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The light shines through the stained glass windows onto the new church pews just two years after the congregation at Pleasantville Christian Church was at a crossroads.But instead of calling it quits, they rebuilt. Just in time for Easter Sunday.As Deacon Joyce Metcalf looks out into the newly built Pleasantville Church, she’s reminded of the scene here two years ago as a fire destroyed the structure that had been standing since 1900.”All we could do is just sit here and watch the walls fall in. It was just totally engulfed in flames,” Metcalf said.For the last two years, Metcalf, and the rest of the congregation held services in the local funeral home.Hours of planning the details, some of it coming from her husband, Craig, whose family was some of the church’s founding members.But on Easter Sunday, Craig Metcalf won’t be sitting in the new church pews.“In November, he had a stroke and he passed away from a brain bleed,” Metcalf said. “He was wanting this church built in the worst way.”Shortly after Craig died, the church board chair, Lois Turnage, lost a battle to COVID-19.”To lose two great leaders like that was just totally heartbreaking,” Metcalf said.But the two important members of the church will be remembered.”We’re going to be having two candles,” said the Rev. Don Naftz. “One for Craig, one for Lois, that will be lit right after a poem is written.”Paying tribute to the two church leaders who helped resurrect the sanctuary from the ashes and never got the chance to see its beauty.”I’ll be a mess,” Metcalf said. “There will be that light that we’ll be able to see. And I’ll know they’ll be here in spirit.”
The light shines through the stained glass windows onto the new church pews just two years after the congregation at Pleasantville Christian Church was at a crossroads.
But instead of calling it quits, they rebuilt. Just in time for Easter Sunday.
As Deacon Joyce Metcalf looks out into the newly built Pleasantville Church, she’s reminded of the scene here two years ago as a fire destroyed the structure that had been standing since 1900.
“All we could do is just sit here and watch the walls fall in. It was just totally engulfed in flames,” Metcalf said.
For the last two years, Metcalf, and the rest of the congregation held services in the local funeral home.
Hours of planning the details, some of it coming from her husband, Craig, whose family was some of the church’s founding members.
But on Easter Sunday, Craig Metcalf won’t be sitting in the new church pews.
“In November, he had a stroke and he passed away from a brain bleed,” Metcalf said. “He was wanting this church built in the worst way.”
Shortly after Craig died, the church board chair, Lois Turnage, lost a battle to COVID-19.
“To lose two great leaders like that was just totally heartbreaking,” Metcalf said.
But the two important members of the church will be remembered.
“We’re going to be having two candles,” said the Rev. Don Naftz. “One for Craig, one for Lois, that will be lit right after a poem is written.”
Paying tribute to the two church leaders who helped resurrect the sanctuary from the ashes and never got the chance to see its beauty.
“I’ll be a mess,” Metcalf said. “There will be that light that we’ll be able to see. And I’ll know they’ll be here in spirit.”
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