Goodnight, Irene -- Worship Service Unaffected by Loss of Power

As most of you know, Hurricane Irene has made its way through North Carolina and Virginia and is still wreaking havoc up the coast of New England. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who continue to endure this storm.

For most of us here in Northern Virginia, it was nothing more than a tropical storm, but I don't use the term "nothing more" lightly. Winds in my neck of the woods probably did not exceed 50 miles per hour, considering by the time Irene's eye went by us, the maximum winds were barely 90 mph. It was not so much the intense center of this hurricane, but the fact that it spread out so wide that presented the potential for harmful conditions.

While we did not lose power here, several areas did and some are still without power. The Fairlington area was in the dark, particularly in the area of our church, Fairlington Presbyterian. It did not go unnoticed that our Methodist brethren across the street apparently cancelled their services in an abundance of caution. We had a grand total of 22 (by my unofficial count) who braved what was left of the weather to come to a building that was without power, which turned our organist into a pianist for the day. He did not (and never does) disappoint. The music ministry of our church is small, but mighty indeed.

While I am thankful that we were able to have a service even with a loss of power (which was restored about midway through), my thoughts and prayers continue to be for those who have already endured the effects of Irene, and for those who have yet to stand in its path. May her impact on you be minimal.