Quake gives punch to preacher's message

TRUCKEE - Tuesday's earthquake in the high Sierra seemed like little less than a message from God to one congregation in Truckee.

Shortly before the temblor, Pastor Eric Moen of the River Rock Christian Fellowship was in the middle of his sermon, recounting the plight of Silas and Paul. The Bible describes them being imprisoned because of their Christian faith.

As Moen was explaining how a great earthquake helped the pair escaped their cell, his sermon to about 40 people was punctuated by shaking. It was the magnitude-4.8 quake, centered about 8 miles east of Truckee.

"Metal doors shook like crazy," Moen said. "Everybody just jumped up and were running around screaming because everybody knew it was from God."

In the Biblical Book of Acts, Silas and Paul are imprisoned after exorcising a spirit from a slave girl. They are flogged and jailed in stocks for advocating customs that are illegal in Rome.

When jailed, the two sing hymns, and an earthquake shakes the building. A guard instantly converts to Christianity and helps rescue them from the prison.

Moen said he has been through at least six earthquakes, but Sunday's quake "felt like the biggest, in many ways," he said. "This one had a smack to it."

The quake was felt up to 100 miles away in Sacramento. The Nevada County Sheriff's Office said there were no reports of injury or damage.