derek ward is live there this morning. good morning to you, derek. >> reporter: good morning. well you know that offensive graffiti was cleaned off and it's still on the minds. folks here. you can feel a sense they have indeed moved on spiritually and mentally. look, earlier this morning, there was indeed that sunrise service. and they do this every year. they start in a memorial grows in a nice little area out behind the churchs well of course, there was a special significance to this this year after monday's instance where the graffiti was found. now the person responsible has been arrested, but also made it's way into the message this morning as we hear from the minister. from the pastor of this church. >> fairfax county has come a long way in 50 or 60 years. this is where the civil war began in the 1860s. this was a place of, you know, segregation and deep segregation, the '50s and even into the '60s. and i think part what have we're seeing, we saw at the community vigil last night and what we're continuing to see is that this is an incredibly diverse county. we don't alwa

derek ward is live there this morning. good morning to you, derek. >> reporter: good morning.ell you know if there was ever any doubt about it, they'd come full circle here with this sunday service here at church. it was a solemn experience and always is, but had a special gravity to it i guess after you consider the events of earlier this week. now earlier this morning, again, out back, little alter in the woods. they started out in the memorial cove. walked through the wooded area into the area where they also would sit and gave communion and they said some words. there was sop talk about how sometimes things that you don't understand do reveal themselves toes you at some point later. that was part of the easter message. and for folks who attended that service, it was also a personal message as well as we hear from this member. >> found myself arriving at church tuesday mid-morning and i made my way to the back of the church and sat on the steps and weeped. and that's the way i started the week. and then here i am today, this beautiful morning, celebrating peace, love, unity

derek ward, news 4. derek, thanks. >>> well they've fled domestic violence in their homes to seek refuge at a shelter. today a group of mom and kids will be getting an easter surprise. you can see some of the goodies northern virginia. we asked the shelter what it's like to continue this long time tradition. >> i think that, you know, it's nice to give back to people that, you know, need it and you know that those families have been through a lot of turmoil, and you want to make their easter as happy as you can. and as joyful. >> looks like they'll do just that. this year they've provided 35 easter treats for the kids and a few moms too. bethany house shelter provides emergency housing for up to four months and offers two years of aftercare services. >>> on this easter sunday, a small historic e miss ka pal church trying to save it's 100-year-old organ. >> tom sherwood reports, the congregation is hoping to preserve it's unique sound for years to come. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: palm sunday, the church in 150 years

news 4 derek ward talks to folks who brave the bad weather to support their cause. >> the earth is all arous this time front and center on the national maul where thousands came to rally including elementary school from new jersey. >> as they say, science is fast. it's not something we make up. >> but the people on this earth day event believe the glowing politicization of science poses a threat to all our well-being. >> i wish people would actually take the time to listen to what is being said and not just go bring the rhetoric. >> science is limited to the lab. talking city or country. >> i think people are seeing more and more how environmental issues affect them. >> not only the life perspective, but from an economic perspective. >> urban conservation director for the local chapter of nature preserve and focus on things like protecting urban water waist, protecting storm run off and education. things now under threat to epa and other policies. people are also encouraged by >> when i go and say i want to talk to you about storm water, they're telling me, i already know what it is. w

derek ward has more. hey, derrick. >> reporteec that, take a look at what the scene is here. you notice people in the yellow jackets. these folks are waiting for shuttle buses. that is going to be the way to get to these stations that are affected by the surge. take a look at the map. now, this surge affects the green line, like the northeastern tip of the green line between the green belt and prince george's. the greenbelt near the college park stations are closed. they are suggesting passengers do this like new carollton. if you are going downtown, you may want to consider taking mark, they are using extra trains to get you to greenville and the college park also the university of maryland shuttles are beefing up as well. take care of the excess ridership. but there are more shuttle buses on the roads as well. so that will mean it will be issues for traffic around here, but that's the way of the surge. it ends on april 29th. derrick ward, nbc4 news. >>> the days of free parking along the national mall are over. starting next month, parking meters will be installed near the

derek ward is live at first mountain zion baptist church with a look at how the congregation is marking 150 years today. a lot of people there showing up early. >> reporter: oh indeed, this parking lot has been full for about an hour. since the 9:00 services are just beginning. people are even having trouble finding a place to park. that is because they are celebrating their 150th year in existence. now you want to know how this church began, humble beginning just after the civil war. it was 1867 when the first 22 members, the founding members of church met in a log cabin which was actually in the rock hill area of stafford county. now eventually, they built up a little bit, but they had a fire happen in the early 1870s, and there's some rift in the church. and that resulted in this location that we have here now. this church has been here since the '40s, the new building that we see up here now have been existence for the past 15, 16 years or so. it is growing with this area, and of course, now that they are celebrating a century and a half. the governor is here to help them. and we ta

. >> in fact, news 4's derek ward is live at the first mountain baptist church with a look at how the congregation is now marking 150 years. this is a big deal, derek. >> reporter: indeed it is, century and a half, and this church has gone through some things. it was 1867 when this church was actually founded. two years after the end of the civil war. and started out as a proverbial little church in the wildwood. look at some pictures here. they've got a big program scheduled today. this church started with 22 founding members in a log cabin, actually, it was in the rock hill area of stafford county. now eventually they had a bigger church go, but there was growing pains. some factions back in 1873, a fire, but they survive. and this church that we're in front of now actually came to this location i the newer structure was put up in 2001. now they're really big on celebrating this. senator warner, other officials and just folks who to make this church and observe the significance of light that's been here far century and a half. we spoke to the pastor, his name is luke tori, take a li