The rising sun and risen Son

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’s not often that a band provides a soundtrack for a spectacular Colorado sunrise.

But that’s what the Conifer-based band Blood Brothers did on April 9 when they performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for Easter Sunrise Service. It was standing-room-only as thousands of people packed into the amphitheater for the 76 thannual nondenominational service.

This is the second year that Blood Brothers, led by Lance Swearengin, pastor at Conifer Community Church, provided music for the service. They played traditional hymns like “Amazing Grace” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” along with some original material.

Hosted by the Colorado Council of Churches, the Christian Sunrise Service draws people from across the state and metro area to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Gates opened at 4:30 a.m., and worshippers arrived early to nab seats with a view of the eastern horizon. As it got closer to 6:32 a.m., some moved out to the stairway to grab selfies and photos of the sunrise.

The band Blood Brothers began forming in 2015 when Swearengin, vocalist and guitarist, and his friend Josh Harwood, also a guitarist, began playing together. Drummer Taylor Mead joined next, and then Troy Steinbach on keyboards, Jay Genender on the ddle and Bob Brown on bass guitar. en vocalists Suzy Nelson and Sarah Bauer, who also has her own band, the Sarah Bauer Band, joined in.

Performing on the Red Rocks Amphitheatre stage is a dream come true for the musicians.

“It’s on the bucket list for most musicians,” Steinbach added. Bauer said when she went to a concert at Red Rocks when she was 7, she knew she wanted to perform on that stage.

Swearengin said playing this Easter gig has been a huge blessing for both his calling as a pastor and his lifelong enjoyment of music.

is year, three of the band members’ daughters joined on stage: Conifer High School freshmen Mattie Brown and Lily Harwood, and West Je erson Middle School eighthgrader Megan Swearengin. Megan explained that the three got to perform thanks to a pinky promise. Dad Lance promised the girls could sing with Blood Brothers if they played the Sunrise Service a second time.

While attending Sunrise Service is pretty special, performing at Red

Rocks is even more special, according to the girls.

“You can see the sun rise every day, but performing at Red Rocks is amazing,” Lily said. The band got its name when Harwood sent Swearengin a song called “Blood Brothers,” and Swearengin thought it would be a great name for a band. In 2022, when the Colorado Council of Churches asked for videos of bands interested in providing mu- sic for Sunrise Service, Swearengin took a chance and sent one in. The band was selected and has returned for its encore performance.

The attendees

Young and old attended Sunrise Service, all agreeing that Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a special place with beautiful views. Couple that with the picture-perfect sunrise and the 40-degree weather, and the service was a superb event.

Kevin and Rebecca Moots traveled from Parker to Morrison to attend the service with their children for the first time.

“We are very blessed to be here,” Rebecca said. “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Kristen and Matt Maloney of Idaho Springs brought their sons Luke, 7, and Gram, 3, who were wide awake as they waited for the service to begin. This was also their first time attending the service.

Don and Sarah, who live in Morrison, attend Sunrise Service occasionally, and this year the early service close to home was helping since they were hosting Easter dinner for family.

“This is unique,” Don said. “This is a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Sarah added: “We are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and the joy of the day.”

Hugh Morgan of Windsor and Stacey Banks of Golden also attended for the first time.

“This is a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather and celebrate Christ’s resurrection,” Banks said.

Morgan added that the turnout was impressive.

Regis Jesuit High School students Rosary Tambunan and Katie Nelson brought exchange student Ruby Hascka of Switzerland to see the sun rise at Red Rocks, not realizing that thousands would be joining them to witness the sight at the service.

“This is a gift from God,” Tambu- nan said. “It’s a blessing in disguise.”

Jessica Gray of Littleton stopped on a stairway to admire the view, noting that the last time she went to Sunrise Service was about 25 years ago.

“It’s great to be here with the community and take in the beauty of God’s creation,” Gray said.

Easter is one of Gray’s favorite holidays because it’s about love and forgiveness, noting that the high attendance at the service showed people’s belief in God and the meaning of Easter.

The service

Adrian Miller, who welcomed attendees to the service, told the crowd that it was easy to see that they loved the Lord because they came out even with a chill in the air. He was impressed that by applause, many said this was their first time at Sunrise Service.

The Colorado Council of Churches, which sponsors the service, is comprised of 13 Christian denominations representing 800 churches.

The Rev. Tamara Boynton said she had a beautiful view from the stage as she looked at all the faces in the crowd.

“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here,” she told them, calling Red Rocks Amphitheatre an apt location for the service. She told them to breathe in the area’s beauty and breathe out the distractions in their hearts; to breathe in unconditional love and breathe out others who sway them from that love; to breathe in the wonders of the risen Christ and breathe out the darkness of the tomb.

Blood Brothers sang an original song, which Swearengin told the crowd talked about the tension between the trouble in people’s lives and the celebration of Easter.

“We need to embrace (both) the hurt and the hope from our faith in Christ’s resurrection,” he said.