Ravaged church symbol of flood anniversary

WEST PITTSTON -- A group of worshipers assembled at the First Presbyterian Church on Sunday to observe the one year anniversary of the flood that ravaged the church along with a portion of the community in 2011.

The cavernous assembly hall showed the signs of the recent inundation with solid-wood pews set askew on bare unfinished floors and 3 feet of wainscoting removed along the sanctuary�??s perimeter revealing rows of long-hidden framing and studs.

Church officials provided temporary seating and power for the hour-long worship service.

�??This building can be made whole again for a price,�?� Pastor James Thyren told his congregation, which, since the flood, has been meeting at the former St. Cecilia�??s Church in Exeter. �??We are taking our time in this �??Season of Discernment�?? to decide how we will proceed with our plans for the structure and if, in fact, it is worth the price of rehabilitation.�?�

Thyren said representatives from A. Pickett Construction have toured the facility and information on the proposed reconstruction project would be made to the congregation in the near future.

�??The testing of our faith produces endurance,�?� he said. �??The river has tested our faith here both in 1972 and again in 2011. We need to decide if it�??s worth fixing a structure which may again be ravaged by the waters of the Susquehanna.�?�

Thyren wanted to express his gratitude to the pastor and people at St. Barbara�??s Parish in Exeter for opening the doors of the former St. Cecilia�??s Church to their congregation.

Part of West Pittston flooded last September when the Susquehanna River rose to a record 42.66 feet after being swollen by rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee.