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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), Name(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 art the resurrection, the life, and the repose of Thy servant(s), Name(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.

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 Eminence, Archbishop 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.

On Wednesday, January 22nd, a Divine Liturgy was held at 9:30am with Scott Elijah Miller's funeral following.  After the funeral there was a lenten potluck meal in the Parish House.  We then departed for Wilkeson and Scott was buried in the Wilkeson Town Cemetery.

"When God Chose Me"

A tribute to Scott Elijah Miller written by Rdr Seraphim (Stacy) Thomas

When God chose me, I still was yet to be born.  He said, "Thou art fearfully and wonderfully made..."

"Sing to Me, Scott, with your beautiful voice and all of heaven shall hear it and bless those on earth."

God gave you the church name, "Elijah", because you are bold in spirit and yet gentle as rain, your voice moving like the wind filled with Godly love and passion ministering and giving to others in song and word.

The Lenten song, "By the Waters of Babylon", will forever resound in the hearts and minds of our parish as only you could sing it, my Dear Friend and Brother in Christ.

When God chose me, I served Him here.  Now when God called my name I said, "Here am I", and I stand in His Almighty presence, the Presence of the Resurrection whose voice is as many waters.

Whose glory I behold both now and forever more, singing the song of praise and salvation, the song of the Redeemed, where there is no more sickness, no more suffering nor sighing. Amen and Amen.

John Newmaster, 89, passed away October 27, 2014.. He was preceded in death by his sister Rene and brother LeRoy, and survived by his wife Sandra, daughters Joan (Perry Young) Salvatore, and Joyce (Tim) VanDomelen, grandchildren Christopher Lawrence, Marisa Spies, and Mitchell VanDomelen, great granddaughter Brianna Lawrence, and brother Thomas Newmaster. His funeral was served at Holy Resurrection Church on October 30, and was laid to rest at the Tahoma National Cemetery.

John was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, he was a lifelong member of the Orthodox Church. In Washington he was active in both St. Spiridon Cathedral of Seattle and here at Holy Resurrection. Well known by clergy and parishioners of other churches in the Puget Sound area, John was an ardent supporter of the Diocese of the West. He served in the US Navy for twenty-one years, was a WWII and Vietnam Veteran and was active in the V.F.W. and the Military Order of the Cootie, as service organizations.

Prior to his death, John provided for the children of Holy Resurrection Church with the donation of a full size play system for a new playground. Memory Eternal.

Archpriest John Garvey, 70, who in retirement was attached to Holy Resurrection Church here, fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.

Born in Decatur, IL on May 8, 1944, he was the eldest of eight brothers and sisters.  His father was a journalist and publisher, as was his brother.  He received his B.A. from Notre Dame University in 1967.  He married the former Maria Regina Carbonell on June 10 the same year.  He was received into the Orthodox Church at Archangel Michael Church, St. Louis, MO in 1984, while his wife was received at Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, Springfield, IL, in 1990.  He completed his Master of Divinity degree at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY, in 1993, having been ordained to the priesthood the previous year.  He served as Pastor of Saint Nicholas Church, Jamaica, Queens, NY, after which he was assigned Assistant Pastor at Holy Trinity Church, East Meadow, NY.  Wishing to live near children and grandchildren, Father John and Matushka Regina retired to Washington State, where he continued to serve and preach at Holy Resurrection Church.

Father John was an accomplished and well-regarded writer and a long-time columnist for Commonweal.  His publications included Seeds of the Word: Orthodox Thinking on Other Religions [SVS Press, April 5, 2006]; Death and the Rest of Our Life [Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, June 20, 2005]; Orthodoxy for the Non-Orthodox: A Brief Introduction to Orthodox Christianity [Templegate Publishing, November 30, 2002]; and Saints for Confused Times [Thomas More Press, 1976].  He also served as a member of and consultant to several OCA committees.  According to Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, Rector of Holy Trinity Church, Parma, OH and former OCA Chancellor, “he was a pastor with modern sensibilities and traditional values.  His journey to Orthodoxy was a process of deep introspection and discernment, but becoming an Orthodox priest was a privilege which he treasured with humble honor.  He was a conscientious pastor, an engaging preacher, a wonderful conversationalist and a great colleague to priests and people from a wide spectrum.”

In addition to his dear wife, Matushka Regina, Father John is survived by two children, Hugh and Maria, both married; four grandchildren, Andrew, Timothy, Violet and Desmond; and six brothers and sisters.

On Thursday, January 22, Father John laid in state at Holy Resurrection Church, where a Panikhida was celebrated.  On Friday, January 23, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated, followed by the Funeral Service for a Priest.  A meal followed services.  Father John was interred at the Wilkeson Town Cemetery, Wilkeson WA.  Memorial gifts may be made to Holy Resurrection Memorial Fund, PO Box 1332, Puyallup, WA, 98371.

May Father John’s memory be eternal!