Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, in the heart of Erie’s old Little Italy neighborhood, is a true light to its community. On any given evening, volunteers and clergy will be serving meals, distributing clothing and food, helping children with their school work, or facilitating support groups for struggling adults.

The church takes seriously Christ’s command to “feed my sheep.” That’s why it is so disturbing to hear of the severe vandalism unleashed on the church by an individual. As reported in the Erie Times-News,

The damage was extensive: A U-shaped kneeling rail at the white-oak altar was snapped off and thrown into the pews. The baptismal fount was chipped, and the organ had been tipped over. It no longer works, the church secretary, J.J. Lee, said.

“It looked horrible in here,” Lee said.

Church members spent several hours Monday repairing the damage. They found candles, vases, hymnals and crosses that had been thrown across the room. Several of the pews had been torn from the floor.