The oldest and one of the largest African-American congregations in South Central Los Angeles on Sunday remembered the fiery riots that tore apart the city a decade ago.

The Rev. Cecil L. ``Chip'' Murray, a key figure calling for calm during the 1992 riots, led a passionate sermon attended by more than 1,000 people at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dignitaries included actors Edward James Olmos and Lindsey Wagner and politicians such as former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilmen Nate Holden and Mark Ridley-Thomas.

``The fires that destroyed our houses and community - those were yesterday's fires,'' Murray told the congregation as he tossed ashes into the air while images of the city in flames projected on two big screens behind him.

``Ashes don't always mean death,'' said Murray, whose sermon ``Rising from the Ashes'' stressed the oneness of class, race, gender and faith brought home by the terrorist events of Sept. 11.

The riots were sparked when a jury in Simi Valley acquitted four white police officers of beating African-American motorist Rodney King.

The Sunday sermon was part of a three-day commemoration by the First AME Church, which included a tour of the riot-torn area and a multi-ethnic panel discussion of race relations in Los Angeles.

The First AME Church, which was recognized by former President George H.W. Bush in 1990 as the 177th ``Point of Light,'' is hosting a round-table discussion with President George W. Bush today.

Church officials said the discussion will focus on revitalization efforts following the riots and what role the White House can play in urban renewal.

Olmos, a noted community activist who received a tribal mask at the service for his role in cleaning up after the riots, said after the sermon that his thoughts were ``of hope and gratitude that we've gotten 10 years further into this.''

``Hopefully, people will understand what's needed and we can continue to move in the direction that we are moving right now,'' he said.

Olmos said if people realize they are part of the human race instead of different races they can come together.

``As far as we have come here, out of what's happened in Los Angeles, my prayer is that we are going to see the same response on a global level,'' said Wagner, who received a shawl from the church for helping lead a food drive for people affected by the riots. ``That is kind of happening right now, a macrocosm of what is going on in L.A.''

Since the riots, Angelenos are learning to live together, said Murray, who led parishioners in a protective line for police and firefighters against rock-throwers during the riots.

Parishioners such as 14-year-old Jameelah Ross agreed.

``A lot of things are more better now,'' the Culver City resident said. ``There's not as much racism.''

Ton Suk Chun, a liaison between the Korean-American and African-American communities, said cultural exchanges between the two communities are working.

``Right now, it's getting closer, there's more understanding,'' said Chun, who was in attendance at the Sunday service. The Korean-American community suffered some of the worst damage from the riots.

However, Murray said that not enough economic rebuilding has been done.

``No matter how fast we go and how much we do we are still always playing catch up,'' Murray said. ``So they can't boast of progress. We can only say there is much more to be done.''

Cecilia Chan