Report from Cedar Rapids

From Regional Associate Minister Don Hiscox:

I've just learned that yesterday evening (Thursday, 6-12-08) the
Cedar Christian Church building, in Cedar Rapids flooded. As of this
afternoon (at about 5:45 Friday), I learned that the basement of
Cedar CC is full of water, and because they can't get in to see the
building, they don't know whether or not the sanctuary has taken on
any water. They will be worshipping with the First Christian
congregation this coming Sunday, according to Fred Darbonne, pastor
of First Christian.

I've also just received the following note from Barbara Appleget,
Chair of the Pastoral Search Committee for Cedar Christian Church...

"I haven't been down there (to the church building) myself to see
because they are asking people to stay away but one of our friends
was pretty close the other night and reported that there were three
vans parked in front of our church and the water was up to the roof
of those vans. I talked with Pastor Bill (Gardner, interim pastor)
and we are pretty sure the basement has water in it, along with the
Multi Purpose Building, our Wee Care Shop, etc. No one could have
known this was coming...even the 100 year flood plain wouldn't have
gone this far out I don't believe...we have a lot of work to do and
some difficult decisions ahead of us. First Christian has invited us
to worship with them on Sunday so the prayer chain is going to alert
people that we won't be having church in our building. The Cedar
River crested today at a little over 31 feet but it'll be a while
before we can get in to assess the damage. It's difficult to get
around Cedar Rapids. There are so many roads closed and all the
bridges over the river, of course, are closed. The I-380 bridge is
still open so maybe we can get to First Christian Sunday morning. I
understand Des Moines is also having water problems...I pray they
aren't as destructive as Cedar Rapids. So many people lost their
homes...It's so sad...."

A Week of Compassion solidarity grant will be going out to the Cedar
congregation this coming Monday.

It's great news that the rivers are cresting in places like Des
Moines and Cedar Rapids, but those folks who live down stream still
have lots and lots of water coming their way, so the crisis is not
over by any means.

Please keep the entire congregation of Cedar Christian Church and of
First Christian Church in Cedar Rapids and all those folks who live
downstream in your thoughts and prayers.