Growing up in the Episcopal tradition and attending a “high” church, the seasons of the church year were observed and celebrated, and they directed our lives. I loved the order and …

Editor’s note: The Beacon is revisiting Worship columns by some of our retired freelance writers. This piece that ran July 23, 2019, is by Mark Smith, former senior pastor of Mukilteo …

Our kids took piano lessons growing up. At our casual recitals, the teacher would have a few things to say after each student’s performance. But he always wrapped his assessment inside what he …

In contemplative sciences and practices of self-reflection and meditation, the common underlying drive is to become whole. To become a whole person is a developmental journey that must be …

Editor’s note: The Beacon is revisiting Worship columns by some of our retired writers. This piece that ran Feb. 14, 2012, is by Mark Smith, former senior pastor of Mukilteo Presbyterian …

Has the presidency been on your mind lately? Soon, our nation will observe Presidents Day and by recognizing some early presidents whose beliefs, values, and leadership shaped our nation, we can be …

Hello friends! In the time of Jesus Christ, exactly what would the locals have needed to do differently in order to have correctly believed in His Station and His Claims, to accurately know that He …

When I was 16 years old, my father signed me up to take golf lessons at the local golf course. Initially, I was not into it. It was difficult, and I thought it was boring. So I went through the …

As I sat there holding my mother-in-law’s hand, I watched every labored breath. My heart ached, knowing the end was near. The breaths grew more strained, and she lightly squirmed in the …

For Christians, this is the season of Epiphany, which means “manifestation.” Epiphany began Jan. 6, concluding the Christmas season with a celebration of God’s glory revealed in …

Whew! You made it through the holiday rush. Time to take a deep breath, exhale, let your cheeks flop, and unclench your teeth. I don’t know how your home looks, but my office looks like a …

Christmas is one of the big holidays in the Christian church. I know it’s been commercialized, and non-Christians even use it for a holiday for gift giving and a break from work. …

My wife, Sandi, and I had the privilege of leading a team of teenagers and some adults on a mission trip to Haiti. This trip happened early in my ministry while I was a youth pastor. I felt very …

Hello, friends! When one is suffering from injustices, one might understandably reach out for some due acknowledgement and succor, and even some charity. We hear their plea and then we pretty …

December begins the season of Advent or literally “coming.” To get ready, Our Savior’s and other churches that follow a liturgical calendar change the altar coverings to blue and …

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. As anxiety rises, people are …

I recently saw a promotional church video on Facebook. I recall it had the tagline of being a church for “the generations.” The video had wonderful footage of people in worship, …

I f you’re old enough, you’ve probably heard this phrase before – maybe even from Yosemite Sam. It was coined in the 1800s and expresses surprise: kind of like “Great …

As I sit here writing this worship column, it is exactly one week until the 2024 election. I write, not knowing what the outcome or the response will be following the first reports of numbers coming …

There is an ancient story about how to capture a monkey. The monkey hunter puts a banana through an open coconut. On one end of the coconut, the hole is large enough for the monkey to grab the …