We're taking a pause to enjoy summer (and shorten your newsletter read!). | |
Announcements
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Circles Holy Conversation w/Bishop Search Committee: Wed., 8/30, 5-7 pm.
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Vocations Day: Sat., 9/16. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ discerners discussions to be had!
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Convene Workshops: Here are some of the Convene workshops we've got cooking for Sat., 9/30:
- African Ministries in the Diocese
- The Doctrine of Discovery
- Reconciliation with Creation & Indigenous Peoples
- 2024 Civil Rights Pilgrimage
- Sacred Ground & Allyship
- Churchwide Creation Care Curriculum
- Faith & Resiliency Planning [possibly]
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Circles Retreat: Save the date for February 24-25, 2024 in North Bend, WA! Get in touch if you'd like to help planning the retreat.
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In love and service,
Carla+ and Adrienne
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Fred and Kris Jessett
Our community lifts prayers for Fred and his family following a severe fall. Let us continue to pray for Fred, Kris, the rest of their family, and all who care for him. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. If you'd like to send a card, the Jessetts' address is 5309 South Myrtle Ln. Spokane, WA 99223.
Agnes+ Kuria and The Rev. Adult Care LLC
Our community lifts prayers and thanksgiving as the facility just finished its licensing and Agnes+ will soon be admitting clients to care for them holistically with her experience in the nursing field and as a priest. We thank God for providing along this long road, and for continued strength for Agnes+, her family, and all future care providers and residents.
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Vinh Do and family
Our community lifts prayer for Vinh's mother and the rest of their family. We pray for grace and provision as they continue easing back into everyday activities. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Edie Weller and family
Our community continues to lift prayer for the Rev. Edie Weller and her family as they settle into this next chapter following John's memorial. We continue to pray for provision and their community's embrace alongside grief. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Carlos and Julianna Caguiat
Our community lifts prayer for Carlos and Julianna as they continue to deal with various health concerns. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
If you have additional prayer requests, please send them to Adrienne.
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If you would like to highlight resources, books, events, liturgies, or anything else, please send them to Adrienne. |
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Circles & the Bishop Search Process
We've got an important few months ahead! The August Circles Holy Conversation will be Wednesday, 8/30, from 5-7 pm.
Please attend the Circles Holy Conversation and your regional session. And leave input for the Holy Cow Survey as well!
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Holy Cow Survey and Holy Conversation Updates | |
The Holy Cow Survey is live for two more weeks! We are inviting all clergy and lay members in the Diocese to provide us with your input. Take the survey today! Help us reach our goal of hearing from all of you!
And only five Holy Conversations left! Check to see if there is a session near you. Your input is critical to the bishop search profile. We don’t want you to miss out on the opportunity to provide us with your input into the bishop search.
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Preparing for a Season of Creation
Diocesan Convention 2022 approved a Season of Creation, extending from September 1, the ecumenical Day of Prayer for the Creation, through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. To assist preachers, intercessors, musicians, and teachers who will use the Season of Creation framework as their guide for homiletical, liturgical, musical, and catechetical preparation, the Commission on Liturgy and the Arts is providing a number of resources.
You can also find a list of events and other Creation Care resources at the link below.
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Episcopal mobile ministry distributes necessities to people displaced by Maui wildfires | |
[Episcopal News Service] The Diocese of Hawaiʻi's mobile homeless assistance ministry is providing direct assistance on the island of Maui to residents who've lost their homes in the wildfires...
As Bishop Melissa shared earlier this week:
"Bishop Fitzpatrick of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai’i has informed us about the best ways to support relief efforts for the fires in Hawai’i. You can support relief efforts in one of the following ways:
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The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi is coordinating immediate diocesan relief efforts to the Lahaina Fire disaster through the Diocese’s A CUP OF COLD WATER (ACCW) (a separately incorporated subsidiary of the Diocese that serves the houseless on Maui).
