PARISH VOICES

The Church is our foundation for our Christian walk. Gathering together in its building as a family in God’s love creates a home where we can get to know Christ more deeply. Growing up, my family lived away from extended family. All the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins lived in Northern Illinois. We moved a handful of times to other midwestern locales until finally ending up in Woodinville in the beautiful state of Washington when I was twelve years old. My parents t

Lately, I’ve made a conscious effort to avoid the news. When I scroll through social media, I quickly bypass stories and reels, moving past anything that might pull me into the weight of current events. At times, this feels necessary for self-preservation. But it also raises a deeper question: When does the search for peace turn into blindness? In shielding myself from the world’s troubles, am I also shielding myself from reality? Am I blind?

The devil is not particularly creative. He has been using the same strategy since the beginning of time, and tragically, we keep falling for it. It's what I call "truth, truth, twist"—he takes something that is genuinely true, acknowledges it honestly, and then adds just enough of a twist to lead us astray. If Satan simply lied outright, it would be too obvious. We'd see through it immediately. But when he wraps deception in undeniable truth, we're much more likely to accep

Even though Lent is in the past for 2025, I'd like to reflect on it one more time. In many Christian circles, the season of Lent arrives alongside the question, "What are you giving up for Lent?" I would like to suggest two different questions that I find more helpful and relevant to us all year round. For the first question, let's look to Jesus' words in Luke 9:23, He says "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me

I'll be honest, after the joy and light of Pascha and all the celebrations, life often feels like it returns to normal. The Rhythm of work, responsibilities, and routine can make it seem as though nothing has changed. Fr. Tom always likes to say "It's always sunny in Seattle!" Well, it was actually Sunny this week! Although we experienced visible light this week, work kept me so busy that I barely had the chance to savor the sunshine. We also received pretty big news at work

Death, for me, took on a different meaning three years ago. The cancer diagnosis was bleak. Initial reading of the biopsy concurred with CT scans that it was an aggressive cancer. I was a candidate for surgical removal of the tumor (a 9 hour surgery) followed by palliative chemo to give me more time. Two days after the biopsy, I had my regularly scheduled hair appointment. I told Holly, let’s cut my shoulder length hair short. Chemo is around the corner. I went home. The GI

Holy Week is upon us. Every day of this week has important themes to encounter, but I am thinking a lot about Holy Friday. I’d like us to consider our own response to the cross of Christ and to our own particular crosses in life. I would like to share with you a painful story from the life of my grandmother. She was born over a hundred years ago. Life was hard, but it was made harder still due to the selfishness of men. She had two girls and a boy...

Suffering is an undeniable part of life. Pain, distress, or hardship is something we all face. For me, suffering has never been just defeat; it has been survival. It shapes our fears, dictates our decisions, and weighs heavily on our hearts. We instinctively try to control our circumstances, believing that if we hold on tightly enough, we can avoid the pain. Yet, as we enter Holy Week, Christ offers another path. He is inviting us on this path with Him. This path is one of su

A work in progress—that’s what we all can claim. We are being refined each day. Hopefully, we are getting closer and closer to God...

I have heard that St. Seraphim of Sarov would greet everyone he met with, “Christ is Risen, My Joy.” He would call each person, “My Joy.”

I give up my thoughts and I accept what I feel, I bear it, I live it, and I offer it to God. I call to Him in my feelings so He can heal...

I'm a busy person. Too busy, really, and often prone to plunge forward in life with a Sisyphean list of to-dos, virtually impossible to...

Hope is an important thing. How is yours holding up? When the world around us is full of fear and stress, it can seem hard to have hope.

During Bible Study on Wednesday, we reflected on the word discipline and what it means. For many in this world, discipline carries...

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony...."

I frequently have songs pop into my head. A few days ago this happened and I was remembering a song called Getting Ready for Glory by Carolyn Arends. The song opens reflecting on an aging woman and how she lives her life preparing for eternal life with God. The end of the song shifts to invite all of us to remember that we are called to live our lives getting ready for glory. My first thought when I remembered this song a few days ago was, “What if, instead of the woman in

When I think of forgiveness, I think about Fr. Tom introducing us to Henri Nouwen, a renowned spiritual writer who often spoke about forgiveness as a process akin to unveiling a canvas. Forgiveness can be incredibly challenging but also incredibly transformative. It requires a deep understanding and compassion that transcends our human nature. Henri Nouwen described people as canvases, covered over time by layers of hurt, pain, and mistakes. These layers obscure the image of

But let all who hope in You be glad; They will greatly rejoice forever, For You will dwell in them; And all who love Your name will boast in You. —Psalm 5:12 ​Psalm 5 is included in my daily prayers. I have read it weekly for many years now. Recently, verse 12 jumped out at me. It does seem that bible verses that I have read many, many times before can suddenly become like new words. The Orthodox Study Bible commentary states that the 5th Psalm was written by David and emphas

There is a common illustration for self care based upon an oxygen mask on an airline flight. The main message is that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. Dr. Albert Rossi uses the illustration at the beginning of his beautiful book Becoming a Healing Presence. He writes: The adult is to put his or her own oxygen mask on first, and only then put a mask on the infant. For me, as an Italian grandfather, those instructions are counterintuitive. I

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. —Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV I am reading the biography of St. Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833), An Extraordinary Peace: St. Seraphim, Flame of Sarov by Archimandrite Lazarus (Moore). I find when I read biographies of the Holy Fathers & Mothers,