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May 31, 2024

Thanks to annual appeal grant, new parish hall roof keeps rain out, tenants in at St. Francis’ Church, Norwalk

A leaky old roof at St. Francis’ Episcopal Church, Norwalk, is now history, thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Diocese of Los Angeles’ One Body & One Spirit annual appeal fund.

St. Francis’ tiny but scrappy and committed congregation, whose motto is “A small church with a big heart,” depends on rental income from two congregations that share its space; Praise Chapel Church and the East/West Indian Community Church. The roof repairs, along with other upgrades that are either finished or in the planning stages, are vital to keeping those rental agreements active.

The annual appeal grant was added to funds raised through other means, Shafer-Noriega said. A Norwalk city council member and St. Francis’ parishioner helped the congregation successfully apply for a grant. The congregation also held fundraisers, including its annual International Sunday event, a longtime October tradition that celebrates the many cultures represented in their neighborhood.

Like many other congregations, St. Francis’ has suffered from changes brought on by the pandemic closures. Members who live on fixed incomes and others feeling the effects of inflation have been unable to increase their giving. They have not had a regular priest for some months, but lay leaders preside at in-person and live-streamed Morning Prayer services as they anticipate new supply clergy beginning at the end of June.

But the intrepid parishioners are determined to increase their numbers, and are actively seeking ways to raise their profile in the community. Recently they walked around their neighborhood to invite residents to a Shrove Tuesday supper, a Maundy Thursday event, and a special brunch.

More repairs need to be made – the parish hall exterior has some termite damage and needs a new floor – but parishioners continue to raise funds to complete those projects.

Launched as an emergency appeal during COVID, the Annual Appeal isn’t just for emergencies anymore. It’s for anything a church or institution needs that isn’t covered by the budget. Every dollar we receive goes back out the door in a grant from the Corporation of the Diocese. Since 2020, we’ve made 70 grants to 56 congregations, institutions, and ministries.

A new round of grants to be awarded in June is now being considered following a May 1 application deadline. November 1 is the deadline for the next cycle of grants, to be awarded in December by the Corporation of the Diocese. An information and application packet may be downloaded at the link above.

Please join the 257 donors who, to date, have raised $354,427 in 460 gifts to the 2022-24 One Body & One Spirit Annual Appeal, through which the Corporation of the Diocese makes grants to congregations and institutions seeking to meet unbudgeted expenses – from repairing a roof to sheltering unhoused neighbors – or any aspect of the corporate life of your church or institution. Click the links above to make a gift or download a grant application packet.

To all donors, thank you! And to all who are considering a gift, please follow the link to contribute today.

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One Body & One Spirit Annual Appeal.

Our mailing address for checks made payable to
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is:

Bishop John Harvey Taylor c/o the Rev. Susan Stanton, CFO
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
St. Paul’s Commons
840 Echo Park Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90026