Beacon News Article

May 21, 2026

SW WA Synod eNews – May 20, 2026

May 20, 2026 Synod ResourcesAdministration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, TransitionBoundary Training Opportunities for Rostered MinistersRound Ordination Anniversaries(source: ELCA Office of the Secretary Rostered Leader Anniversary Report)May 2026Rev. Pamela Hunter40 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – May 30, 1986Rev. Richard V. Sipe Jr50 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – May 9, 1976Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God!Administration This and That2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 cents Upcoming Eventslinks to event info embedded if applicableMay 30Synod Ed Gathering – Messiah, Vancouver – 10am-3pmJune 5-7SAM Retreat @ Dumas Bay, Federal WayJune […]

May 7, 2026

Synod Educational Gatherings and Critical Incident Response Training

Good afternoon -Deadlines for our Critical Incident Response Training and Synod Educational Gatherings are approaching fast. Register today! We’d love to see you there!Blessings,StefanieThis is an excellent opportunity for members of the Southwestern Washington Synod! Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 12th, so sign up for this great hands-on training event!Register for TACOMA hereRegister for LONGVIEW hereSpread the word and don’t miss out! This year’s Educational Gatherings are all about Stewardship! Great workshops are available at both locations and we would love to see you there! Register today!!! Register for VANCOUVER hereVancouver deadline: May 22Register for LAKEWOOD hereLakewood deadline:June 5Southwestern Washington Synod […]

May 7, 2026

The Beacon Newsletter 04/30/2026

The Beacon Newsletter 04/30/2026St. Christopher’s Community Church <office@stchristopherolympia.org>Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 11:05 PMReply-To: “St. Christopher’s Community Church” <office@stchristopherolympia.org>To: James Thibodeaux <james.thibodeaux@gmail.com> THE BEACON WEEKLYView this newsletter in your browser. Articles this issue….. SW WA Synod eNews – April 29, 2026The Beacon Newsletter 04/24/2026 This Week at St. Christopher’s…Week of April 27thMonday (04/27/2026) Mitford Reading Group Series – 1:30 pm Tuesday (04/28/2026) Faithful Living – 6:00 am Centering Prayer (Online) – 8:00 pmWednesday (04/29/2026) – Catherine of Siena, Teacher; died 1380 Fellowship Breakfast – 9:00 am Worship Band – 11:00 am Widows/Widowers Support Group – 1:30 pm Thursday (04/30/2026) AA Meeting – 6:00 pm Friday (05/01/2026 – St. […]

April 30, 2026

SW WA Synod eNews – April 29, 2026

Southwestern WA Synod <stefanie.dezarn@swwasynod.org> Unsubscribe Wed, Apr 29, 4:30 PM (1 day ago) to me April 29, 2026 Synod ResourcesAdministration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, TransitionBoundary Training Opportunities for Rostered MinistersOrdination Anniversaries(source: ELCA Office of the Secretary Rostered Leader Anniversary Report)April 2026Rev. Rachel Eskesen10 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 23, 2016Rev. Sheryl Biegert40 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 26, 1986Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God!Administration This and That2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 centsMarketplaceLooking for a good home:Acer X1261P digital projectorYamaha BT600 portable PA system with Bluetooth connectivity. […]

April 30, 2026

The Beacon Newsletter 04/24/2026

THE BEACON WEEKLYView this newsletter in your browser. Articles this issue….. SW WA Synod eNews – April 22, 2026 This Week at St. Christopher’s…Week of April 20thMonday (04/20/2026) Mitford Reading Group Series – 1:30 pm Brotherhood of St. Andrews Meeting – 6:30 pm Tuesday (04/21/2026) – Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher; died 1109 Faithful Living – 6:15 am Centering Prayer – 8:00 pm Wednesday (04/22/2026) Worship Band – 11:00 am Widows/Widowers Support Group – 1:30 pm Hot Meals Outreach – 4:00 pm Thursday (04/23/2026) – Toyohiko Kagawa, Renewer of Society; died 1960 AA Meeting – 6:00 pm […]

