|
Ethnic Ministries
Circles of Color
_______________________________________________
Diocese of Olympia
| |
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
June 24, 2023
| |
|
On Saturday June 17th the Black African Circle sponsored a Juneteenth Celebration at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. It was a great celebration. In fact, it was a party.
A proper party like this begins with inviting and experiencing the One who is the giver of every good gift, including the gift of freedom. So, we sang and prayed, listened and responded to God’s word, and encountered the risen Christ in the sacrament and in each other.
Many thanks to the Rev. Beverly Moore-Tasy who, as liturgist, put together the service and to the Rev. Malcolm McLaurin our preacher. Thanks also to the Rev. James Ayuen and the Rev. Mary Bol who served at the altar.
| |
Thanks to Lillian Springer and Hisako Beasley who were chalice bearers for us. | |
And thanks to Olivia and Sophia Vann who served as lector and intercessor. | |
A proper party needs music and we had it. The service featured music from the Sound of the Northwest Choir under the direction of Vanessa Bruce and keyboard work from the Cathedral’s organist Michael Kleinschmidt. | |
A proper party needs dancing, and we got it thanks to the beat of the drums and percussion of Gansango. | |
And what is a party without food and fellowship? Our thanks to Berry’s BBQ in Burien who provided the barbecue and to all who brought side dishes, salads, desserts, and drinks; to Nurturing Roots Farm for their spice mix station (and with whom we are developing partnership); and to all who came and made the celebration complete. | |
|
A couple of final notes of gratitude to the Black African American Circle for their work, to the staff of Saint Mark’s Cathedral our hosts, and to Adrienne Elliott without whom none of this would have happened.
We look forward to next year’s celebration.
| |
|
In love and service,
Carla+
| |
Agnes+ Kuria and The Rev. Adult Care LLC
Our community lifts prayers for Rev. Agnes and the true labor of love that is shaping up under her care and ministry. Agnes+ will soon be opening a 8 bedroom facility to care for adults holistically with her experience in the nursing field and as a priest. She envisions a home where Episcopal folks can be tended to and cared for spiritually as well as physically, and where recent immigrants can find opportunities to continue their careers in healthcare. We will have more updates soon. For now, we pray that all continues smoothly with licensing and inspections, and that every need is provided for. We also pray for Agnes+, her family, and the team of care providers (and residents) who will be soon be admitted.
Fred and Kris Jessett
Our community lifts prayers for Fred and his family as he recently fell. We heard recently from Kris who shares: "Fred has now moved into an adult family home for some period of time where he will receive more therapy in preparation for coming home. His reading is improving but mainly on material he is familiar with such as Evening Prayer and much of Holy Communion service and prayers he has memorized. Walking more on walker but feels safer in wheelchair. Appetite is great. Quite bored as only one other resident -- maybe two -- carry on conversations. Please continue with your prayers!"
Let us continue to pray for Fred, Kris, the rest of their family, and all who care for him. We pray for comfort, healing, and wisdom for the Jessetts and Fred's medical team, as well as smooth navigation of insurance and all other logistics. 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.
Vinh Do and family
Our community lifts prayer for Vinh's mother and the rest of their family. Vinh shares, "Mom is doing better, thank God. We are each day slowing building up to what 'normal' looks like now. I'm so grateful for God and all the support and thoughts from all."
We pray for Vinh's mother's health and the rest of the family as they all 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. Edie shares her gratitude and love for Circles' support. We are grateful that it was a time of fullness and love, and pray for their community's continued embrace. 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.
| |
If you would like to highlight resources, books, events, liturgies, or anything else, please send them to Adrienne. |
|
|
Celebrating Pride Month
Happy Pride to all of our LGBTQIA+ siblings! We would not be who we are without you and the immense gifts, intersectional witness, and love you embody!
|
Time for Pride: LGBTQIA+ Episcopalians, Friends, Family Members & Allies, Let's Share the Welcome!
June 24-25 | all over!
Join the Diocese of Olympia for 2023 Pride events scheduled around western Washington including marching in the Seattle Pride Parade behind the Episcopal banner or making connections at the Episcopal booth at two days of PrideFest. Carla+ will be at the parade Sunday and welcomes Circles to join her!
Visit this link for other Episcopal involvement in Pride events during June and July around the diocese, including: Kitsap Pride; Lewis County Pride; Snohomish Pride; Taking Pride in Capitol Hill; and a Pride Interfaith Service.
| | | |
|
St. Peter’s 115th anniversary celebration is this Sunday, June 25! Join for worship at 10:30 a.m., followed by a festive lunch in the Lower Parish Hall.
The main course and drinks will be provided, however, they need YOUR help with appetizers, salads and desserts. Signing up is easy. If your last name begins with A-M, bring an appetizer or salad. If you last name begins with N-Z, bring a dessert.
You can sign up here. Questions? Email St. Peter’s Senior Warden Anneli Meyer Korn at annelimk@gmail.com.
| |
Mothered by God: Divine Feminine and the Black Madonna | The recording of the teaching sessions for Dr. Cleveland's 6/3 event is up on Saint Mark's website! | | | |
2008 Discerners Reunion
July 17 @ 6 pm | D-House
Calling all friends from the discerners group of 2008! Save the date for Monday, 7/17, in the evening at D-House for a shared potluck and time together. Spread the word too!
| | | |
Indigenous Boarding Schools & The Episcopal Church | |
May-June 2023 | Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton from Facebook, with permission
Rachel+ provides important updates on churchwide efforts to bring to light the Episcopal Church's complicity in Indigenous Boarding Schools.
| | | |
Supreme Court Affirms ICWA | |
Big news! The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of leaving the Indian Child Welfare Act intact. This is a major victory for Indigenous rights and sovereignty.
