After a brief intermission due to COVID-19, Downtown Church of Christ will be hosting a midnight service leading into Easter Sunday this weekend. Starting tomorrow at 11:30 p.m., the college ministry team at Downtown will host this service for the community.
“What we’ve been describing it as is a hybrid between what you find normally at a Sunday morning service at Downtown and what you find on Sunday night,” Levi Huddleston, university intern at Downtown Church of Christ, said. “So, Monte Cox will be delivering a short sermonette, we’ll have several periods of singing, there will be a couple different scripture recitations throughout the service just kind of telling the story of the crucifixion, and, of course, we will take communion after midnight — so on Easter day. Together, with everyone.”
After a weekend full of Spring Sing excitement, the leadership team is hopeful a newfound energy will surface.
“I think it’s special just because there’s going to be so much energy and momentum coming off of Spring Sing, so being able to carry that over like an hour later and just having a worship service, I think everyone is going to be ecstatic and into the service and that’ll be really good,” Huddleston said.
The staff is hopeful the service will help focus attendees’ minds after a long weekend.
“I definitely think it’s out of people’s comfort zones and it’s after Spring Sing, we’re all going to be tired, but I think there’s going to be a breath of fresh air and recognition of all that Christ has done for us, especially coming together and doing that [communion] at that specific time at midnight,” senior Mak Oviedo-Rodriguez, university intern, said. “I think everybody will spiritually benefit very greatly. I think that this is making a big deal out of Easter in a time where we’re making a big deal out of a very fun time, but also a very marketed time at Harding.”
Downtown’s minister Monte Cox will be delivering his last sermon that evening, giving an even greater significance to this unique experience.
“I think this will be a special time, not only because we get to worship together into Easter Day, but also because this is Dr. Cox’s last weekend to be preaching at Downtown,” Alontis Andress, volunteer team leader at Sunday evening services, said. “I know that I am excited to hear him speak and I hope that others are, as well.”
All are invited to worship at Downtown tomorrow night and partake in this special service together.
“I think it’s going to help bring people together and remind us of all that Christ has done for us and who he is and what he means to us,” Oviedo-Rodriguez said. “Better than any Spring Sing show will ever be was the performance that Christ put on for us that would lead to our entire lives and salvation. That is the grand finale, but also the beginning of a whole other story, so I think it’ll be very exciting and great to really focus together.”
