RICHMOND — Dozens of faithful gathered at the Kennebec River to celebrate the rise of their Savior early Easter morning, as the sun slowly rose over the northern tip of Swan Island.

“Today we’re here to leave the darkness of the Crucifixion behind us,” said Ellen Kroot, of Richmond, who led the Dresden Richmond United Methodist Church’s Easter sunrise service Sunday. “Hallelujah, Christ has risen.”

Kroot was joined by about 30 fellow church members for the early service in the gazebo in Richmond’s waterfront park.

Attendees exchanged hugs as they greeted each other before the sunrise, wishing each other happy Easter.

The sun briefly broke through the otherwise cloud-filled sky as, toward the end of the service, attendees sang the hymn “I Love to Tell the Story.”