Members of Grace Lutheran Church in Vestal held mass in the parish parking lot Sunday, after the building caught fire on May 18th. Even though parish leaders said the building will likely be condemned, parishioners set up a tent, keyboard and folding chairs outside the burned building and held a service. The pews and an $80,000 electronic organ, which were used for community concerts, were completely destroyed by flames, but churchgoers said those are only material things – the people make up the church. A committee has already been set up to determine how the church would proceed. The committee is already considering other parishes that might be able to host the services of Grace Lutheran Church temporarily – though such an arrangement could last for many months. More than 120 people attended the outdoor service Sunday, which was more than double the turnout at the mass held the Sunday before the fire.
