New Dawn for Quake-Hit Church : Religion: Congregation in Studio City celebrates reopening of damaged sanctuary.

Almost a year after it was yellow-tagged because of damage from the Northridge earthquake, congregants of the First Christian Church of North Hollywood celebrated Sunday morning services for the first time in their newly renovated sanctuary.

“A week ago we weren’t even certain that we would be ready--we were still painting,” said Erik Torgerson, a deacon and Sunday school teacher at the church. “But this is incredible. The feeling of being here is like having goose pimples.”

The roof, steeple and south wall of the church were rebuilt and retrofitted after they caved in during the Jan. 17 earthquake, Torgerson said.

More than 400 families, friends and couples dressed in their Sunday best flocked to the 44-year-old brick Colonial church facing Colfax Avenue for the 10 a.m. service Sunday.

As a 35-voice choir belted out gospel songs welcoming church members, accompanied by a small orchestra and organist Glenn Schieke on the church’s newly donated pipe organ, many worshipers looked up in awe where the damage once was.

“We have come a long way from the earthquake,” said Betty Hopper, a member of the congregation for the past 22 years.

While the church was being rebuilt, the 550-member congregation was forced to meet in an undamaged social hall for the last 11 months. Consequently, attendance at the church dropped.

“There were so many things we can do in the church that we couldn’t do in the hall,” said Hopper, a Studio City resident. “It is really great to see everyone again.”

Dee Stratton, a choir member, said of the refurbished church: “It’s like coming home. There is just a presence here that you don’t get anywhere else. It’s thrilling.”

For a time last week, church officials were still unsure whether they would meet their deadline for completion. Pews were being brought in from the social hall; huge brass chandeliers were being polished, and the front doors to the sanctuary were “being painted in the nick of time,” Torgerson said.

“It has been a culmination of a very difficult year full of frustration and hard work, but it was worth it,” he added.

The congregation raised $450,000 in donations and pledges to repair the quake-damaged sanctuary, church officials said. The total repair cost of $500,000 was met by obtaining a few low-interest loans, they said.

By the end of the service, the Rev. Robert Bock, the church’s senior pastor for 25 years, summed up the overall feeling best.

“We did it!” he declared.