The Seattle area is generally thought of as secular, with increasing numbers of people choosing not to identify with organized religion.

For Northlake Lutheran Church pastor Anja Helmon, this could mean people lose the opportunity ‘confess’, a chance to release pent up anxiety and stress in a communal setting.

So after moving from Kirkland to Kenmore last year, she was inspired by ‘confession boards’ which popped up in Seattle last year, letting people anonymously leave public confessions. She decided to start one in Kenmore, and for the couple weeks, it has been making the rounds at 192 Brewing Company, Spencer 68 and Third Place Books and Lake Forest Park, and eliciting some uncanny responses.

“What ended up being the most powerful for me, that I wasn’t expecting, is just in reading the other ones, there’s just a feeling that someone who has something that they’re struggling with,” she said. “There’s a feeling of ‘I’m not in this alone.’”

The project involves a large board which has pieces of paper with written confessions hanging on it. Confessors write down their confession and place it into a shoebox, which is then sorted by Helmon or an assistant, and confessions are hung from the board.

While at Spencer 68 last Friday afternoon, there were a wide variety of posts, ranging from humous to heartbreaking.

“I’m turning 71 and sometimes steal from craft stores. No one in my family, or any of my friends know. I feel so guilty,” read one.

“I got arrested for selling weed in 2009 and now it’s legal… WTF??” read another.

Some were short: “I was a prostitute for a while.”

Others longer: “I was abused by my dad for 12 years. I never thought I could be anything but now I have the confidence I’ve always dreamed of. There’s always hope. Never give up.”

And that candid honesty was what Helmon said she hopes to see more of in an attempt to build community in Kenmore.

While living in Kirkland she said people didn’t seem as interested in community as they are in Kenmore, and she decided to help promote it.

“I really love the idea of bringing this board out to the community, and bringing people who don’t have faith, or may not have a place to go,” she said.

She first set the board up at 192 Brewing Company last week, where many posts seemed to be false, but as more serious confessions began popping up, Helmon said the posters began taking it more seriously.

“I think there’s a respect that comes when you read all these confessions, and people realize that some of these things are pretty heartfelt,” she said.

The board will be on the move until around March 20, when Helmon said she may hold some sort of ceremony for the confessions if there is enough interest.

Until then, it could be found at Log Boom Park, across from the Kenmore library, the Foundation House at Bothell or the Kenmore Park and Ride parking lot.

Confessors can check for updates at the Twitter handle @NLCGetsLocal, or #NorthlakeConfess.