Fire Hits Christ Church Parish Hall: Pentecost 2008

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOB NELSON

Today is Monday, May 12, 2008 (around 3:30 AM)

FIRE HITS CHRIST CHURCH PARISH HALL

Late Sunday night a fire broke out in the Christ Church Parish Hall kitchen causing extensive damage to the kitchen and less severe damage in the rest of the hall area and parts of the attic. I would like to thank our neighbor to the south of us who called the fire department in a timely way.

A big thank you to the Redondo Beach Fire Department who responded quickly and did an excellent job of preventing further damage to the property and for responding to our questions and concerns.


















(From Left to right) Captain Dan Bliss, Paramedic/Firefighter Steve Fernandez, Captain Shell Conatser, Firefighter Jeremy Sisante, Engineer Dave Buckner, Division Chief Steve Hyink, Engineer Gary Treskes.




I also want to greatly thank Sandy and Elizabeth Pringle, Mark Bingham, vestry person, Stephen Duke, Junior Warden, Susan Mulledy-DeFrank, and Senior Warden, Robert Nelson who were at the church and assisted in providing information to the fire fighters regarding the property. I also want to thank Sandie Nelson for getting on the phone on Sunday night and calling vestry members.

It is too early to truly know the full extent of the damage to the parish hall and the attic in the office building next to the parish hall, but your vestry and rector will be working together to begin the process that will result in the repair of the damage so that we can have full use of the facility as soon as possible.

Until further notice, the parish hall is unavailable for use during the week and on Sundays for our usual post service coffee hour. We are looking at ways that will allow us to use the grass area and perhaps the courtyard area between the parish hall and classroom/office space.

Please keep all of those responsible for the tasks that this fire has made necessary in your prayers. May God bring us closer together in the work that is now set before us.

It is now 3:20 AM and I am off to get some rest before beginning of the new day. I will send out additional information and photographs over the next several days and weeks. If you have any questions regarding the fire, please contact me by email at rwcornner@aol.com.

God's Peace as the smoke clears,

Father Bob


Here is today's update news (end of day, Monday May 12, 2008):

1. All meetings both church and other organizations such as A.A have been cancelled until further notice. Our regularly scheduled Wednesday worship at 6:30 AM and at 7 PM are canceled.

2. Church services will be held at our usual times, but we will not have access to the parish hall, our child care and Catechesis rooms, or the bathrooms. The area from the parish hall back through the offices and classrooms is closed. We will have our child care provider available to help parents with our younger children, but all other children will be in church.

3. We are hoping to have a tent with a solid floor moved onto the grass area to use as our coffee hour spot by this Sunday. We also plan to have two handicap accessible portable restrooms moved onto our property. Those offering coffee hour should plan on providing treats that do not require refrigeration or heating. Simple will be better.

4. I have establish an online site for you to see photos of the damaged parish hall and the progress towards cleaning up and restoring these damaged areas to full service again. If you have any questions regarding the fire, please contact me by email at rwcornner@aol.com.

God's Peace as the smoke clears,

Father Bob


May 15, 2008 UPDATE ON THE FIRE RESORATION

This week parish leaders were busy overseeing the relocation of our church office to 412 B. Mother Cat has offered to share one of her two bedrooms with us until we can reoccupy the offices. Father Bob will be using the church chapel and other mobile locations to serve as his office. He can be reached at 310 613-5146 or by email at rwcornner@aol.com.

All of the contents of the classrooms and offices are being cleaned and removed to a storage area in Santa Fe Springs. All of the contents of the sacristy including all vestments and altar linens have been removed and sent out for cleaning and deodorizing. The chalices, patens, and other necessary items used in worship have been stored in a temporary sacristy area in the church. This week clergy and other servers will be only wearing a stole.

Two tents are set to be delivered and set up before Sunday. One large tent will serve as our parish hall and the smaller tent will serve as our child care room. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd students will meet with Ms. Allen in the big tent during the service for their lesson.

Yes, we will have a coffee hour after the service. We are buying two coffee makers and these will be set up near the cross in the garden across from the tents. Portable restrooms that are ADA approved will be available on campus because the area behind the parish hall where our bathrooms are located are now off limits.

People have asked how they can help. The most important way you can support your church is to worship in community regularly. Your presence and prayers provide a powerful support for the whole parish. Even if you have not attended in a while I would invite you to reconsider how important your presence at this time of challenge.