60th Anniversary October 18, 2007
Due to the weather events that struck Third
Baptist Church in the middle of what should have been our celebratory
60th anniversary Community Ecumenical Worship Service as part
of our Annual Assembly, and the fact that we cancelled the remainder
of the meeting on Friday morning, a number of matters were left
unfinished and incomplete.
We give thanks to God that no one was hurt and that we evacuated
the sanctuary safely before the bell tower fell through the roof
and ceiling, tearing down the beautiful golden oak balcony surrounding
the worship space. We pray for the people of Owensboro whose homes
and houses of worship were damaged, especially our new friends
at Third Baptist Church, and their pastor, Dr. James Byrd. but
also for the folks of Zion United Church of Christ, which also
suffered damage as a result of the tornado--but not as devastating
as that at Third Baptist.
Delegates might like to know that the breakfast food and the box
lunches were taken to the Owensboro tornado shelter and to their
local homeless shelter.
As soon as possible we will try to publish an "old-style"
or newspaper version of Intercom to report on the Annual Assembly.
It will include the presentations prepared by Michael Kinnamon,
of which we only heard the first; and a manuscript version of
Michael Livingston's undelivered sermon.
Much more happened than just horrible weather. Click here for the (provisional)
minutes of the 60th Annual Assembly
of the Kentucky Council of Churches, to be adopted during the
next meeting of the Kentucky Council of Churches' Executive Board.
Click here to read the full text of the sermon
by Rev. Michael Livingston that was interrupted by the weather.
FEMA's initial PDA on October 19, 2007 found that most affected
properties are businesses with insurance. Clean up has begun in
downtown Owensboro. Other damage mostly downed trees and power
lines. There were localized, but no major widespread power outages.
An accurate monetary estimate of damage should be available on
Monday, October 22, 2007. At least three businesses were affected
in Hart County. No request for a FEMA Response Liaison has been
made at this time.
All photos
on this page are copyrighted 2007 by Kent Gilbert, Jeanie Hartman,
and Kristoffer Hartman; used with permission.
