PARISH VOICES

Saturday, April 11, 2026 — Arise O Lord!! This morning we gathered to celebrate Christ's triumph over the gates of Hades! The kids enthusiastically shook shakers, banged on pans, and clanked sticks together while Fr. Tom, at least as enthusiastically, processed through the nave flinging bay leaves and rose petals by the handful. Holy Saturday this year was, as always, such a beautiful turn towards the joy of the upcoming Resurrection!

Palm Sunday is tomorrow, and the dozens (or hundreds!) of Palm Crosses that Fr. Tom will hand out were each lovingly made by a member of the parish following our Lazarus Saturday Liturgy! . This is such a lovely tradition as everyone—kids, parents, young, old—did their best to follow the traditional folding pattern that turns strips of fresh palm into a pocket-sized cross!

Do you know what a Champion Leader is? In the Old Testament, we find that a champion leader was one soldier that was sent out to represent the entire army. The other army would also send out their champion leader, and the two soldiers would battle instead of the whole armies. Obviously, the most famous example of this is David and Goliath. We all know the story of the youngest, runt of the family, David going out to fight the behemoth, giant Goliath. Many times in Scripture,

One of the things I love most about the Orthodox Liturgy is how full it is. We don't just sit and watch something happen, we step into it with our whole selves. Every sense is invited to participate: we see the icons and the saints standing with us, we hear the hymns and the Gospel proclaimed, we smell the incense rising like our prayers, we touch the sign of the Cross and the hand of our neighbor, and we taste the Body and Blood of Christ. Orthodoxy doesn't treat God as an i

When you go to bed with a contented mind, recall the blessings and generous providence of God; be filled with holy thoughts and great joy. Then, while your body sleeps, your soul will keep watch; the closing of your eyes will bring you a true vision of God; your silence will be pregnant with sanctity, and in your sleep you will continue to glorify the God of all with the full strength of your soul. —St. Anthony the Great

Our series looking back twenty years enters its third month. Last month I shared the February 2006 issue of The Messenger, the one with "Welcome Home!" splashed across the cover and a photo collage of parishioners scraping, hauling and trimming to get our new Shoreline building into shape. By March 2006, the parish has been in the building for a month. The cover photo of the March issue features Fr. Tom with his arm around his dear friend Fr. Evan Armatas, both of them in

The decision to follow Christ is filled with much joy and wonder. It is a decision that takes us on a journey through the rest of our life. This journey is filled with high points, low points and all areas in-between. The Bible and the Church provide us with plenty of wisdom and guidance in which to follow His path. Fear not, for the Lord is with you and gives you all you need. His light, given to you at Baptism, shines within you. Our relationship with God is much like marri

As we stand at the threshold of Great Lent, we are invited into a story that feels strangely familiar. It's about a set of twins hanging out having a conversation in their mom's womb. The sister said to the brother, "I believe there is life after birth." Her brother protested vehemently, "No, no. This is all there is. This is a dark, warm and cozy place, and we have nothing else to do but to cling to the cord that feeds us." The sister insisted, "There must be something more.

Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 — Thank you all who planned, cooked, served, donated desserts, or danced! You helped make our 2026 Holy Apostles Crab Feed a tremendous success. Kandili is beautiful and intuitive. It includes daily Epistle and Gospel readings, Saints and Feasts, and fasting guidelines along with key morning and evening prayers. It’s also lighting fast, to help you avoid the temptation of impatience!

"Fake it till you make it." It's a popular self-help phrase that encourages us to act like the person we want to become. Pretend you're confident, calm, or capable until eventually you actually feel that way. But at its core, it's about performing a version of ourselves we don't authentically possess: hiding real feelings, presenting a polished exterior, and pushing down our struggles as if everything is fine.