Religion

Minister’s message: How to take a break

A quote that is attributed to Aristotle observes that “nature abhors a vacuum.” He based his conclusion on the observation that nature requires every space… Continue reading

Come to Me and I will give you rest

It was during the Jewish harvest festival that Jesus shouted out these words. It isn’t difficult to imagine the setting. They had a long season… Continue reading

  • Aug 24, 2018
  • By Rev. Andrew Carlson
  • Religion

Church and life as we know it

Looking at the state of world beyond the Kenai Peninsula, I can see why so many have an increased amount of anxiety. It is at… Continue reading

Construction equipment sits among dirt piles outside the Trinity Christian Center on Monday, Aug. 6, 2018 near Soldotna. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Work in progress

A fresh coat of concrete and new classrooms are going up at the Trinity Christian Center on the hill outside Soldotna. The church, recognizable for… Continue reading

Construction equipment sits among dirt piles outside the Trinity Christian Center on Monday, Aug. 6, 2018 near Soldotna. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Minster’s message: Noise

Different seasons of the year are different in appearance, activity, and atmosphere. Each season is unique in those aspects. One factor stands out to me… Continue reading

Why is hard work a good thing?

Here’s a question. Do you value hard work? Many of us would say yes, though of course a person can abuse work and end up… Continue reading

The Eeyore Syndrome

I’ve been thinking a lot about “focus” of late. Focus affects every area of our lives. It controls what we do, who we get along… Continue reading

The Eeyore Syndrome

I’ve been thinking a lot about “focus” of late. Focus affects every area of our lives. It controls what we do, who we get along… Continue reading

Glenn Beckmann of Rainproof Roofing inspects a weathered and tilting cross atop Kenai’sHoly Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church before removing it on Friday, May 4, 2018. Dorothy Gray , a Holy Assumption member and treasurer of the preservation nonprofit Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska, said the church is now looking for local craftspeople interested in making replacements for the three old crosses. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Orthodox church to get new crosses

One of the triple-armed Russian Orthodox crosses atop Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church was taken down by a boom-lift crew… Continue reading

Glenn Beckmann of Rainproof Roofing inspects a weathered and tilting cross atop Kenai’sHoly Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church before removing it on Friday, May 4, 2018. Dorothy Gray , a Holy Assumption member and treasurer of the preservation nonprofit Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska, said the church is now looking for local craftspeople interested in making replacements for the three old crosses. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Orthodox Church draws close to restoration goal with funding for chapel work

Orthodox Church draws close to restoration goal with funding for chapel work

Some of the square-hewn timbers of the small Russian Orthodox chapel in Old Town Kenai may be exchanged for fresh wood during a planned restoration… Continue reading

Orthodox Church draws close to restoration goal with funding for chapel work
A historical marker hangs on the fence outside the Kenai Bible Church on Monday, June 12, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The chapel, which overlooks the Kenai River in Old Town Kenai, is the oldest Protestant church in town and will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Bible Church marks 75th anniversary

From out on the dark waters of Cook Inlet near the Kenai River, one of the brightest lights of Kenai comes from the steeple of… Continue reading

A historical marker hangs on the fence outside the Kenai Bible Church on Monday, June 12, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. The chapel, which overlooks the Kenai River in Old Town Kenai, is the oldest Protestant church in town and will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
John Michael, a member of Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church, prepares to carry a damaged icon of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane from the church’s sanctuary on Monday, May 15 in Kenai. In the foreground stands the wooden cross that fell backward during the January 2016 Iniskin Earthquake, tearing the icon’s canvas. After planning and fundraising for the icon’s repair since mid-2016, the church shipped it to an art restorer on Monday.

Kenai Russian church sends icon for restoration

John Michael, a member of Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church, prepares to carry a damaged icon of Jesus praying in… Continue reading

John Michael, a member of Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church, prepares to carry a damaged icon of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane from the church’s sanctuary on Monday, May 15 in Kenai. In the foreground stands the wooden cross that fell backward during the January 2016 Iniskin Earthquake, tearing the icon’s canvas. After planning and fundraising for the icon’s repair since mid-2016, the church shipped it to an art restorer on Monday.
Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula ClarionThis icon of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane sits behind the altar of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church and was torn when a cross fell on it during the Jan. 24, 2016 Iniskin earthquake. It was photographed on Monday, Oct. 31 in Kenai. The church is raising funds to send the icon to a conservator in Colorado who will repair the rip, as well as an earlier candle burn above and to the right of the rip.

Earthquake-damaged icon to be repaired

When the Kenai Peninsula was shaken by the 7.1 magnitude Iniskin earthquake in the early hours of Jan. 24, one of the many things to… Continue reading

Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula ClarionThis icon of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane sits behind the altar of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church and was torn when a cross fell on it during the Jan. 24, 2016 Iniskin earthquake. It was photographed on Monday, Oct. 31 in Kenai. The church is raising funds to send the icon to a conservator in Colorado who will repair the rip, as well as an earlier candle burn above and to the right of the rip.

Kenai’s Russian Church to install fire system

Kenai’s Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church is filled with religious art and historical artifacts, is built of logs, and hosts weekly… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Father Andrew Thomas of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church speaks to the small congregation gathered for Divine Liturgy in the St. Nicholas Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 19 in Kenai. Behind him stands Father Victor Nick of Ninilchik. "There is no other church like this in Alaska," Father Thomas said of the chapel, which was built in 1906 over the graves of three missionary monks who came to the Kenai area in the mid-1800s.

Divine Liturgy for St. Nicholas held in Kenai’s historic chapel

The rough wooden interior of St. Nicholas chapel was lit by a hissing gas lantern as Father Andrew Thomas, priest of Kenai’s Holy Assumption of… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Father Andrew Thomas of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church speaks to the small congregation gathered for Divine Liturgy in the St. Nicholas Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 19 in Kenai. Behind him stands Father Victor Nick of Ninilchik. "There is no other church like this in Alaska," Father Thomas said of the chapel, which was built in 1906 over the graves of three missionary monks who came to the Kenai area in the mid-1800s.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Electrician Richard Cutter crawls through the roof space of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church while installing a new fire supression system on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Kenai.

Kenai Russian Orthodox Church gets new fire supression system

A system designed to extinguish fires without damaging the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church’s collection of icons, art, and archived documents… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Electrician Richard Cutter crawls through the roof space of Kenai's Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church while installing a new fire supression system on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Kenai.
Linguist James Kari, who worked with Dena’ina speaker Peter Kalifornsky on preserving the vanishing Dena’ina language in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, speaks at a Kenai Peninsula History Conference panel on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Kenai Peninsula College near Soldotna, Alaska. Kari presented his work at both last week’s history conference and the one that preceded it in 1974. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Historical Conference sheds light on Russian, Native history

Like the history it examined, the weekend’s history conference at Kenai Peninsula College was many things to many people. For Michael Skinner, who gives summer… Continue reading

Linguist James Kari, who worked with Dena’ina speaker Peter Kalifornsky on preserving the vanishing Dena’ina language in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, speaks at a Kenai Peninsula History Conference panel on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Kenai Peninsula College near Soldotna, Alaska. Kari presented his work at both last week’s history conference and the one that preceded it in 1974. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)