ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) — With a large part of the roof gone, services for Elgin’s First United Methodist Church were held online on Sunday.
However, many members of the congregation felt that simply coming together in prayer was insufficient. Despite being still unsettled by the damage caused by the storm, they were relieved that no injuries occurred.
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In a display of unity through prayer, individuals who had been part of the church for a long time, as well as those who visited to show their solidarity, congregated in Elgin’s Vineyard Church on Sunday evening. They were trying to process the extensive destruction to their cherished century-old place of worship following the recent severe weather.
“As I was driving here, I couldn’t help but think about the day I brought my son to the church to be baptized. It was a memorable moment when Reverend Rogers lifted him up, and my son made the most comical expression, causing everyone in the church to burst into laughter,” shared Karen Fletcher, a dedicated member of the church.
Memories like those were shared while, across the street, workers scrambled to tarp over the section of the roof that covers the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church to prevent any further damage from Sunday’s inclement weather.
“My bishop reminded me yesterday. I need to let the tears flow. But we are hopeful,” said Lead Pastor Felicia LaBoy.
On Friday night, there were some 60 people sleeping in the basement of the church. Even as the roof was being torn off the building, no one was hurt.
“During the Winter months, the homeless in Elgin are invited into our church basement overnight to sleep. And oddly enough, March 15 was the last day,” said First United Methodist Church of Elgin Trustee Alan Walters. “And they were the first ones to respond, because they saw water coming into the building.”
First United Methodist Church is one of Elgin’s oldest congregations, and yet, this century-old building is not their first home. Rather, it is one borne out of another storm.
“One-hundred-and-five years ago, there was a tornado that came through here. It killed some people at the congregational church and at the Baptist church. Our folks were spared, but our whole thing imploded, and that’s why this building was there,” LaBoy said.
While it will be some time before the congregation can return to their church home, LaBoy said she has already been offered space to meet elsewhere and is confident they will be able to come up with a plan that will keep the community together until the damage can be repaired.
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