The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia | March 2019
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Faith formation encompasses the ministries and activities offered by the church that help people grow in faith and in their understanding of and love for God.
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Lent for the 21
st
Century
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Many of us have turned the corner on Lent and no longer view it as a time to curb our craving for ice cream or chocolate (while hoping to drop a few pounds). Lent in the 21st century is a time for more holistic and meaningful endeavors: working in a food kitchen; visiting the members of our congregation who simply need quality time; maybe taking on a new practice like a more committed prayer life or a daily scriptural/spiritual reading.
The days of self-flagellation and sackcloth are behind us, thankfully. It turns out that the sorrow we feel for Jesus' cruel death can be harnessed into positive and sometimes profound personal and community change. At the very least, Lent is a good time to take the focus off of our own burdens to focus instead on easing the burdens of others.
The Way of Love materials which Bishop Rickel has chosen for his own Lenten reading also espouse this more pro-active view. Check-out the free excerpt below from one of these offerings to get a sense of the casual tone which feels refreshingly relevant.
Blessings on your Lenten journey,
Valerie Reinke
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Faith Formation Mini-Conference:
An Amazing Day in the Life of the Diocese
Thank you to workshop leaders & participants!
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Workshops featured presenters from around the Diocese.
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Workshop tracks covered faith formation in its many aspects: for Children & Families, for Youth, for Adults and Inter-generational gatherings and in Music and the Arts.
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Morning gathering in St. Margaret, Bellevue's gorgeous parish hall. We deeply appreciate the hospitality of the Rev. Chris Jillard and Sonja Lindberg, Director of Christian Formation.
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The joyful closing service was created collaboratively in the workshop that preceded it. The kids joined us!
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With gratitude for Jan Akin who took these photographs that capture the spirit of the day.
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We Rise Together: High School Youth Retreat
St. Patrick of Ireland knew there was a wildness to the Holy Spirit. That wild spirit was in evidence at the High School Youth Retreat this past weekend! Enjoy these photos from the event and take a look at Bishop Rickel's thoughtful St. Patrick's Day message to the teens:
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Nothing better than a conga line to to cap off the closing service.
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The zip-line challenged youth to take a "leap of faith."
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Black light dodgeball!
Play if you dare...
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SPRING
May 4-5,
Impact
, Middle School Overnight Retreat
(grades 6-9)
Diocesan House, Seattle.
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May 11,
Launch
for Graduating Seniors
NEW!
Launch is an all-new, one-day event filled with workshops, activities and lunch with the Bishop to help all graduating high school seniors prepare for this major life transition.
St. Thomas, Medina
REGISTRATION COMING SOON
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SUMMER
CAMP IN THE CASCADES
July 14 - 20, 6-Day Summer Camp
Camp Huston
Current grades 9-12
REGISTRATION COMING SOON
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PILGRIMAGE ON THE PENINSULA
August 4 -10, Youth Creation Care Pilgrimage
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
With special guest: the Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori.
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Youth, Youth Leaders, Volunteers & Parents
Follow Diocesan Youth on Social Media
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Stay current on upcoming events and youth related news!
...Also Follow us on Instagram @ecwwyouth
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Greater Seattle-area churches
, please promote these opportunities for adults in their 20's-30's in your Sunday bulletins. Need specific formatting? Let us know at
youngadults@ecww.org
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Winter/Spring
Young Adult Happenings
In the Greater Seattle Area
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- Questioning Together - First Mondays of the month, year-round – A supportive group that discusses questions of faith and meaning over dinner. Saint Mark's Cathedral, Capitol Hill - 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. youngadults@saintmarks.org
- Evening Episcopalians – Sunday evenings, once-a-month -- Curious about the traditions, histories and flavors of other churches in our diocese? Let’s check out the 5 p.m. services at different parishes in the Seattle area, and maybe go for dinner/drinks afterward. Get on the meet-up e-mail list: faithformation@ecww.org
- Nacho Theology - Fourth Thursdays of the month, T.S. McHugh's Pub, Lower Queen Anne, 7:15 p.m. hosted by St. Paul's, info@stpaulseattle.org
- YA Bible Study - Tuesday nights, through April. Fremont Coffee Company, 459 N 36th St, Seattle. We’ll focus on the lineages of Jesus found in Matthew and Luke and dig into the stories of some of the people listed there. Questions? Need a ride? Connect with katya@emmanuelmi.org or sblanco@ecww.org
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Film Night at Leary Mansion: Wrestling with God
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Join other young adults for a film series that creatively explores the ways that religion and society intersect for better or worse, curated by Josh Hornbeck, the Diocese's resident film buff.
