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@johnschreiber / X
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@johnschreiber / X
USA News

Church burned down in LA wildfires offered sanctuary

by Lydia Davies

A congregation whose church was destroyed in the recent wildfires around Los Angeles has found refuge in a nearby parish.

According to Church Times, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Altadena was destroyed, along with its school and the homes of 40 church members.

The congregation held its first service at St. Barnabas’s in Eagle Rock last Sunday.

The church has received support from the California Endowment, a private health foundation, which donated $100,000 (£80,580).

This same amount has been provided to other places of worship affected by the fires.

Robert Ross, the former president of the Endowment and a member of St. Mark’s, spoke during last Sunday’s service.

He praised the church community for working toward a fair and just rebuilding of Altadena, and referenced Martin Luther King Jr.'s idea of a "Beloved Community" as an inspiration for their efforts.

Rev Michael Micheler, who was ordained as a priest on 11th January during the fires, led the first Eucharist service at St. Barnabas’s.

Additional funds are coming from the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles’s One Body and One Spirit Appeal Fund, which has raised $345,000 (£277,000) so far.

Thirteen grants of $34,168 (£27,440) have been given out, with more grants in the works.

These funds go directly to affected congregations.

Bishop John H. Taylor of Los Angeles expressed deep gratitude for the support received, telling the outlet: "The generosity of the people of God around our diocese and Episcopal Church-wide is astonishing and moving beyond words." He also encouraged continued prayers for those suffering due to the fires, noting that every dollar raised is used to support the affected communities.

In addition to St. Mark's, St. Matthew’s in Pacific Palisades, which was severely damaged in the fires, has been welcomed to St. Augustine by-the-Sea in Santa Monica.

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