Massena church rises again

MASSENA — The congregation at Emmanuel Congregational United Church of Christ is moving back home this weekend. The church still smells of new carpet and paint, but being back already feels right to the congregation.

"Some were a little apprehensive because it's been a wonderful time at the synagogue, it's brought us very close. Some people were a little concerned that we would lose that," said the Rev. Judith A. VanKennen. "But we came in on Sunday and it just felt right."

There are still unpainted spots on the walls, not all the doors are in place, the pulpit hasn't been delivered yet and ladders are tucked away in the stairwells, but the congregation already had a "run through" service in their rebuilt church.

It will officially be the church's home again after Saturday, when the space will be rededicated with prayers, music and dancing. The celebration begins at 1 p.m. and will go for approximately an hour and a half, the Rev. Ms. VanKennen said.

It will include a performance by Leap of Faith, a liturgical dance group from Gotta Dance studio, Massena, and the performance of an original song, written specifically for the rededication ceremony by the church's organist.

"If there's a dry eye left, I'll be surprised," the pastor said.

After two and a half years of waiting, the congregation, which is between 50 and 70 people, will have its spiritual home back again. The church was struck by lightning in May 2007 and burned, leaving little but the 1920s brick shell and some valuable old stained glass windows.

Pictures of the fire will play on the LCD screens next to the altar during the dance performance. Some of the firefighters who helped combat the blaze will also have a part in the ceremony; the man who saved the metal cross from the flames will process with it and return it to its place on the altar. Another, who rang the church bell at the fire, will ring it again before the service starts, to usher people back, the Rev. Ms. VanKennen said.

Since the fire, the church's services have been held at the former Adath Israel Synagogue, across the street from the charred church.

The synagogue closed several years ago and is up for sale, but pieces of it have found a new home at Emmanuel. The synagogue's eternal light, which signifies the presence of God in a sacred space and is never allowed to burn out, is already in place not far from the Christmas tree at the altar. A plaque with the 10 Commandments in Hebrew is on the other side of the altar. A mezuzot, a small case which holds sacred Hebrew passages in Jewish buildings and homes, will be placed at the new rear entrance, which was built to house an elevator, to replace the small lift that used to be at the front of the church.

The rebuilt church has a completely updated heating system and air conditioning for the first time, and LCD screens to project song lyrics or readings flanking the chancel area, which still has a large stained glass window and marble from the original altar of the old church.

"You walk in and you know you've entered a sacred space, but we've integrated some new things," the Rev. Ms. VanKennen said. "There were so many things that needed renovation. Looking back, (the fire)'s just been a blessing because now we have everything we could ever dream of."

Now that the church, which was originally established in the 1830s, is back together, the congregation can concentrate once again on its house of worship and provide a place for the community to hold events.

"We firmly believe that God did not put us back together here for ourselves. We hope the Massena community finds its way here as well," she said. "Now we can get back to what we're meant to be doing. It's taken a lot of time and energy."