~ Displaced New Zealand churches mourn their dead ~

The Sunday after a massive 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch New Zealand, left 166 dead on 22 February, worshippers gathered outdoors, meeting in unfamiliar churches and next to damaged buildings to reflect, pray, mourn and give thanks. "Some of our churches were run in the open air outside the damaged buildings," said the Rev. Dugald Wilson of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church on the outskirts of the city, which suffered minor damage. Like many buildings, Christchurch Cathedral is still unstable and remains cordoned off. 10,000 homes face demolition; some parts of the city cannot be rebuilt. (MISC. REPORTS)