Hearth was set in Somerville church after Delight service, leaders say

Leaders of a Somerville church say a hearth was set in its sanctuary after a Delight worship service this previous Sunday.

In a statement, First Church Somerville stated that proper after their “joyful” Delight service ended on June 11, “a hearth was set” within the church’s sanctuary. On the time, the assertion says, the congregation was downstairs within the church’s social corridor engaged on a service challenge.

A congregation member put out the fireplace after which contacted the Somerville Hearth Division, the assertion says. Nobody was harm within the fireplace, although the sanctuary was broken.

“We’re grateful that the injury is localized to 1 portion of our house,” the assertion reads.

Native and state authorities are investigating the fireplace, however it’s unclear whether or not the fireplace had any connection to the Delight service, the assertion says.

“Whatever the consequence of the investigation, First Church Somerville will proceed to be unapologetically queer, queer affirming, and Christian,” the assertion says. “We all know queer individuals are made within the picture of our Creator and the queer group holds prophetic energy within the kin-dom of God.”

The Boston Globe reported that the Somerville Hearth Division plans to replace the general public on the investigation into the fireplace on Thursday morning.

The church’s assertion stated it’ll proceed its “celebration of queer pleasure” on Sunday, June 18, at 10 a.m.

That is the second suspected arson at a Boston-area church in the previous couple of months. In April, a Cambridge church was closely broken by fireplace on Easter Sunday following the church’s afternoon service. Officers later stated they imagine the fireplace was deliberately set.