By Elizabeth Cloutman

Church donations

While members of the Orthodox Church of the Redeemer were shaken when they lost their sanctuary to arson April 7, they have been heartened by both the response of area communities and the recovery of several icons from the sanctuary, a church member said. Amazingly, the icons were found intact, although covered with soot, in a choir loft closet in the charred ruins of the sanctuary.

Area residents and churches have made donations to the Church of the Redeemer’s recovery fund.

The Church of the Redeemer by last week had received $36,000 in donations from nonmembers, said Paul Salah, the church treasurer.

“A fellow stopped by the church (April 13) and gave us a check for $1,000,” Salah said.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Milpitas lent the Church of the Redeemer 14 pews for the tent covering the courtyard area in front of the original chapel where members have chosen to continue worship services.

Perhaps just as important, 300 nonmembers came to the morning worship service April 14 to show their solidarity with the church, swelling attendance to 500. “We had people from all walks of life. (U.S. representatives) Anna Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren were there … people of different religions - Presbyterians, Muslims and Jews,” Salah said.

Salah said that while the entire church campus was insured for $1.5 million, the parish council had set up a recovery fund.

He noted church leaders were still conferring with Church Mutual, its insurer, to determine how much the company would pay.