Harmony Creek, Iowa – Chaos erupted within the Harmony Creek Revival Church this afternoon following a dramatic and unexpected event during Pastor Silas Blackwood’s sermon. Witnesses report a significant portion of the church’s elaborate, centuries-old stained-glass altar collapsed, sending shards of colored glass and debris across the congregation. Emergency services were immediately dispatched, and initial reports indicate no serious injuries, though several attendees sustained minor cuts and abrasions.

The incident occurred approximately 45 minutes into Pastor Blackwood’s sermon, which focused on themes of repentance and divine judgment. According to multiple accounts, a sudden and violent tremor shook the building just as the pastor was delivering a particularly impassioned passage regarding the “wrath of the Lord.” Immediately following the tremor, the altar, a prominent feature of the church’s interior design and a centerpiece of its historical significance, began to buckle and ultimately shattered into hundreds of pieces.

“It was like… like the heavens themselves were cracking open,” recounted Martha Jenkins, a longtime member of the congregation. “One minute Pastor Blackwood was talking about fire and brimstone, the next, this explosion of color was raining down. I thought it was the end.”

Church officials have confirmed the altar is estimated to be over 300 years old and was installed during the tenure of the church’s founder, Reverend Elijah Thorne. Preliminary assessments suggest the structural integrity of the altar may have been compromised by a combination of age and recent, localized seismic activity. The local geological survey is currently examining the area for further evidence.

“We’ve been experiencing some unusual ground movements lately,” stated Sheriff Brody, who was on the scene. “It’s not enough to warrant a formal earthquake declaration, but it’s certainly something we’re looking into. This incident certainly raises some questions.”

Pastor Blackwood, visibly shaken but composed, addressed the congregation shortly after the incident. “The Lord works in mysterious ways,” he stated, his voice strained. “Perhaps this is a reminder that even the most sacred things are subject to the passage of time and the forces of nature.” The church has temporarily suspended all services while a full structural assessment is conducted. The investigation into the cause of the collapse is ongoing.