Religion

Grandma Nita Tupou shares her culture, love and smile surrounded by her grandchildren Feao Tupou, Vaipuna, Mahina, Meki and Talitia Toutaiolepo. (Photo provided by Jacqueline Tupou)

Living and Growing: Welcoming all

How should we be living our lives? What can we do to make them more meaningful? How will I know if I am on the… Continue reading

 

(Photo provided by Tim Spengler)

Living and Growing: Memento mori and the preparation of the soul

Memento mori is Latin for “remember that you will die.” This practice of contemplating our mortality was emphasized by Stoic philosophers such as Seneca and… Continue reading

 

(Photo provided by Laura Rorem)

Living and Growing: Hypernormalization

Let us practice true patience and love, trusting God is at work while we wait in the not knowing and become “instruments of God’s peace.”… Continue reading

 

Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Hope in times of crisis

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

Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: The call to pray the rosary

In many of the Marian Apparitions all over the world, the Blessed Virgin Mary often emphasized the importance of praying the rosary. On May 13,… Continue reading

(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)
Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: It wasn’t ropes or nails

Christianity Today published an online article during Holy Week titled, “Was Jesus Crucified with Nails?” The author of this article attempted to challenge the longstanding… Continue reading

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

Living and Growing: How we live our lives and pass on our values to our children

When my mother was dying of the breast cancer that had spread to her brain, she lost functionality in ways I didn’t expect. She would… Continue reading

Jennifer Moses is a student rabbi at Congregation Sukkat Shalom. (Photo provided by Jennifer Moses)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: It is all about the resurrection

This past weekend Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection from the dead is the hinge pin of the integrity of our Christian faith.… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Photo provided by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: Holy Week

Filipinos are known all over the world for their strong faith in God and for their deep love and reverence for our Holy Mother Mary,… Continue reading

(Photo provided by Gina Del Rosario)
The downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on a clear March day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: Seeking joy during times of great uncertainty

“This is the greatest act of power I have come to know: To be an activist of joy; a beacon of grace; a radiance of… Continue reading

The downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on a clear March day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: Choose empathy during these difficult times

“It is your concern when your neighbor’s wall is on fire.” — Horace Recently, too many of our neighbors have lost their jobs through no… Continue reading

Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
A black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: The bear

The folks of Southeast Alaska are fortunate in that we sometimes experience glimpses of bears along the trails and even in our yards. These encounters… Continue reading

A black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Laura Rorem is a member of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Practicing true patience

“Have patience, have patience, Don’t be in such a hurry, When you get impatient, you only start to worry, Remember, remember that God is patient,… Continue reading

Laura Rorem is a member of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. (Courtesy photo)
The Rev. Tim Harrison is the senior pastor at Chapel by the Lake. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: The numbers tell the story

I love numbers and math. One of my first career aspirations was to be a high school math teacher. Then a disastrous semester with Calculus… Continue reading

The Rev. Tim Harrison is the senior pastor at Chapel by the Lake. (Courtesy photo)
Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)

Living and Growing: Spiritual self defense

True spiritual power is quiet, under the radar. One beautiful thing about it is that it can protect us from danger. It is self-defense with… Continue reading

Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)
Nuns wait for a seating area to be opened before a recitation of the rosary for Pope Francis’ health at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, on Monday night, Feb. 24, 2025. (James Hill/The New York Times)

Living and Growing: Let us journey together in hope

Friends, we are a little over a week away from the beginning of the season of Lent, the beginning of that annual six-week journey of… Continue reading

Nuns wait for a seating area to be opened before a recitation of the rosary for Pope Francis’ health at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, on Monday night, Feb. 24, 2025. (James Hill/The New York Times)
Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)

Living and Growing: Seeing is believing

Christians are nearing the time of Lent, 40 days of repentance and fasting, before the celebration of Easter. I love Easter. I love the worships.… Continue reading

Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)
Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Gathering to share ‘Faith in the Future’

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

Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)

Living and Growing: The light of the world

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.” “What has come into being in him was… Continue reading

Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)
Tari Stage-Harvey is pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Watching our words for other people

I could be wrong, but the only time Jesus directly talks about Hell is in Matthew 5:22, “But I say to you that if you… Continue reading

Tari Stage-Harvey is pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Courtesy photo)