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When Pastor Frank Wulf thinks about his congregation being unable to worship of their residence of 100 years, he’s reminded of the Outdated Testomony scripture of the Israelites in exile.
Wulf’s church, Echo Park United Methodist Church on North Alvarado Road and Reservoir Road in northeast Los Angeles, isn’t presently secure for occupation. The century-old dome over the church’s bell tower was broken by the current atmospheric rivers that pounded California, and structural engineers say it might topple into the church and result in a snowball impact of collapses that might injure folks contained in the construction.
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1. Items of a collapsed roof lay on the ground beneath the golden dome that sits atop Echo Park United Methodist Church. 2. Notices are taped to the doorways at Echo Park United Methodist Church, which has been a group beacon for 100 years. 3. Rain broken and moldy partitions inside Echo Park United Methodist Church, which has been a group beacon for 100 years. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Occasions)
However simply because the Israelites did when the Persians allow them to again into the land of Israel, Wulf says they may rebuild.
“The church is de facto not a constructing however a group of individuals, a group that’s cared for one another over a protracted time period,” Wulf mentioned.
Wulf’s congregation has been out of its historic residence since Feb. 1, the pastor mentioned.
That got here after the primary pounding storm of the season led to the partial collapse of the tower, exposing the wooden that holds up the golden dome.
The wooden had badly deteriorated: There was dry rot, termites and water injury.
The primary structural engineer who inspected the constructing advised Wulf and his crew that the church was not a secure place for teams to congregate.
The evacuation of the constructing impacts not simply the 40 or 45 individuals who attend Sunday providers, but additionally the others in the neighborhood whom the church serves.
Wulf mentioned providers for homeless Angelenos, corresponding to showers outdoors the constructing and free meals, have needed to be paused.
He additionally needed to inform the 12-step teams for folks scuffling with alcoholism or different substance use issues that they might not meet on the church, not less than for now.
The church had been constructing non permanent shelter for migrants bused to Los Angeles from Texas. It was presupposed to welcome 4 households to reside within the area in mid-February, nevertheless it needed to halt that program as effectively.
“Our major dedication is to maintain everybody secure,” the church crew mentioned in an announcement on a GoFundMe web page they posted to lift cash for the work wanted to reopen.
Wulf has not determined but if they may restore the century-old constructing.
“Would this be the suitable time to maybe take the entire constructing down and begin from scratch?” he requested.
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