A moment of blessing for a Port Orchard woman killed last week is planned for Monday afternoon in front of the victim’s home on Sidney Avenue.

According to the Bremerton Ministerial Association, the service will be outside at the burned-out home on the 1100 block of Sidney Avenue where Linda Malcom’s body was found April 30.

The Port Orchard Police Department began investigating Malcom’s death as a homicide following the Kitsap County Coroner’s Office’s determination that the 47-year-old died of stab wounds.

The moment of blessing will begin at 1 p.m., and the public is invited and asked to arrive promptly.

Clergy are requested, and the site will be marked by a bamboo pole with red and purple ribbons.

The association describes itself as a compassionate worship service originally

begun by Associated Ministries in Tacoma and designed to give support to the victim’s family, friends, and the neighboring community.

The group gave a similar service in April of 2006 when a baby girl was found dead on Bielmeier Road.

Known as a “Moment of Blessing,” local pastor George Larson — now retired — said the event was just one of many services offered by Associated Ministries, a Pierce County Group with 250 congregations that performs ceremonies at the sites of violent deaths.

“I’ve been working with Sheriff Steve Boyer to try and bring these blessing services to Kitsap County,” Larson said.

“It’s a way to take back our community from violence,” said Debbie Price of Associated Ministries, explaining that although at the time authorities did not know how the baby died, she believed she was the victim of mistreatment.

Price said all the ceremonies are “very powerful,” and are connected by the ribbons that she and other Associated Ministries members take to each one.

For each blessing ceremony, Price said the name of the victim is written on a ribbon — red for domestic violence and lavender for other homicides — which is then tied to a pole alongside many others until the pole is full.

To contact a Bremerton Ministerial Association officer or to request information, call 373-3510, or email info@bremertonministerial.org

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