Church to celebrate Easter in theatre

CLIFF Park Community Church is on the move this Sunday when the Easter Celebration takes place at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre. It's the second year the church has taken to the stage of the Edwardian venue on the seafront.

CLIFF Park Community Church is on the move this Sunday when the Easter Celebration takes place at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre. It's the second year the church has taken to the stage of the Edwardian venue on the seafront. Last Easter the plan was to hold an open air service on the bandstand but, just as everything was set up, heavy rain forced a last-minute switch into the theatre. Many people were attracted in.

The church normally meets at Cliff Park Junior School and was set up by St Andrew's Parish and Gorleston Baptist churches, celebrating its 10th birthday in December. With modern worship and a lively kids church, youth group and creche the church attracts large numbers each week.

The Pavilion was also used for the Christmas carol service where, despite heavy snow on that morning, it attracted an almost full house.

Pavilion operators Kevin Lynch and Stuart Durrant welcome the church and have already invited them to hold their Christmas service at the venue, including details in the theatre's What's On brochure and website. They say they are keen to be involved with the community in this way.

The Easter Sunday service starts at 10.30am and will feature the church's large worship band as well as a talk from the minister, Mike Simm, a former London advertising executive who has once again designed invitations to the service which have been distributed to around 2,000 in the Cliff Park and Beacon Park area.

The service will include readings, prayers and a personal story of faith from one of the church members but the aim is to make it relaxed in a cafe style. Coffee and tea will be available throughout the service from the theatre's coffee bar.

Both the service and refreshments are free and no tickets are required.