A Special Campaign for The Reverend K.C. Robertson

Dearest Friends,

Heartbreaking news of the devastating wildfires in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Los Angeles this week have been triggering and anxiety-provoking for many of us who only a few years ago were evacuated from our own homes. Few folks know that our Day School and even our Church were gravely threatened by the Woolsey Fire in 2018 when it crept to within fifteen feet of our Day School buildings. Thanks to the heroic efforts of the Ventura and Los Angeles County Fire Departments the line held and our campus, including the rectory, was saved.

Sadly, this is not the case for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Altadena, whose historic church burned to the ground, or St. Matthew’s in the Pacific Palisades, whose church still stands, but whose Day School and two rectories succumbed to the fire. In addition, it is reported by the Bishop of Los Angeles that an estimated 75% of St. Matthew’s parishioners’ homes have been destroyed.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Think of our church. Imagine the folks who show up to St. Patrick’s regularly on Sunday mornings. Now imagine all of their homes gone, their lives threatened, their worlds turned upside-down. It is almost unimaginable, except that we can see the devastation for ourselves when we turn on the news or see images on social media. When I consider how close we came in the Woolsey Fire, and seeing the devastation and the reality for our sister parish in the Palisades – it knocks the wind out of me and my heart breaks, as I’m sure yours does as well.

The tragic reality hits home for us, St. Patrick’s, in very personal ways, not only because I served St. Matthew’s for six years before coming to serve you; and that we have several parishioners who have come to us from St. Matthew’s within the last two years; or that they and I have many friends and colleagues who are in deep shock and suffering. These would be heartbreaking enough, but our own beloved K.C. Robertson who was born into our parish, raised up for ordination, and sponsored by you, currently serves as an Associate Priest at St. Matthew’s. K.C. has confirmed that she has lost her home. It has burned to the ground. She is safe, thanks be to God, but understandably she is numb with grief for her community and for her own loss.

K.C.’s grief is our grief. K.C.’s loss is our loss.

And, though she cannot begin to fathom at this moment how to rebuild, restore and rejoice – how could anyone at this moment when the fires still rage? – we can begin that work on her behalf. In love, her home parish where he she was baptized, confirmed and where she has Celebrated Holy Eucharist, will gather financial support for her immediate use to make her transition a little easier. No doubt, insurance monies will eventually flow and a new home will be found, but in the meantime, we can ease her burden with gifts of love in the form of donations to the KC Robertson Love Fund.

Several parish families have stepped-up to offer Lead Gifts totaling $10,000, in hopes that their generous gifts will encourage our wider community to give generously to support K.C. Every single penny we receive will go to K.C. Not one cent will go to administrative costs. So, please give generously, as you are able.

And, of course, we continue to pray for K.C., St. Matthew’s, St. Mark’s and so many other folks, that their unbelievable loss might be borne by us all, and that the almighty power of God to save, comfort and strengthen us in our time of need might come swiftly, powerfully and completely.

Remember the best things in life are not things. Nevertheless, our hope and intention is to ease the burden, comfort the afflicted, sheild the joyous, and all for the sake of Love.

Even as we are in Upstate NY visiting my Father-in-Law, Karen and Amelia and I continue to pray for you and for our neighbors, that you and your families may know the unrelenting peace of God now and always. Reach-out to one another, stay connected. We are the hands and hearts and feet of Christ. We are the Body of Christ.

George+, Karen and Amelia