By Joan Passarelli

Companion on the Journey

The members of Orthodox Church of the Redeemer lost their home and their history in the April 7 fire that destroyed their sanctuary.

The beautiful building had been a treasure house of religious artifacts and original works of art. Icons painted in rich hues and golden accents, commissioned by church members, were once called “windows to heaven.” Now many of them are piles of charred ash.

“It’s just unbelievable,” said Margaret Hanna, a member of the church since 1967, as she watched the ATF teams at work trying to determine the cause of the fire.

“Our children were married here, our grandchildren baptized here. Such beautiful memories,” she recalled, as a tear ran down her soft, wrinkled cheek.

Then she sniffed and drew herself up. “We will rebuild,” she said firmly. “Maybe it will be even better. Maybe working together will make the congregation more cohesive.”

She wiped away her tear and added, “With God’s help, we’ll do what we’re supposed to do.”

That is great faith: that with God’s help, we’ll do what we’re supposed to do.

What is it we’re supposed to do? For Hanna and her church, it is to rebuild their sanctuary and, even harder, to rebuild their sense of safety and community.

The rest of us have something we’re supposed to do, too: reach out to that congregation.

Many of the members were first-, second- and third-generation immigrants from Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, coming to the United States to flee persecution and strife. Ironically, if the church burning was arson, they may have found them again here.

Please contribute to the church’s reconstruction fund. Even though the church had insurance on its building, it will need more money to begin to replace the art and religious objects destroyed.

Also, please reach out to anyone around you who’s of a different color or faith. Are they worried right now? Scared that someone here hates them enough to hurt them? Show them that you cherish their part in your life, and that you’ll support and stand with them against any kind of attack.

Diversity makes our community strong, but only if the bonds among us are stronger than our differences. To thrive, we need to build those bonds up with friendship, courage and faith. To echo Hanna, with God’s help, we’ll do what we’re supposed to do.

Passarelli is a member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Mountain View.