Burning in California

At presstime, wildfires raged from Los Angeles to the California-Mexico border, taking at least 20 lives, more than 2,600 homes, and burning 970 square miles. At least 25 ELCA members lost their homes, including Vernon Jahnke, a pastor in Claremont. Others suffered varying degrees of damage. Lutheran Disaster Response assisted through Lutheran Social Services of Southern California. LDR also worked with the American Red Cross and other relief agencies. To help, send contributions to: ELCA Domestic Disaster Response-Western Fires, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764; (800) 638-3522; www.elca.org/disaster.