A rash of burglaries at the Church of the Pacific in Princeville is not spoiling the Christmas of the church’s pastor or its congregants, said Pastor Glenn Frazier, Wednesday, as he prepared for a midnight service. Like the WHO’s from
A rash of burglaries at the Church of the Pacific in Princeville is not spoiling the Christmas of the church’s pastor or its congregants, said Pastor Glenn Frazier, Wednesday, as he prepared for a midnight service.
Like the WHO’s from WHOville, who in Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” began to sing when all their Christmas presents were stolen, the congregation of the Princeville church is continuing to pray.
Although, Pastor Frazier said, “If you are surprised by a 10-by-40-foot tent for Christmas, let me know.”
“This Congregation gets over it fast,” he said. “We have better things to think about,” like getting food together for their annual Christmas dinner for the needy.
The tent, along with a half-dozen $30 floor mats and a few hibiscus plants, were stolen early Monday morning, just hours after the church’s Living Nativity Pageant was staged. The plants were replacements for other hibiscus that were stolen a few days prior, along with a sign that gave last weekend’s show times.
“It was disappointing, We had such a wonderful nativity” pageant, as nearly 1,000 people came to the four shows, the pastor said. “It’s just been a rash of weird luck.”
After the Sunday Nativity shows, volunteers were too tired to take down the tent, so they left it for Monday morning. But the tent was gone by then.
“It’s a Grinch thing,” said Frazier, but “I hate to think it was somebody who has a grudge.”
But it will not affect either Christmas or next year’s Nativity shows, said the pastor.
“If it were somebody who needed it more,” like the homeless, maybe it will help them, he said.
“It was all a wonderful experience,” said Frazier, Grinch included.
Staff writer Tom Finnegan can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226)