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Make an online donation through the Bishop’s Pastoral Fund on the website of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi (the funds will be gathered and sent to ACCW).
- Mail checks to: A Cup of Cold Water, 2140 Main St., Wailuku, HI 96793
ACCW can then coordinate and donate to those agencies and groups giving aid on the ground.
Please consider supporting relief efforts amid this tremendous disaster, and please continue to remember all those affected by the fires in your prayers."
We also recommend checking out ‘Āina Momona (Hawaiian for the fertile or rich land) which is a community organization dedicated to achieving environmental health and sustainability through restoring social justice and Hawaiian sovereignty. They list other ways to give here.
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The Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing seeks Executive Director | Read more about this wonderful opportunity in the Diocese of Atlanta and share widely! Priority application consideration is August 20th. | | | |
Inclusive Language Eucharistic Prayers | Bishop Skelton discussed inclusive, non-gendered language forms of the Eucharistic prayers at this year's clergy conference. Bishop Skelton, along with The Rev. William Seth Adams, have created inclusive language forms for Eucharistic Prayer A, B, C, and D. These have been formatted to be inserted into the Book of Common Prayer and are available on the Diocesan resources website at the link below. | | | |
Deborah at the Everett Farmers Market
Sundays through the beginning of October @ 10:30 am - 3:00 pm | Downtown Everett
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Support our resident Circles baker at the Everett Farmers Market now through the first week of October! Check out her site at Forever Moore Sweets or her Facebook page to see a sample of her offerings. Stop by, say hi, and enjoy some sweets! | |
Florence Li Tim-Oi's Feast Day in the Church of England | Florence Li Tim-Oi was the first woman to be ordained in the Anglican Communion, almost 80 years ago. She has a feast day (1/24) in the Episcopal Church but not the Church of England. Let's support our friend The Rev. Mark Nam in changing that! | | | |
Circles Media
Do you have any books, podcasts, shows, or movies that you want to share? Let us know!
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Latino USA podcast feat. Meg Medina: "Let Kids Read Freely" | Earlier this year, award-winning author Meg Medina was named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature--she's the first Latina to occupy this position. In her role, Meg's responsible for raising awareness of the importance of young people's literature, something that is now more crucial than ever, as efforts to ban books in schools and public libraries are on the rise. | | |
All My Relations feat. Nikkita Oliver: "Black and Native Futures: Liberation and Sovereignty" | All My Relations is proud to offer the third episode in our series on Afro-Indigenous topics, "Black & Native Futures: Liberation and Sovereignty," a conversation with Nikkita Oliver, hosted by Matika Wilbur and Dr. Desi. | | |
Summer of Soul | Searchlight Pictures | In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary-part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture, and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). Watch the trailer below and stream on Hulu! | | |
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Circles Community Clergy Transitions
St. Peter’s Transition Updates
On June 7, Father Edmund Harris announced that he will be concluding his time as Rector at St. Peter’s at the end of July after almost eight and a half years. You can read his letter to the congregation, as well as a message from the Senior Warden and Deacon Polly Shigaki here. Please keep Father Edmund and his family, Polly+, as well as the whole St. Peter’s community in your prayers during this time of transition.
Canon Eliacín Rosario-Cruz Accepts Call in New York
On June 5, Saint Mark's announced that our dear friend Eliacín has accepted the call to serve as Priest-in-Charge at Holy Cross/Santa Cruz in Kingston, New York. He will be pastoring and leading a multicultural community with the vision to be a unified congregation that worships in two languages but otherwise strives to be one in all other aspects of their common life. You can read the full announcement here. We will miss him and his family greatly and are so excited for the good work before him. His last Sunday at Saint Mark's was 7/16. Thank you all for signing his card and contributing towards a gift card!
