Reawakening of St. Christopher's Church in Westport

The Holy Spirit is blowing the winds of new life into St. Christopher’s by the Sea in Westport. This blessed mission church was started in a tent to minister to the needs of the people of Washington’s south ocean beaches. Over the years it has moved into a remodeled school house, started a food bank next door to the church, and a clothing bank in Grayland. Read more »

Diocesan App Launched

On Saturday, May 18, during a diocesan festival at St. Mark's Cathedral, the Diocese of Olympia launched an App! Folks were encouraged to "download the new Dio Olympia app and get the bishop on your phone." The free App is available for both iPhone and Android platforms. 
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Bishop Rickel calls for prayer in wake of tornadoes

On Monday, May 20, Bishop Rickel called on members of the Diocese of Olympia to pray for those affected by the tornadoes in Oklahoma and across the country: Read more »

Check out the photos from the Diocesan Festival

Photos from the Diocesan Festival held at St. Mark's Cathedral on May 18 are posted on the diocesan Facebook Page. The day included "funshops," Eucharist, a BBQ picnic lunch, carnival games, and "Dunk the Bishop." Check them out. Read more »

Holy Land tour announced

Come and See—Christian Presence in the Holy Land, November 25-December 3, 2013 is sponsored by the Episcopal Bishop's Committee for Israel/Palestine. If you are a first time visitor or someone who is drawn again and again to the land where Jesus taught and ministered, here is an opportunity to visit traditional Biblical pilgrimage sites, meet Christians who call the Holy Land home, and gain a deeper knowledge of the theological landscape.  Read more »

The Farm Team & Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

Help provide food for those in need worldwide by becoming a part of (or sponsoring) The Farm Team. Episcopal Relief & Development is teaming up with the Diocese of Olympia to create an event-within-an-event by inviting members of the diocese to join The Farm Team and run or walk the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon or the Half Marathon event on Saturday, June 22. Read more »

GiveBIG progress report

Give Big LogoOn May 15 gifts to the Diocese of Olympia benefitting Episcopal Community Action (ECA) through the Seattle Foundaton 's giveBIG event totalled $12,419. A portion of this total will be matched as well by the Seattle Foundaton and GiveBig sponsors.  We will let you know the total of the match when we receive those funds.  Thanks for giving BIG!   Read more »

2013 Stewardship Conference announced

Creating a Culture of Stewardship through Living Your Baptism will provide tools for your congregation to create a culture of stewardship through a variety of ministries including management of personal finances, understanding our corporate and individual identity as people of faith, practical help for intergenerational year round stewardship formation, and environmental stewardship that helps the bottom line. Read more »

Volunteers needed for the Resurreccion 2013 Summer Day Camp in Skagit Valley

La Iglesia de la Resurreccion, Mount Vernon, is looking for volunteers - teachers, classroom aids, cooks, drivers, and youth groups - to assist with its Summer Day Camp. The camp is designed for school-age children of low income farm workers in the Skagit Valley area. Children receive tutoring, educational field trips and childcare for their younger siblings just before school starts. Read more »

June 2 is Sea Sunday!

Fifty thousand merchant seafarers reach our Port each year. It is a tough way to provide for your family, but for many it is the best opportunity for a new life. Being at sea means separation from that family, and from friends, and from the familiar support networks of a town or village. Faced with low wages, harsh and dangerous working conditions, and the all-too-familiar threat of exploitation in a strange land, the life of a seafarer can be lonely and demanding with long periods at sea and a relentless routine. The Mission to Seafarers welcomes these hardworking men and women to our center—in Seattle and in ports around the world. Here they can communicate with loved ones, relax away from the ship, and enjoy the fellowship of a warm and caring Christian community. They are our guests. Read more »

Millennium Development Goals 2013 grants available

Each year in our diocesan budget we set aside 0.7% of unrestricted income (from two years prior; 2011 for 2013) to provide grants in support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Grants are intended to support work outside the United States with Episcopal/Anglican ties and a liaison within the Diocese of Olympia. Requests are considered from diocesan congregations, committees, ministries or individuals. Read more »

Children's Garden at Christ Church, Blaine

The Christ Church, Blaine, children's garden produced 15 pounds of produce for the local food bank last year, and the congregation plans to double the plot this year. Read more »

It's Diocesan Festival Time

This Saturday, May 18, is the celebration! Watch Bishop Rickel's video invitation and plan to join members of our diocese gathered at our Cathedral. Bring your banners! It's a parade! Join the procession and wave high the flag of your congregation at the Festival Eucharist in the middle of the festival day. Funshops, carnival games ...     Read more »

Episcopal Relief & Development offers resources for ministering to children and families after a disaster

At Episcopal Relief and Development, our hearts and prayers go out to those impacted by the tragic explosions at the April 15 Boston Marathon. The U.S. Disaster Preparedness and Response Program has developed the following resources for parents and church leaders ministering to children and families in the first week after a disaster:
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Love Mercy, Do Justice interview

Bishop Rickel interviews the Rev. Hunt Priest about the May 4 Love Mercy, Do Justice conference. Watch video. Conference website. Read more »

New Episcopal Church video features Church of the Apostles, Seattle

The following was released by The Episcopal Church, Office of Public Affairs. [March 28, 2013] It’s innovative. It’s young. It’s an Episcopal and Lutheran congregation, truly living into Called to Common Mission. It’s the Church of the Apostles in Seattle, WA (Diocese of Olympia), and, to many, it’s the face of the future. The Church of the Apostles is featured in a new video in the groundbreaking series, Transforming Churches, Changing the World. Produced by the Episcopal Church Office of Communication, the video is available here. Read more »

Scholarships available through the Episcopal Church Scholarship program

As a result of bequests, The Episcopal Church Center (national church) makes available a modest number of scholarships that assist students primarily enrolled in theological education and training. Several other trusts benefit children of current and former missionaries. Funding for the program is derived from annual income of designated trust funds established by generous donors. The oldest scholarship trust fund, The Mary E. Hinman Fund, was established in 1879. Currently there are forty-three trust funds available for scholarships. Read more »

St. Stephen, Longview, participates in two-year GreenFaith certification program.

The mission statement for GREENFAITH at St. Stephen’s Longview is: “All creation is God’s gift.  Because God works through us, we affirm our responsibility to be just and faithful stewards of our fragile island home.  Caring for creation will be woven into all our ministries.”
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TV Eucharist celebrates 40th anniversary

It’s the 40th Anniversary for the longest running Episcopal TV program in the country, our own TV Eucharist. Taped at KING-TV5 and broadcast over cable by KONG-TV6/16, over 3,000 households watch this service each Sunday morning. The first broadcast was on Easter Day, 1973, with the late Dean John C. Leffler presiding and the sermon by the then dean (now retired bishop) Cabby Tennis. Presiding at this year’s Easter broadcast will be Bishop Chris Boerger, Bishop of the NW Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with the sermon by Bishop Rickel. Read more »

2013 Camp & Conference Center Sunday

From Bishop Rickel: We set aside one Sunday a year to celebrate our unique and beautiful camps and conference centers. Mark your calendars for this year’s Camp and Conference Center Sunday: April 14th, 2013! I urge you to advocate for the people of your congregation to support St. Andrew’s House along the Hood Canal and Huston Camp and Conference Center in Gold Bar. Read more »

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