February 26, 2021
A Note from Communications Office
Dear community of the Diocese of Olympia,

While we continue to navigate the uncertainty and ever-evolving situation of this current health crisis, our weekly diocesan newsletter, Across the Diocese, will remain slightly truncated and be focused on sharing out resources, important information, points of connection between our worshiping communities, and virtual events for the benefit of the entire diocese.

Blessings,

Josh Hornbeck
Canon Missioner for Communications
One Service for Turtle Island - Save the Date!
April 25

In the cosmology of North and South American peoples, Turtle Island is the geographic region covering Canada, United States, Central America, and South America. Join together online Sunday, April 25, at 11:00am to worship Jesus with Episcopalians from all over the Diocese of Olympia led by our Circles of Color and focused on the languages, cultures, and experiences of the First Peoples of Turtle Island. This online service is a chance for diocesan-wide worship, learning, connection, and conversation, as well as an opportunity to give our working clergy a Sunday off from preaching and presiding.

The One Service will include a Town Hall webinar after worship with Bishop Rickel and members of Circles of Color to process the worship experience and go deeper into dialogue around issues of race and culture in our diocese, with special attention to the experiences of Indo-Hispanic/Indigenous peoples. All are welcome, and congregations are encouraged to “attend” together in whatever ways you can – viewing parties, online watch parties, or whatever means are safe and responsible given the state of the pandemic at that time.

More details coming soon!
Transition Announcements in the Diocese of Olympia
It is a time of transition within our diocese, and we have a new clergy transition to announce.

The Rev. Rachel Endicott has accepted a call as Interim Priest of St. Paul's, Bellingham and will be leaving her position as Rector of Christ Church, Puyallup, effective April 19, 2021.
Harbor Roots Farm Shares Now Available for 2021 Season!
Harbor Roots Farm, the supportive employment program of Chaplains on the Harbor, is BACK for 2021– with vegetables for sale! You can now buy shares for yourself, or buy shares to donate to hungry people in our community.
Better Together: A Faith Formation Mini-Conference
March 13, 9:00am | $25 Registration

Better Together is for those who are deeply involved with faith formation in its many aspects – programs, special events, curriculum, liturgy, music, arts, service, outreach, social justice, and community building.

We know how difficult this last year has been for the church, and how you’ve had to adapt and innovate to provide a virtual offering. Let’s share best practices and also consider what the future might look like once the pandemic subsides.

We have two brilliant keynote speakers lined up: author and faith leader Jeff Chu who currently coordinates the international Evolving Faith conference, AND racial justice advocate and trainer, Iyabo Onipede, who puts her Masters in Divinity to work as co-director of the non-profit, Compassionate Atlanta.

Interspersed with these dynamic presentations are over 12 workshops covering faith formation for children and families, youth, and adults; the craft of music, art, and liturgy; and – new this year – the virtual church.

Presented by the Office of the Bishop's Faith Formation Team.

Registration is $25 per person and includes a gift book. Scholarships are readily available. Musicians attend for free.
Registration for The College for Congregational Development Summer Hybrid Intensive Open Now
Now is the time to register for this year’s intensive session of the The College for Congregational Development. We are trying something new this year: a shorter intensive time together in person preceded by five weeks of online learning. All participants will engage in a five week course of online learning beginning May 1 which will include 1.5 hours weekly on Zoom as well as video assignments, light reading, and one homework assignment that involves visiting a congregation they do not currently attend (online visits are okay!). These five weeks of online learning will allow us to be together for a shorter time in person, and to try out a new venue (Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA) where physical distancing and pod-housing are available. We will also be accepting 50 participants this year, in order to avoid crowding any indoor spaces. The College in Olympia is very hopeful that many of our participants will be vaccinated by the second week of June, but we are making these changes to ensure that we can provide a safe environment for all our participants regardless of vaccine status in this year as we transition out of pandemic into whatever life looks like next.

