Inside a Southern California church, where Muslims, Jews, and Christians all pray
Imperfect Paradise
LAist Studios
4.5 • 535 Ratings
🗓️ 24 April 2026
⏱️ 31 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Although religion is an inescapable element in conflicts around the world and a polarizing topic here at home, one place of worship in Pasadena, California, is defying religious labels. Amid the crosses and stained glass windows depicting the life of Christ, the First United Methodist Church shifts from Friday through Sunday to accommodate the three Abrahamic faiths. LAist reporter Yusra Farzan takes us through a weekend of Muslims' Friday prayers, a Jewish Shabbat service, and a Christian Easter celebration -- all coexisting under one roof.
Read Yusra’s full report at LAist.com.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Support for LAists comes from Car Pros Kia, featuring the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid with a striking new design and family-friendly seating for up to eight. |
| 0:09.5 | You can learn more at Car Pros Kia in Glendale, Huntington Beach, and Moreno Valley. |
| 0:14.9 | Hi, I'm Rachel Martin, host of NPR's Wild Card Podcast. |
| 0:18.5 | I'm coming to Pasadena for a special live taping with guest |
| 0:21.6 | Tracy Ellis Ross. Come explore life's biggest questions with us. It's Thursday, May 7th. Get tickets |
| 0:27.5 | at LAS.com slash events. This is in Perfect Paradise. I'm Nereida Moreno. |
| 0:36.3 | Religion. It's increasingly become a flashpoint of division and political polarization, here within the U.S. |
| 0:43.6 | Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. |
| 0:48.6 | And across the globe, from conflicts in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Powerful figures in Israel's government disagree with the peace plan. |
| 0:58.0 | To the war in Iran. |
| 1:00.0 | Placards red, down with the Islamic Republic. |
| 1:03.0 | To President Donald Trump's feud with Pope Leo. |
| 1:06.0 | The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy. |
| 1:12.5 | The Pope has to understand Iran, very simple. |
| 1:15.0 | Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. |
| 1:19.8 | But this week on Imperfect Paradise, we're going to cut through all that noise |
| 1:25.2 | and transport you to Pasadena here in Southern California |
| 1:28.2 | to witness something all too rare. We're taking you inside a place of worship that exists |
| 1:34.7 | despite significant odds, and that's opened its doors to all three Abrahamic faiths, Christian, Jews, |
| 1:41.0 | and Muslims who all hold services under one roof. LA.A.S. reporter, Usra Farzan, |
| 1:46.7 | has been following the story, and she joins us now. Hey, Yusra. Hey, Naretha. So Yusra, first, |
| 1:53.3 | can you describe this place for us? Yeah, so the first United Methodist Church in Pasadena |
... |
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