April 24, 2026

SW WA Synod eNews – April 22, 2026

April 22, 2026 Synod ResourcesAdministration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, TransitionBoundary Training Opportunities for Rostered MinistersOrdination Anniversaries(source: ELCA Office of the Secretary Rostered Leader Anniversary Report)April 2026Rev. Rachel Eskesen10 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 23, 2016Rev. Sheryl Biegert40 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 26, 1986Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God!Administration This and That2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 cents Upcoming Eventslinks to event info embedded if applicableApril 24-25PSALM Retreat @ Sacred Waters, Union WAMay 3-6Bishop’s Convocation @ SeabeckMay 9Sacred Soil Garden Prayer – 10am @ […]

April 17, 2026

Across the Diocese: April 16, 2026

April 10, 2026

SW WA Synod eNews – April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026 Synod ResourcesAdministration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, TransitionBoundary Training Opportunities for Rostered MinistersOrdination Anniversaries(source: ELCA Office of the Secretary Rostered Leader Anniversary Report)April 2026Rev. Rachel Eskesen10 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 23, 2016Rev. Sheryl Biegert40 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 26, 1986Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God!Administration This and That2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 centsMarket PlacePulpit to give away. For pictures and more info, please contact Geri Skreen at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Castle Rock; 360-274-6604, or glgskreen@gmail.comUpcoming Eventslinks […]

April 10, 2026

Across the Diocese: April 2, 2026

View as Webpage April 2, 2026Trinity NYC Features St. Luke’s Church, Seattle’s RedevelopmentOver the past several decades, Seattle’s transformation into a major tech hub has grown its workforce while driving up housing costs and displacing many long-term residents. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, longtime anchor in the Ballard neighborhood, witnessed this strain amidst the demands of ancient buildings and chose to redevelop completely.Learn more about the St. Luke’s Apartments and RSVP for their Grand Opening on April 9 at the link below!READ MORENew Clergy Calls in the Episcopal Diocese of OlympiaThe Rev. Kelly Moody has been called to serve as […]

March 30, 2026

Expanding Our Welcome – March 2026

March 2026 EditionThe Synod’s RIC Work Team seeks to cultivate a culture of hospitality toward LGBTQIA2+ people and remove barriers to full participation in the life and ministry of the Southwestern Washington Synod.A Newsletter from the Reconciling in Christ Work Team of the Southwestern Washington Synod Careful how you come to Scripture – is it for love, or for love of power?March finds some of us under feet of snow and others welcoming blankets of wildflowers. Spring also brings Women’s History Month and the complicated past and reality surrounding 50% of the world’s population. For the most part, women continue to […]

March 25, 2026

A pastoral word to The Episcopal Church from the March 2026 gathering of the House of Bishops

View this email in your browserForward this email to a friendNote: the following information is presented in English and SpanishAviso: La siguiente información se presenta en inglés y en español A pastoral word to The Episcopal Church from the March 2026 gathering of the House of BishopsJesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”John 11:44bDear people of God: Grace and peace to you in Jesus Christ our Lord. IntroductionThe bishops of The Episcopal Church gathered from March 17-24 at Camp Allen Conference Center in Navasota, Texas. Our gathering included 122 bishops and bishops-elect, representing 89 dioceses and special ministries across 17 […]

March 19, 2026

Synod eNews – March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026 Synod ResourcesAdministration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, TransitionBoundary Training Opportunities for Rostered Ministers Ordination AnniversariesMarch 2026Rev. D. Randall Faro50 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – March, 14, 1976Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God! Administration This and That2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 centsUpcoming Eventslinks to event info embedded if applicableMarch 21Ordination & Installation of Hannah Staisrud @ St. Mark’s/Narrows, Tacoma – 10amApril 11Sacred Soil Garden Prayer – 10am @ Shepherd’s Field, SumnerApril 21Admin Support Zoom “With Each Other … For Each Other” – 1pmApril 24-25PSALM Retreat @ Sacred Waters, […]

March 19, 2026

Across the Diocese: March 19, 2026

View as Webpage March 19, 2026Bridging HurtsWritten by Linnea Wacker-Sprague, Youth at Church of the Ascension SeattleThe 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 […]

