Humor about The Wedding at Cana
Fr. James recently preached on the Wedding at Cana and the abundant grace of God. Here’s a little post about the abundant humor of God!
Beacon News Article
Children’s Pageant, 2018
St. Christopher’s Christmas Pageant on Dec. 16, 2018, Coordinated by Annaka Thibodeaux and assisting leaders, Carrie Bowen, Pam Nistler, and Charlotte Clark-Neitzel. Set construction by John Nistler and sound tech by Fr. James. Big thank you’s to all the parents who came to rehearsals, helped keep focus, added encouragement, and generally just loved on every kid.
Annual Meeting: Sunday, January 27th
Our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 27th, 2019 following the 10:30am service. (There will be no 8am service on January 27th.) What has God has been doing in our midst? What people are excited about? What plans are in the future?How can I be involved and make a difference? Come see what God has done! Additionally, we will be asking our members in good standing to discern God’s will and vote accordingly on our council leadership, budget, and to decide on our representation at the 2019 Synod Assembly (ELCA). Find out more and RSVP here.
Christmas Eve Services (2018)
Christmas Eve Services on December 24th: 3:30pm – Christmas Eve I (Nursery Care Available)5:30pm – Christmas Eve II (Nursery Care Available)8:00pm – Christmas Eve III
5 Resources for Better Church Meetings
Reposted from ECF Vital Practices, by Brendon Hunter, Feb. 21, 2018. This month we offer five resources to help your vestry or other church group have more engaging and productive meetings. Please share this digest with new members of your vestry and extend an invitation to subscribe to ECF Vital Practices to receive Vestry Papers and the monthly digest. 1. The Consent Agenda: More Efficient MeetingsThe Consent Agenda: More Efficient Meetingsintroduces the concept and practice of using a consent agenda and how this makes space for strategic mission and ministry discussions without adding to the length of a meeting. – 2. Creative JuicesCreative Juices looks […]
The Children’s Pageant of 2018
St. Christopher’s children once again preached the Gospel to us in the form of a Christmas Pageant – a play telling of the birth of the Savior of the World, Jesus. The enactment featured 9 of our children reciting lines and singing two songs, the central piece “I Know Who He Was” followed by a fairwell in song, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Many thanks to all the children who participated; to parents, grandparents, and guardians who where so actively helpful throughout the whole process; and to Annaka Thibodeaux who coordinated the Pageant.
Hope, a Blue Christmas, and Joining Hands with Steamboat Island Church
On December 13th St. Christopher’s jointly sponsored A Blue Christmas Service with Steamboat Island Church. Fr. James preached the sermon, Pr. Heather consecrated the Eucharist, and they both shared in the leading the other parts of the liturgy. The service is geared for anyone whose Holiday Season is more ‘blue’ in feeling than the “Holly Jolly” reds and greens. “Sometimes we feel forced into being all ‘happy and nice’ during the season of Advent and Christmas. The reality is that life isn’t always easy or pleasant, even during the Holidays and sometimes especially because of them. The Blue Christmas Service […]
Living Stones Prison Congregation: Views from the Inside
Reposted from “The Rock” , the newsletter of Living Stones Prison Congregation, Shelton, WA
When Students and Inmates are Classmates
Reposted from Living Lutheran. Click here for the original article. Victoria Rose Meek has a hard time choosing only one moment for when she realized how much of an impact the Inside Out Prison Exchange Program had on her, her California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks) classmates or the students serving time at the Todd Road Ventura County Jail. Perhaps the moment she remembers most vividly started when an inmate admitted he signed up for the university course because he had nothing better to do. “By the end he [was] literally thanking each one of us because he said that after that class, he […]
The People’s Gathering: A Revolution of Consciousness Conference on April 2, 2019
3rd annual The People’s Gathering: A Revolution of Consciousness Conference on APRIL 2, 2019! Reposted from the Southwestern Washington Synod news. This one-day conference brings together individuals from local and state governments, business, education, non-profit, and health care sectors to have frank and open conversations about race, equity, and inclusion. Participants in the first two conferences have expressed that its format, high-caliber facilitators, and open, welcoming energy make it a unique personal and professional development opportunity. This year, you can look forward to the fantastic Dr. Kathy Obear as one of our featured speakers. Synod staff have attended the last […]
Episcopal Church Foundation Mourns Pres. Geo. Bush
ECF mourns the passing of President George H.W. Bush December 6, 2018. From the Episcopal Church Foundation newsletter. ECF FONDLY REMEMBERS PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH The Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) mourns the loss of George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States and a fellow Episcopalian. He served ECF as a board member, a member of the Executive Council and the Advisory Council for a total of 24 years from 1968 to 1992. We knew President Bush as a man of great faith and humility. [Click here to read more.]
