LOS ANGELES — On Good Friday, Pastor John Shaver carried a tall wooden cross down the street where the 102-year-old Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades once proudly stood, now reduced to ashes after the January wildfire that ravaged the area.
Just three months earlier, shy of a year into his leadership, the church was consumed by flames during a wildfire that affected nearly 80% of the congregation, many of whom lost their homes, including Shaver himself.
Alongside a small group of community members, Shaver hosted a unique Good Friday “cross walk,” making stops at nine locations along their journey to the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. At each stop, they read a Bible verse in a departure from the traditional 14-step devotion commemorating the events of Christ’s suffering, crucifixion, and death.
This gathering marked the first time members had stepped onto the church site since the fire.
Among the group was church member Christine Odionu, who paused at her burned-out condo, where only the garage remained. As she spoke, tears filled her eyes.
“It’s just too painful,” she said, reflecting on the sorrow of the day. “Easter is a time of hope. But today feels like a sorrowful day, a day of mourning.”
The tragedy resulted in the loss of 29 lives across the Los Angeles area due to the wildfires, including long-time church member Annette Rossilli, age 85, whose memory weighed heavily on Shaver as they walked.
Shaver also took a moment to remember the site of his own home, looking upon the vacant lot where he, his wife, and two daughters had moved into just a few months prior in July.
“It’s also a reminder how much of what we have, we take for granted,” he stated, noting that he wore clothes donated to him after the fire as a symbol of gratitude on this poignant day.
As the group embarked on their walk, the street, Via De La Paz, buzzed with construction and cleanup activity. Forklifts, jackhammers, and workers bustling in fluorescent vests could be seen amidst the eerie atmosphere left by the fire.
Charred trees drooped helplessly, and twisted remnants of what once were homes jutted from the ground. Some properties displayed blue signs proclaiming resilience with messages like “This home will rise again,” while a neighboring school offered hope with a message board stating, “Pali will rebuild.”
Thomas Knoll, a neighbor since 2012, also faced loss but was not a church member or particularly religious.
“This feels like sort of a funeral for Pacific Palisades,” he remarked on the significance of the day. “The whole story of crucifixion and resurrection is appropriate here. This town will be rebuilt, but it’s going to take a long time.”
The Community United Methodist Church holds deep historical roots in the Pacific Palisades community, founded by early 20th-century Methodists whose vision fostered the growth of the town.
Originally constructed on a 1.5-acre site donated by the Southern California Methodist Conference, the church celebrated its centennial in 2022, continuing the tradition of community gatherings, hosting everything from potlucks and weddings to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Although the fire destroyed the physical church, Shaver mentioned that some items had been salvaged from the wreckage, including ceramic mugs and tiles. A large metal cross that once adorned the church’s tower survived the inferno, along with a stone cross, leading Shaver to contemplate their incorporation into future rebuilding efforts.
Among the volunteers, Adriana Ruhman sifted through piles of blackened and broken ceramics, hoping to recover a tile decorated by her children during their time at the church’s preschool a decade ago.
“I feel like I hit the jackpot,” she said upon finding the cherished tile her children had crafted, echoing sentiments of hope amidst loss.
Mary Katherine Breland, who sought community at the church reminiscent of her Alabama upbringing, attended for the first time since the fire.
“We didn’t know what to expect, but it’s not until you see it first-hand that your emotions bubble up,” she reflected, emphasizing the importance of coming together during Easter to honor the beauty of the past while looking toward the future.
Shaver expressed aspirations to make the Good Friday cross walk an annual event. He pointed to a yellow sign that read “End” as the group enjoyed a panoramic view of the Pacific.
“Even though that sign said ‘End,’ here we are taking in this amazing view,” he told congregants. “So, the fire was not the end. We have a beautiful future ahead of us.”
On Easter Sunday, the resilient congregation plans to join forces with Westwood United Methodist Church for services, further solidifying their spirit of unity and rebirth.
As a final touch, the bare cross Shaver and community members carried on Good Friday will be adorned with fresh flowers on Easter Sunday—a symbol of their ongoing journey of renewal as a congregation.
image source from：https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-california/wildfires/2025/04/19/members-of-burned-la-church-bear-a-cross-through-their-devastated-neighborhood-to-mark-good-friday
