The latest news from St. Andrew's can be found below!

THE ASH WEDNESDAY FIRE

BELOW YOU WILL SEE A COPY OF AN INFORMATIONAL HANDOUT GIVEN TO THE MEMBERS OF ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH SUNDAY, MARCH 13TH, 2011 AT THE MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE. THIS HANDOUT DESCRIBES IN DETAIL THE OCCURENCES OF THE EVENING AND GIVES A TIMELINE OF SORTS OF THE EVENTS. AFTER THE HANDOUT THERE ARE LINKS TO SOME OF THE NEWS ARTICLES/ VIDEO FROM THE MEDIA. AS THEY ARE GATHERED, A SEPARATE PAGE OF PHOTOS WILL BE ADDED. AS YOU READ, THERE WERE SOME HEROES THAT NIGHT, AND GOOD FORTUNE. TO PUT IT IN A NUTSHELL, GOD WAS WITH US!!

Fire at St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Ash Wednesday

March 9, 2011

When: Approx. 7:30 p.m.

Where: Downstairs in the area of the Nursery

Extent of Damage: Still being assessed but includes:

Smoke damage: Entire Church Building

Water Damage: Nursery, Boiler Room, Ladies Room, Men's Room, Hallway, Vestibule, Small Sunday School Room

Major Damage requiring renovation: Still being assessed

Point of Origin: The Sunday School Cupboard at the back of the Nursery

Cause: The Fire Investigator for the City of Pittsburgh, Detective John Gilkey, determined that the cause of the fire was the duct work that connects the boiler to the chimney and runs through the top of the Sunday School Cupboard. Paper materials were stacked on the cupboard shelves too close to the duct work. The paper may have been smoldering for a while undetected.

Insurance Company: Guide One

Guide One Insurance Adjuster on the case: Kimberly Beiter

Local Independent Adjuster assigned to our case: Don McKnight from Dineley Corp.

Disaster Restoration Service: Service Master (Jerome and Derrick)

Narrative:

Vicar Melba Dibble was leading worship and was in the process of distributing ashes when Bobbie Everly left the sanctuary for the ladies room. She discovered a smoke filled Nursery and immediately went up and notified Tim Rogers and others. Several men went downstairs to check on the situation while Marilyn Rogers notified the congregation to evacuate the building through the side door.

Downstairs Michael Andrews, Tim Rogers, and Tom Keifner spotted the fire in the closest and a fire extinguisher was used on the flames. The smoke drove the men out of the nursery and the church. Meanwhile Tom Hrabovsky called 911 for City assistance and then ran down to the East Carnegie Volunteer Fire Department for assistance. The ECVFD was having a meeting and so could respond immediately, beating the City Firefighters to the church. In the meantime, the solder on the water pipe that runs along the ceiling of the nursery gave way and the water pipe came apart gushing water in the direction of the cupboard helping to suppress the fire. The VFD finished the job. We ended up with six fire trucks responding to the call for help. Detective Gilkey, the City Fire Investigator, gave us his determination and advised us to call the insurance company immediately. Pastor Siefert did so with the assistance of Rose Marie Baker. John McGinnis led the effort to board up the broken nursery window. Service Master was called to initiate the clean up. Once it was determined the building could be secured for the night, the clean-up was scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning.

The heat and water were turned off to the building and there was no electricity in the damaged areas. The men strung work lights so they could vacuum up the water from the bathroom floors (in an effort to save the floor tile) before locking the building up for the night.

On Thursday morning pictures were taken of the damaged areas and a cleaning crew got to work cleaning out the Nursery and getting a clean-up plan in place. Ventilation fans and other equipment were in place to eliminate the smell of smoke.

Friday the cleaning crew focused on cleaning the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall.

Saturday was spent finishing up the cleaning portion of the restoration.

The paraments, banner, and vestments were sent for cleaning.

Service Master has assured us that the Sanctuary will be available for worship on Sunday.

The adjuster will come on Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. to assess the damage.

The Blessings:

No one was hurt !

The fire took place while we were at worship so it didn't go undetected and the damage was contained.

 Bobbie Everly drank 4 glasses of ice tea at dinner, thus the trip to the restroom!

The water line broke and assisted in putting out the fire.

The ECVFD was holding a meeting on Wednesday night and could respond within minutes to our call for help.

The congregation remained calm and evacuated without incident.

Many members stepped up and worked together to address the situation.

SAL Vice-President Bobbie Everly and our own Vicar Melba give a good T.V. interview.

Treasurer Pat Spotti had just mailed in our insurance premium.

Many people have offered assistance including recipients of our Food Bank, members of SAL, the other PLUM congregations, the Carnegie Methodist Church, the Girl Scouts, the Bishop and his staff to name several. Until the cleaning crew finishes up we won't know what else will need attention. So until then, we thank everyone for their offers and will let them know if and when we need additional help.

All the good humor about our taking Ash Wednesday too literally !

