During the early morning hours of Friday, June 4 the electrical wires leading to an exterior light above a seldom used back entrance shorted out, smoldered for several hours and then sparked into flame. By the time dawn arrived and the resulting fire had been extinguished, the home of Ormstown Presbyterian Church in Quebec had sustained substantial damage. Several back rooms, including an office and a staircase leading to the basement were destroyed. The doors leading to the sanctuary had been kept closed, apparently preserving it from the worst of the fire damage, but the soot, the smoke and the water all took their toll.
In the hours following the tragedy, the members of the congregation felt strongly that they should hold the following Sunday’s service on the premises.
Opening the double front doors gave enough light and almost enough room for the small congregation to gather in the vestibule. Several people overflowed onto the front steps, sheltered under umbrellas.
The lectionary text had assigned as a gospel lesson for the day the story of a desperate widow. No husband. Her only son carried in a coffin. Destitute and desperate. Until God showed up. This seems to be when He likes to show up.
The closing doxology was performed without a piano or an organ, but the words resound with more truth than they have for a very long time.
