Thanks for effort and support after church fire

I am writing on behalf of the Christian Church of Arlington Heights to say thank you to everyone who has offered their support in response to the fire at our church on Dec. 6.

We are so grateful for the firefighters who came not only from the Arlington Heights Fire Department, but also from Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Buffalo Grove, Palatine and Mount Prospect.

Thank you for all of your hard work in the heat of that fire, well into the cold of that night.

Thank you for being willing to put yourselves in danger for our sake. We are more grateful than I can say.

We are grateful, too, for all those in our community who have offered support. Neighbors have stopped by with kind words of encouragement and offers of help.

My fellow clergy have reached out to me, and other community members have reached out to my congregation.

Thank you to everyone who has held us in prayer, expressed sympathy, asked what we might need, or simply asked if we are OK.

We are OK. Our building is damaged, but our church is unharmed. It's not about the building but the people showing up for each other in the midst of everything.

Thank you all for showing up for us.

Allie Lundblad

Pastor, Christian Church of Arlington Heights