Easter celebrations in the Lowcountry offer a unique religious experience combining the beauty of area beaches with worship. Early risers can experience the sunrise with services beginning at 6:30 a.m. in front of the Hunting Island State Park Lighthouse in Beaufort and on Coligny Beach and at Jarvis Creek Park on Hilton Head Island.

Here are some upcoming Easter events at area churches:

ST. HELENA BAPTIST CHURCH

St. Helena Baptist Church will hold Easter sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. Sunday at Hunting Island State Park. The Rev. Richard Spearman will lead the service. Participants are asked to meet at the lighthouse, bring a flashlight and dress appropriately for the weather.

Details: 843-838-3109

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND

First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head Island will begin its Easter sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. Sunday at Jarvis Creek Park, with music by the CrossRoads Band and the Rev. Sam Martin as pastor. Bring a lawn chair; the service will be held in the church in case of rain. Traditional Easter services begin at 8:30 and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. Children's church begins at 11 a.m. The church is at 540 William Hilton Parkway, between mile markers 5 and 6.

Details: 843-681-3696, mhall@fpchhi.org, www.fpchhi.org

ST. ANDREW BY-THE-SEA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church will hold Easter sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. Sunday at Coligny Beach on Hilton Head Island. Services will be held at the church in the event of rain or imminent threat of rain. Sanctuary worship is at 9 and 11:15 a.m. with brass and choir at both services. Bring a flower to add to the living cross. The church is at 20 Pope Ave., Hilton Head Island.

Details: 843-785-4711, www.hhiumc.com

SERVANTS OF GOD INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH TABERNACLE

Servants of God International Outreach Tabernacle's Resurrection Sunrise Service begins at 7 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Clement Crawford of Hickory, N.C., will speak. The church is at 2754 Trask Parkway, U.S. 21, in Grays Hill.

Details: 843-846-6017

UNION BAPTIST CHURCH

The Union Baptist Church family will hold Easter sunrise service at 7 a.m. Sunday. Breakfast will follow. The church is at 1708 Old Shell Road, Port Royal.

Details: 843-524-8589

GILLISON BRANCH BAPTIST CHURCH

Gillison Branch Baptist Church will hold Sunrise Resurrection Service at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Breakfast will follow. The church is at 4591 Calf Pen Bay Road, Pineland.

Details: 843-726-6143, thebranchministries08@yahoo.com

GRAYS HILL BAPTIST CHURCH

Grays Hill Baptist Church will have two services on Easter morning. Sunrise service is at 7 a.m., Sunday School at 8:45 a.m. and worship and cantata at 10 a.m. The church is at 2749 Trask Parkway, Burton.

Details: 843-846-2797

CARTERET STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Carteret Street United Methodist Church's Easter Sunday Worship with Adorning of the Altar is at 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday. Parishioners are asked to bring flowers to place upon the living cross in front of the church. An Easter breakfast will be served in the Fellowship Hall at 10 a.m. There will be no Sunday School. The church is at 408 Carteret St., Beaufort.

Details: 843-524-3841

RIDGELAND BAPTIST CHURCH

Ridgeland Baptist Church is holding its annual Easter Eggstravaganza beginning with registration at 9:30 a.m. today. The egg hunt is from 10 a.m.-noon for 1-year-olds up to fifth-graders. The church is at 1448 Grays Highway, Ridgeland.

Details: 843-726-3127

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER

Easter Sunday service is at 10 a.m. Sunday at The Anglican Church of the Redeemer of Hilton Head Island. The church is at 1 Mathews Drive, Suite 101, Hilton Head.

Details: 843-815-5820, frchrisg@aol.com

MT. CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST

Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church will hold an Easter Sunday service at 10 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Isaac Wilborn Sr., former pastor of Campbell AME Church of Bluffton and the first principal of Hilton Head Elementary School, will speak. The church is at 382 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island.

Details: 843-681-3678

PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Providence Presbyterian Church services at 9 and 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday will feature the Providence Chancel Choir presenting several pieces from the cantata "Come Touch the Robe" by Pepper Choplin and "Worthy Is the Lamb" by Darlene Zscheck. Local soloist Chalmers Gorman will perform. The church is at 171 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

Details: 843-842-5673

HOLY RESURRECTION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church's Holy Saturday Morning services are at 8:30 a.m. today and Holy Saturday Evening begins at 11:30 p.m. Liturgy is followed by the Matins of Easter Sunday. The Anastasi Meal will be served. The church meets at St. Andrew Chapel, 220 Pinckney Colony Road, Bluffton.

Details: 843-681-5587

ST. FRANCIS BY THE SEA CATHOLIC CHURCH

St. Francis By the Sea Catholic Church of Hilton Head Island's Easter Vigil begins at 8:15 p.m. today. Easter Sunday Masses will be celebrated at 6:30, 8, 10 a.m. and noon in the church and 9 and 11 a.m. in the multipurpose building Sunday. The church is at 45 Beach City Road, Hilton Head.

Details: 843-681-6350

BRICK BAPTIST CHURCH

A Community Yard Sale is from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. today at Martin Luther King Park, Sea Island Parkway and Martin Luther King Drive, St. Helena Island. Proceeds benefit Brick Baptist Church. In case of inclement weather, the sale will be held at the church.

