Religion

Laura Rorem (courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Gracious, gentle power

Gracious power is grace expressed with kindness and mercy.

 

photo courtesy Tim Harrison 
Rev. Tim Harrison is senior pastor at Chapel by the Lake.

Living and Growing: I Wonder as I Wander

The Rev. Tim Harrison reflects on the Christmas season.

 

Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo
Reverend Gordon Blue from the Church of the Holy Trinity gives an invocation at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Living and Growing: Psalm 30, Ouroboros, the dragon of fear and love.

Psalm 30:6 Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning. Holy Trinity Church is downtown. In a downtown parish, it doesn’t take… Continue reading

 

photo courtesy Tim Harrison
Rev. Tim Harrison is senior pastor at Chapel by the Lake.

Living and Growing: ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God’

So says Matthew 5:9, one of the beatitudes of Jesus

photo courtesy Tim Harrison
Rev. Tim Harrison is senior pastor at Chapel by the Lake.
public domain photo
St. Thérèse of Lisieux pictured in 1888.

Living and Growing: What makes a saint?

A commonality among saints is that they are completely committed.

public domain photo
St. Thérèse of Lisieux pictured in 1888.
Brent Merten (courtesy photo) [USE THIS ONE HE DOESNT LIKE OTHER ONE]

Living and Growing: Touch grass … and people, too

We all need to step back from the virtual world and its endless echo chambers

Brent Merten (courtesy photo) [USE THIS ONE HE DOESNT LIKE OTHER ONE]
Courtesy photo
Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’í of Juneau.

Living and Growing: The paradox of freedom

Religion teaches that spiritual freedom is found not in the rejection of all limits, but in choosing the right ones

Courtesy photo
Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’í of Juneau.
A photograph of Our Lady of Medjugorje by the Italian artist Carmelo Puzzolo. The original painting hangs in St. Pope John Paul II Hall in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Photo by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: Medjugorje

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the King of kings, the Creator of this universe, entrusted Himself to Mary when He chose Her to be His mother

A photograph of Our Lady of Medjugorje by the Italian artist Carmelo Puzzolo. The original painting hangs in St. Pope John Paul II Hall in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Photo by Gina Del Rosario)
Photo provided by Alexander Dolitsky
Alexander Dolitsky participates in a traditional Jewish blessing, in which two leather boxes (tefillins) are secured around a person’s head and arm, at Hearthside Books in the Merchant Wharf Mall in downtown Juneau, August 2025.

From whispers in Kiev to shofar blasts in Juneau

Certainly, one would not refuse an offer of such a sincere blessing

Photo provided by Alexander Dolitsky
Alexander Dolitsky participates in a traditional Jewish blessing, in which two leather boxes (tefillins) are secured around a person’s head and arm, at Hearthside Books in the Merchant Wharf Mall in downtown Juneau, August 2025.
Guy Crockroft (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Consistency — An underrated quality

How did “Steady Eddie” do it? By working hard and being consistent.

Guy Crockroft (Courtesy photo)
Fred LaPlante is the pastor at Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: What’s coloring your view?

The world around me hadn’t changed — only my vision had

Fred LaPlante is the pastor at Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy photo)
A home is photographed on Telephone Hill in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Skip Gray/courtesy)

Living and Growing: Our green oasis

We have lost so many of our beloved spots in recent years that it would create too much sadness to destroy our our beloved refuge

A home is photographed on Telephone Hill in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Skip Gray/courtesy)
The author’s father, “Tatay,” and mother are seen in this undated image. (Image courtesy Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: Our Father

Tatay taught us, mostly, not by words, but by how he lived his life

The author’s father, “Tatay,” and mother are seen in this undated image. (Image courtesy Gina Del Rosario)
Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)

Living and Growing: Keeping a faith that makes our hearts bigger

Art, ideas or politics aren’t Christian because they quote the Bible or use Christian symbols.

Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)
Photo by Charles Whittlesey
Tatiana McWethy demonstrates her restoration technique on the icon of St. Nicholas.

Living and Growing: Historic Russian-American icons receive 1st restoration in 130 years

When that rare Juneau sunlight hit the canvas, St. Nicholas came to life, and swam in it

Photo by Charles Whittlesey
Tatiana McWethy demonstrates her restoration technique on the icon of St. Nicholas.
Dave Ringle, special projects coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul, is photographed Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)

Living and Growing: Speaking our values with action

Service changes when there is a relationship involved

Dave Ringle, special projects coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul, is photographed Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Gina Del Rosario. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: Love

Do you remember the movie “The Ten Commandments?” I was in high school when I first watched it. Since then, I have watched it at… Continue reading

Gina Del Rosario. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
WASP pilot Ellen Wimberly Campbell, 44-W-7, at the controls of a Beech AT-10 Wichita trainer, 1944. Location uncertain but likely Columbus Army Air Field, Columbus, Mississippi, United States. (Photo courtesy of Campbell family)

Living and Growing: Saints among us

Lately, I have been thinking about an amazing woman who lived in Juneau many years ago. Her name was Ellen Campbell. In reflecting on her… Continue reading

WASP pilot Ellen Wimberly Campbell, 44-W-7, at the controls of a Beech AT-10 Wichita trainer, 1944. Location uncertain but likely Columbus Army Air Field, Columbus, Mississippi, United States. (Photo courtesy of Campbell family)
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

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)
(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 Tim Spengler)