West Nanticoke Church Trying to Recover After September Flood

It may be a small room but this is where members of the Calvary United Methodist Church in West Nanticoke come together every Sunday to worship.

Beverly Vietz, church secretary says, "We have, I think, about 30 people in there today and we're all kind of squished but its working.  Anything for the lord that we can do to get this church back we can do it."

During the September flood, water rose to the second floor of the church on Prospect Street.  But by the grace of god nothing near the sanctuary's altar was touched.  But still the room had to be gutted, carpets removed and thousands of dollars in furniture destroyed.

Christiane Fox still tears up when she thinks about it, "I could still cry to this day.  It was very sad."

Only one piece of wood if left of the pews that filled the sanctuary before the flood and members say they're going to preserve this piece and put it in a special place.

This isn't the first time in the over 100 year history of the church that they've made a rebound. They've survived two fires and two major floods.  Members say if they made it through that, they can make it through anything.

"It's been down so many times between fires and floods and it seems to always rise and that's why they call it the Phoenix. We call ourselves Calvary United Methodist Church comma Phoenix," says Vietz.

"The flood did a lot of damage over here but our goal is to tell people we're here.  We are here and we want you to come," says Fox.

The church now needs new members since many people in West Nanticoke were forced to leave town when their homes were destroyed by the flood.

"That is our goal, that is our dream and that is what we would like to have happen to Calvary United Methodist Church," says Dietz.

Members hope to have their sanctuary ready for an Easter celebration.