A toilet seat came up missing after a community meal at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church this month.

The Rev. James Neal, interim pastor at the city church, said the matter was dealt with in-house, and no police report was filed. He added he has no ill will toward the toilet seat thief.

“As a church, we are providers helping the needy,” Neal said. “Even if it’s a toilet seat.”

A custodian told Neal about the seat following a Katie’s Kitchen free community meal that takes place every Thursday at the Jefferson Street church.

Neal said the vandalism is the first time such an incident occurred at the church, and he did not want to make a “mountain out of a mole hill.”

“In my years of ministry, there’s always a little bad apple,” he said. “We try to address it early enough so it’s not spoiled for rest.”

Neal shared a message with the people to respect premises, whether it is someone’s home or public building.

“Our house is your house,” he said. “The doors will always be open.”

“Things happen,” said Raylene Jindra, a Katie’s Kitchen volunteer, about the behavior.

Whether it is a service or community meal, people should take care of God’s house, she said.