Thank you for a Glorious Holy Week and Easter

A Note from Fr. Michael Ryan

---

My Dearest Ones,

Holy Week, like the historic events it enacts, is an overwhelming experience of God. We so often seek to be spoon-fed grace, and God responds during these holy days by capsizing our paltry wishes with a tidal wave of grace. God again defeats the powers of death and evil by succumbing to them, only to shatter them forever from within by raising Jesus from the dead.

During these eight days, we were privileged to participate in ten distinct liturgies—ranging from thirty minutes to two hours in duration. For every hour of worship, there are thirty hours of individual time expended for its sacred enactment. Consider the energy and careful thought you gave to the narrative of these eight days:

• The Preparation: The hours spent planning, rehearsing, and training; the hours devoted to acquiring, designing, and arranging flowers and palms; and the work to set up and rearrange your sacred spaces.

• The Hospitality: The time spent making welcoming spaces for infants and elders, seekers, and travelers—people who are welcomed and extended the loving hand of Christ by your actions.

• The Vigil: The time spent veiling, revealing, and unveiling every cross and crucifix, from the children’s processional cross to the great cross of the High Altar.

• The Mystery: The devotion given to preparing the sacred vessels and the basins for the washing of feet, and the patience of parents who make sure their children receive the training they need to participate in God’s Holy Mysteries.

Even though I know the work you devoted to participating in and serving these holy mysteries was done for your love of God and to the glory of God, I still feel a deep longing to thank you in ways that kindle God’s love for you—a love that reaches the deepest recesses of your souls, sufficiently powerful to cast out any doubt you have of your worthiness or the worthiness of your offerings to God.

As I write this, I realize that thanks are not mine to offer, but rather God's delight in you that I am called to convey. God knows, loves, and delights in the offering you make:

Thank you for hearing me.

Thank you for serving me.

Thank you for adoring me.

Thank you for fasting with me.

Thank you for tending to my body.

Thank you for stripping my altars.

Thank you for singing to me and playing for me.

Thank you for reading my words.

Thank you for appointing my holy spaces.

Thank you for making your children available to my service.

Thank you for welcoming my worshipers.

Thank you for washing my feet, and for allowing me to wash yours.

Thank you for serving my people the food of everlasting life.

Thank you for offering praise in the morning and again at dusk.

Thank you for preparing food and drink and for making a feast for my Resurrection.

Thank you for abiding with me and watching with me through the night hours.

Thank you for coming to me to celebrate my and your resurrection.

Thank you for being my tender hands to those whose weakness demands care.

Thank you for opening the doors in the small hours of the night so my people could spend an hour in silence with me.

Thank you for rendering my past into your present for the good future I am preparing for all who love me.

Thank you for loving me.

Thank you for hearing me.

Thank you for tending me.

Thank you for feasting me. 

A special note of thanks to our senior staff members

Michael Monnikendam, thank you for the time, energy and care you devote to our worship music week after week, and most especially during this most holy of weeks. Your aesthetic sense, beautiful voice, and flawless direction frame and enliven our holy liturgies in ways that language alone cannot. Thank you, Music Michael, for your loving service to our common worship and life!

Trish Tiura, thank you for helming the ever more sturdy and seaworthy vessel that powers and steers the energies and work of our ministry of administration and weekday welcome. Every year our work flows more smoothly, gets a bit easier and a lot better thanks to the gifts and energy you bring. You always empty the tank to get the work done right!

---

A deep Bow of Gratitude to the

2026 Holy Week Ministers and Participants

---

Altar Guild

Dana Pitts, Dianne Aber, Barb Davis, Nancy Heilstedt, Marilyn Robinson, Chris Berger

Foot Washers & Dryers

Jean Montague, Paula Copley, Chris Berger, Fr. Michael Ryan

Sound & Streaming

Rick Long, Evan Ortega, Leon Vogelzang

Passion Narrative

Doug Pascoe, John Merrill, Jerry Mickelson, Kevin Hansen, Connie Lightbody, Father Michael, Snow Zhou, James Hurd, Andrew Hurd, Valerie Merrill, Donna Murphy, Lupe Reyes, Rick Long

Altar Servers

Chris Berger, Connie Lightbody, Father Brian Lennstrom, Snow Zhou, Dianne Dunn

Night Watch

Doug & Mary Lou Sales, John Marchione, Rick Long, Mark Wilterding, Dennis Welch, Bill Gauthier, Chris Berger, Clayton Hughes, John & Valerie Merrill, Grace Vogelzang, Janinne Fredlund, Bruce Pitts, Tim & Erica Blue, Jon Vicklund