              We have much for which to be thankful! Praise Be to God!

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO NEWS REPORTS OF THE FIRE ASH  WEDNESDAY EVENING:

http://www.wtae.com/video/27146186/detail.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42008207/ns/local_news-pittsburgh_pa/

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_726719.html

LET US REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS:  

 Asbury Heights: Bill and Beulah Finlay;  Broadmoor Assisted Living:: Eugene Hrabovsky; Country Meadows: Cass Hickman; Kane-Glen Hazel: Pearl McIntosh; Molinaro Manor: Noreen Keifner;  Manor Care: Gary Malizio. 

At Home: Wayne baker Jr., Joseph Beamer, Lisa Bishop,  Judy Carlberg, Jack Crichley, Ed and Mary Donnelly, Paula Gardner, Jeff Gazda, Hamilton Grant, Marie Hamblett, Judy Handerhan,   Ron & Charlotte Hertrick, Mae Horton, Joan Kercher,  Harriet Marsh, Antoinette Miller,  Joanne Moran, Faye Rohm, West Schwartzmiller,  Carl Ulrich, Greg Waldo,  Gladys and Toni Ward,  Christina Watson, John  Ziegler,  Staff Sergeant Tim Carlberg and  the men and women of our military, all those suffering due to natural disasters, those who are facing the terrors of war, and the families of those lost in battle.

FIRE NOTES- Due to the fire that occured Ash Wednesday, the Nursery, small Sunday School room, and the mens and ladies restrooms are out of service for the time being. As the situation changes the congregation will be updated.

* LENT MID-WEEK TABLE FELLOWSHIP AND WORSHIP- WEDNESDAYS MARCH 16, 23, 30, APRIL 6, 13...SOUP SUPPER 6PM; EVENING WORSHIP 7PM...These suppers, while designed to be simple meals in the Lenten tradition of fasting, are so good that they are one of the more popular and well-attended events at SAL. The delicious homemade soups definitely have something to do with it, but the fellowship is great too! You may help us with the planning by signing up to provide either your favorite homemade soup or some bread and crackers. The supper is followed by evening prayer, based on the ancient service Evening Vespers. The service  incorporates seasonal hymns, readings, and moments of silence for meditation and reflection. All are cordially invited to these Lenten services.

 * LENTEN BIBLE STUDY- The Lenten season encourages us to dig deeper into the Scriptures and deeper into ourselves. It is a special time for study, reflection, and prayer. PLUM will offer a study of the Gospel of Mark. The study will be led by Pastor Paul Koch. The five sessions will be held at ELLC, 5707 Penn Ave. in Pittsburgh. The dates are March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10. You need not register or be an in-depth Bible scholar- just bring your Bible and join us for study, conversation, and fellowship. Members and friends of all the PLUM congregations are invited.

* MOTHER HUBBARDS CUPBOARD... Needs donations of dry boxed products due to the fire. See Pastor Beth for details. Thanks!

EVERGREEN II MINISTRY- The next Evergreen II activity will be in April. More to come as plans are finalized.

ATTENTION PLUM BOARD MEMBERS!- the next meeting of the PLUM Board will be on Sunday April 10 2011 3:30 pm @ Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Allentown

SAL BOOK CLUB-

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK

Sunday 03/13    9:15 am        Worship                                

                            10:45 am        No Sunday School (fire)

                              3:00 pm        Lenten Bible Study @ ELLC     

Monday 03/14        6:00 pm        Cong. Council Mtg.

Tuesday 03/15       1:00 pm         Adult Bible Study (Parsonage)     

                              6:30 pm          AA Lit. Study

Wed.     03/16        6:00 pm         Soup Supper

                              7:00 pm          Evening Prayer

                              8:00 pm          Choir Practice                              

Thurs.    03/17     8:00 pm           Dartball Orioles @ REDSOX (H)

Friday     03/18     10:45 am        Exercise Class

 Sunday  03/20      9:15 am         Sunday Worship

                            10:45 am        Sunday School

                            3:00 pm           Lenten Bible Study @ ELLC

HERE ARE SOME OF THE ONGOING ACTIVITIES HERE AT ST. ANDREW

Sunday School (Adult and children)  meets Sundays at 10:45 am; Adults meet in the narthex

AA Lit. Study meets each week on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm.

Mother Hubbards' Cupboard Distribution is held the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Adult Bible Study meets Tuesdays at 1:30 pm

 Exercise classes are held Mondays and Fridays at 10:45 am

The Dartball team has games on Thursdays at 8:00 pm. Check the Messenger or the Sunday bulletin for schedule

As always, be sure to check the Bulletin for updates and schedules

NEWS UPDATES

THE FOLLOWING UPDATES ARE CHANGES THAT CONFLICT WITH THE INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED. LOOK HERE WHEN READING THE NEWSLETTER/BULLETIN ITEMS. THE DATES OF POSTING WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED.