Come and See: An invitation to the Episcopal Church at Christmas
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The Spotlight section of the Diocese of Olympia website currently features a brief video created by the Office of the Bishop that invites people to the Episcopal Church at Christmas. Please feel free to make use of this video as best suits you and your congregation.
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Washington New Sanctuary Movement invites participation in Las Posadas at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 beginning at St. James Cathedral, Seattle
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The third annual Journey of Witness for Immigration Reform moves by foot from the corner of 9th and Columbia in downtown Seattle to Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave., with stops for prayer along the way. The Posada tradition reenacts Mary and Joseph's difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Today, immigrants among us journey from "door to door," seeking just and humane immigration relief that honors their families, respects the dignity of their work and upholds their civil and human rights. During these seasons of Advent, Hanukkah and the New Year, we are called to a response of profound welcome. Michael Ramos, executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, and Diakonda Gurning of the Indonesian Lutheran Fellowship will lead the events. After processing from St. James Cathedral, participants will gather in Fridell Lounge at Seattle First Baptist for a short film, a panel discussion, litany, food and music. All are welcome to attend this free event. For more information, contact Dianne Aid at 206-280-9453 or sanmateo921@yahoo.com. The Washington New Sanctuary Movement (WANSM) is an interfaith coalition of congregations and faith-based organizations committed to publicly protecting the rights of all immigrants, especially those at risk of deportation and whose families face unjust separation.
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St. James, Cathlamet releases new cookbook
|  | Just in time for Christmas, St. James has released an expanded new edition of a cookbook which was first produced in 1995. The original book focused on Christmas recipes and memories. The new version covers more than just Christmas, including a section on the recipes used at English tea the church holds each spring. The cookbook still has many great recipes and personal anecdotes to go with them.
In addition, local historian Irene Martin has added many short and interesting historical notes about the local area. The combination makes for an informative and entertaining book, which could be used as a gift for faraway friends as well as those who live nearby. All proceeds go to St James Family Center. Copies can be purchased for $10 in person or plus $3.95 for shipping and handling by mail at 1134 Columbia St., Cathlamet, WA 98612.
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| A new focus for the Evangelism Commission: Congregational tools, "Anonymous Visitor" service |  | During this past year, your Evangelism Commission has been working to focus and refine its purpose and to work on specific tools and services that will assist congregations in strengthening their ability to evangelize in specific ways that will grow the church.
The commission is currently concentrating its efforts on meeting three goals:
- Providing tools and training for congregations in the areas of inviting, greeting and orienting new and existing members;
- Equipping individuals to be faithful and effective listeners, responders and storytellers about the Good News of God in Christ in their lives, including their life-giving experiences in their Episcopal congregation; and
- Assisting congregations a) in defining and articulating their distinctive, core identities and b) communicating that identity in compelling and engaging ways both within the walls of the church and outside in the world.
- As a part of the commission's new focus, we are now offering an "anonymous visitor" service to congregations that wish to have a fresh pair of eyes on how they are doing on welcoming visitors on Sundays. The "anonymous visitor" will visit your church, prepare feedback on specific key areas related to new visitors and will meet with a group within your congregation for a conversation about what your congregation is doing well and what areas might be strengthened.
If you are interested in this service, please contact Sharon Pethers at spethers@ecww.org. To learn more about the Evangelism Commission, contact the Rev. Canon Melissa Skelton at mskelton@ecww.org.
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A message from the Canon for Finance regarding lay employee benefits
|  | Pension: In 1991, General Convention passed resolution 1991-D165 that requires all congregations to provide a pension to lay employees who work at least 1000 hours per year (20 hours per week). The employer must contribute 5 percent of salary and match employee contributions up to 4 percent. At that time, congregations could establish 403b accounts with brokers or insurance companies. The diocesan Insurance Committee recommended Safeco and Twentieth Century. Some congregations established their accounts with one of those firms, other investment firms or the Church Pension Fund.
In 2009, General Convention extended this mandate by requiring all congregations whose plans are not with the Church Pension Fund to move to that entity by Jan. 1, 2013. The primary catalyst behind this requirement is changes in IRS rules that it would be difficult for individual employers to monitor. If you do not already have a pension plan for your lay employees, I encourage you to call Patti Christiansen (Church Pension Fund) at 800 223-6602 or go to www.cpg.org in order to set up a plan (either defined contribution or defined benefit) for your eligible employees. If you have a plan with another carrier, please call Patti ASAP, or no later than fall of 2012, to insure your plan is in place as of Jan. 1, 2013.
Medical: The 2009 General Convention passed a resolution mandating health insurance parity between clergy and lay employees who work at least 30 hours per week, no later than Jan. 1, 2013. The General Convention resolution leaves it to each diocese to establish the minimum acceptable. This diocese will not adopt the minimum until the 2012 Diocesan Convention next November. It would be prudent for those congregations that have eligible employees to discuss possible minimum scenarios (no less than 75 percent of the employee's benefit must be covered, in order for the plan to be considered a group in the State of Washington). This will allow only about a month for each congregation to decide what, if anything, they will do above the minimum and enroll any newly insured.
If you have any questions, please contact Chris Smith-Clark, Canon for Finance, at 206-325-4200/800-488-4978, ext. 2019 or csmith-clark@ecww.org.
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| Episcopal Church facts and figures: "The numbers call us to strengthen our commitment to turn outward" |  | New facts and figures about membership in the Episcopal Church are posted at www.episcopalchurch.org/research.
Among the facts:
- Membership in the Episcopal Church is 2,125,012, with 1,951,907 in the domestic dioceses and 173,105 in the non-domestic dioceses.
- Sixteen domestic dioceses showed growth in the past year: Alabama, Arkansas, Atlanta, Central Gulf Coast, East Carolina, Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Navajoland, North Dakota, Northwest Texas, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Wyoming.
- In the non-domestic dioceses, growth was marked in eight dioceses: Churches in Europe, Dominican Republic, Ecuador-Central, Haiti, Honduras, Micronesia, Puerto Rico, Taiwan.
- The ASA chart shows a total of 657,831 domestically and 40,049 non-domestic.
- The largest active congregational membership is St Martin's, Houston with 8,406.
"These statistics reveal something very important about the challenges we face as a Church," observed Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of the Episcopal Church. "One of those is that we cannot allow statistics like this to make us anxious about our survival. Earthly survival is not much a value of the Gospel. Striving for the kingdom and righteous of God is. Concentrating on the latter is likely to yield more abundant life than the former (Mt. 6:31-33)."
He continued, "Another is that we cannot continue to pretend we are the Church of the establishment entitled to the power, prestige and privilege that comes with that. Right now, I think the cross calls us to die to those trappings of our old establishment life, and that means turning our attention single-mindedly to God's mission and our participation in it, which means that we are going to have to restructure and reform ourselves accordingly. Churches that turn inward will die. Churches that turn outward will not only live, but thrive. The numbers call us to strengthen our commitment to turn outward."
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 | | Read the latest FYI clergy/lay leadership newsletter online. |
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 | | Read the latest Episcopal Voice magazine online. |
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Greetings, Across the Diocese Reader!
This has been a hard week in the Diocese of Olympia, with deaths and several worsening illnesses among clergy and lay leaders. The Rev. Richard Younge, longtime priest and member of diocesan leadership, died Tuesday, Dec. 13. His memorial service takes place at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 14 at Epiphany, Seattle; meantime, please keep his wife, Edith, and their family in your prayers. Bill Bain, former chair of the diocese's Board of Directors, also died last week. His memorial service takes place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 at Emmanuel, Mercer Is.
The Rev. Henry Seaman, former rector of Good Shepherd, Federal Way, is in poor health, as is the Rev. Joyce McConnell, longtime treasurer of the diocese and former vicar at Faith, Kingston. Please also keep them and their families in your prayers.
A heads up from Hunt Priest at Emmanuel, Mercer Is.: If your church receives an e-mail from the U.S. Commerce Association announcing that you have been named "Best of" in the Episcopal Churches, category, it is a scam. Forewarned is forearmed; you can read a little more about it here.
In lighter news, kudos to Grace, Bainbridge Is., recently featured on a European-based sacred art site.
Episcopal News Service has a newly redesigned website that highlights social media, multimedia and enhanced news outlets. You can experience it at http://episcopalnewsservice.com, and keep up with all that's happening in the Episcopal Church. Churches also can advertise open positions and upcoming events on the new site, free of charge. To investigate this service, visit http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com. Paid options also exist.
Do you want to see your event or announcement listed here? Please send it to njoslyn@ecww.org. The deadline is 5 p.m. every Wednesday for events the following week. Events typically run no more than one month in advance (exceptions noted in the "Looking Ahead" section).
If this has been forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe to "Across the Diocese," just scroll to the bottom of the left-hand column and click on "Join our Mailing List."
You are receiving this electronic newsletter because of your relationship with the Diocese of Olympia.
Sincerely,
Norah M. Joslyn
Director of Diocesan Communications, Editor
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Workshops, Classes and Special Events
 The annual Cathedral Shop Christmas Boutique is running now through Dec. 24. Shop space doubles and inventory expands to include Advent calendars and wreaths; holiday cards and wrap; ornaments and nativities; stocking stuffers and gifts for all ages; classical, sacred and seasonal CDs; plum pudding; fair-trade gifts; books, books, books; and much, much more. Expect exceptional variety, great values, plenty of free parking and friendly, festive surroundings. The Cathedral Shop is located at 1245 10th Ave. E on the St. Mark's Cathedral campus. Boutique hours are 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Saturday and 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sunday with extended hours in conjunction with special events at the cathedral. Find them online at www.shopatsaintmarks.org, on Facebook at The Cathedral Shop at Saint Marks and by phone at 206-323-1040.
Weekend of Rediscover: Third Province VIII Wintertalk takes place Jan. 6-8, 2012 at the Spirit Mountain Resort on the Grande Ronde Reservation in Oregon. With the assistance and hospitality of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Wintertalk III begins at noon Friday, Jan. 6 and ends at noon Sunday, Jan. 8. The gathering features a special New Year's concert, an evening of love songs and storytelling by Dr. Cornell Pewawardy (Comanche/Kiowa), Director and Professor of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University: Native American flute and Round Dance songs. Celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, all attending the concert are asked to bring a special gift to share with each other. Sign up online and get $10 off any meal at Spirit Mountain Casino; http://spiritmountain.com/coyote-club#sign-up - register in December - coupon downloaded and with expiration date. For more information, contact Paul Nahoa Lucas, Indigenous Ministry Coordinator, Province VIII at palucas@ksbe.edu or 808-561-7417.
 The Priory at Lacey offers Winter 2012 courses: Discerning Life Choices for Women Jan. 7-9 (with Therese Gonneville, OSB; without spiritual direction $160; with spiritual direction $195); New Year-New Story: Using journal writing to map your way forward Jan. 7 (with Christina Baldwin; $60); Knitters and Spinners Jan. 14 (optional Jan. 13 Friday evening; Saturday only: $50; Friday night/Saturday, lodging at the Center: $110 ($55 per night)); Where Am I and How Did I Get Here? Jan. 21 (with Lisa Gosiaco; $50); Lectio Divina: Feasting on the Word Jan. 28 (with Lucy Wynkoop, OSB; $50 (+ $10 extra for learning to facilitate lectio divina for a group)). See fuller descriptions of each class at www.stplacid.org. To register, call the Spirituality Center at 360-438-2595 or e-mail
spiritualityctr@stplacid.org.
