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At tiny church, a time of renewal
In Middleburgh, hard work helps a church bounce back
By Scott Waldman
Published 09:37 p.m., Saturday, April 7, 2012


God created Earth, the Bible tells us, and even when it was nothing it was covered with water. Next came the heavens, and light and dry land.

And so this is our natural harmony: light divided from dark and sea from earth. Except sometimes, the waters rise up and reclaim the land.

In Middleburgh, flood walls and river dredging will never be enough to stop Schoharie Creek.

The Middleburgh Reformed Church, built along the creek's banks in 1786, has no floor, and workmen are carrying buckets full of mud out of its guts. In August, Tropical Storm Irene's rains swelled the Schoharie, which rose up and blasted off the church doors, pushed in the windows and carried off the toys in the children's Sunday school room. The watermarks were 10 feet high.

Easter is a time to celebrate resurrection, renewal, spring buds opening after the winter's darkness. This Sunday in Middleburgh, a tiny congregation of about 60 will celebrate the 226th Easter in a building that won't be fully healed from the storm's damage until August at the earliest.

"We had to go through the death first," Pastor Jeff Kelley said last week. "We have hope because of the Resurrection. It's not an end, but a beginning."................>>>>..................>>>>..................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/At-tiny-church-a-time-of-renewal-3466567.php#ixzz1rRwUrj8H