Music & Clergy

St. John’s Choir: Anna Aubry, Marylyn Pierce, Mark Comfort, Jenny, Neil Jordan, Suzanna, and Erica. Michael Monnikendam (Music Minister), Fr. Brian Lennstrom (Homilist)

Music Dedications

P. & B. Davis, J. & S. Kattenhorn, J. Fredlund, D. Murphy, D. & R. Perman, L. Reyes & C. Smith, M. Schroder, J. Sierakowska & C. Kurczewska, T. & E. Blue, B. & D. Pitts, M. Robinson, P. Copley, J. Kulina, A. Morrison, Rev. J. McEachran, M. & S. Wilterding, J. & E. Besaw, J. Bedard & J. Kenney, M.L. & D. Sales

Flower Ministry

Debbie Graham, Jane Martin, Janina Sierakowska, Christine Kurczewska, Dana Pitts, Jeanne Montague

Ushers

Joe Kattenhorn, Tony Martin, Bruce Pitts

Lectors & Intercessors

Snow Zhou, Patrick Davis, Marti Riley, Dana Pitts, Donna Murphy, Diane Perman, Jerry Mickelson, Becky Lennstrom, Paula Copley, John Merrill, Laura Neff, Valerie Merrill, Erica Blue, Tim Blue

Acolytes & Banners

James Hurd, Andrew Hurd, Lucas Carignan, Olivia Watts, Rick Long (Banner)

Chalice Bearers

Purity Nash, Rick Long, Patrick Davis, Karen Rongren, Mary Lou Sales

Good Friday Walk

Mary Lou Sales, Sue Baker, Chris Berger, Clayton & Anna Hughes

Office & Publicity

Donna Murphy, Paula Copley, Connie Lightbody, Marti Riley, and Geri Gray

Flower Dedications

D. Graham, M. Gill, J. Fredlund, D. & B. Pitts, D. Murphy, M. Robinson, D. & R. Perman, L. Reyes & C. Smith, B. & P. Davis, P. Copley, J. & E. Besaw, J. Sierakowska & C. Kurczewska

Sunday Brunch

Grace Vogelzang - with support from Mary Lou Sales, Susan Trabucchi, Erica Blue, Diane Perman, Paula Miller, Jill Domoney, Jon Vicklund, Maureen Schroder, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Nouna’s Sweets.

The Easter Triduum

The Easter Triduum

(Trid-YOU-um)

These Three Sacred and Glorious Days 

---

Dear Ones,

We now enter the most sacred time of the Christian year: The Easter Triduum (Trid-YOU-um), or Three Days.

The Triduum marks the culmination of the Lenten season and is a time of profound reflection, spiritual renewal, and communal worship. It is a journey through the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ—a journey that invites us to deepen our faith, strengthen our bonds as a faith community, and rejoice in the boundless love and mercy of our Savior.

At St. John’s, we are blessed to offer a series of solemn and uplifting liturgical celebrations, each carefully crafted to guide us through the sacred mysteries of the Triduum and culminate in our celebration of the Resurrection at Easter.

Come and participate in these sacred observances, and together, we will experience the transformative power of the Easter Triduum as a community.

Grace and Peace, 

MAUNDY THURSDAY

7:00 p.m. — Holy Communion, Washing of Feet, and the Stripping of the Altar

Tonight we commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. Our observance includes a ritual washing of the feet to commemorate the Great Commandment: We are to love each other as God loves us and to do so through acts of loving-kindness. Tonight we will also strip and anoint the Altar and place the Holy Sacrament on an Altar of Repose in the Good Shepherd Chapel, where members of the parish will stay awake and watch with Christ through the dark hours of the night.

The Night Watch (10:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m.):

The Watch List is now full. However, I have the 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. slot, which I am happy to offer. My preference is to give this hour to someone who has never experienced the Watch before. If that is you, please phone office pronto at (425) 827-3077 and leave a message for me. If you have participated in the past but wish to take this opening, please contact us; we will get you slotted in if we don't find a first-time participant.

GOOD FRIDAY

Noon — The Good Friday Stations of the Cross

Every year on Good Friday, Kirkland churches gather to pray the Stations of the Cross, walking together to "stations" in the downtown. We begin at St. John’s with scriptural readings, prayers, and a brief homily. The service concludes at the Marina Park Pavilion. This is God’s church at its best and most unified, and it is a moving experience of walking together with Jesus to the place of his crucifixion.

7:00 p.m. — The Passion, Solemn Prayers, Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion

On this night, we enter into the depth of Christ’s sacrifice as we gather for a holy liturgy in which we recount his passion, crucifixion, and death. We respond with Solemn Collects and prayers, venerate the Cross, and share communion from the Reserved Sacrament that has been attended throughout the previous night’s hours.

THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER

8:00 p.m. — The Lighting of the New Fire, the Record of God’s Saving Deeds, and the First Eucharist of Easter

The Great Vigil is the hinge upon which the Triduum turns—the bridge from the shadow of the Cross to the glory of the Empty Tomb. We begin in the darkness of the night, kindling a new fire to light the Paschal Candle, symbolizing Christ’s light breaking into the world. Through the reading of Holy Scripture, we trace the history of God’s saving power from the beginning of creation. In the absence of a baptism this year, we will stand together to solemnly renew our own Baptismal Vows before celebrating the first joyful Eucharist of the Resurrection.

EASTER SUNDAY

The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

10:00 a.m. — Festal Holy Eucharist with brass, choir and organ & Renewal of our Baptismal Vows, followed by Easter Brunch.

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! Today, the journey of the Triduum reaches its glorious fruition. We gather in a space transformed by light and flowers to celebrate the triumph of life over death. Our worship is a jubilant offering of praise, song, and thanksgiving as we reaffirm our commitment to the Risen Christ and share in the feast of the Holy Eucharist.

Announcing Our New Ministry Redevelopment Co-Chairs: Skilled Leaders for the Next Chapter

From the Rector

---

Dear Ones,

On behalf of the Vestry, I am thrilled to announce that parishioners John Marchione and Barbara Davis have agreed to helm the next stage of our Ministry Redevelopment process. They have already begun their work to build on the significant progress made over the past year, and I invite you to join me in welcoming them into this vital leadership role.

The Work of Redevelopment at St. John’s

Over the course of the last year, work on a Ministry Redevelopment process for St. John’s – an effort to reorient and reconfigure our ministries - has been both advanced and refined so that our mission and ministries become integrated such that each not only serves their respective purpose, but that they do so in ways that serve to:

• Introduce new or aspiring Christians to a lived knowledge and friendship with God and every member of the entire body.

  
  

• Incorporate every member and the gifts of every member into the worship, life, and mission of God through St. John’s.

  
  

• Create the conditions in which every ministry not only performs its duties but does it in a manner that strengthens all other ministries and the entire body.

Specifically, this process seeks to recommission inactive ministries, renew existing ministries, and fully utilize Christian practices – individual and corporate – to guide and nourish our lives and the life of the Body of Christ.

Under the leadership of the Vestry and the Ministry Redevelopment Committee chaired by Jackie Halstead and me, much progress was made on this process. Through review of information, discussion, and deliberation, four focus areas were chosen and work began. Additionally, the mission, activities and desired outcomes for each of areas were defined.

The four focus areas are:

• Formation for Christian Life

• Pastoral Care

• Welcoming and Incorporating Members

• Table Hospitality

  
  

We believe that intentional focus on these areas will strengthen St. John’s core capacity for all areas of ministry.

Join Us on February 1st for the Annual Meeting to learn more about the framework for continuing this process and meet the parishioners leading each of the focus areas. You will also have an opportunity to get involved. Stay Tuned!

Grace and Peace,

---

Barbara and John

Bring Unique Gifts for this Work

A bedrock of Episcopal/Anglican spirituality is the lived experience that the Holy Spirit is actively pursuing us, inviting us into a loving relationship with the Triune God and with each other. The self-giving way of Jesus involves processes in which we share our particular gifts for ministry. God has instilled in us a deep longing to share the gifts we’ve received in ways that are useful and pleasing to Him. The following is a fuller introduction to these new leaders:

Barbara Davis

Barbara is a life-long Episcopalian, raised in a clergy family. Her love for the Episcopal church was nurtured by experiencing the ministry of her father—who ended his career as the Diocesan Bishop of Western Mexico—and her mother. For Barbara, ministry has always been a family affair rooted in deep faith.

Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Barbara moved to Washington over 45 years ago. She holds a degree in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry and has spent over 20 years in the non-profit sector. At United Way of Snohomish County, she served as the Vice President of Community Investment, where she honed her expertise in organizational development, group process, and facilitation. A member of our Altar Guild and the ECW, Barbara brings a wealth of professional certifications and a heart for humble service to this committee.

John Marchione

John grew up in Redmond and has a long history of community service rooted in his early years as an altar boy. This foundation led him to a career in public service, most notably serving as the Mayor of Redmond from 2008 to 2019.

With a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Washington, John has led major initiatives involving housing, transportation, and regional growth. His commitment to human flourishing is evident in his continued board service for organizations like Hopelink and Eastrail.

Having joined St. John’s last July, John brings a profound understanding of how collective effort and organized leadership can bring about positive, lasting change in a community.