Burned Tucson church holding service in parking lot

The congregation of University City Church will be celebrating Christmas Eve under the stars in the parking lot of the historic downtown church this evening.

An electrical fire in the churchs attic a year ago in November has led to an $8million renovation project. The sanctuary with a state-of-the-art video and audio sound system is targeted for completion in February, said lead pastor Andy Tracy.

Meanwhile, the 400-member congregation has had Sunday services at several locations during the year the latest at Tucson High Schools auditorium.

But since the school district is closed for the holidays, the congregation will gather for Christmas Eve services in the churchs parking lot, 604 N. Sixth Ave., at 5 p.m.

It will be a simple service with beautiful music, and the celebration of the baby Jesus who was born 2,000 years ago. His birth is a message of hope, said Tracy, explaining that members of the nondenominational church have been studying the different characters in the Christmas story.

The congregation made up of University of Arizona students and families from across the city has remained strong and united during the rebuilding.

Elder Don Pooley, 63, a mostly retired professional golfer who is an elder in the church, will be at the Christmas Eve service with his wife, Margaret, and their two daughters, a son-in-law and two grandchildren.

It has been quite a wild ride from the fire to holding service in the church parking lot, then under a tent and in other locations until the reconstruction is finished, Pooley said.

We are seeing how God is taking care of us through the whole thing, said Pooley, explaining that the church was built in 1925 and had issues when the congregation bought it in 2013.

The small attic fire caused extensive smoke and water damage that ruined the interior building with wooden pews, flooring and ornate woodwork.

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Burned Tucson church holding service in parking lot