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Congregation Holds 1st Service Since Church Fire

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Sep 13, 2009 7:30 pm US/Eastern

Congregation Holds 1st Service Since Church Fire

GRINDSTONE (KDKA) ― Members of the Grace Baptist Church in Fayette County were devastated last week when a fire destroyed their church.

But today the congregation held Sunday worship services in the Grindstone Fire Department Social Hall.

It was their first service since the fire swept through the sanctuary located in Rowes Run Friday morning.

"There's so much we lost in that building; there's so many memories, there's things that are not replaceable there," said Pastor Lonnie Lewis.

At first, arson was suspected, but members say they have learned from the fire marshal that the cause may have been electrical.

After the service some members went back to scene to look at the destruction and to share memories.

"It was such a beautiful little church, with the stained glass windows, the way the walls were painted, it was a beautiful sanctuary," said church pianist, Jean Livingstone, who was away when the church burned down.

Livington said that her grand piano was reduced to rubble by the fire, and she plans to have a keyboard to play next week during services.

Meanwhile, members say they are more like a family in the close knit community, and now they're ready to move forward.

"I feel, through it all, that the Lord has a purpose in this because we've been struggling through the years, you know, a small church and all, and I just feel that the Lord's going to work at other people's hearts that they want to come back," she added.

Members say they plan to talk with the insurance company and regardless of the fire they say the church will survive.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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