Here is the information you need to know: Please register as soon as possible, as space is limited, but no later than April 16. Online learning begins the week of May 2. Please plan to spend 1.5 hours engaged in learning on Zoom, with up to one additional hour per week (on average) viewing learning videos or engaging in reflective work. In-person learning at Fort Worden will begin the afternoon of Monday June 14, and conclude by noon on Friday June 18. If you have questions about any of this please do not hesitate to contact Canon Alissa Newton – anewton@ecww.org.
Prayer Banners for Lent at Saint Mark's Cathedral
Now through April 3

Everyone who feels a connection to Saint Mark's Cathedral, Seattle is invited to contribute to a display of prayer banners around the labyrinth—a tangible and tactile expression of our prayers, both personal and communal. Make your own using a strip of cloth, or use the materials provided in the bin on the cathedral's front patio. Complete instructions are located on the cathedral website. Then make a prayer pilgrimage to Saint Mark's and add your visible prayer to the others displayed around the outdoor labyrinth.
The Bible You Thought You Knew Podcast
The Rev. Dr. Frank Anthony Spina, Emeritus Professor of Old Testament at Seattle Pacific University and former Priest Associate at St. Margaret’s, Bellevue, launched a podcast in December 2020 entitled: The Bible You Thought You Knew. These free audio presentations download every Tuesday on your favorite podcast listening platforms, such as Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iTunes, etc. Look for Frank’s website below for added features. Frank is currently Priest Associate at St. Michael’s, the Episcopal cathedral in Boise, ID.
Episcopal Relief & Development Supports Local Partners in Response to Winter Storms in Texas
Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the Episcopal dioceses of Dallas, Texas and West Texas as they provide emergency relief to individuals and families impacted by the unprecedented ice storm, low temperatures and power outages last week.
Thank You for the Recipes!
A huge Thank You to everyone in the Diocese who submitted recipes to the Bishop Office's Faith Formation Ministry's cook book project! We appreciate your help immensely and are so grateful for everyone who participated. Be on the lookout in the coming months for the completed project!
Choir Robes Available
St. Margaret’s, Bellevue, has 34 adult choir robes for donation to anyone who might be able to use them. The robes are of standard length and in excellent condition. Please contact Eileen Treusch at etreusch@gmail.com to request a few or all of the robes, and she will coordinate delivery.
COVID-19: Requirements, Recommendations, and Resources
The following page contains requirements, recommendations, and resources for churches in the Diocese of Olympia put together by the Office of the Bishop as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
YouTube Subscriber Drive
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!
Online Formation Classes and Events
During this continued time of online gathering, churches across the diocese have being offering online formation events and classes. Follow the link below to see current offerings and find links to submit your church's online formation events!
Webinars from the Diocese of Olympia
During this time of remote gathering, the Diocese of Olympia has been holding a series of webinars on a wide range of topics, including stewardship, faith formation, and specific topics related to regathering once our buildings open once again. Here you can find an archive of our past webinars, grouped by topic, if you would like to revisit the material, or if you missed the webinar the first time around.
Live-Streaming Services
Across the Diocese
As more of our churches have moved to live-streaming their services, we've created a directory of our churches with services times and links to where you can join for Sunday morning and weekday prayer.
VIRTUAL AND ONLINE EVENTS
Youth Nights
Sundays, 7:00pm

Join other youth from all across Western Washington gather for online games and activities, discussions, guest speakers, and worship.
Youth Ministry Leadership Meetings
Third Thursdays, 10:00am

Join other youth ministry leaders across the diocese for a monthly leadership meeting!
SANCTUS
Wednesdays through March 24, 5:30pm

Join Epiphany, Seattle for SANCTUS, a digital Lenten offering extending an invitation to holiness, with voices from throughout the Diocese of Olympia.
Saint Mark’s Music Series: Concert à 3
February 26, 7:30pm

Join Saint Mark's Cathedral, Seattle for this live-streamed concert featuring three towering talents in the Puget Sound Region joining forces to offer a varied program of music for voice with bowed and plucked strings.
Jesus and the Disinherited: An Introduction
February 28, 1:00pm

Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle's Theologian-in-Residence, The Rev. Canon Walter Brownridge, presents an introduction to acclaimed African-American religious leader and theologian Howard Thurman and his foundational work, Jesus and the Disinherited.
Tree Planting/Carbon Offset Partnership in the Philippines
March 16, 10:30am

Join us to learn more about the Diocese of Olympia's Tree Planting/Carbon Offset Partnership with the Diocese of Southern Philippines.
JOB LISTINGS
The following job opportunities are now open at churches and organizations across Western Washington.