They were singing and swinging and getting happy like sunshine at the First A.M.E. Church of Los Angeles Sunday, moving their feet to the bluesy backbeat of a guitar and praising God who had brought them through a week that seemed like hell. The riots seemed over. The fires were out. The cleanup had begun.

In the pulpit, the Rev. Cecil Murray was infusing the bone-weary crowd with new energy, building the people up with the strength they would need to go out this week and rebuild their lives.

"We've got to clean up the town," said Murray. "We've got to clean up the air. And as you clean up, smoke gets in your eyes. But don't you worry about that. Weep a little weep and keep on walking.

"If smoke gets in your eyes, blink a little blink and keep on walking," he said. "Because you cannot see through the confusion of hatred and violence. And if the smoke gets too thick, sit down on the sidewalk and have a little talk with Jesus."

During the rioting, which began Wednesday after four white police officers were acquitted of beating black motorist Rodney King, the churches of Los Angeles became impromptu crisis centers, distributing food, providing shelter and transportation, and lending emotional support to those devastated by the loss of their homes and businesses.

First into the fray was the First A.M.E. Church, the oldest black congregation in Los Angeles and one of the largest black churches in the city. Within hours of the verdict and the ensuing angry outbursts, First A.M.E. became a command center for black community leaders and concerned residents.

The church opened up its basement to the Red Cross for a shelter and began collecting food for distribution. Early Thursday morning, a group of ministers who had been meeting at the church rushed to a confrontation brewing between police and nearly 100 black youths and, with linked arms, stepped between the groups to defuse the situation.

Since then, celebrities, politicians and others have flocked to the church in the West Adams section of the city to offer support. The Rev. Jesse Jackson showed up. So did comedian Sinbad and politician Sonny Bono. And during Sunday's service, a church member casually read a list of those who had swung by with gifts of food or clothing or money: Valerie Harper, Lindsay Wagner, Mike Farrell, Blair Underwood, Jimmy Smits and the ubiquitous Arsenio Hall.