BLESSINGS FOUND AMONG THE ASHES JOINT SERVICE HELD AT OFFERED CHURCH.Byline: NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN Staff Writer LA CRESCENTA -- Flames destroyed their church but their faith burned stronger than ever Sunday as hundreds of displaced displaced see displacement. worshippers were welcomed into a neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. church for an emotional Christmas Eve service. La Crescenta Presbyterian Church opened its doors to congregations from Christian Life Church and Christ 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. , which had worshipped at the Christian Life Church at 3013 Montrose Ave. Christian Life, which had rented space to Christ Armenian Church for the past three years, burned down Wednesday night while a choir was practicing. Everyone got out safely but the church was destroyed. ``We were homeless and now you gave us room,'' Encino resident Michael Piranian, a board member of the Christ Armenian Church, told a member of the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church in La Crescenta as he embraced her. Eight churches had already called offering the use of their facilities. ``People have said to me this couldn't have happened at a worse time, just days before Christmas. But I say it couldn't have happened at a better time,'' said Barbara Charlton of Glendale, a 12-year member of the Christian Life Church, referring to the support of others. ``Unity to the community.'' As the two congregations gathered Sunday, brought together by tragedy and a neighbor's generosity Generosity See also Aid, Organizational; Kindness. Abbé Constantin self-sacrificing priest; curé of Longueral. [Fr. Lit.: The Abbé Constantin, Walsh Modern, 105] Amelia takes interest in Paul. [Br. Lit. , they could only reflect on the healing Healing See also Medicine. Achilles’ spear had power to heal whatever wound it made. [Gk. Lit.: Iliad] Agamede Augeas’ daughter; noted for skill in using herbs for healing. [Gk. Myth. qualities of faith, the human spirit and hope. As they hugged and rejoiced, the charred cross atop the steeple of their own church was visible a block away. It had fallen to its side, but it had not fallen down. Authorities said the fast-moving electrical fire spread rapidly through the church, causing the roof to collapse into the sanctuary sanctuary, sacred place, especially the most sacred part of a sacred place. In ancient times and in the Middle Ages, a sanctuary served as asylum, a place of refuge for persons fleeing from violence or from the penalties of the law. just days before Christmas. ``It couldn't have happened at a worse time'' is a phrase members of the church have heard over and over in the past few days. For the first time in 50 years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time Presbyterian Church decided not to hold a morning Christmas Eve service since it fell on a Sunday. This allowed them to offer up the space to Christian Life and Christ Armenian congregations for a joint morning service. ``We're so grateful about the timing of everything,'' said Pastor Tim Manchester of the Christian Life Church. ``God is the God of all hope. He's able to make beauty out of ashes.'' Piranian, part of the Armenian evangelical congregation, praised the beauty of gathering Sunday with their Protestant ``American brothers'' in a joint, bilingual bi·lin·gual adj. 1. a. Using or able to use two languages, especially with equal or nearly equal fluency. b. ceremony, during which music and praise for God transcended culture and language. A young Armenian man urged the congregation to sing along to ``Come Praise the King'' in Armenian, and soon the entire non-Armenian congregation was doing its best to pronounce pro·nounce v. pro·nounced, pro·nounc·ing, pro·nounc·es v.tr. 1. a. To use the organs of speech to make heard (a word or speech sound); utter. b. the words, ``Yegek Bashtenk Takavorin.'' ``God's for all of us, Armenians, Germans, French, all of us here,'' Manchester said during the service to rousing rous·ing adj. 1. Inducing enthusiasm or excitement; stirring: a rousing sermon. 2. Lively; vigorous: a rousing march tune. 3. applause. ``The two congregations have been at the same church for three years and we've had a couple of joint services, so it was different, but not foreign to us,'' said 21-year Christian Life Church member Tom Seal of Lake View Terrace. ``It's a new beginning for our church. There's been a desire for a new beginning with our new pastor. We just didn't know it'd be from the ground up.'' The Christmas Eve service was evidence to all in attendance that a church is not just a building but a fellowship of men, women and children who share a common faith. Manchester ended the service holding a charred cross, still wet, found in their church. ``Every word of praise from the Christ Armenian Church and Christian Life Church is recorded on this,'' he said. ``I believe we are going to be blessed.'' Pastor Saro Khachikian of the Christ Armenian Church said rather than focusing on why the tragedy occurred, he's focusing on the future. ``God never wastes a pain, a hurt,'' he said. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. why it happened, but I know the outcome will be good.'' naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3722 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Christian Life parishioners join a Christmas Eve A Christmas Eve is a short story by Camillo Boito which appeared in his anthology of decadence and perversity titled Tales of Vanity (sometimes translated as Vain Tales), which also featured his more famous work, Senso. service at the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church. (2) Parishioners from the Christian Life Church participate in a Christmas Eve service at the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church. The parishioners were invited to the church after their building was destroyed in a recent fire. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer |
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