This month: Martin Scorsese's "Silence"
Watch the trailer:
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Friday, March 29, 7:00 p.m.
Diocesan House, 1551 10th Avenue E. Seattle
Light refreshments. Conversation to follow.
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Follow the Diocese Young Adult Facebook Page
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Be sure to "Like" and encourage the Young Adults in your congregation to "Like"
Episcopal Young Adults of Western Washington. Diocese-wide events and activities specifically tailored to bring young adults together as a faith community are listed here.
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Maureen Recommends...
No Longer Strangers:
Exploring Immigration Issues
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The downloadable booklet encourages discussion of migration and immigration through the lens of scripture and shared Christian values, presents opposing viewpoints, and invites people to talk about the issues with civility and respect.
The booklet includes biblical references on hospitality, examples of migrations as they appear in the scriptures, and thought-provoking questions that can be used for both personal study and group discussion."
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Guest speaker Andrea Forbush wants to help YOU with your summer decorating challenges!
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Join us at our next
Children & Families Ministry
Leadership Meeting
~ Connect with your colleagues
~ Share ideas and best practices
~ Plan for the future
Guest speaker Andrea Forbush will speak on:
Creating a Magical & Welcoming Space for your Summer Program
Fueled by her love of architecture, design and construction, Andrea has pursued a career in the residential home-building industry. Her strengths lie in finding creative solutions to design challenges.
Andrea, along with a team of talented volunteers, provided the backdrop for Grace Episcopal's 2018 Summer Camp, "Living Water." They transformed the sanctuary into a magical underwater place filled with giant coral, sea turtles, jelly fish and kelp.
Bring your decoration challenges and theme ideas to Andrea and watch her work her magic!
Also on the agenda:
Safeguarding God's Children - Q & A
Wednesday, March 27
11:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Diocesan House
1551 10th Avenue E., Seattle
Lunch provided
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If you are planning to schedule a Safeguarding training at your church, please let us know so we can share the news on our website and in this newsletter. Contact:
Tonja Mathews, Resource Associate
with details.
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Godly Play Training Continues:
Use Promo Code for Registration
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Godly Play is best learned from the inside out which is exactly what happens at a GP "Commuter Core" Training. Within a circle facilitated by Godly Play trainers, Cindy Spencer and Andy Rosane, you will experience and learn Godly Play stories, practices, and theology in a collegial, prayerful setting.
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. When registering, enter the PROMO CODE:
olympia
for $52 off of each training -- a $156 discount for the trio, courtesy of the Diocese of Olympia. Lunch is included. All workshops held at St. Thomas, Medina.
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By Sue Tait
Question:
What is the Bishop’s book for Lent this year? And do you have it in the Resource Center?
Sue says:
We all eagerly await the book that Bishop Rickel chooses each year, but this year it is a slightly different approach. He says, “For nearly a decade I have, for each Lent, selected a Lenten book for us to read together as a diocese. This year I am deviating just a bit from that, and suggesting that, instead of a book, we follow in the Presiding Bishop’s Way of Love curriculum for Lent.”
The next question is, where to start? You can find much more information on our
diocesan website
including a downloadable curriculum and other materials. You can even watch a video from Bishop Rickel
HERE
and see the first in a developing series,
“
Traveling the Way of Love
”
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The Resource Center has most of the print resources that have been mentioned over the past few months. Just ask and we will gladly mail them to you or contact us with further questions.
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A Poem for the Journey:
The Well Dressed Man with a Beard (excerpt)
By Wallace Stevens
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After the final no there comes a yes
And on that yes the future world depends.
No was the night. Yes is this present sun.
From
Harmonium
, 1923.
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Sarah Blanco
Faith Formation Team Member
Seattle Service Corps
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Valerie Reinke
Canon for Faith Formation:
35 and Under
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Denise Brumbaugh
Youth Ministry
Program Coordinator
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Sue Tait
Librarian
Director, Resource Center
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Maureen Crawford
Director for Adult Faith Formation
Dean, Iona School
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Faith Formation | The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia | 206.325.4200 | www.ecww.org
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