`IT FEELS LIKE MY HOUSE BURNED' FIRE DESTROYS CHURCH OF TWO CONGREGATIONS.Byline: EUGENE TONG Staff Writer LA CRESCENTA -- Its cross and steeple stood charred and twisted, the work of a fast-moving electrical fire that destroyed a house of worship Noun 1. house of worship - any building where congregations gather for prayer house of God, house of prayer, place of worship bethel - a house of worship (especially one for sailors) just days before Christmas and created a somber sight for the two congregations that called it home. ``It feels like my house burned,'' Martha Cook said Thursday, looking at the smoldering smol·der also smoul·der intr.v. smol·dered, smol·der·ing, smol·ders 1. To burn with little smoke and no flame. 2. rubble of Christian Life Church, which she and her family have attended for 24 years. ``I've been in every nook and cranny Noun 1. nook and cranny - something remote; "he explored every nook and cranny of science" nooks and crannies detail, item, point - an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole; "several of the details are similar"; "a point of information" of the church. It just always seems like when you walk in, you're walking on holy ground.'' No one was hurt in the fire that broke out about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at 3013 Montrose Ave. and spread through the attic, fueled by 200 theatrical costumes and props. The roof collapsed into the sanctuary, and flames destroyed offices and the preschool. An elementary school elementary school: see school. located in a separate building was unscathed. Investigators think an electrical malfunction may have caused the blaze, Glendale Fire Department Capt. Jim Frawley said. The church, which dates to the 1930s, serves about 500 worshippers from the Christian Life and Christ Armenian congregations. Pastor Tim Manchester, who took over the Protestant church in April, and members of the 400-strong Armenian church Armenian Church, autonomous Christian church, sometimes also called the Gregorian Church. Its head, a primate of honor only, is the catholicos of Yejmiadzin, Armenia; Karekin II became catholicos in 1999. were hopeful. ``(A church) is about people, not the building,'' Manchester said. ``It's about Jesus.'' They also were grateful for the outpouring of support from the local community, which flooded them with offers to help. La Crescenta Presbyterian Church will host both congregations for a joint service at 11 a.m. Sunday -- Christmas Eve. Manchester also expressed thanks that old photos and financial records were rescued from the flames, saying, ``Some people will see God's work in there.'' Joseph Hovespian, 33, is a board member of the 15-year-old Armenian congregation that started meeting there three years ago. ``We're like one family,'' he said. ``... We pray that God will enable us to fix this building, shoulder to shoulder with everybody in the community.'' Bonnie bon·ny also bon·nie adj. bon·ni·er, bon·ni·est Scots 1. Physically attractive or appealing; pretty. 2. Excellent. Chapman, who has attended the church for 10 years and has two grandchildren GRANDCHILDREN, domestic relations. The children of one's children. Sometimes these may claim bequests given in a will to children, though in general they can make no such claim. 6 Co. 16. who went to the church elementary school, came to the scene Thursday to survey the damage. ``You can't see the magnitude of it on TV -- you can't smell the smell,'' said Chapman, 59, of Glendale. ``It's been part of the community for a long time. But the people and the Lord's still here. No one was hurt. ... The church is the people. We can rebuild the building.'' Wednesday is typically ``family night'' for the school, when parents, instructors and students socialized so·cial·ize v. so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing, so·cial·iz·es v.tr. 1. To place under government or group ownership or control. 2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable. , Chapman said. There would have been 50 to 70 people on the grounds. But with classes out for the holidays, only 25 people, including the pastor and the choir members practicing for the Christmas Eve service, were present. The choir was rehearsing ``Joy to the World'' when Manchester said he heard a crackling crack·ling n. 1. The production of a succession of slight sharp snapping noises. 2. cracklings The crisp bits that remain after rendering fat from meat or frying or roasting the skin, especially of a pig or a goose. and saw smoke coming from the attic. They immediately evacuated the sanctuary. ``We were just getting ready to go on the stage, and we heard it started popping,'' he said. ``Our big concern was the people are all safe.'' But it was difficult for Cook to look at the iron cross that was installed atop the steeple about 10 years ago. ``I always had the vision of a cross (there),'' she said. ``To see it drop this morning ... I know the Lord will restore it. I just want it back soon.'' Cook's daughter, Vanessa Dodd, 28, even met her husband -- the son of the previous pastor -- at the church, and marched down the rose-colored aisle just two years ago. Her husband, Kevin Dodd, 26, also had fond memories. ``We would turn off all the lights and play hide-and-go-seek,'' he said. ``There is stuff everywhere, and you could hide for three hours and no one will find you. ``And every year, we'd climb on the roof to watch the (Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. ) fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to . ... We got into trouble for that.'' The church will have to be razed raze also rase tr.v. razed also rased, raz·ing also ras·ing, raz·es also ras·es 1. To level to the ground; demolish. See Synonyms at ruin. 2. To scrape or shave off. 3. and could one day be rebuilt. But it will be a tough road. ``Memories ooze OOZE - Object oriented extension of Z. "Object Orientation in Z", S. Stepney et al eds, Springer 1992. from it everywhere,'' Manchester said, recalling his first impression of the church. ``You can't replace it. That's harder.'' eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com (818) 546-3304 Sunday services Christian Life Church and Christ Armenian Church will hold a joint service at 11 a.m. Sunday at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, 2902 Montrose Ave. Classes at La Crescenta Christian are expected to resume Jan. 2. Donations, including money and school supplies, can be sent to Christian Life Church, 3013 Montrose Ave., La Crescenta, CA 91214. CAPTION(S): 4 photos, box, map Photo: (1 -- color) Christian Life Church Pastor Tim Manchester, left, waits Thursday to enter the church office to salvage important documents as firefighters clean up a fire that tore through the church Wednesday. (2 -- color) Christian Life Church parishioner Mark Keener wipes away tears as he watches the cleanup Thursday. The church shared space Shared space is a traffic engineering philosophy pioneered by the Dutch traffic engineer Hans Monderman. The approach relies on the principle that road users' behaviour is more likely to be affected by the street environment and design than by the traditional deployment of measures with Christ Armenian Church. (3) Glendale police and fire officials walk around with insurance adjusters assessing damage from Wednesday night's fire. (4) Christ Armenian Church coordinator Armen Ibrahimian takes a moment for himself Thursday as the Glendale Fire Department works to clean up after Wednesday night's fire. John Lazar/Staff Photographer Box: Sunday services (see text) Map: The Christian Life Church |
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