Carrying a tall wooden cross on his shoulder, Pastor John Shaver walked down the street where his church had stood, just three months ago. Shaver had led the 102-year-old Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades for barely six months when it burned to the ground in the January wildfire that all but decimated the community. On Good Friday, Shaver and a handful of community members gathered at the gutted church site amid the grating noise of forklifts and jackhammers that were cleaning up and preparing the land for rebuilding. They then embarked on a Good Friday “cross walk.” From their church to the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, they paused at nine locations reading a Bible verse at each stop — a slight departure from the traditional 14-step devotion commemorating Christ's suffering, crucifixion and death. Each station depicts a specific event in Jesus' last day, from his condemnation to death on the cross and burial. While the church has held regular Sunday services at other locations recently, this was the first time members had set foot on the church site after the fire in which nearly 80% of the congregation, including Shaver, had lost their homes. On Good Friday, Via De La Paz, the street where the church property is located, was buzzing with activity as construction vehicles, demolition equipment and water trucks rolled up and down the street. Workers in green and orange vests were clearing debris. Despite the bustle, the scene was eerie. Charred palm trees drooped and sagged like worn-out mops. Twisted metal and deformed wood stuck up from destroyed dwellings. On one plot, the only intact structure that remained was a brick fireplace. The founders of the church, which celebrated its centennial in 2022, built the town of Pacific Palisades. The church building was constructed on a 1.5-acre site donated by the Southern California Methodist Conference. Methodist church planters inspired by the Chautauqua movement, an adult education and social movement in the early 20th century, selected the location, laying the foundation for the community in 1922, offering art, music and cultural programs to residents. While much was lost, Shaver said they were able to recover some items, including ceramic mugs and tiles. One member rescued a large metal cross that stood atop the church’s tower, which burned down. A stone cross also survived the flames. “We’re going to try and find ways to incorporate several of those items as we rebuild,” he said.