In Memoriam

    O God of spirits, and of all flesh, Who has trampled down death and overthrown
    the devil, and given life to Thy world; Do Thou, the same Lord, give rest to the
    soul(s) of thy departed servant(s), ____________, in a place of brightness, a
    place of refreshment, a place of repose, where all sickness, sighing, and sorrow
    have fled away. Pardon every transgression which he (she) has (they have)
    committed, whether by word or deed or thought. For Thou art a good God and
    lovest mankind; because there is no man who lives yet does not sin; for Thou
    only art without sin; Thy righteousness is to all eternity; and Thy word is truth.

    For Thou aret the resurrection, the life, and the repose of Thy servant(s),
    ___________, who is (are) fallen asleep. O Christ our God and unto Thee do
    we send up in glory, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and
    Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of
    ages. Amen.

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Deacon Joseph Kerns (2006)

     Our beloved Deacon Joseph Kerns was taken from us on
     Friday morning, November 24, 2006, when a tree fell on his
     truck near Snoqualmie Pass as he was traveling on I-90 with
     his son, Abraham and two other young men who worked for
     him (and who had recently helped him paint our historic Holy
     Trinity Temple in Wilkeson, Washington), Alex Minneman and
     Jonathan Burell. Alex was also killed in the accident. Abraham
     and Jonathan were not injured.

     Deacon Joseph served Holy Resurrection Church, Tacoma,
     Washington, for ten years. He fulfilled the meaning of the word
     deacon - servant - not only in the Altar, but through his
     diaconal ministry worked among us and in the diocese. The
     Funeral Service for Deacon Joseph was served on Wednesday
     evening, November. 29, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. at Holy
     Resurrection Church, and presided over by His Grace, Bishop
     Benjamin, who was then Administrator of the Diocese of the West. The Divine Liturgy was
     served by Parish Rector, Archpriest John Pierce and local clergy on Thursday, November 30,
     2006. Deacon Joseph was taken to the Wilkeson town cemetery for interment.

     May the Lord God remember his diaconate in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto
     ages of ages.

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