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Community Corner

They'll Be Heading to Easter Services in Old West Style

Shepherd of the Hills is encouraging Chatsworth equestrians to bring their horses to Easter services in Porter Ranch.

You would expect to see people arrive for Easter services in bonnets.

You would expect them to come in their finest suits.

But on horseback?

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In a decision meant to recall the area’s equestrian roots, Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch is encouraging Chatsworth horse lovers to ride to church on Sunday as part of Easter@Porter Ranch. The mega event is expected to draw more than 14,000 faithful and as many as 50 horses.

“This is a warm and welcoming Easter service for the entire community that celebrates the equestrian history of the area and the special tradition of the family getting up and going to church together on Easter morning,” Senior Pastor Dudley Rutherford said in a written statement.

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Services will take place at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. in an open meadow at the northwest corner of Porter Ranch Drive and Rinaldi Street. Attendees praying with the nondenominational church will be shaded by a 50,000-square-foot tent.

While most people will still drive to services — with plenty of parking at the Porter Ranch Town Center and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center — dozens are expected to step back in time and do it the old-fashioned way.

Horseback riders may follow a stretch of the Old Mission Trail from Porter Ranch Drive west to Mason Avenue. Turning north, they’ll follow Mason to Rinaldi, then head east to the service site. There will be tie ups and water available there.

Paula Cracium, director of development for the church, said the idea was inspired after a couple of horse riders appeared at a past service.

“It’s a local cultural aspect. It’s part of the community that most people in the community are very proud of,” she said. “We find it just a really fun intersection of old and new.”

Kathy Alonzo, who is coordinating the equestrian trail ride to the service, said that riding around the area — whether it’s to the store, a service, or a local event — can be a wonderful experience.

“The pride and feeling you get of how it must have felt in the Old West or past before cars is amazing,” said the Chatsworth woman.

Given the area’s rich heritage in this area, using a horse to get to a religious ceremony becomes much more than it seems.

“It is not only a means to ‘go to church’ but a visual advertisement of the pride, rights, and country lifestyle that we cherish and fight for,” she said.

Alonzo is involved in two therapeutic horse programs — Ride with Pride Therapeutic Horsemanship, Inc. and Special Spirit — that will host the horses while riders attend services.

One of those riders will be Ken Polcyn. The 27-year-old from Northridge, who used to teach horseback riding to kids, agreed that riding in public can provide an extraordinary feeling.

“It’s just kind of a neat thing,” he said. “I used to work at a place up in the hills in Northern California and we used to ride a lot, even to go get food and stuff … Unfortunately it’s not as seen in the community and I think it’s just good exposure.”

For those who don’t arrive by horse, free shuttles from the Porter Ranch Town Center and medical center are available beginning at 6:30 a.m. Location, parking, and trail maps are available at theshepherd.org.

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