 The Center at St. Andrew, Seattle Winter Term Wednesday classes run 7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 11-Feb. 8, 2012. Centering Prayer begins at 5:45 p.m., followed by supper at 6:15. Becoming a Low-impact Church: A Practical Look at Shrinking Your Environmental Footprint with JB Hoover. If you want to energize your congregation to become a leader for environmental sustainability, come explore the realities of energy, waste and food in our churches and together find practical, action-oriented ways your congregation can join a growing community of low-impact institutions. The class aims to equip you to assume a leadership role in your own congregation. Create a community of learners in which participants have space to share obstacles, challenges and successes, to inspire each other, to integrate their learning, and to leave ready to take action. The Quran in Dialogue with the Bible: Sacred Word for Beloved Community with Ann Holmes Redding, Ph.D. In this sequel to class "Making Peace with Islam," Redding draws on the book Out of Darkness into Light, which she co-authored. Examine the Holy Book of Islam in conversation with Christianity and Judaism. Discuss not only the major themes in the Quran, but also how Muslims read and interpret it. If you were not in the fall class, you are still welcome to sign up for this one, which can stand alone. Registration for each class is $50. Subtract $10 if registered by Jan. 5 or if student, senior or low-income. Inquire about group rates. Register by contacting Cherry Haisten at cherryh@saintandrewsseattle.org or 206-523-7476, ext. 304. St. Andrew's is located at 111 NE 80th St. in Seattle's Green Lake neighborhood.
The wardens, vestry and people of St. John, Olympia cordially invite you to participate in its Celebration of New and Mutual Ministry at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, when Bishop Greg Rickel will institute the Rev. John M. Allen as rector. Your presence and prayers are requested. Please R.S.V.P. to 360-352-8527 or johnatstjohns@comcast.net. St. John's is located at 114 20th Ave. SE in Olympia.
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Music and the Arts
 Expectant Hope: now through Jan. 1, 2012 in the gallery at St. Hilda St. Patrick, Edmonds. Our hope is expectant as the gloom of a Northwest winter descends upon us. Look ahead, and learn more at the Hilda and Patrick Arts blog or on Facebook.
St. Thomas, Medina's New Year's Eve gala kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. An evening of musical joy, featuring some of the Northwest's most talented artists musicians and actors, and followed with dessert and champagne. Hot wassail and standard jazz precedes at 7 p.m. Suggested donation is $15 at the door. St. Thomas is located at 8398 12th St. NE. For more information, call 425-454-9541 or visit www.stthomasmedina.org.
Evensong and Cantata Series at St. Stephen, Seattle kicks off 2012 at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8 with Choral Evensong and Anthem (O nata lux-Morten Lauridsen) for 1 Epiphany, Magnificat and Nunc dimittis: Harold Darke in F. These inspiring choral-instrumental masterpieces are presented in a liturgical context, and will be accompanied on Baroque period instruments by some of the area's finest early music specialists, directed by Leslie Martin. Preceded by a musical preview 4:30-4:50 p.m., to explore the meaning of the work and reveal much of the symbolism employed by these composer. Bring a friend, and join a reception in the church entryway following Evensong. For more information, visit www.ststephens-seattle.org.
Like Compline? St. John, Olympia has a weekly service at 8 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit www.stjohnsoly.org.
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Employment and Volunteer Opportunities
St. Andrew, Seattle seeks communications specialist. This quarter-time position pays $16/hr and supports the work of the Center at St. Andrew's as well as communications for other church programs. The Center at St. Andrew's offers classes, workshops, lectures, retreats and quiet days open to everyone in the community. The church maintains a website and distributes a bi-weekly electronic newsletter. Tasks: Maintain databases in Access and Excel; develop and maintain distribution lists; produce reports; handle registrations and fees for Center at St. Andrew's events; post materials to church website and to other social media; lay out electronic newsletters using Constant Contact; lay out and post print publications including brochures, posters, signage and other collateral materials and coordinate their distribution; distribute information to media outlets; take part in sessions to develop communication strategies. Must have proficiency in Constant Contact, Microsoft Access, PowerPoint, Word, Publisher (or InDesign) and Excel. Must have background in the use of social networking and websites as tools for communications. The position can be a contract for someone with a small communications firm. To apply, send resumes to rector@saintandrewsseattle.org.
