A joyful “good morning,” sweetly flowed off the tongues of Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church ushers as they greeted parishioners and visitors into their new sanctuary on the first Sunday in June. Church members have been worshiping in Ferguson since May 16, after a deadly EF3 tornado ripped through north St. Louis and obliterated Cote Brilliante.
About 100 people sat in brown wooden pews and clapped their hands to the resonant tone of the organist who played classic gospel hymns, accompanying the 15-person choir.
Cote Brilliante immediately relocated to First Presbyterian Church in Ferguson just two days after the storm. The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, the church’s overseer, called Douglass Petty, its pastor, just hours after it hit and offered him a church in Ferguson to temporarily hold services. Petty said the new location is a blessing in disguise…