Celebrating A Wonderful Way To Be A Catholic | | |
Emmaus ECC Newsletter
February 13, 2026
| | |
The Sixth Sunday
Christ and the Law
| | |
Preparing for Mass over Zoom: If attending by Zoom create a sacred space for yourself and your family. It is helpful to light a candle and put down a small cloth where you will place your bit of bread and wine. Download and print the worship aids. We gather at 10:00 am and mass begins at 10:30 am. Request Zoom link HERE.
Come to Church: All are welcome! When you ask people how they found us, the answer is often that they heard about us from a friend. Be that friend. Invite them to come with you to mass in our Sacred Space. We encourage you to come in person if you can. We would love to welcome you to join us.
Bring last year's blessed palms to church. These palms are turned into the ashes for Ash Wednesday.
Latest ECC OPB Newsletter: January Journeys -- This newsletter is packed with news. Go HERE and catch up on what our presiding bishop has been up to lately, and on more news from around the Communion.
Faith Action Network has published its 2026 legislative priorities. Go HERE to see what these priorities are. "We seek to advocate for and implement policies that advance our values grounded in faith and spirituality: belonging and human dignity, justice and equity, interconnectedness, collaboration and pluralism."
Modern Mystics Book Group. Our next discussion is This Sunday, February 15th, at 1:45 pm by Zoom. We will be discussing chapter ten of the book, Tears of Things by Richard Rohr. Contact Deacon Connie or Bishop Kedda if you want to join the group. It is time to decide on our next book. Is there something you would love to read with others? Let us know. Deacon Connie has saved suggestions from previous recommendations, but we are always open to more.
Spring Activity Bags: The Food Bank is planning to provide activities for children. See their ad below to see how you can help.
Coming soon! Lent. We are planning to celebrate Ash Wednesday at 6:30 pm (February 18th) with First Christian Disciples of Christ again this year.
Lent: There will be many opportunities for Lenten practices. Dignity USA sent us the following: Ashes to Alleluia, our weekly Lenten Reflection Series for 2026. Join us on Wednesdays starting February 25, through April 1, at 8pm ET / 5pm PT for prayerful reflection, shared wisdom and hope-filled preparation for Easter. Go HERE to register.
Center on Faith and Justice. Their February newsletter can be read HERE. This center is located in Washington DC at Georgetown University. They will be offering justice workshops on the Fridays of Lent this year.
Food Bank: Our support is still crucial! Please bring canned goods and other non-perishables to church with you on Sunday and put them in our food bank bag. To donate to the Thurston County Food Bank, go HERE. Your generosity means families in our community will have the resources they need.
Synaxis: During this difficult time in our country Bishop Kedda recommends prayer time based on the readings of the day. One opportunity is Synaxis that takes place every day at 3:00 pm Pacific time and is sponsored by the Franciscans of Reconciliation. Use link HERE. Come join us for prayer.
Old Catholic Theology Summer School in Utrecht: July 5-10; 12-17, 2026. Plan ahead! See the information HERE.
-------------------
Websites to visit often: Bookmark our community website HERE and also our diocesan website HERE.
Follow Interfaith Works on Facebook HERE.
Facebook Page: Stay in touch! Visit our Emmaus ECC Facebook page for news during the week HERE. Visit the PNW Diocesan page HERE.
Bishop Kedda's blog: You can check it out HERE. Right now, she has started a series of reflections on her book All Creation Waits. Much has happened as the years have gone by -- how much of what she wrote is still relevant today.
If you have suggestions for how our community of Emmaus could be reaching out into our neighborhood to make a difference, contact Deacon Connie and share your ideas.
Congratulations Seahawks!
| | |
Jesus,
Let us grasp your teaching of the law.
Justice. Love. Compassion.
Let your law make us
holy.
Not like the Pharisees,
who blow trumpets
before they
give.
You showed us with your every breath
just what it means to be holy.
You are the wonder,
the goal, the
summit of
the law.
Teach us.
Turn all of our
law-keeping
into love.