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Bellevue, WA, seeks a part-time Director of Music Ministries (20 to 25 hours/week) to help plan and prepare liturgies, develop and plan worship music, conduct St. Margaret's Choir and Bell Choir, serve as organist and accompanist for one Sunday worship service and various feast days, and supervise other music ministers, supporting and encouraging the varied music groups of the congregation, including the Sojourners praise band. We seek someone with a vision for music and the arts as tools for evangelism, spiritual growth and community building to meet the mission of the parish, and who respects and can build on the traditions of Anglican music while being open to varied musical offerings that reflect the diversity of the congregation. Salary for this part-time position, (20 to 25 hours/week) will be commensurate with qualifications and experience within the 2011 salary guide of the American Guild of Organists. Please reply with a cover letter and resume to hr@saintmargarets.org.
Church of the Ascension, Seattle seeks parish administrator responsible for providing administrative support to the rector, vestry and for parish programs. Prior church office experience preferred. Duties include coordination of all functions of the parish office, including the use and maintenance of parish facilities, and the coordination of parish communications. Required skills and qualifications: commitment to welcome and hospitality; demonstrated time management and organizational skills; experience with word processing, data base management, website, social media, and bookkeeping software; ability to recruit and work with volunteers. Rate of Pay: $18.25 - $21.50/hr. For a full job description and details for submission of an application visit www.ascensionseattle.org.
Christ Church, Tacoma seeks experienced childcare provider. Prefer ECE or related educational background to staff nursery during Sunday morning services. Completion of a four-hour Safeguarding God's Children course is required by the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia for all staff. This position is currently funded through June 1, 2012. If you have any questions about this position, please call the Rev. Dr. Jane Maynard at 253-383-1569.
The Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif. seeks vice president for advancement. The position description and application details are at http://www.cdsp.edu/.
Diocese of North Dakota and All Saints Episcopal Church are looking for volunteers as they reach out to their neighbors to help with home repair and reconstruction after flooding this summer. Learn more here.
Working Washington seeks faith community organizer. E-mail cover letter and resume to resumes@seiu.catsone.com. This organizer will be responsible for: working with WW members and activists to outreach their own communities and community organizations, especially their faith
institutions (mosques, temples, churches, synagogues) ; providing economic education to those institutions and community organizations regarding "who broke the economy" and solutions for a recovery that builds a fair economy for all; mobilizing for key campaign events from among those communities and institutions; developing program in conjunction with those community and
institutional leaders within the context of the campaign; tracking and maintaining data systems on the above activities, and providing written and numeric reports. This organizer will function as part of the lead-organizer team at Working Washington. Working Washington is a 501c4 organization dedicated to neighborhood outreach and organizing that builds a movement for corporate accountability and investment in good jobs in our communities. The salary is based on experience and includes a fully funded health care package and pension.
St. Thomas, Medina seeks childcare provider. Looking for a reliable person to provide childcare in our nursery 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays and at special events as needed. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and prior experience with children is preferred. Applicants must pass a background check and complete the Safeguarding God's Children course. Applicants may call Laura Gregg at 425-454-9541 for more information.
Applications now accepted for Episcopal Church Young Adult Service Corps. Commonly known as YASC, the corps is comprised of young adults between the ages of 21-30. Current YASC members are living in Japan, El Salvador, Mexico, Southern Africa, Hong Kong and Tanzania. Read about their experiences on their blogs here. Applicants must have a high degree of maturity and possess a faith commitment and "the willingness to be a humble guest, and the ability to be an authentic companion." Applications and other information is located here. Application deadline for 2012 placements is Jan. 9, 2012. For more information contact Lisa Denaro at ldenaro@episcopalchurch.org or 212-716-6114.
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Miscellaneous
United Thank Offering applications available for 2012 Episcopal Church grants; deadline is Jan. 15, 2012. Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally within Anglican provinces, dioceses, and companion dioceses. Grants will be approved in July 2012 at the Episcopal Church Women Triennium at General Convention. Funds for approved grants will be available starting August 2012 for a one-year grant period. UTO information and contact info are available at www.episcopalchurch.org/uto. Complete instructions, application forms, and additional info are available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/110043_117733_ENG_HTM.htm. For more information, e-mail utoapps@episcopalchurch.org or call the UTO Office at 800-334-7626, ext. 5130 or ext. 6022. Paper copies of the application are not accepted. If there is a problem accessing the Internet for the online application, please contact the UTO office.
