said.  “It’s really great to see the whole community come together and celebrate the risen Lord.”

Besides the late date and warmer weather, this Easter is being celebrated on the same day by both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Western churches.

Craig Caltagirone from Calvary Mohnton United Methodist Church gave some background on why the two rarely coincide.

The Eastern church utilizes the Julian calendar for its holy days, while the Western churches follow the Gregorian calendar, he said.

“Today,” Caltagirone said, “We have that wonderful opportunity to recognize diversity while celebrating unity in the body of Christ.”

The last time Easter coincided between the traditions was 2017.

The service included a liturgical dance by the Unstoppable Youth of Jesucristo Es El Rey church in Reading, which co-sponsors the event and shares worship space with the founding congregation of the Mount Penn service, First Baptist Church.

Jackson Garcia, youth pastor at Jesucristo Es El Rey, delivered the message, “Hosanna to the King.”

“Jesus’ life had a clear and planned purpose,” he said.

Garcia reminded those who may be feeling lost or feeling that this year was not a good one that the Lord had plans for them.

“God comes to resurrect and give you hope,” he said. “He understands our pain, our frustrations, our sadness, but through it all, He will be with us,” Garcia said.

Other participants in the ecumenical service included the Rev. Calvin Kurtz, who led the worshipers in song and prayer; Rev. David Turley of First Baptist Church, who delivered the Invocation; Andrew Angstadt of Holy Guardian Angels School, who played the keyboards and led the hymns; Gretchen Manmiller, who read the gospel lesson; and Pastora Carol Pagan of Jesucristo Es El Rey, who led the congregation in song. Benjamin Reber sounded the shofar.

Next year’s Easter Dawn Service will be held on April 5.

Bundle up.

Over 300 worshipers turned out for the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Worshipers sing the opening hymn during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

A couple listens to the Rev. Calvin Kurtz as he leads the worshipers in the opening hymn during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Noah Lash, 9, of Mohnton, enjoys some Easter eggs with his family during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Rev. Calvin Kurtz leads the congregation in an Easter prayer and the Lord’s Prayer during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

The Unstoppable Youth of Jesucristo Es El Rey church in Reading perform a liturgical dance during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Rev. Jim Gutacker and Dr. Becky Frank DVM with her dog Twister, first-time attendees, met each other as they ran up the mountain during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Craig Caltagirone of Calvary Mohnton United Methodist Church talks about Eastern Orthodox Easter falling on the same day as the Western church during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Jackson Garcia, youth pastor at Jesucristo Es El Rey church in Reading, delivers the message during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Jackson Garcia, youth pastor at Jesucristo Es El Rey church in Reading, delivers the message during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Angelica Garcia, 20, leader of the Unstoppable Youth liturgical dance team, listens as her husband Jackson Garcia delivers the message “Hosanna to the King” during the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Over 300 worshipers turned out for the 112th Annual Easter Dawn Service at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Source: Berkshire mont