Photos: LYLE RADFORD
“We’ve been locked up for two years and I couldn’t wait to come to the Service when I heard about it!”
The ‘locked up’ comment was of course due to Covid restrictions and the two years the organisers of the Good Friday Three Crosses on the Hill Service were forced to cancel.
But the lady from Hamilton in Brisbane summed up the sentiment of the crowd who attended the 2022 Service, says organising committee member, Norm Kerle from Mt Walker.
The tradition of the non-denominational Easter Service, which is held high on a hill above Eders Brothers Road, is now in its 25th year.
“Before Covid, crowd numbers were as high as 800 to 850,” says Norm. “On Good Friday this year, the crowd was around 600 to 650. I guess people are still a bit worried about big gatherings
“But it was wonderful to see so many new faces in the crowd and we received countless favourable comments about the Service, the setting and the whole atmosphere.
“We can only praise the Lord for the numbers who attended.”
Making up the numbers were people from all over South East Queensland.
“There were local people and people from Ipswich and Brisbane, as well as from the North and South Coast,” says Norm.
“The weather couldn’t have been better and the view from the crosses at the top of the hill was outstanding.”
Highlights of the Service were the guest speaker Daryl McLeod (“he held everyone’s attention with his words,” says Norm); the Bird family singers from Tivoli (“their voices were just magic,” adds Norm) and the Piper, Jacob Bulow, who walked through the Coleyville Canvas Cathedral and up to the Three Crosses (“a very moving segment,” Norm reports).
The Service was followed by everyone being invited to enjoy a cuppa, donuts and hot cross buns.
“One thing we really noticed this year was how many people took their cuppa and bun and sat down again under the marquee and talked and talked and talked,” Norm says.
“I think it was after 1.30pm by the time everyone left … the get together after the Service is something we really encourage … it was a wonderful time of fellowship.”
Norm adds that every year, the Crosses and the Service, draws attention.
“Nearly every night when I went up to turn the lights on at the crosses [during Easter week], there were photographers there.”
The Service is funded through a donation of the marquee from the Seventh Day Adventists Church, volunteer work by the organising committee which represents a number of local churches and donations from the people who attend.
