Religion

People gather outside Resurrection Lutheran Church as it hosts its weekly food pantry on Tuesday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Resurrection Lutheran Church leadership dispute intensifies with accusations of assault, theft, sabotage

Pastor removed, lawsuit lingers as competing groups try to continue worship services, food pantry.

 

Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)

Living and Growing: The healing power of art

I found this awesome quote about art from Googling: “Art has the power to move people and evoke emotions that words can never do justice… Continue reading

 

(Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: A list of do’s to reclaim Shabbat

To be silent the whole day, see no newspaper, hear no radio, listen to no gossip, be thoroughly and completely lazy, thoroughly and completely indifferent… Continue reading

 

“Princess Sophia” stranded on Vanderbilt Reef, Oct. 24, 1918. (Alaska State Library Historical Collection, ASL-P87-1700)

Living and Growing: The storms of the Fall

Psalm 19 1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. 2 One day tells its tale to another, and… Continue reading

“Princess Sophia” stranded on Vanderbilt Reef, Oct. 24, 1918. (Alaska State Library Historical Collection, ASL-P87-1700)
Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: The eye of the needle

One day, a rich young man approached Jesus, asking him what he had to do to inherit eternal life. He was convinced that he could… Continue reading

Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
Jennifer Moses is a student rabbi at Congregation Sukkat Shalom. (Photo provided by Jennifer Moses)

Living and Growing: Joy after sorrow during celebration of Sukkot

As you read this column Jews around the world are preparing to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot, or Booths. It is the Jewish equivalent of… Continue reading

Jennifer Moses is a student rabbi at Congregation Sukkat Shalom. (Photo provided by Jennifer Moses)
Laura Rorem. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: The power of real hope

Highly compatible, Larry and my strength was in our ability to merge our individual gifts into one, which enhanced our ability to discern God’s will… Continue reading

Laura Rorem. (Courtesy photo)
(U.S. Forest Service photo)

Living and Growing: Common ground. Common kindness.

I write this piece from the perspective of one who believes in God and who tries (and fails regularly) to follow Christ. I do believe,… Continue reading

(U.S. Forest Service photo)
Priest Maxim Gibson is the rector at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Juneau. (Photo provided by Maxim Gibson)

Living and Growing: Restored icons — image and likeness

This past month at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, we had the great blessing to see two of the holy icons on our iconostasis restored,… Continue reading

Priest Maxim Gibson is the rector at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Juneau. (Photo provided by Maxim Gibson)
Roger Wharton is former Episcopal priest in Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: 10 things you can do to be happy

What is happiness? What makes you happy? Can you increase your happiness? These are very interesting and current questions, especially in times when loneliness is… Continue reading

Roger Wharton is former Episcopal priest in Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau.

Living and Growing: Environmental stewardship — a Baha’i perspective

To begin, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan, the original inhabitants… Continue reading

Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau.
Cars and homes flooded by the break of Suicide Basin’s ice dam in August. (Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management photo)

Living and Growing: After the flood

It is Ordinary Time, the Season of Increase, the Season of Creation. During this season of Creation, the power of life renewing is manifest. In… Continue reading

Cars and homes flooded by the break of Suicide Basin’s ice dam in August. (Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management photo)
Kueni Ma’ake, Ofeina Kivalu, Jaime and Alanna Zellhuber, Aubrey Neuffer and Mary Fitzgerald of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Juneau serve meals to those affected by this month’s flooding of the Mendenhall River. (Photo provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Juneau)

Living and Growing: A life hack for happiness in a flooding river of change

Fall is upon us and with it change. School is starting, leaves are changing colors, schedules change and the weather transforms the landscape. Change can… Continue reading

Kueni Ma’ake, Ofeina Kivalu, Jaime and Alanna Zellhuber, Aubrey Neuffer and Mary Fitzgerald of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Juneau serve meals to those affected by this month’s flooding of the Mendenhall River. (Photo provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Juneau)
An artistic depiction of The Last Supper. (Photo by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: The Eucharist

If you hear about a place where the purest and most precious gem is given free of charge, and you can come daily and get… Continue reading

An artistic depiction of The Last Supper. (Photo by Gina Del Rosario)
(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: Forgiveness

Has someone you deeply care about and trust done something that hurt you so much that you almost died from the emotional pain, which lingered… Continue reading

(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)
Priest Maxim Gibson is the rector at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Juneau. (Photo provided by Maxim Gibson)

Living and Growing: For the healing of the world

“Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of… Continue reading

Priest Maxim Gibson is the rector at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Juneau. (Photo provided by Maxim Gibson)
The Council of Nicaea, with Arius depicted as defeated by the council, lying under the feet of Emperor Constantine. (By Jjensen, own work / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Living and Growing: Healing divisions and promoting unity

When we look around us it is not difficult to miss the many divisions and conflicts that exist between nations, political factions, ethnic groups and… Continue reading

The Council of Nicaea, with Arius depicted as defeated by the council, lying under the feet of Emperor Constantine. (By Jjensen, own work / CC BY-SA 3.0)
People gather outside Resurrection Lutheran Church following the service on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bishop says Resurrection Lutheran Church’s pastor and president were legally removed; they disagree

Karen Perkins and Karen Lawfer say they will stay at positions, matter should be resolved in court.

People gather outside Resurrection Lutheran Church following the service on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Detained migrants in Italy are moved onto a ferry bound for Sicily, May 4, 2023. (Fabio Bucciarelli/The New York Times)

Living and Growing: Lessons in compassion

After recently traveling to Lesvos, Greece with Shepherd of the Valley I gained a new appreciation for refugees after meeting with several during the trip.… Continue reading

Detained migrants in Italy are moved onto a ferry bound for Sicily, May 4, 2023. (Fabio Bucciarelli/The New York Times)
People arrive for a service at Resurrection Lutheran Church on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Lawsuit: Resurrection Lutheran Church leaders have been ousted, clarity in ‘ministerial work’ needed

Pastor Karen Perkins, two others targeted in long-brewing feud at church known for helping homeless.

People arrive for a service at Resurrection Lutheran Church on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)