Bridging Hurts Written by Linnea Wacker-Sprague, Youth at Church of the Ascension Seattle The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Seattle recently conducted a project to identify property deeds containing racially restrictive covenants, map the neighborhood areas where deeds contained these harmful prohibitions, and offer deed-holders an opportunity to amend their documents to nullify the covenants while acknowledging the historical wrongdoing of the practice. This project grew out of the parish’s mission to heal broken relationships that separate people and the land. Learn more about the ways that Ascension is working with their community to address wrongs and face their history by following the link below. |
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| New Clergy Calls in the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia The Rev. Elizabeth Riley has been called by the Vestry of St. Dunstan, Seattle to serve as its next rector. That call began February 1, 2026. Keep Elizabeth in your prayers as she begins her new call, along with all congregations and clergy in transition. |
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Cathedral Day April 25 | Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle Cathedral Day is a “family reunion” for Episcopalians from across western Washington. It’s a time for connecting across congregations and experiencing all your cathedral has to offer. For centuries, cathedrals have served as Christian pilgrimage sites, drawing people of faith into their orbit of wonder and awe. This year’s Cathedral Day celebrates the idea of pilgrimage, with Saint Mark’s serving as your sacred destination. |
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| Good Friday Offering From Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe: “For more than a century, Episcopalians have given generously to the Good Friday Offering, which supports the vital work and ministries of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. Today, the need of the church in the Holy Land is greater than ever, particularly given the recent escalation of war in the Middle East, and I hope you will join me in making a generous gift today” Read more and donate at the links below! |
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Birth Kits for South Sudan The situation in South Sudan and neighboring countries is causing suffering for millions and forcing families to flee their homes. Most South Sudanese refugees are women and children. Among the many needs of this group is the need for birth kits. The Diocese of Olympia has committed to purchasing and delivering 100 birth kits to the refugee camp near the capital city of Juba. One birth costs $100. We are asking the people of our diocese to contribute what you can. A group from our diocese will be traveling to South Sudan to deliver the kits. We urge your generosity. |
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Zimzum Discipleship Resources New Zimzum Discipleship resources are now available on the Zimzum home page! The latest small group session for Lesson 5, Imperfection, is now available to download and use! |
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| Congregational Leadership Reports (New Due Date) The Congregational Leadership Report has been prepared and is ready for your congregation to fill out at the below online portal. This form is vital for us at the diocese to keep our records up to date for your congregation’s contact information, mailing information, and keeping up to date the “who’s who?” on staff at your congregation. Please fill out and submit this form by April 15 (new due date). If you have any questions, please reach out to Caleb Gomes (frontdesk@ecww.org). |
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| Congregational Leadership Conference Resources Videos from the Congregational Leadership Conference will be available soon! Be on the lookout for recordings of the plenary and breakout sessions to assist church leaders in everything from budgets and human resources to congregational development and property management! |
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| TENS Stewardship Resources In God’s house there is always room for more: more ideas, more people, more ways to share, more stories to tell. And in the world that God created, there is more needed: more love, more connection, more peace, more creativity. Plenty Good Room reminds us that there is always room in God’s house; we just need to make ourselves at home and invite others to join us. The ways we steward our relationships, resources, and responses to grow ministry and serve our neighbors are the ways we connect our gratitude to our generosity. There’s Plenty Good Room in God’s House; pull up a chair and sit down. To access your annual stewardship resources, please visit the TENS website below and enter this year’s password: Matthew22:4 |
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| It’s Time to Register for the College for Congregational Development! June 21-26 | Sacred Waters Retreat Center, Union One of the cornerstone programs of our diocese, the College is a comprehensive training program that equips congregational teams of laity and clergy with skills to healthily and faithfully develop their community. Over the course of two years team receive a variety of models and tools to equip them for ministry and leadership. Every congregation in the diocese is encourage to send a team either through our weeklong summer programs or our weekend sessions running once a month beginning in the fall. Resources are available in the diocese to help make this possible. Want to register or learn more? Visit our website for more information. |