The Sunday Website at St. Louis University
___________________________________________________________
| | |
The Sixth Sunday of Epiphanies
The Law of our New Life
We’ve reached the 6th week of epiphanies. We’ve learned that Christ is the light of God, that Christ comes for everyone and that there are many pathways to the light of God, that Christ is the lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin, and that Christ calls us to a new life creating communities of justice, peace, and love. We’ve learned that God’s children are blessed and affirmed as they live out of that new life, and that we are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. Matthew’s gospel has now set the stage so Jesus can talk about the Law and the Prophets.
Jesus, with the authority of a new Moses, teaches and speaks like a law giver, matching crime to punishment. He insists that his disciples must do better than the religious leaders and be zealous in fulfilling every law. With his use of hyperbole, and with a spark of humor and irony, Jesus lays it on thick. Following the mere letter of the law is not good enough. We must search out the inner spirit and vision of every law. In other words, we can’t think we are keeping the law just because we haven’t killed anybody.
As Jesus goes on and on, challenging us to a higher moral holiness, his demands pile up until it becomes impossible to keep the law. We end up feeling helpless and hopeless if we focus on keeping laws. We can never please God and earn our entry into the kingdom of heaven. But that’s the point. Jesus is not trying to bind us to more laws, but he wants to set us free from the law. Instead, he is teasing out the inner spirit of what has been called the Law and the Prophets. He wants us to look deep into our hearts and search out our motivations. It also becomes clear that we may as well give up judging others, and even give up judging ourselves, because everyone falls short when measured by the law. We all must depend on God’s loving grace and God’s free gift to us of eternal life in Christ. And at the same time, we must strive to fulfill the law, but it is the law of love; it is the law of our heart.
Jesus is giving us instructions about our relationships, and how we are to live as salt of the earth, light of the world, and the Body of Christ. Our communal life is threatened if our anger goes unchecked, if women and men are treated as objects, or seen as easily disposed of by divorce. Our relationships are threatened if there are unreconciled grudges and resentments, and if our word cannot be trusted. All the language about cutting off body parts and throwing them into the burning trash piles at Gehenna, is hyperbole meant to show us that God cares about how we treat one another. God loves each one of us, and it matters to God that we are kind to one another. In fact, according to Jesus, our relationships are more important to God than our worship.
Laws and rules are important because they bring order to society, but of greater importance is what lies in our hearts, what motivates our actions. Sometimes breaking a law is the loving thing to do. Jesus often broke the Sabbath law to heal someone. Sometimes we are called to civil disobedience. Whenever people put laws above people, they end up killing even the possibility of relationship.
We live in angry times today. Feelings of anger, like all emotions, are meant to inform us about what is going on around us. If we feel angry, we need to sit with that anger and let it speak to us. Let your anger reveal what it is trying to tell you about what is going on around you. When you truly listen to your anger, you end up transforming it into energy that moves you toward a solution or an action to make right whatever is wrong. You can’t stay or live in anger, or it can burn you up from the inside. Jesus is instructing us to not let our anger break relationships or do harm to others. Insults, angry words, and name calling only make things worse. Jesus felt anger and it moved him to go into the temple and do a prophetic action, overturning tables and chasing out money changers. Anger is a useful emotion, and when it is allowed to fulfill its purpose, it can move us to prophetic actions, or to solutions that undo injustice.
Mother Kedda
_______________________________________________________
| | | |
Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it.
~Howard Zinn~
_____________________________________________________
| | |
FAQ: How Can You Be Catholic if You Are Not Under Rome?
While those of us who have been with the Ecumenical Catholic Communion for many years no longer think about this question, it still comes up in conversations. There is a simple answer to this question. We are catholics because we are rooted in the original catholics of the early Church. This is one of many topics the Council of Bishops discussed at our annual retreat October 20-24 in Colorado. This article is meant to summarize the elements that continue to make us Catholic, and more specifically that tie us with the Old Catholic Church in Utrecht.
