Each year 50 or 60 more people attend, she said. Part of the draw is the setting. Because of him, I know that I have eternal life. That is the refrain from all the attendees, some of whom come from as far as Yakima. Usually, bundled celebrants walk into the park in twos and threes under the cover of darkness.
Songs flow over the river.
Only once, Edmondson said, did rain force attendees inside. It is, she says, a sign of God's grace. Another year, said founder Ken Lettau, the city of Richland forgot to turn off the sprinklers, which started soaking setup crews. Not to worry, Lettau said, they parked cars on top of the sprinklers and continued preparing for the service. Because daylight-saving time won't start until April 6, the sun was already up when this year's Easter service started.