One of the side effects of building renovation has been frequent false fire alarms. I can't tell you how many times in the last month that I've had appointments interrupted and meetings delayed while the Brentwood Fire Department responded to a fire alarm in our building. Fortunately none have occurred during worship. One fire fighter who is a member of this congregation said to me recently, “Look, Howard, if you are lonely at church during the week, just give us a phone call; we'll be glad to come visit you without having to bring all our fire equipment."

As I was standing on the parking lot at 7:30 the other morning, waiting for the fire department to clear the building so we could return to it, I remembered one of my favorite stories about churches and fires.

At a large ecumenical gat…