Several hundred people, bundled up against the early morning chill, are expected to gather at Cline Family Cellars in Sonoma — rain or shine — on Easter Sunday to watch as the rising sun’s rays illuminate a 20-foot-tall cross against a backdrop of the winery’s chardonnay vines.

“It’s sort of a hopeful moment that is concentrated in that light that comes up over the horizon,” said Nancy Cline, whose family winery hosts the annual sunrise service. “It’s extremely moving. I really believe that is why so many people are there.”

This year, as with past Easter services, winery staff will be out before 5 a.m. beneath the glare of floodlights setting up a sound system and more than 400 chairs.

The seating at this celebration of sunrise Mass, which will be led by the Rev. Alvin Villaruel of St. Francis Solano Catholic Church, tends to fill fast. Any remaining room goes to those who can stand.

This is an Easter tradition more than 20 years strong, but one that was 200 years in the making.

“When we bought the property, we had no understanding of the history at all,” said Cline, who along with her husband, Fred, purchased the 350-acre farm on Arnold Drive in 1989.

They soon learned the vineyard property where they were making wine and raising their family was the original location chosen by the Rev. José Altimira to build Mission San Francisco Solano, the 21st and final Catholic mission built in California.

The soldiers who accompanied Altimira erected a large, redwood cross on the site and celebrated their first Mass there on July 4, 1823.

A few weeks later, Altimira moved the mission farther north to its present location northeast of the Sonoma Plaza.

In 2001, after reading a copy of Altimira’s diary the Clines erected a replica cross on the property. It is the exact dimensions of Altimira’s cross and sits in what Cline and her husband believe is the same location as the original.

Cline said it is the ideal focal point for an Easter Mass.

She said the first sunrise service was attended by about 50 or 60 people, including her own family with seven children and a few dozen members of St. Francis Solano Catholic Church.

“I think we were late for every sunrise Mass for about the first five years because I had to get all the kids dressed,” she said. “It was pretty predictable that the Clines would be running down the driveway about five minutes after the priest gathered everyone together.”

While most attendees skip Easter bonnets and dresses for more practical jeans, sweaters and jackets, the service remains traditional, with music and a homily from Villaruel to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ following his crucifixion three days earlier.

Christianity’s message of eternal life takes on added meaning when dawn breaks about halfway through the ceremony.

“It’s a reminder that we cannot stop God from loving us, (just as) it’s not within our power to stop the sun from rising or setting,” said Villaruel who will be celebrating his eighth Easter at the winery.

Sonoma resident and St. Francis parishioner Maggie Cox has attended almost every sunrise Mass for the past 23 years. She said no matter the weather, being outdoors makes this a special moment.

“It’s such an organic way to celebrate. The birds start chirping and there’s this cow pasture, so sometimes a cow is there. You experience this spiritual event, but out in nature,” Cox said. “It makes you say, ‘I’m not the most important thing in the world… I’m just one part of this.’ I’m just renewed and ready to start fresh again.”

The service is open to all, no matter their denomination or beliefs, and attracts people from miles around.

Villaruel said he’s spoken with worshippers from Sacramento, Vallejo and San Francisco, but Cline views it as a community event.

“I think it’s really a lovely tradition to get up early in the morning with the intention of honoring a moment — to watch the sunrise with a group of human beings that are living close to you,” she said.

After the service, pastries — including hot-cross buns from nearby Basque Boulangerie — and coffee are served free of charge while people spend a few moments of fellowship before carrying on with the rest of their Easter plans.

“People appreciate this moment to check in. You see your neighbors, you see friends. You see people, you don’t know their names, but they’re there every year,” Cline said. “It’s a beautiful reminder that we live in a community. It makes me feel like we should get together more often.”

It’s that feeling of connection – whether to community, to God, to nature or a combination of all three that gives those who attend the service a sense of hope and belonging, according to Villaruel.

“It’s purely Sonoma,” he said. “It gives joy to the people. I have never seen anyone leave the celebration without a smile. Everybody’s upbeat.”

You can reach Staff Writer Jennifer Graue at 707-521-5262 or jennifer.graue@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @JenInOz.