It is important to remember that all of those who followed the teachings of the first apostles were catholics. All the distinct churches were unified under the same umbrella, even with their diversity of expression. In other words, to be catholic means we still hold to the teachings of the early Church before the various separations that would happen down through history. We are faithful to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
In the formation of the Ecumenical Catholic Church our founders made the decision to choose a bishop within the Old Catholic tradition. We chose to be those who look back to the early Church for our understanding of what it means to be catholic. The story of the Old Catholic Church is not one of rebellion, but of remembrance. It is the quiet thread that runs through the tapestry of Christian history, holding fast to the faith of the apostles, the wisdom of the early councils, and the spiritual depth of the mystics and martyrs. It is not a new church—it is the Church that endures.
From the first century, the Christian community was marked by shared leadership, sacramental life, and a deep commitment to the teachings of Christ. The apostles did not build empires; they built communities. Their successors, the bishops of the early Church, governed not by decree but by discernment—gathering in councils, listening to one another, and seeking the Spirit’s guidance.
St. Ignatius of Antioch coined the term “Catholic” to describe the Church. This early bishop’s letters continue to be a treasure as they reveal the earliest understandings of the structure of the Church. He was born in the first century and died in the second century. When St. Ignatius calls the Church “Catholic” it means “according to the whole.” Or as St Vincent of Lerins in the fifth century would explain, Catholicism is: “That we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all.”
Read the whole article HERE.
____________________________________________________________
| | |
Interfaith Works Homeless Services: Donation drop offs can be taken to our admin office 110 11th Ave SE 10am-4pm, Mon-Thurs
Thanks so much!
________________________________________________________________
| |
The Emmaus ECC Statement Against Racism
Our faith calls us to racial justice. We recognize that our faith demands that we transform our beliefs, values, systems, and commitment to racial equity. Scripture has given us the way for such healing to occur, and the responsibility to pursue it.
Our faith calls us to lives of charity, advocacy, and action on behalf of marginalized people. In the Pacific Northwest, we are especially committed to justice for Indigenous, Latina and Latino, African American, and Asian communities, whose oppressive histories and realities are well-documented.
We value the voices of people of color in this calling and in these efforts. We believe all people are loved equally by God our creator. We commit to partnering with ecumenical, interfaith, and civic initiatives to pursue racial justice in our local communities. We will seek solidarity with broader initiatives but will not wait on them in order to act. “The time is always right to do what is right” (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King).
| | |
ECC Statement on Race:
Our nation is in desperate need of racial healing and transformation. The healing process cannot begin until the truth of our country's past and present sins are confronted. As people of Christian faith, we acknowledge and renounce both past and present dehumanizing, oppressive, abusive, enslaving, violent and lethal actions and inactions against African American communities. We proclaim that it is time for metanoia – turning away from evil and turning toward God's liberating love.
As members of the ECC, we believe in the power of communication to heal and that the search for truth can lead to justice. As such, we pray that our country will begin a process of truth-seeking that will lead to long-term reconciliation. We in the ECC pledge to begin a deliberate and transparent truth-telling process within our own faith communities.
Jesus, the heart of our faith, lived and died for love. He showed no partiality. God's community is diverse and totally integrated. We pray for God's guidance and mercy as we work to attain racial justice and build the beloved community, walking together the path paved with truth, love, equity, and justice. In the prophetic tradition, we boldly proclaim, "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." (Amos 5:24)
____________________________________________________________
| | |
Good
Shepherd
Ministry
Contact Fr. David Gerardot HERE.
Phone: 360-789-5149
For a description of Good Shepherd Ministry go HERE.
For the news and information on Good Shepherd Ministry go HERE.
| | |
Joe's Environmental Tip
Start your own vegetable garden, or join a community garden in the neighborhood, where you can grow your own fresh fruit and vegetables.
| | |
Elevator speech: An Ecumenical Catholic is someone who wants to engage deeply with the example of the early Church, when congregations were small, inclusive, participatory, and centered on Christ’s message of love, collaboration, and service. Ecumenical Catholics believe that God is present in all things, and that to know and care for all the people, the earth, and all the living things around us is how God wants us to serve Them. (Submitted by Beverly Marshall-Saling).
ECC YouTube Channel: Go HERE for videos of the 2022 ECC Synod. You can also catch the "Parade of Parishes" which shows off what various ECC communities are doing to be churches in action. It is awesome to see other ECC communities around the country.
ECC Ecclesiology: HERE.
____________________________________________________________
| | |
ECC Diocese of the Pacific Northwest
Vision Statement
Ecumenical Catholics of the Pacific Northwest
Restoring relationships of justice, peace, and love
with God, with one another, and with all of Creation
by living out our baptismal ministry as the Body of Christ.
Mission Statement
We are the Ecumenical Catholic Church of the Pacific Northwest embracing a network of sacramental communities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. As authentic Catholics we celebrate our continuity with the undivided Church of the first millennium and believe that salvation is offered to all. Our unity is built on scripture and the Nicene Creed, and Eucharist is the visible sign of that unity. We are in communion with the association of Churches known as the Ecumenical Catholic Communion and function within the generous parameters of the ECC Constitution.
We Believe
We are the People of God, baptized in Christ – bishop, priests, deacons, and laity – who believe that all people are unique and sacred. We believe that all people possess valuable gifts and talents to be shared. Participation of all the baptized in the work of the Church is essential to our call as the Body of Christ serving in this region. Therefore, we are a synodal Church.
We Offer
The ECC Diocese of the Pacific Northwest offers a joyful way of being Catholic focused on love, not guilt. We welcome all people and offer unity with diversity. We commit ourselves to dialogue and cooperation with others. We believe we have a responsibility to be open to ecumenical dialogue with all the baptized, and we support interfaith cooperation and understanding.
We do
We join together as Church to follow the messianic call of the Holy Spirit to form sacramental communities, to preach the good news of salvation and liberation to all, to offer a refuge in Christ for those who suffer prejudice, and to conform our lives to the example and teachings of Christ Jesus. The setting in which we live fosters an awe of God’s majestic creation, and respect for the land, water, and mountains, as well as the diverse animal life, and all the people who lived on this sacred ground before us.
Distinctions
We are the people of God who seek to dive deeper into the Catholic faith handed down to us by our ancestors from the teachings of the early Church. We believe that anyone who is gifted and called by God, qualified for ordination, and is called by a community, may present themselves for ordination. We believe that marriage is a partnership for the whole of life, and if two adults intend to commit themselves to such a union, they may celebrate a sacramental marriage. We believe that persons have the right to follow their sincere and informed consciences in moral decision making. We recognize that only the Holy Spirit possesses infallibility. No human or institution can claim this.
The Diocesan Constitution may be read HERE. See Website HERE.
| | |
Contemplative Prayer/Scripture study: noon on Thursdays at St. John Episcopal Church. Contact Fr. David for more information.
Sundays we gather at 10:00 and mass begins at 10:30. All are welcome to join us! You are also able to join us by Zoom. Email Bishop Kedda for a link.
Thursday study group: 6:30 pm by Zoom with Oregon Episcopalians.
Synaxis: Every day at 3:00 pm. Sponsored by Franciscans of Reconciliation. Use link HERE. Come join us for prayer.
Modern Mystics Book Group: February 15th at 1:45 pm by Zoom.
Ash Wednesday: February 18th at 6:30 pm with First Christian Church
Get to Know a Muslim: First Fridays of every month. Open invitation to join them 1:00 to 3:00 pm. For more information read their flyer HERE.
Enter into Friday Stillness: Fridays. Contact Rev. Kathleen Bellefleuille-Rice for more information.
| | Emmaus ECC | Member of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion | www.emmaus-ecc.org | |
NOTICE
The Sacraments of Marriage, Reconciliation and Anointing, are available upon request. Contact us about Funerals and grave side services. Preparation is required for Baptisms -- for parents when children to be baptized are below age seven; for those over age seven, our community supports the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Our priests are also happy to meet with you individually, and confidentially, to discuss any spiritual or pastoral concerns you may have.
Bishop of the ECC Pacific Northwest Diocese
We Support Marriage Equality
| | | | |
