After the tornado, Oklahoma church sings God’s praises (reporting from Moore, Okla.). Inside Story.

MOORE, Okla. — Tears.

Hugs.

Emotional recountings of survival and loss.

In the wake of a disaster such as the May 20 tornado that devastated this Oklahoma City suburb, the casual hellos and handshakes of a typical Sunday give way to deeper, more intimate communication — in body language, if not words.

“How are you?” an older woman asks a fellow member of the Central Church of Christ, as the two share a tender embrace.

“I’m good,” the sister in Christ replies and repeats, “I’m good.”

“It didn’t hit you?”

“I didn’t have any damage.”

“Oh, good.”

The holy chatter of 150 similar conversations fills the church auditorium.

Texas tornado ‘blew in a 2-foot layer of love’: Churches in two storm-battered communities become hubs for disaster relief (reporting from Cleburne, Texas). Page 1.

Religious freedom in public schools: Yes, it’s constitutional to teach the Bible during the school day (reporting from Simpsonville, S.C.). With sidebar: Christian education program takes director back to her roots (reporting from Greenville, S.C.). Second Front.

‘God’s been good’ to New York church: Diverse congregation celebrates the purchase of its first permanent building after leasing a hotel ballroom for years (reporting from Middletown, N.Y.). National.

Explosion rocks Texas church: After a deadly blast at a fertilizer plant owned by a church elder, West Church of Christ members rely on faith, prayer and fellow Christians (reporting from West, Texas). Page 1 lead.

WEST, Texas — The auditorium lights flickered.

The glass doors flew open.

West Church of Christ minister Ernie Albrecht was sharing Wednesday night devotional thoughts — focused on Ezekiel and the need for Christians to stand up and be strong in their faith — when a loud boom rocked the pews.

“For a moment, I thought, ‘Man, Jesus is coming!’” Albrecht said later. “It was a scary moment because it was like, ‘This may be it.’”

Albrecht finished his remarks, and deacon Shorty Harkins — who brushed off the noise as thunder — stood to lead the invitation song, “There Is Power in the Blood.”

Harkins had asked elder Donald Adair, an 83-year-old farmer and owner of the West Fertilizer Co., to say the closing prayer.

But in the dark auditorium, Harkins did not realize Adair had received a phone call a few minutes earlier and quickly left. Unknown to the congregation, Adair had learned that the fertilizer plant had caught fire.

“Oh, no!” a few members had heard Adair’s wife, Wanda, mutter on the way out.

Outside the church building, a giant plume of smoke filled the still-bright sky — the result of a massive explosion at Adair’s fertilizer plant that killed 15 people and wounded more than 200.

“It kind of looked like a mushroom cloud,” said Harkins, a longtime resident of this north-central Texas town of 2,800, known for its Czech culture and kolache pastry shops. “It was about a mile and a half over there to it.”

Boston Marathon bombings: Church of Christ minister pays tribute to slain MIT officer. Second Front.

Sin, snoring and sermons: What to say to the preacher. Inside Story.

One church, multiple generations: A suburban Denver congregation mixes young and old as it endeavors to share the love of Christ with its community (reporting from Westminster, Colo.). Churches That Work.

WESTMINSTER, Colo. — On the first and third Sunday nights of each month, the Northwest Church of Christ assembles at the church building to sing, pray and hear a sermon.

On the second and fourth Sunday nights, members gather in each other’s homes for small-group Bible studies and devotionals.

Fifth Sunday nights are reserved for service projects.

The hybrid approach reflects the suburban Denver church’s effort to serve an intergenerational membership that runs the gamut from 20-something professionals to World War II veterans.

“It’s always been a very high priority for this eldership to not sacrifice one generation for the preferences of another,” said Ron Hanegan, one of the church’s five elders.

Share Jesus outside the church walls, Christians urged (reporting from Manchester, Conn.). Page 1.

Ouch! A stone but not a tablet at the emergency room. Inside Story.