April 13--It was supposed to be a day full of joy and hope, the second Sunday of Easter, when Christians continue to reflect on the appearance of the risen Christ to his disciples.
But at churches in Kirkland, the small town next to tornado-ravaged Fairdale, it also was a day of mourning. Worshippers gathered to pray for the families of the two women killed and for the many friends who lost their homes during Thursday's storms. They also came together in more practical ways, unloading trucks of groceries and sorting clothes and shoes for those who lost everything.
"Today we come with our heads spinning and a different story on our hearts and our minds as those words of hope and resurrection are juxtaposed against a time of devastation and loss," said the Rev. Arlene Christopherson, assistant to the region's Methodist bishop, during a service at Kirkland United Methodist Church.
"We pray that memories, friends, family and community will be those gifts that support them as they find their way through the weeks and months ahead as they come to grips with what has been lost and begin to rebuild their life and their homes."
Though there were no churches in Fairdale before the storm destroyed most of its buildings, a Methodist church at the entrance of the hamlet dated to its founding days. The congregation merged with Kirkland United Methodist decades ago, while the building, one of Fairdale's first, became a home. But the Methodist tradition in the area remained dominant.
The Rev. Kay Woo, pastor of Kirkland Methodist, thanked the current congregation Sunday for coming to pray, but also expressed gratitude for empty space in the pews left by members who chose to volunteer Sunday morning instead of worship. Both are important, she said.
"They know this is Sunday morning, and somewhere someone is praying," said Christopherson, who brought greetings from Northern Illinois Bishop Sally Dyck, who last week traveled to South Korea and could not attend.
Janet Taylor, 70, said she would be helping her brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Mary Powell, sift through what was left of their home later in the day. But first she needed to attend church to celebrate their survival.
"He spared them, and I praise God for that," she said. "What better place to be."
She also thanked her congregation for stepping up to help their neighbors.
"They're so devastated. They don't know what to do," she said. "Thank you for a community that sticks together."
Throughout the day, victims of last week's storm reflected on the small miracles and joys that emerged in its wake. Taylor said her brother found an unscathed glass Christmas ornament as well as a family recipe for homemade ravioli.
Jeremy Minnegan found his car keys and wedding band, which he had misplaced a few days before the tornado struck.
But many said it was how they watched their community put faith into practice Sunday morning that was most fortifying. Jeannette Ackerman and her children volunteered all day Saturday, went to church Sunday morning, then went back to help more.
"It was breathtaking," Ackerman said of the crowds that showed up to help.
At First Lutheran Church, Lorene Roser said the clothing closet and food pantry had grown exponentially overnight. Toilet paper, cleaning supplies, dog food and pillows spilled into the Sunday school classrooms. A room was filled wall-to-wall with blankets.
Roser said the day's scripture reading from Acts about the disciples breaking bread together struck her as particularly poignant.
"Wow, is that opening up or what?" she said. "I was touched by the fact that life goes on and we can get through it with the help of the Lord. The human spirit, I mean the Christ spirit in us wants to give. We want to open our hearts."
Jo Boehmer, church secretary at First Lutheran, said the abundance of donations renewed her faith in people.
"There's a lot of bad in this world," she said. "When things like this happen, it helps people realize there's so much good in this world too."
A half-dozen Methodist pastors invited the public to Kirkland Methodist on Sunday night to pray -- regardless of denomination.
mbrachear@tribpub.com