Bishop Rickel’s Advent Message
As we prepare to enter Advent, that season of preparation and expectation before Christmas, Bishop Rickel offers his blessings for the season and several resources for your journey through Advent. Advent Resources: Journeying the Way of Love Resources Preparing to Become the Beloved Community Contact Info The Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel Bishop of Olympia 1551 10th Ave E Seattle, Washington 98102 206-325-4200 206-325-4631 FAX grickel@ecww.org http://www.bishoprickel.com
Advent Festival Postponed Untill Next Year (2018)
“Wha’?! No Advent Festival?” Yep. Afraid so, for 2018 anyway. This year we’ve got pageant practices for the children going on at the same time and we’re just coming off of our Thanksgiving week, filled with service activities with the foodbank and a lovely pie feed and joint Thanksgiving service. So we’re pacing ourselves a little bit as we head towards Christmas. Don’t forget to join us on December 16th for the Children’s Christmas Pageant!
Pictures from our Thanksgiving at St. Christopher’s
Our Thanksgiving Service on Wed, Nov. 21, 2018 was a lovely event! Present were worshipers from three other congregations – St. Benedict’s (Lacey), St. John’s (Olympia), and St. David of Wales (Shelton). Deacons, Barb Wesa and Teri Lolcama and Fathers R.C. Laird and James Thibodeaux lead worship. We gave thanks for many things and heard a good sermon by Fr. R.C about the history and nature of celebrating Thanksgiving. Then, following the service, we had pie.. lots and lots of pie! Thanks to all the pie makers and our kitchen hosts coordinated by Linda Karamatic. The event was a great […]
POW! St. Christopher’s Socks it to Hunger this Thanksgiving!
St. Christopher’s socks it to hunger this week combining forces with Thurston County Foodbank. On Nov. 19th Thanksgiving boxes were distributed to 20 local households! But we’re not finished yet, oh no! Our own Karli Plughoff organized a group of children and youth, many from St. Christopher’s including the Merchant’s, Plughoff’s, Hackney’s, and Thibodeaux’s, to serve through the Foobbanks’ FORKids program, packing weekend food bags for other youth/children in need. BAM! BOOM! Take THAT, Hunger!
Leadership Update: 2018 Goals in Review
[by Fr. James] I want to give thanks for the Bishop’s Council (our governing board) and their hard work this year. I also want to brag about them a little. They have worked very hard on your behalf, they kept focus, laughed together, shared their thoughts and values honestly, listened to each other, and made significant steps forward for our community. Here’s some of the stuff that’s been happening behind the scenes… At the beginning of 2018 the Bishop’s Council determined three goals to focus our efforts upon. We call these our Mutual Ministry Goals (or MMG’s). Building Presence (in the […]
Pledge Harvest Luncheon is Sunday, Nov. 11th
In celebration of the faithful generosity of you and all the congregation we invite you to T he Pledge Harvest Luncheon sponsored by the Stewardship Committee. After the 10:30am service on November 11th. Come let us say ‘Thank you’ to you for your support. “Many of the best thank you’s are edible.” – Proverb of St. Rhonert the Forgotten. You can RSVP here.
St. Christopher’s Holds Candlelight Vigil Against Violence
On Thursday, November 1st, The Feast of All the Saints, St. Christopher’s opened its doors for Evening Prayer at 5:30. That’s not unusual since we have Evening Prayer every Thursday at 5:30. But this time there were more candles and more concerns. In the wake of 72 hours of violence the preceding week, children and adults gathered around the Christ Candle and the Baptismal waters to light our own candles and pray. It was simple. It was profound. It was healing. But this wasn’t just about us. It was also about our nation and our society. We prayed for us […]