Details: 843-838-3033

ST. FRANCIS THRIFT SHOP

St. Francis Thrift Shop will reopen from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. The shop is at 6 Southwood Park Drive, Suite A, Hilton Head Island.

Details: 843-689-6563

ANGEL FOOD

Distribution times for April Angel Food orders have changed. Pick up will be at St. John's Lutheran Church, 157 Lady's Island Drive in Beaufort, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. today.

Life House Church in Beaufort also is a host site (843-379-9673).

Lion and The Lamb Ministries in Hardeeville is a host site south of the Broad River (843-540-2207).

Online orders may be placed at www.angelfoodministries.com.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

A reception honoring the Rev. Thomas Schmidt is from 5:30-7 p.m. today at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry. Schmidt is leaving UUCL after serving five years as its minister. At 10 a.m. Easter Sunday, Schmidt will present his final sermon, "So Be It, Amen, and Blessed Be!" The church is at 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. The Rev. Manuel Holland, Minister Emeritus, will become senior minister, providing pastoral care, representing the congregation in the community and providing occasional sermons.

Details: 843-837-3330

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF BEAUFORT

The Rev. Nan White will lead the Flower Communion at 10 a.m. Sunday at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort. Participants are encouraged to bring a flower to be used in the service. The church meets at 178 Sams Point Road, Lady's Island.

Details: 843-838-1399

UNION BAPTIST CHURCH

The pastor and members of Union Baptist Church will be celebrating the church's 128th anniversary at 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The theme is "Planted in the House of the Lord." Speakers and guest churches are: Monday, Minister Bert Murray, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Port Royal; Tuesday, the Rev. Keith Parker, Spring Hill A.M.E.; Wednesday, the Rev. Charles Griswold, Israelite Baptist Church of Laurel Bay; Thursday, Minister Isaiah Smalls, Friendship Baptist; Friday, the Rev. Raymond Johnson, First African Baptist Church of Port Royal. Services will conclude at 11 a.m. May 1 when the Rev. Elijah Washington of First African Baptist of St. Helena will speak. Dinner will be served after the service. The church is at 1708 Old Shell Road, Port Royal.

Details: 843-524-8589

UNITY CHURCH OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND

The Rev. Justin Epstein will offer a course in Kriya Yoga from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday through May 18 at The Hampton Inn & Suites in Bluffton. The cost is $85 if registered by Sunday or $97 after.

Details: 843-682-8177, unitychurchofhiltonhead.org

MOUNT SINAI BAPTIST CHURCH

Mount Sinai Baptist Church of Beaufort will celebrate its 98th church anniversary at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, concluding with an 11 a.m. service May 1. The following churches will be featured: Wednesday, the Rev. Paul Graham and Laurel Bay Baptist Church; Thursday, the Rev. Burnett Mungin and New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church; and Friday, the Rev. Robert Edwards and Gethsemane Baptist Church.

Details: Yvonne DeLoach, 843-379-5754; Pastor Joseph Josey, 843-846-6738

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND

First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island will host a concert by the Statesboro Youth Chorale at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the sanctuary. The chorale is an auditioned choir that has performed in England and Disney World and is preparing to join the Indianapolis Children's Choir in June for the Festival of the Americas. Admission is free. The church is at 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head.

Details: 843-681-3696, mhall@fpchhi.org, www.fpchhi.org

SPRING HILL AME CHURCH

Spring Hill AME Church of Sheldon will hold an April Birthday Group Joy Night Service at 7 p.m. Friday. The theme is "Sharing God's Joy through Word, Song and Movement." James Cuthbert will be the master of ceremonies. The Fellowship Concert Choir, Wings of Prayer and Nynia Youmans will perform. The church is at 20 Paige Point Road, Sheldon.

Details: Myra Parker, 843-846-6680, 843-812-1933, 843-476-8540

LOWCOUNTRY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

As part of the Christian Speakers Series of the Lowcountry, Bishop Will Willimon will speak from 7-9 p.m. Friday and 8:30-11:30 a.m. April 30 at Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, Bluffton. Willimon was voted one of the 12 Most Effective Preachers in the English-speaking world. He has written 60 books and sold more than 1.5 million copies. To reserve free tickets call 843-379-1888.

THE CROSS

The Opera of Life will be presented at 6:30 p.m. April 30 at The Cross, 168 Martin Luther King Drive, St. Helena Island. For the seventh year Bennie Dudley of New York has presented the cross program. Seven area ministers will speak.

Details: 843-838-3909

GED PROGRAM

An ecumenical group of volunteers from Hilton Head Island is taking part in a national, day school pilot program to help people obtain their GEDs. Registration and participation in the TABE (Test for Adult Basic Education) is required by April 30. The three-week class begins July 11. It will be followed by a GED camp.

Details: 843-681-3696, smartin@fpchhi.org, www.gedcamp.org

RESURRECTION CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH

Resurrection Christian Community Church will hold its Community Market from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 30 at 296 Spanish Wells Road, Hilton Head Island. Donations of items to sell are being accepted now at the church. Tables are available for rent and volunteers are needed to assist with set up at 7 a.m.

Details: Billy Tesar, 843-304-7000