The Episcopal Church in Western Washington
After review and in response to our current context we are changing the parameters for sermon submissions. We will now accept sermons submissions in video or audio form, as well as in text. We are also expanding to include sermons preached right up until the submission deadline of September 30. If you do not have a video or audio version of your sermon to submit, it is okay to record one and submit it along with your text. Please see
Want to serve your church in a new way? The board of directors is seeking new members to help oversee the corporate responsibilities of the Diocese of Olympia. The board provides stewardship of our financial resources. This includes oversight of the Diocesan Investment Fund and other funds entrusted to the diocese for specified purposes. It also makes and oversees loans to congregations for building construction/renovation and mission development. The board provides stewardship of our physical assets. This includes holding legal
We invite those of you in faith formation ministries – whether you are paid, volunteer, or a rector who wears many hats – to share with us your faith formation experience through this brief, ten-minute survey. Your input will help us with two main goals: to gather and make available data on the compensation, hours, and roles of faith formation ministers in the Diocese of Olympia; and to find out what faith formation ministers need so the diocese can better
With the continuing COVID-19 crisis and churches across the diocese continuing to stream their services on Facebook and YouTube, we’re launching a subscriber drive for our church’s YouTube channels. When YouTube channels reach 1,000 subscribers, it opens up additional possibilities – including the ability to live-steam with a mobile device. So help us support our churches in Western Washington by following the links below and subscribing to their YouTube channels! If your church has a YouTube channel that isn’t listed,
The Office of the Bishop has issued a call for nominations for two diocesan awards. If you know of such a person deserving of either award, talk with your church office or leadership about submitting a nomination (using the form below). The awards will be made during the Diocesan Convention, held virtually, October 23-24. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, September 25. Nominations must be submitted by using this form. NOMINATION FORM In 2011, Bishop Rickel established the Ky Chen
We have all been shocked and saddened by Tuesday’s terrible explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, which has claimed the lives of more than 150 people, injured thousands more, and left up to 300,000 homeless. All Saints Episcopal Church in Beirut, located one mile from the blast zone, is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, one of the companion dioceses to the Diocese of Olympia. While no members of the church were killed or seriously injured, the church did suffer serious
Traditionally “6-Day” takes place in person at Camp Huston and has served as the culminating event for youth as they graduate high school and transition into young adulthood. Capturing the key touchstones of a long-standing diocesan program and reimagining it in a virtual format was quite the challenge! Participants received a program supply box for the weekend’s activities in the mail featuring a camp T-Shirt, arts and crafts, props, activities, and a portable worship kit complete with custom alter cloth
Dear People of the Diocese of Olympia, Two weeks ago, we released a letter outlining our assumptions and priorities for our shared work of anti-racism. That letter was meant to orient members of our diocese to how leadership are thinking about the sin of racism and how we will respond. This letter and the Organizational Practices Update (below) describe the first steps we will take together to renew our commitment to rooting out White Supremacy and racism from our common
It is important to note that the Washington State Department of Health, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization all recommend that, in addition to their recommendations to maintain six feet of physical distance from non-household members and wash hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, people wear facial masks when they are in public settings where they cannot reliably maintain six feet of distance from others at all times.
From the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton: The Leadership Circle of Ethnic Ministries has developed a model of support for People of Color in the diocese and would like to share with you the Circles of Color that are currently gathering as virtual online communities. The Ethnic Ministries Full Circle is currently meeting as an online weekly meeting of both lay and ordained people of color in the diocese. We gather through Zoom conference every Tuesday at 1:00pm. All POC are invited