March 19, 2026

Online Palm Sunday Vigil w/ Episcopal Presiding Bishop

View this email in your browser Join ‘Lift Up Your Hearts: A Palm Sunday Vigil’ March 29, 2026 5 p.m. Pacific time (8pm EST) REGISTER Join Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe for an online vigil the evening of Palm Sunday to pray for the continued conversion of our hearts and for God’s blessing on our witness during Holy Week. The service will include a reflection from Bishop Rowe, special music, and readings by Episcopalians from all nine provinces of the church. “I believe that as we Episcopalians turn, as we fast and pray for the conversion of our hearts, we can […]

March 13, 2026

SW WA Synod eNews – March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026 Synod ResourcesAdministration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, Transition Ordination AnniversariesMarch 2026Rev. D. Randall Faro50 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – March, 14, 1976Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God! Administration This and That2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 centsUpcoming Eventslinks to event info embedded if applicableMarch 14Sacred Soil Garden Prayer – 10am @ Shepherd’s Field, SumnerMarch 17Admin Support Zoom “With Each Other … For Each Other” – 1pmMarch 21Ordination & Installation of Hannah Staisrud @ St. Mark’s/Narrows, Tacoma – 10amApril 11Sacred Soil Garden Prayer – 10am @ Shepherd’s Field, SumnerApril […]

March 13, 2026

Across the Diocese: March 5, 2026

View as Webpage March 5, 2026St. Peter’s Church, Seattle, Adds Its Voice to Protests Against Mass Detention on Day of RemembranceAs befits a church whose doors closed for three years when its Japanese American congregation was forcibly incarcerated during WWII, members of St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish in Seattle last week helped raise awareness that injustice is again in our midst.Read more at the link below.READ MORENew Clergy Calls in the Episcopal Diocese of OlympiaThe Rev. Nat Johnson has been called to serve as pastor of Church of the Apostles (COTA), Seattle. Nat will begin that call on March 25, […]

February 27, 2026

Webinar: What is Full Communion?

View this email in your browserWebinar:‘What is Full Communion? Your ELCA and UMC Questions Answered’March 12, 3 p.m. ET REGISTERJoin this webinar to learn what full communion is, why it matters, how clergy exchange works between churches, and more. Hosted by The Episcopal Church’s Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations, the webinar will explore the church’s full communion relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including the recent inclusion of deacons in clergy exchange guidelines, as well as the church’s full communion proposal with the United Methodist Church. Speakers include: The Rev. Kirsten Guidero, ecumenical and interreligious officer, The Episcopal Church The Rev. William O. Gafkjen, interim executive, ecumenical and interreligious […]

February 27, 2026

Expanding Our Welcome – February 2026

February 2026 EditionThe Synod’s RIC Work Team seeks to cultivate a culture of hospitality toward LGBTQIA2+ people and remove barriers to full participation in the life and ministry of the Southwestern Washington Synod.A Newsletter from the Reconciling in Christ Work Team of the Southwestern Washington Synod Stories Are Reality, even if they are not always the truthAs we enter into February, then March and beyond, we use the calendar to help remind us of past events to celebrate or learn more about, including President’s Day, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and more. People are born story-tellers and story-makers. Stories shape […]

February 27, 2026

Synod eNews – February 25, 2026

February 25, 2026 Synod ResourcesAdministration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, TransitionLatest Letters and Press Releases from the Synod and ChurchwideOrdination AnniversariesFebruary 2026Rev. Andrew Willis15 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – February 13, 2011Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God! Administration This and That2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 centsMid January the ELCA portal will open for the 2025 Annual Congregation Report – please expect an email from ELCA Churchwide soon!MarketplaceMessiah Lutheran in Auburn has an extra altar (75x33x39.5, wooden with dark stain) they would love to gift to another worshipping community. Contact […]

February 19, 2026

Lent: A Message from Bishop LaBelle (2026)

View as Webpage February 18, 2026″I often wonder why it is that we don’t fast as much together as Christians, and so this year I’m especially calling us to do that fast. Not because it’s an opportunity for us to say how great we are, but rather to engage in this practice that was seen throughout holy scripture, especially at times of political turmoil, for needing to make lament and for prayer. Jesus himself reminds us again and again that we are to fast, especially during those times that are difficult.”Bishop LaBelle shares his reflections for Lent this year […]