Pastor Josh Fitterling of New Jerusalem Zion United Church of Christ, Krumsville, began the March 16 service by thanking the 15 people who helped clean up the mess made by vandals.

He discovered the vandalism the previous Wednesday when he arrived at the church early to prepare for a consistory meeting.

Fitterling also thanked Consistory President Donald Stofflet, who gave a television interview on the burglary, and God, because no one was hurt.

Charlie the Church Mouse puppet, with the assistance of Pastor Fitterling, talked to the children in their message about John 3:16: "For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

The pastor said the world God loved included everybody and everything. He carried the theme of love throughout his sermon.

Fitterling told the congregation a story of vacationing at a Lycoming County hunting camp when he was 12 and always feeling safe until a homeless man parked a truck nearby.

The man never talked to the campers but he did talk to himself and he carried a large knife.

"It was a safe place and we never locked the door," the pastor said. "He seemed creepy and I felt unsafe and latched the door." The experience changed him.

"This church has been a safe place since it was built in 1971," Fitterling said. "It is peaceful and welcoming but, this past week, it was burglarized.

"My office, the Sunday School room – they went through the closets, desk drawers and filing cabinets searching for money," he explained. The computer was messed up.

"Can we still feel at peace, safe? We have varied reactions. What if they come back? We feel violated someone would desecrate the church.

Church members are not able to fathom that someone would do something like this, Fitterling said.

When he saw the mess, as he waited for the police, Fitterling wondered if the person would return or if he was still in the building.

"Glass was broken in the sacristy," he said. "It affects everyone here today.

Fitterling said church members may be tempted to change how they live their lives.

"Might we be tempted to leave this church, change our habits to suspicions instead of welcoming, retreat from a place that may be painful by changing our virtue as Christians?" he asked. "Jesus demands we stand firm and not retreat. We are the hands and feet of Christ on this earth. We are to be a saving force loving our neighbors, even these who broke into the church and violated it."

Fitterling spoke of John 3:17, saying the congregants should not condemn the people who broke into the church.

"The burglary may change the way we watch this church," he explained. "But, we must remain firm in the place of this violation.

"It may be hard. We will remain faithful and spread the gospel, broken window and all."

In his prayer, Fitterling said, "Today, we are flooded with many different emotions. We seek to find solace. We pray for those who did this violation."

The closing hymn was "'God Be With You Till We Meet Again," showing the continuation of the church.

Following the service, several members of the congregation spoke with The Press.

"It's a terrible shame," Harold Hoffman said. "I wonder what this world is coming to."

Paul Solt said the burglary was "senseless."

Words of wisdom came from Maddox Miller, 6, the grandson of Sharon Miller.

"In time, everything straightens out," the youngster said.

His grandmother said she would pray for whomever vandalized the church.

Consistory President Donald Stofflet and Linda Stofflet look toward the future for justice to be done.

"It's awful what they have done," he said. "The Lord will make them pay."

"When they find them, the Lord will punish them," Linda Stofflet said.