It was in the wee hours of the morning (actually about 9:20AM) when I approached the front door of the church. Nothing seemed out of place until a notices a preschool partition lying on the floor, and a banner that seemed to be removed from its bar. Getting a bit annoyed I unlocked the door and took my first steps into the building. Turning the corner I noticed a glimmer...moving closer, I noticed glass strewn everywhere. The window to the office was broken. The doors to all of the mailbox cabinets for flung wide, and the closets and cabinets were spewing their contents.
Indeed this was a sight to see as I walked into the office today. The church was broken into last night (along with two other churches in a 3-5 mile radius.) We thought things were stolen - money from the cabinet, money from the preschool office, etc..., but most of that has been uncovered in the clean-up process. There was great damage to doors and windows, but everything else remained in place. I guess the intruders, while appearing to be looking for money, were in such a rush and well, left much of it behind.
Me and several other parishoners spent most of the day today (truly two are still working now) cleaning up the horrific glass shatters, and door destruction, and office spew.
We thank God that the preschool was not in session today (field trip to the Pumpkin Patch) and nothing in the worship space was damaged. We also thank God that no one was here when the break-in took place and that all are safe.
We pray that the other congregations that were hit are safe and that these folks can be brought to justice so that other congregations and families need not sit on pins and needles in fear or anticipation.
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2 comments:
Oh God, I hope you folks are able to bounce back. I'm glad that you're all safe.
Thanks Chris, we will. The damage, in light of it all, is quite manageable. Folks kept saying, "Here's to your first month anniversary!" This goes under...what I didn't learn in seminary. My advice - have the council/property committee's phone numbers (home and cell if possible) in your cell, an 'emergency sheet' for the times when you can't (or shouldn't in the case of me being alone this morning waiting for the police) get into the building, and know your insurance company and policy numbers. At least that is what I learned today. Hope to bump into you soon - how's internship going?
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