Paradise Lost...and Restored

A Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief. St. Martin’s Climate Action Team hosts this concert to raise funds for Episcopal Relief & Development’s California fire relief fund. The tragedy of Paradise, CA last fall calls our attention to the increasing frequency of “natural” disasters associated with climate change, whether in California, Houston, Puerto Rico, or right here in Philadelphia.

The fire was personally heartbreaking for St. Martin's parishioner, Rick Josiassen who grew up just outside Paradise, a town his family helped to build. Josiassen connected with St. Martin's Climate Action Team and worked with friend and pianist, Aaron Graves, to recruit a group of gospel and jazz musicians to create this event infused with the overarching theme of our responsibility for creation care.