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| The Core Mission of the Bishop’s Task Force to the Unhoused “It is good to know the church and other faith communities are and always have been doing outreach. I believe we always will be, because of what it means to follow the way of Jesus. We are builders and we must continue to be builders. The task force mission continues, to advocate for affordable housing, advocating for caring issues in Olympia and locally, and to emphasize our collective mission to educate, do outreach, and to care for others as Christ would have us do.” Don Fornoff, co-chair of the Bishop’s Task Force to the Unhoused, shares a bit about the task force’s mission in the Diocese of Olympia, and how all parishes help contribute to that mission. |
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| Messy Church Training March 21, 1:30 pm | Good Shepherd, Vancouver | $125 Registration Ready to bring Messy Church to life in your community? Join us in person on March 21 for a hands-on, interactive Messy Church training designed to equip you and your team with everything you need to get started (or get unstuck!). |
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| A Piece of Ground: Seeing Space, Memory, and Justice Through South African Eyes March 25, 6:00 pm | St. James Church, Kent St. James Church in Kent, in coordination with the Diocesan Office of Multicultural Ministries and Community Transformation, offers a free and open to the public screening of the documentary A Piece of Ground and a post-screening discussion with Sesihle Manzini. |
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The Diocese of Olympia Invites You to the Exploring Discernment Retreat! April 11, 9:30 am | St. Stephen’s Church, Seattle Do you have a big question in life that you are thinking about and wondering what God would have you do? Join other discerners across the Diocese for our Exploring Discernment Retreat! Learn more by following the link below. |
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| DOK Spring Assembly April 18, 9:00 am | Christ Church, Puyallup | $30 Registration Daughters of the King, a lay order of women in the Episcopal Church, is hosting it’s spring assembly. |
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| Huston On My Mind Fundraiser Weekend May 1-3 | Camp Huston, Union | $175-300 Registration You are invited to a heartfelt weekend of celebration and giving back to Camp Huston through our time, talent and treasure. |
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Anti-Racism Training – Save the Date! May 2 Save the date or anti-racism training with the Rev. Canon Carla Robinson. More detail will be available soon! |
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Save the Date – Writing for Worship May 16, 10:00 am | St. Paul’s Church, Seattle | Registration TBD Join Dr Gail Ramshaw, distinguished expert on liturgical language, for a workshop sponsored by the Liturgy and Arts Commission on “Writing for Worship.” |
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| Ordinations to the Priesthood Please join us for this year’s priestly ordinations on July 18, at 10:30 am, at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. All are invited to worship with us and celebrate the ordinations of five new priests. More information will be made available in the weeks leading up to the ordination liturgy. |
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| Province VIII Youth Pilgrimage: 2026 July 28-31 | Cathedral of St. Andrew, Honolulu, HI Come along for a youth pilgrimage to the Diocese of Hawai’i as we hear their stories of community and immigration history. |
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| Celtic Culture in Scotland w/ Revs. Hillary Kimsey & Ruth Anne Garcia October 7-17, 2026 | Scotland | $6,000 Registration This 11-day journey explores Celtic culture, spirituality, and the Episcopal history of Scotland. |
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Newly Revised Commission on Ministry Documents Available The Commission on Ministry has revised and finalized two manuals available for those who are considering discernment. Then manuals align with the two newly re-organized stages of discernment, namely “Exploring Vocations” (formerly “Phase 1”) and “Diocesan Discernment” (formerly “Phase 2”). Learn more at the link below! |
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For more upcoming diocesan events, visit our Diocesan Events Page at the link below. |
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Join our congregations across Western Washington for events and activities, including: Bach Birthday Bash at St. Thomas Church, Medina; a book launch party for the Rev. Danae Ashley at St. Stephen’s Church, Seattle; Choral Evensong & Organ Recital at St. Luke’s Memorial Church, Tacoma; and High Tea and Apple Pie – a History of Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church at St. Mary’s Church, Lakewood. Learn more about all of these events and more at the link below. |
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Our diocesan staff will be traveling across the Diocese in the coming months. Here is where you can find them next. - March 22 | St. Mary’s Church. Lakewood | The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson
- March 22 | Holy Family of Jesus, Tacoma | The Rev. Canon Ivar Hillesland
- April 4 | The Great Vigil of Easter at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle | The Rt. Rev. Phil LaBelle
- April 5 | Easter Day at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle | The Rt. Rev. Phil LaBelle
- April 12 | St. Stephen’s Church, Seattle | The Rt. Rev. Phil LaBelle
- April 19 | St. John’s Church, Kirkland | The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson
- April 19 | Church of the Apostles (COTA), Seattle | The Rev. Canon Cristi Chapman
- April 25 | Cathedral Day at Saint Mark’s Cathedral | The Rt. Rev. Phil LaBelle
- April 26 | St. Andrew’s Church, Aberdeen | The Ven. Barbra Weza
- April 26 | St. Paul’s Church, Bellingham | The Rev. Ivar Hillesland
- April 26 | St. Luke’s Church, Seattle | The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson
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The following churches and organizations are currently looking to fill the positions below: |
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