Interfaith Rite to Mark Quake Anniversary

The tumultuous events of Jan. 17, 1994, are forever etched in the memories of those who lived through the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked the region in the early hours of that long day.

In honor of those who died and those who sacrificed to help save the lives of others, the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council will conduct an interfaith service in the early morning hours Jan. 17.

The service, to be held in cooperation with Project Rebound, a disaster recovery program operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, is open to everyone regardless of religion or faith.

It will begin at 4:15 a.m. at Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd. The service will include a candlelight procession across the street to the former site of the Northridge Meadows apartments, where 16 people died during the quake. A moment of silence will be observed at 4:31 a.m., the quake’s official time.

The procession will then return to the church for Scripture readings, music and prayers.

Clergy participants will include the Rev. David Richardson and the Rev. Soomee Kim, Northridge United Methodist Church; Rabbi Jerald M. Brown, Temple Ahavat Shalom; Imam Jan Mohammad Diwan, Islamic Center of Northridge; Father David Ullrich, St. Ferdinand’s Catholic Church, San Fernando, and the Rev. Jeff Utter of the Congregational Church of Northridge.

Guests and participants are invited to remain for coffee in the Fellowship Hall after the service. For information, call (818) 718-6460.

Project Rebound will participate in several other events commemorating the first anniversary of the quake.

Also Jan. 17, a Mass celebrating life and an awards presentation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 7800 Vineland Ave., Sun Valley.

A regional event, “True Heroes of the Community,” will honor earthquake survivors. It will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley, 11251 Glenoaks Blvd., Pacoima.

Also scheduled are several events for children. They include a candlelight vigil and theater drama presented by children at 5 p.m. Jan. 13 at Vaughn Family Center, 13330 Vaughn St., San Fernando, and a “Walk of the Heroes,” in which children will draw stars on the street, at noon Jan. 14 at the North Valley Family Counseling Center, 670 San Fernando Mission Blvd., San Fernando.

Children will create drawings depicting the healing that has taken place since the quake on “The Healing Wall” at 9 a.m. Jan. 18 and 19 at Morningside School, 576 N. Maclay St., San Fernando; 11 a.m. Jan. 19 at Friends of the Family, 14522 Kittridge St., Van Nuys, and 1:15 p.m. at the Valley Storefront, Jewish Family Service, 12821 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood.

On Jan. 19, Friends of the Family, a nonprofit family counseling agency in Van Nuys, is asking people to drop by the center, 14522 Kittridge St., Van Nuys, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to put their handprints on a mural titled “Hand in Hand.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony signaling the end of earthquake repairs at the San Fernando Medical Clinic, 1600 San Fernando Road, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 20.