When St. John of the Cross wrote of the Dark Night of the Soul, he was describing a time of testing and pain that was accompanied by confusion, fear, and uncertainty—including doubts of God. When Chris describes his first few years in western Washington, one wonders if Dark Nights in Kenmore is an appropriate comparison.
Chris and Rachelle, his wife of 14 years, along with their two children, moved from their friends and family in Boise in 2021 and ultimately divorced in August 2024. This followed the end of a pandemic that shook the world and a cancer battle that Rachelle thankfully survived. Experiencing the grief and loss of family separation, Chris found himself isolated from his entire support network and feeling alone in a dark place.
With no one to turn to, Chris sought refuge at Redeemer. Raised Catholic, Chris had drifted away from his faith years earlier. Chris’s sister, Nancy, a long-time Catholic back in Boise, had started attending an Episcopal Church, which had been a wonderful experience for her. Nancy encouraged Chris to try Episcopalians out.
Reeling from the grief of divorce, loneliness, and job struggles, Chris did a Google search and discovered that the beautiful building he passed from time to time down the road was an Episcopal Church. In February 2025, Chris wandered in to the 10:30 am service at Redeemer to join in worship for the first time in years.
Intending to sit quietly and keep to himself, Chris was surprised how welcoming Redeemer was. One member sat with him and kindly helped him fumble through the bulletin and books guiding the service. Another immediately offered to meet him for coffee and shortly after took him in as one of his own. Others opened their homes to him on holidays. Still others shared similar struggles and how they were getting through them.
Looking for community and faith development, Chris fully immersed himself into Redeemer, and, within a short time, he felt like a full member. He has connected deeply with so many wonderful people at Redeemer and has been able to share Redeemer with his siblings as they visit.
Redeemer has not only given Chris the loving and supportive community that he so deeply wanted, but it has also rekindled the spirit of God in his life. Redeemer has saved and blessed Chris’s life in many ways, and he is so grateful to be a member of this beautiful community.
As Christians we are story tellers. We have an ancient narrative, one that describes the beginning of time and the relationship between God and God’s Creation. We see this story grow through the prophetic tradition until our story recounts the life and gifts of the Son of God. Today the story of God’s work in the world continues in each of us as we encounter and are transformed by the Good News. Collectively we, the Church of the Redeemer, carry on in God’s mission to bring God’s transformative love into our time and place. We magnify the Lord!
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.