Updates from the Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness
From Don Fornoff, Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness: Last week, I wrote about an ecumenical organization in Fairfax County, Virginia, of which I was personally familiar. I reached out to the founder to find out its origins and confirmed that FACETS’s base is the faith community. The County government knows that and counts on the…
Bishop LaBelle’s Seating Sermon: Sunday, September 15, 2024
Bishop LaBelle’s Seating Sermon Catherine of Genoa — John 15:5-17 Back in the era when I took the General Ordination Exams—or “GOEs,” for those in the know—the last part of the four day written exam was often called “Coffee Hour Questions.” This closed book section was used to see if the ordinand had the chops…
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Philip N. LaBelle Ordained and Consecrated Ninth Bishop of Olympia
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Philip N. LaBelle was ordained and consecrated as the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia on Saturday, September 14, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington. LaBelle leads nearly 26,000 Episcopalians in more than 100 worshiping communities across Western Washington. The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop for the…
The Rt. Rev. Philip N. LaBelle
The Rt. Rev. Phil LaBelle Bishop Bishop LaBelle previously served as rector of St. Mark’s Church in Southborough, Massachusetts. During this time, Bishop LaBelle co-founded Southborough Neighbors for Peace with Dr. Safdar Medina. This organization has hosted peace vigils, began a community-wide Iftar dinner during Ramadan, established an interfaith Thanksgiving service, and sponsored other bridge-building…
A Conversation with the Newly Elected Episcopal Bishop of Olympia and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, The Most Rev. Michael Curry, and the Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of Olympia, The Rev. Dr. Philip N. LaBelle, led a conversation today with a small group of community leaders in Bellevue, Washington, that focused on issues facing communities in Western Washington, and the grassroots work that is…
Updates from the Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness
From Don Fornoff, Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness: As I look back over my notes on homelessness from the past 6-8 years, I see that the more things change, the more they stay the same. About homelessness, that is certainly a tired truth. The more that is done, the more we need to do. Yet,…
Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest: The 114th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest The 114th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia October 25-26 | Tacoma Convention Center and Marriott Hotel Downtown Tacoma Rest. Engage. Pray. Over the last two years, we have been busily engaged in the work of transition, listening, discerning, and preparing to begin a new…
Godly Play In-A-Day
We’ve got a wonder-filled Godly Play day planned for you! Through a collaboration between the Diocese of Olympia, the Godly Play Foundation and Saint Mark’s Cathedral, we are able to offer a day of education for all: those who are new to this methodology and those who have been practicing for a long time. We…
Baptism and Necrology Reports at Diocesan Convention
From The Rev. Josh Hosler: Dear friends from all around the Diocese of Olympia: As we prepare for Diocesan Convention 2024, it is time to gather the names of those in our congregations who have been baptized – and those who have died – since October 1, 2023. Once again, I am the person assisting…
Celebrating the Ministry of Bishop Skelton
On September 1, Episcopalians from across Western Washington gathered to celebrate the ministry of our bishop provisional, The Most Rev. Melissa Skelton. Bishop Skelton has led the Diocese of Olympia since January 1, 2023, during this season of transition as we entered into the nearly two-year process of calling a new bishop to the Diocese….