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.

Potluck after mass: Bring something to share for lunch after mass this Sunday. Keep it simple and ready to serve. Finger foods are welcome. There is a microwave in the kitchen.

Modern Mystics Book Group. Our next discussion is this Sunday, February 1st, at 1:15 pm by Zoom. Note the time change! We have moved the time up since many of us will be meeting in person this Sunday. We will be discussing chapter nine 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 begin deciding 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.

Compassion Meditation: Next gathering is January 27th. They are meeting at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd this winter. Please arrive at 7:15, meditation begins at 7:30 pm. 1601 North St SE

Olympia, WA 98501

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."

Washington National Cathedral Event: Wednesday February 11th at 7:00pm ET (4:00 pm Pacific). Cost is $12. Join renowned historian Heather Cox Richardson for an evening of reflection on the state of American democracy and the lessons history offers for our shared future. Known for her widely read daily newsletter Letters from an American, Richardson brings clarity and insight to the complex forces shaping our political and civic life. Go HERE for online tickets.

Coming soon! Lent. We are planning to celebrate Ash Wednesday (February 18th) with First Christian Disciples of Christ again this year. Details to follow. 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.

Dispute Resolution Center: Online Training on January 27th. "Impactful Conversations -- Giving and Receiving Feedback." 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Go HERE to find out more. Cost is $75.

Old Catholic Theology Summer School in Utrecht: July 5-10; 12-17, 2026. Plan ahead! See the information HERE.

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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.

Go Hawks!

Christ,

our teacher,

you are a

peacemaker.

You hunger and

you thirst for justice.

Yet you are meek and

merciful and strong

and powerful

in all that

counts.

Please be a blest

beatitude for

each of

us.

Let us live in you and

be beatitudes

for one

an-

other.

The Sunday Website at St. Louis University

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Prayer of the New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop, Rt Rev Bob Herschfeld:

Live without fear.

You have been created holy in the image of the divine.

Whatever race, whatever gender,

whatever orientation,

straight, queer, trans -

You have been made in the image of the divine.

God has always and will always protect you

no matter what happens.

So live in that fear.

God supports you, protects you

and loves you with a power

and a presence that is stronger than death.

That is how we live free or die.

And may the Creator,

the anointed and the Holy Spirit uphold,

give you courage and strength

and compassion to live these days.

There is a new day ahead.

It is coming.

We can smell it.

It is on its way.

Let this light shine.

The darkness, the shadows of our lives will not overcome it."

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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.

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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!

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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)

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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.

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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 1st at 1:15 pm by Zoom.

Ash Wednesday: February 18th 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.