Hazmat
We had a little bit of excitement yesterday. A relic of an oil tank, long-since decommissioned from active use and catastrophically overcome by rust, spilled its remaining contents upon the basement floor of the church parsonage. A whiff of petroleum was the first sign that something was amiss. The second clue came when we opened the basement door and noticed iridescent liquid pools where there should have been concrete. Darrell remarked, “It looks like the Exxon Valdez ran ashore down there!” And so it came to pass that Bethlehem Fire Department Engines 6 and 9, HAZMAT 1, and a BPD squad car all came together at the corner of Lorain and Locust to render aid. It was quite a spectacle.
I won’t keep you in suspense: We are fine! The house is a little worse for wear, but it is habitable. (We did take advantage of hotel accommodations, I’ll admit, because the odor was a little too obnoxious to live with overnight.) An environmental restoration company brought its expertise and hauled away the wreckage. For the time being, darling little microbes are devouring the oil remnants, a temporary vent is allowing for the escape of unwholesome fumes, and a powerful Hydroxyl Generator is purifying the rest of the air in the house. Crisis managed.
All of life is a learning experience. Over the last 30 hours I’ve learned that the only differences between home heating fuel and diesel engine fuel are crimson dye and taxability; that “combustible” and “flammable” are not exactly synonymous; and that firefighters are fantastic human beings (but I actually knew that already). The harshest lesson, though, is that neglecting to solve a problem in the short term often leads to an even bigger problem in the long run.
The tank should have been taken out years ago, it’s easy to realize now. Removing it was, I suspect, just one onerous task on a long list, and it would not have been skipped over intentionally. Probably, it kept getting pushed to the bottom because other tasks were more urgent or more interesting. This is how it goes sometimes.
When the restoration specialists cut apart the disintegrating tank to remove it in pieces, they noted that the inside of the vessel was coated in a layer of sludge. Possibly, they told us, the sludge was what kept the liquid from escaping through the rusted-out container for who-knows-how-long. Eventually, the sludge plug itself succumbed to physics, and when it blew, that’s when the problem was no longer ignorable.
Wanting to find something of spiritual value in the situation, I wonder if any of the metaphors stirred up here might be useful, especially in this season of Lent–rescue vehicles…restoration specialists…air purification…? “Sludge plug” seems to be especially evocative. Perhaps it’s a new term for the collective mess that comes from sins of omission: the good that was meant to be done but was left undone; the love that was intended to be shared but was not; the guilt that goes with it all. Before it does more damage, it can be dismantled! It can be confessed! It can be turned around! It can be cleaned up!
[Christ Jesus] has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1: 13-14, NRSV)
In our household we are grateful for the work of all the emergency services personnel, the fellows from Rapid Response, the encouragement of the Eastern District Executive Board who offered to cover hotel expenses, and the responsive College Hill Board of Trustees. Of course, we thank God for bringing everyone safely through a slightly harrowing experience!
Feeling Safe and Thankful,
Pastor Chris
Worship Opportunities at College Hill Moravian Church
February 28, 2021– 10:00 AM
Livestream on YouTube by searching for College Hill Moravian Church
Parking Lot Worship
We’ll be collecting single-serve food items to support children at William Penn Elementary School.
Virtual Activities
Virtual Fellowship Time on Zoom – Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
Everyone is welcome! Whether you’ve become a “regular” at these gatherings, or you’re thinking about dropping by for the very first time, please use the Zoom link below, or join by phone if you do not use a device with a screen.
To join by computer, tablet or smart phone, please go to
To join by phone (no video), dial:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 998 3134 7702
Zoom Prayers–Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
We offer Zoom Prayers on Sunday evenings at 6:30. We come together to share simply in intercessory prayer on behalf of our congregation, community, and world. We usually conclude by 7:00 p.m. All are welcome!
To join by computer, tablet, or smart phone, please go to
To join by phone (no video), dial:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 919 6174 3369
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