Here's a previous All My Relations podcast about ICWA as well as a press release from president of the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska shared by Becky Clark.
| | | |
Code Switch - The implications of the case against ICWA | This is another great podcast about ICWA produced before this week's decision. Journalist Rebecca Nagle explains how this decision could reverse centuries of U.S. law protecting the rights of Indigenous nations. "Native kids have been the tip of the spear in attacks on tribal sovereignty for generations." | | | |
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 will be 7/16. More details to come about ways Circles can send him off!
| |
Updates from the Bishop Search Committee | This is an exciting time for the Diocese of Olympia! Your wonderfully diverse, impassioned, and dedicated Search Committee continues to do our work. Be assured, this search process is spiritual in nature and grounded in prayer. | | | |
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! | | | |
7/2
Saint Mark's Cathedral, Seattle
Taize Liturgy honoring Pauli Murray
7/16
St. Bede's, Port Orchard
7/23
St. John's South Sudanese, Tukwila
8/6
Christ Church, Anacortes
8/27
St. Paul's, Port Townsend
| |
|
Want to share events from your parish or community?
Email details to Adrienne by Friday.
| |
55TH UBE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING & CONFERENCE (ABMC)
June 24-26 | Montgomery, AL
| UBE is headed to Montgomery, Alabama! Our theme is So Flows Our River: NIA – Purpose, IMANI – Faith and UMOJA – Unity. We will visit the National Lynching Museum and the Legacy Museum, as well as offer an optional trip to Selma for crossing the Edmund Pettis Bridge. | | | |
Taizé Prayer Honoring Pauli Murray
July 2 @ 4:30 pm | Saint Mark's Cathedral and live-streamed
| A special Taizé Prayer liturgy will be offered at Saint Mark’s, including readings and prayers by Pauli Murray and specially chosen music, sponsored by the Saint Mark’s Queer in Christ ministry. A Queer in Christ Meet & Greet will follow the liturgy in the southeast corner of the nave. | | | |
It's All About Love: A Festival for the Jesus Movement - The Episcopal Church
July 9 - 12 |Baltimore Convention Center
| |
Are you attending? Let us know!
Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton and Rev. Carla will both be presenting workshops and speaking on panels regarding Healing Relationships with Indigenous People and Co-Powering People of Color in Diocesan Life, respectively. Adrienne and Rachel+ will also be involved in Creation Care panels and plenaries.
| | | |
Special Guests Will Visit from the Holy Land
July 16 @ 9:00 am - 12:30 pm | Saint Mark's Cathedral, Seattle
| The rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Ramallah, Palestine, and his family will speak at St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle, on July 16. | | | |
2023 Summer Teaching Faculty - Holden Village
June 11-September 1| Holden Village
| |
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!
| | | |
Convene 2023 - Save the Date!
September 30 | Everett Community College
| |
Reconnect with Episcopalians from across the Diocese, and join us for this exciting new event open to everyone! Gain new resources and support, and spend time learning from and networking with churches from every corner of Western Washington!
Circles will be presenting some workshops! Let us know what you'd like to see, offer, or support!
| | | |
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. | | | |
Next Full Circle Meeting
{bishop search, Rev. Rachel's wider church work}
Wednesday, 7/5, 2023
3:00 pm
| |
Special Full Circle Meeting
{bishop characteristics we'd like to see}
TBD…stay tuned!
| |
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.
| | | |
The Healing Gardens at St. Ambrose | |
We recently heard about the great work Rev. Jemonde Taylor is up to with the Healing Gardens at St. Ambrose, Raleigh, NC. Check out the meaningful offerings for Minorty Mental Health Month in July and beyond!
| | | |
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offers World Refugee Day sermon | |
In recognition of World Refugee Day and Episcopal Migration Ministries' Rainbow Initiative to support LGBTQ+ forced migrants, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry shared the following message.
| | | |
2027 General Convention to meet in Phoenix; $2 million approved for Indigenous boarding school research | |
Episcopal News Service - Providence, Rhode Island] The 82nd General Convention in 2027 will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, based on a plan endorsed June 15 by Executive Council. The church governing...
| | | |
Nominating committee presents profile for 28th presiding bishop, calls for names | |
The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop on May 15 issued the following letter to the church announcing the availability of the "Profile for the Election of the 28th Presiding Bishop" and inviting Episcopalians to submit the names of bishops for the committee to consider as nominees.
| | | |
Episcopalians invited to participate in environmental justice survey | |
As The Episcopal Church Creation Care Office plans its programming for the next year, it invites all Episcopalians to participate in a 5-minute confidential survey from ecoAmerica.
The survey seeks to better understand church members’ attitudes toward and awareness of climate issues and our corresponding role as people of faith.
| | | |
"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!
| | | |
Honor LGBTQ+ forced migrants in June through Episcopal Migration Ministries' Rainbow Initiative | |
Episcopal congregations seeking ways to observe Pride Month and World Refugee Day in June have a special opportunity to focus on LGBTQ+ and refugee communities through Episcopal Migration Ministries’ new Rainbow Initiative.
| | | | | | |