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Call for Resolutions
Due September 13
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Convention resolutions are statements that reflect the vision and values of the diocese on a host of matters, from social and justice issues to ministry and business practices. In the Diocese of Olympia, resolutions are adopted through the legislative process. Any member of the Diocese may submit a resolution for consideration by the Convention, and it is recommended that each Convention resolution be submitted with the endorsement of a congregation and/or region/groups of congregations or the endorsement of a diocesan commission, committee, or program.
The deadline for the submission of resolutions is September 13. Do you have ideas for any resolutions to be submitted by the Circles? Let us know! For more details on formatting, writing, and submitting resolutions, see the link below.
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A Call for Candidates from the Diocesan Nominations Committee | To prepare for elections at Diocesan Convention (October 28, 2023), the Nominations Committee is now calling for candidates to represent our Diocese in two areas: Diocesan Council and the Standing Committee. We encourage Circles members to discern if you might be called! | | | |
8/20
St. John ~ San Juan, Olympia
8/27
St. Paul's, Port Townsend
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Want to share events from your parish or community?
Email details to Adrienne by Friday.
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Hai! Japantown 2023
August 13-20 | Japantown, C-ID, Seattle | See map for more
| See the Wing Luke's calendar of events during Japantown’s annual summer festival. This historic district comes alive as shops, galleries, restaurants, and other creative space host community events, promotions, and performances! The whole family is invited for all-ages fun, food, shopping, and tours! | | | |
Music That Makes Community
August 19 @ 9:30 am - 3:00 pm | Roslyn, WA, $40 registration includes lunch
| Join the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Roslyn for a renewing day of building community through congregational singing, learning, and fellowship. It will be led by Paul Vasile of Music That Makes Community, a non-profit organization working to empower and liberate communities through singing. | | | |
2023 Summer Teaching Faculty - Holden Village
June 11-September 1| Holden Village
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Join Holden Village this summer to learn the basics of watercolor, practice creative writing, and engage body, mind, and spirit through discussing many of the most salient issues of our time.
The Week 9 (August 6-11) focus hosts Latine teachers covering immigration, liberation theology, climate justice, and other intersectional topics. Take a look, there are some really great speakers and topics featured every week!
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From Inside to Outside: We Must Do Better!
September 7 | Portland State University, free with registration
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Tosha Big Eagle shares:
"My esteemed friend and mentor Dr. Carma Corcoran is hosting From the Inside to the Outside: We Must Do Better! This event surrounds the needs of Indigenous BIPOC individuals impacted by incarceration. We will be looking at re-entry issues, resources, economic mobility, and many other important topics. There will be panel discussions, keynote speakers, and a discussion on Gentle Action Theory. Lunch will be provided to everyone by WTF Frybread, a local Indigenous food truck.
The national non-profit WITNESS to Mass Incarceration will be giving away suitcases to newly released Indigenous individuals. These suitcases will include laptops and other essential items to help combat some of the barriers formerly incarcerated face upon release."
Please register by emailing Dr. Carma Corcoran below.
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WALK IN LOVE: A Marriage Prep Workshop for Busy People
September 9 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm | Zoom, $350 per couple
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This group pre-marital workshop utilizes the Prepare-Enrich program led by an experienced facilitator which will give you the confidence to enter into your marriage with eyes wide open and hearts full of joy.
Areas covered:
* Strength and Growth Areas
* Family of Origin and Family Maps
* Communication
* Finances
* Conflict Resolution
* Sex and Affection
* Spirituality
* Stress
The time will be comprised of group learning, private couple discussion, and built-in breaks.
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Mother Danae Ashley also offers these services: | |
The Diocese of Olympia Vocations Day
September 16 | Diocesan House, Seattle
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Curious about whether you have a vocation to the diaconate or to the priesthood? Interested in speaking with others who're wondering the same? Want to hear from deacons and priests about what their vocations are really like day-to-day? Come to the Diocese of Olympia's Vocations Day!
We will also have breakout sessions for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ discerners!
