Groton — Each Easter, members of various churches gather just before dawn to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus while watching the sun rise.

One of them, Tamara Gibbs, also celebrates another life: hers.

"It's eight years since I've been alive," Gibbs said, explaining that the Groton Long Point home — where members of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church have spent Easter mornings for the last eight years — is the first place she went after a successful 2007 pancreatic cancer surgery.

"Jesus gave us new life and Easter was his rebirth," Gibbs said. "It's pretty significant for me to have (my surgery anniversary) coincide with that."

Gibbs, part of the congregation for more than 10 years, played a role in getting St. Andrew's sunrise service started. And though it's certainly not the only such service offered in the area, it's different than many of the others.

Because the Laidlaw family opens their home for the event each year, service-goers don't have to worry about the cold. They watch the sunrise through a plethora of windows and can help themselves to a fresh pot of coffee, too.

"We do it the right way," Gibbs said with a laugh.

It's different for the Rev. Mark Porizky, too.

"It's the only time of the year I have to prepare two different messages, so to speak," said Porizky, who's been pastor at St. Andrew for 19 years.

He said it's an "interesting but wonderful challenge" to figure out how to connect with a group that's usually less than 30-strong when he's used to speaking to 200 or more.

 On Sunday, drawing inspiration in part from Gibbs' story, Porizky told the small crowd to look at death as a rebirth rather than as an end, and to live life to the fullest in the meantime.

Porizky said the once-a-year switch in venue — though St. Andrew has a regular Easter service, too — makes for a different experience than the one in "a big building with Easter lilies."

"This is much more intimate (than regular services)," Gibbs agreed. "And there's nothing more beautiful than the sunrise over the water."

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle