Upcoming at Faith This Week

Dear Friends,

I write to you all in gratitude.  Mike and I will be taking the next week off, and, even though we have no hard and fast plans, the mere idea of a vacation has lightened the way I’m feeling tremendously.  We have retrieved our pop-up tent trailer from our friends’ pasture and Mike has been at work airing it out and making sure all systems are functioning; it remains to be seen whether we will actually GO camping, but it is always good to have options!  Thank you all for being the kind of folks who can function without your vicar for a week.  While I’m offline, Dave Edwards has graciously volunteered to offer his considerable skills in pastoral care should a need arise.  Please reach out to him if necessary.

For Sunday, you may want to visit the virtual services at National Cathedral or St. Mark’s Cathedral.  Click here for the homily from Episcopal Relief and Development for Sunday.

 Even if you choose to opt out entirely, you may want to view it at your leisure.  I know there are several among you who are adept at leading Morning Prayer if you so choose, and I hope you will consider that option.  If you don’t have a prayer book, please visit www.bcponline.org to find the service.

Lately, I have been working on really looking for God’s reminders of hope in our world.  They are out there—they show up in the most surprising places, and I’ve seen the sacred hope in smiles, heard it echoed in the voices of beloved friends, and in the dogged pursuit of justice of so many.  Where are you seeing reminders of God’s presence?  Where are you finding hope?  Keep your eyes opened and your spiritual antennae tuned this week.  I look forward to hearing about your findings.

Blessings to you all, I’ll see you again on the 16^th.

Vicar Laura+

Read more: Upcoming Events

No Sunday Worship August 9th

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Read more: Virtual Gatherings

Memorial Garden Sculptures

Jackson Foster continues to craft beautiful artwork for us.  Our memorial garden is populated with stations of the cross, and plans are underway to make that place a spot of respite and contemplation for everyone.

Read more: Memorial Garden Sculptures

Singers Without Borders presents Push That River On

Singers Without Borders presents Push That River On by Tom James

Read more: Singers Without Borders

Diocese Guide for Gatherings In Person

To the Good People of God in the Diocese of Olympia,

We live in interesting times. That might be one of the greatest understatements I have heard lately, but no doubt it is true. These have been especially interesting days for the church. We have learned a lot. We still have lots to learn. We have gained perspective on things we often took for granted, and we have learned of things that are not that important after all. In the face of all of this, we still have each other, and most importantly, an amazing God who loves us all and wishes only the best for us. I put my hope in those two things right now – each of you and our God.

 This document (A Guide to Gathering in Person: The Diocese of Olympia’s Phased-In Plan for Resuming In-Person Worship and Activities) has been worked on by our diocesan staff, with review by others in the diocese with expertise in these areas. It is loosely but carefully mirrored off of the four-phase plan offered by our governor this past week. It is offered to all of you as a roadmap to what our future might look like in the days ahead as we phase-in our return to face-to-face encounters. I think it is very safe to say, this will not be fast. As our governor has said so well, this will not be like turning on a light switch, but more like slowly turning the dial – and the turning will be going on for a while. It also might be two turns forward and then one back. This is new for all of us. I am blessed to be walking through it with all of you.

Read more: Diocese Guide for Gatherings In Person

Presiding Bishop's Message to the Church May 4, 2020 Note: Please use this version of the Presiding Bishop’s Word to the Church when sharing. It includes a reference to the What Would Love Do? companion resources. Thank you.   Note: the following information is presented in English, Spanish and French Aviso: La siguiente información se presenta en inglés y en español y en francés Note: Les informations suivantes sont présentées en anglais et en espagnol et en français   Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Word to the Church: What Would Love Do? [April 29, 2020] A [Word%20to%20the%20Church]Word to the Church (https://episcopalchurch.org/concerning-covid19) regarding the rubric of love during the COVID-19 pandemic from the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church:   In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, we are now at another one of those threshold moments when important and significant decisions must be made on all levels of our global community for the good and the well-being of the entire human family. In this moment, I would ask you to allow me to share with you a Word to the Church: What Would Love Do? (Companion resources available here; https://episcopalchurch.org/concerning-covid19.)

Read more: News from the Bishop

Bishop Rickel’s 10 Rules for Respect

I every Letter of Agreement Bishop Rickel has with congregations, and now with the Diocese of Olympia he has asked that the “10 Rules for Respect” spelled out below be made part of the agreement. He first saw these in an article by Church of the Nazarene pastor Charles Christian. He believes that they are quite helpful in framing our communication and life together.

He vows to do his best to follow them and invites you to do the same. We will all fail, but through gentle challenge and loving encouragement these can become a foundation for healthy communication for us all.

Faith’s Bishop’s Committee also uses this model as a rule for how we conduct our business and are in relationship with one another.

Read more: 10 Rules for Respect

Faith Family Fun Day Photos!

Photos of our first Annual Faith Family Fun Day are now available!  

This was a great opportunity for us to get to know one another and everyone who uses the church facilities.  Most importantly, plenty of time for us to visit and enjoy our community.  We look forward to seeing you at our 2nd Annual Family Fun Day in 2019!