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Gospel Fest
September 23 workshop @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, concert @ 7:00 pm | St. Margaret’s, Bellevue
| Come and learn from the masters: Barbara Johnson Tucker, Hedreich Nichols, Phillip Hall, and Charles Hamilton. The day will be spent learning, practicing, and preparing for a 7:00 pm free concert. Invite your friends and neighbors to either participate in the workshop or attend the concert of fantastic Gospel Music! | | | |
Convene 2023 - Save the Date!
September 30 | Everett Community College
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Apply now to present a 50-minute workshop on something you or your congregation know well and can share with others. We are excited to gather in-person at Convene on September 30 and are looking for local experts on everything from outreach to finances to the flower guild! This is an opportunity for our congregations to resource each other, and we want you to apply to present! Follow the link below for a workshop application, and if you have any questions, please contact Canon Alissa Newton at anewton@ecww.org.
Circles will be presenting some workshops! Let us know what you'd like to see, offer, or support!
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2023 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Pacific Northwest
September 30 @ 9:30 am | Seattle Center
| Join or donate to our Circles team for the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Pacific Northwest and help raise awareness and funds for vital Alzheimer's care, support and research! | | | |
Registration open for fall Genesis Gathering
October 16-19 | Los Angeles, $100 registration fee
| The Office of Church Planting and Redevelopment is thrilled to bring back its annual Genesis Gathering, a gathering of missional leaders, church planters and congregational revitalizers across the Episcopal Church. We’ll share four days of story-telling, workshops, mentoring, fellowship and support. Plus, we’ll explore the history and current adventures of Korea Town, Los Angeles! | | | |
Convention 2023
October 28 | online
| Join us for a streamlined, online only Convention this year as we focus on the essential business of the Diocese. | | | |
Sister Joan Chittister Visits Seattle
November 5 @ 3:00 - 6:00 pm | Seattle, $10-$30 registration
| Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time and a passionate advocate for peace, human rights, women's issues, and church renewal, will speak at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Seattle on her newest book, "The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage." | | | |
Next Full Circle Meeting
{churchwide Indigenous updates from Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton}
Wednesday, 9/6, 2023
3:00 pm
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Alzheimer's Support Group
If Alzheimer's has touched your life in some way, you're not alone. A group of Circles members meets Saturday mornings to share in community together.
Contact Jerry Shigaki for more info.
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Native Hawaiians fight for their community amid Maui's uncertain future | [ABC News] Kanaka Maoli, or Native Hawaiians, are fighting to take care of their community following the deadly wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. | | | |
How Climate Change Turned Lush Hawaii Into a Tinderbox | NYT - Declining rainfall, rising temperatures and invasive species have left the islands more susceptible to wildfires. | | | |
Episcopal Church receives $1.25 million grant for faith formation work with children and families | The Episcopal Church has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Camino Project—named for the Spanish word for road, path, and way—to provide Spanish and English resources, community cohorts, and pilgrimage experiences for congregations and families—especially nontraditional, non-dominant-culture families. | | | |
Pioneering Episcopal priest Pauli Murray's US quarter design unveiled | [Episcopal News Service] The United States Mint has unveiled the design for its quarter honoring the Rev. Pauli Murray, the first Black woman to be ordained a priest in The Episcopal Church... | | | |
Canoe Journey 2023: 'This is a Reawakening' | Organizers estimated 11,000 people gathered at the Muckleshoot Reservation to share songs and dances for days after 120 canoe families landed at Alki Beach in Seattle... | | | |
"Love God, Love God's World" curriculum - The Episcopal Church | |
"Love God, Love God's World" is a nine-session, film-based curriculum, ideal for Episcopalians anywhere on the journey with creation care and environmental ministry-from newcomers looking to take their first step to seasoned leaders seeking a transformative small-group experience.
Rev. Rachel Taber Hamilton and Adrienne Elliott are both session authors. Please email Adrienne if your church would like to pilot a few sessions!
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