Available: B-3 organ with variable speed Leslie speaker. Available to enhance music program of a church in need. Must pick up on Vashon Is. If interested, call deacon Sally Carlson at 206-390-9249.
St. Michael and All Angels, Issaquah has 3-4 modern roughly 10' oak pews in good condition. If you are interested in these pews, contact the Rev. Ann Lukens at rector@stmichaels-issaquah.org.
The Diocese of Olympia Archives has a new blog. Called Archives in Action, it can be found at http://www.ecww.org/blogs/all_posts. The intent is for the blog to be fun as well as informative with lots of pictures and stories as well as tips on archival and records management topics. Take a look, get to know your diocesan archives and let Diane Wells know what you think.
Episcopal Church Office of Communication offers ad series to assist in promoting year-round stewardship. Based on the theme Faith In Action, a different ad is available each month, featuring an appropriate illustration and short message, plus the tagline "Give to your Episcopal Church." The ads were designed for multiple uses, including websites, online publications and in printed newsletters and bulletins. The ads are available at www.episcopalchurch.org/stewardship.
Trinity, Everett pocket prayer shawls in high demand. With a helpful nudge from the Episcopal Church's Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries, word of Trinity's prayer shawl ministry has spread throughout the armed forces and requests for the small shawls are being made all over the country, shipping to Ft. Stewart, Ga., a veterans' hospital in Madison, Wisc., and the Massachusetts National Guard. You can support the effort by knitting your own (using a size 8 needle, cast on 15 stitches and knit three, purl three across the row. Just keep doing that until you hit approximately 3"x5" and then cast off-be sure to get yarn that is the ACU (desert camo) color; bright yarns cannot be used for security reasons) and sending them to Trinity with a donation to offset the cost of shipping, or simply sending a donation. To learn more, including where to send shawls/contributions, contact Deb (McSwain) Estep at debthediva@comcast.net or the Trinity office at administrator@trinityeverett.org.
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Looking Ahead: Save the Date
How Can We Sing a New Song? A day-long workshop led by Dent Davidson, missioner for Arts and Liturgy in the Diocese of Chicago, Jan. 14, 2012 at St. Andrew, Seattle. Music for Episcopal worship has evolved over the time since the 1982 Hymnal was adopted. In this participatory workshop, Davidson will show a variety of new resources and let us experience them in song. Drawing on Voices Found, Enriching our Music, My Heart Sings Out, Lift Every Voice and Sing and Wonder, Love and Praise as well as his vast experience as an innovative church musician, Davidson will ring the room and raise the roof as we sing and share together in a first-hand experience of new congregational music. This workshop is intended for and open to everyone in the Diocese of Olympia who wants our church to learn to sing a new song. Partially underwritten by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. Cost is $10. To request a registration form, contact Cherry Haisten at cherryh@saintandrewsseattle.org or 206-523-7476, ext. 304. St. Andrew is located at 111 NE 80th St. in Seattle's Green Lake neighborhood.
Blessed Be the Peacemakers: St. Augustine in-the-Woods, Freeland hosts seventh annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. at 1 p.m. Jan. 16, 2012. Guest speaker at this year's event is Ora Houston from St. James, Austin. Free refreshments are provided before the service from noon to 12:45 p.m., courtesy of the St. Augustine chapter of Episcopal Peace Fellowship. Read more about the event here.
Religious Wounding? New group forming for those wounded by their experience in churches offers orientation session at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17 at St. Paul, Seattle. For those of us from church backgrounds with a very judgmental or condemning dogma and doctrine, just being in church can sometimes be confusing or difficult. Beginning in late January 2012, Deb Montgomery, a local therapist who attends St. Paul's, will host a group exploring the places in our lives and stories where "religious wounding" of this nature has occurred. If this is an issue for you or for someone you know and you or they would be interested in such a group, plan to attend the orientation next month. St. Paul is located at 15 Roy St. in Seattle's Queen Anne Hill neighborhood.
