How is God Moving in Cascadia? | By Lei Edstrom

As the clergy & parishes of the Diocese of Cascadia continue on in faithful relationship with & service to our Lord & Shepherd, we are encouraged by evidence of God’s movement throughout our diocese. As we hear testimonies of God’s unwavering faithfulness from the following clergy & spouses in Cascadia, may our hearts rejoice with one another as one Body, united by our devotion to God.

Question 1: What is one thing you see God teaching your parish over this past year?

• One thing I see God teaching our parish this year is to seek to recognize the presence of God with us in all circumstances. Making space for one another, not being threatened by differences, and recognizing that the Holy Spirit is at work in all our lives has helped us have eyes to see what God is doing and strive to join Him in it! - Tina Gaines, wife of Fr. Billy Gaines, Christ Our Peace, Spokane, WA

• Over one year our parish teachings have emphasized walking in holiness and repentance. - Fr. Moses Kae, St. Matthew’s Anglican, Lakewood, WA

• I see God trying to teach our parish to be in community with one another in many aspects of our lives to reestablish the Church as the center of our lives instead of something we do on Sundays. - Sasha Jensen, wife of Fr. Jeramy Jensen, Christ Our Hope, Olympia, WA

• Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight. - Fr. Thom Blair, St. Brendan’s Anglican, Bellingham, WA

• To depend on Him, to listen to His voice & to follow Him. When we follow Him, God is going to bless us. - Fr. Mani, Riverflow, Oak Harbor, WA

• I think that one thing God has been teaching us is patience; this requires us to lean in to the messiness, difficulties and suffering we find ourselves in on the earth while trusting God as we worship and serve him together as his Church. - Fr. Ryan Brotherton, Holy Trinity, Edmonds, WA

• God has been teaching our congregation how to remain unified in the midst of difference through putting each other first. - Fr. Ben Edstrom, All Saints Anglican, Everett, WA

• God is showing us what he is calling St. Charles to be in our new home in Bremerton, and he has already placed several new opportunities for ministry and partnerships in front of us. - Fr. Chris Recinella, St. Charles, Bremerton, WA

Question 2: What is one value or character trait you see God developing in your parish in this season?

• There has been an increase of intimacy as our parish has pressed into vulnerability. It has really blessed the genuine connections of community. - Tina Gaines, wife of Fr. Billy Gaines, Christ Our Peace, Spokane, WA

• Love and unity amongst members. - Fr. Moses Kae, St. Matthew’s Anglican, Lakewood, WA

• Contentment. - Fr. Thom Blair, St. Brendan’s Anglican, Bellingham, WA

• To become like Christ & to witness about Him. He is leading us to fulfill His great commandment and great commission. - Fr. Mani, Riverflow, Oak Harbor, WA

• The overarching trait I see God developing [in our parish] is the virtue of patience. - Fr. Ryan Brotherton, Holy Trinity, Edmonds, WA

• I'm seeing the character trait of hospitality developing in new ways at GBTS. We've put together a Newcomer Engagement Team to help think through how we can better welcome new folks into our community. It's been a joy to see some of that work bear fruit! - Fr. Kyle Logan, Grace by the Sea, Oak Harbor, WA

• A character trait would be understanding and compassion especially in regard to various viewpoints we all have. - Sasha Jensen, wife of Fr. Jeramy Jensen, Christ Our Hope, Olympia, WA

• Prayer as a primary focus of the church. - Fr. Ben Edstrom, All Saints Anglican, Everett, WA

• I think God has fostered the virtue of hope in St. Charles over the last two years, with a real trust in him as the Good Shepherd walking with us. - Fr. Chris Recinella, St. Charles, Bremerton, WA

Question 3: What is one truth about God that you (personally) have been pondering lately?

• Personally, God has been helping me embrace change, while recognizing His steady and faithful presence. The “death” of one season is necessary to make way for the new life and growth of a new season. Emmanuel, God with us, has taken on new layers of meaning for me! - Tina Gaines, wife of Fr. Billy Gaines, Christ Our Peace, Spokane, WA

• A faithful and promising God. - Fr. Moses Kae, St. Matthew’s Anglican, Lakewood, WA

• Christ’s obedience to the law frees us up to love what the law pointed to. - Fr. Thom Blair, St. Brendan’s Anglican, Bellingham, WA

• God’s timing is perfect. We have a lot of things we are pondering right now and waiting on God to show us which direction to go. - Sasha Jensen, wife of Fr. Jeramy Jensen, Christ Our Hope, Olympia, WA

• That God’s hand is not too short to help us & to bless us. He is faithful, He gave us success in whatever we did according to the Word of God. - Fr. Mani, Riverflow, Oak Harbor, WA

• I’ve been pondering the truth that God is doing what he says he will do and is who he says he is. - Fr. Ryan Brotherton, Holy Trinity, Edmonds, WA

• I can live “humbly confident” in Christ; humble in the knowledge of who I am without Jesus but confident in who I am in Jesus. - Fr. Ben Edstrom, All Saints Anglican, Everett, WA

• I have been sitting with and reflecting on the humility of God who is almighty, all wise, and all good and has revealed himself to us in such humility in Jesus. - Fr. Chris Recinella, St. Charles, Bremerton, WA