The Rev. Sarah Dorrance planned to preach last Sunday about hospitality.

But when the pastor at Taylorsville United Methodist Church in Carroll County entered the church that morning, she discovered that vandals had struck, destroying office equipment, damaging the sanctuary ceiling and spraying fire extinguisher fluid everywhere.

Sunday's incident marked the fourth time in recent weeks that the white wood-frame church near Mount Airy was hit, but this one was the worst.

"I knew I had to change the sermon," Dorrance said. "I preached Isaiah 40, which says 'Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.'"

The pastor changed more than the sermon: The service, attended by about 70, had to be held beneath the leaves of a maple tree on the church grounds.

Yesterday, Dorrance and other Taylorsville Methodist members learned that state police had arrested two Carroll teenagers in the vandalism. The youths, ages 14 and 15, were charged with second-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property and theft, police said. Both were referred to juvenile services officials, who released the older boy to his parents and placed the other in a shelter. Police believe the youngsters chose the church at random.

In addition to the damage in the sanctuary and Dorrance's adjacent office, the downstairs kitchen also was hit. A refrigerator was knocked over and floors and walls were covered with fire extinguisher fluid. Cleaning crews worked yesterday to repair the damage, which has been estimated at $70,000.

Dorrance said she hopes to hold services in the sanctuary Sunday.

The first incident occurred Aug. 11, Dorrance said, when the church was broken into but nothing was stolen. Vandals struck again a week later, breaking windows and stealing light bulbs. In the third attack, parishioners cars were broken into during a service.

Asked why her church was targeted, Dorrance said, "No clue."

"Was it because it was fun? I don't know," she said. "One of my concerns is that if these are kids who really are that angry in the world or that lost in the world, then what can we do to reach out? What can we do to help?"