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May 5, 2008 12:07 am US/Eastern
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Parishioners Gather After Strawberry Mansion Fire
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
A Philadelphia congregation united for worship Sunday, despite a raging fire that destroyed their historic church last Wednesday. As parishioners gathered for an outdoor service many said prayers lifted their spirits.
Singing the words "standing on a solid rock," members of the Prince of Peace Baptist Church gathered under a 'solid as a rock' tent after their historic church was destroyed by fire last week.
"Right away we said a tent because we're part of the community so we knew rain or shine. That's why we did a tent with the covering and we said we were going to be right here," Church Trustee Valerie Latimore-Allen said.
On the first Sunday since the fire, members of the congregation joined in an uplifting service. The poignant message their pastor sent in the hours after the devastation was no doubt not far from their minds.
"That is not the church. This is the church," Pastor Robert Shipman said as he pointed to members of the congregation.
So on Sunday parishioners chose not to dwell on the past, but instead, concentrate on the future and the life that still lives inside Prince of Peace Baptist Church.
"I'm still trying to get over the devastation but we're pulling things together and it's getting better," Olivia Weeks said.
"They had a loss with the church because everybody had their funeral and marriages here but now they see a beginning and a happy beginning," parishioner Christopher Jones said.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire at the place of worship.
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