MissioCenter offers New Media Learning Day 9:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 at Emmanuel, Mercer Is. Culture has shifted from the postmodern age into a new age defined by media. Understanding and harnessing the power of new media is critical for communicating the Gospel in the media age. New Media Learning Day provides hand- on and practical training in the use of new/social media for churches and leaders. Cost: $79. Register online at http://www.missiocenter.org/newmedia.
Seminary of the Southwest offers Online School for Spirituality and Mission courses Feb. 6-March 23, 2012. Deadline for registration is Feb. 1, 2012. Cost is $170/class; each class earns 20 hours CEUs. Courses include The Art of Illumination: Praying the Hours, A Liturgy of Time; Delighting in the Father and His Delights: Reflections on the Parable of Luke 15; and Fashioned for Joy: Readings from the Celtic Christian Tradition. Course and registration details are available online.
Interfaith Advocacy Day is Feb. 14, 2012 in Olympia. Have your voice heard in Olympia by joining with other people of faith-Christians, Jews and Muslims-as we join together to advocate for common good in our state. Take a minute to put this event on your calendar with details coming from Faith Action Network soon. Hunt Priest is the diocesan representative on the planning team. Contact him at hunt@emmanuelmi.org with questions. More details coming very soon.
St. Andrew, Tacoma hosts a Mary's Hope Workshop for spiritual healing and recovery from childhood abuse in February. A Preview Session: Overview of the Wounded Soul takes place 1-2:30 p.m. Feb. 4, 2012; the workshop itself is 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Feb. 18, 2012. Fee: $125 (some special rates available). St. Andrew is located at 7410 S 12th St. in Tacoma. For more information, call 303-377-0293, visit www.maryshope.org or call St. Andrew's at 253-564-4402.
Thinking of seminary? See Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) in 2011-12 in Berkeley, Calif. Join CDSP's two-day residential program and experience the breadth of coursework, participate in corporate worship, receive information on financial aid and housing (individual and family), and be in community with students from across the world who have come to CDSP to continue their own personal academic journeys in ministry. There is no cost for registration, lodging or meals. The dates for 2012 are Feb. 15-17 and April 18-20. Please register at http://www.cdsp.edu/admin_see.php or contact Dianne Audrick Smith at 510-204-0715.
Episcopal Church's New Community clergy and lay conferences take place February, March 2012 in San Diego. The theme is Reclaiming our Mission; Reinterpreting our Context; Renewing our Communities. How is mission shaped in non-Anglo/European communities? How are ministries done in the context of marginality? How will ethnic churches find renewal in solidarity? How will they learn from each other and what role can they play in the mainstream church? This gathering of Asian, Black, Latino/Hispanic and Native American clergy and lay leaders provides a safe place to share hopes and dreams, needs and concerns, gifts and ministries, suffering and joy in the context of being the new community. The staff of the Ethnic Offices of the Episcopal Church will make plenary presentations and invited speakers will provide a myriad of ministry workshops. There will be times for ethnic-specific meetings, inter-ethnic conversations and multicultural celebrations. Welcome to the new Pentecost! Clergy conference is Feb. 29-March 3, 2012; lay conference is March 1-4. Both take place at the Town and Country Resort and Hotel in San Diego. Register here: https://www.formstack.com/forms/DFMS-ncm2012
Good Samaritan, Sammamish hosts 2012 specialty training for Godly Play 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 (Getting Ready for Easter: Experiencing the New Stories). Godly Play is a method of Christian education and spiritual direction primarily for children ages 2-12. The goal of Godly Play is to teach children the art of using religious language - parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action - to help them become more fully aware of the mystery of God's presence in their lives. The Rev. Suzi Robertson, priest-in-charge at Good Samaritan, will facilitate. Robertson has done work and research in the area of children's development and spirituality, spanning four decades. She has numerous articles published in professional journals and is the author of a book, "Windows into The Spirituality of Children," for which Godly Play founder Jerome Berryman wrote the foreword. She has taken Godly Play to Tanzania, East Africa and has three centers where Tanzanian children come once a week to play with God. She has also supervised the translation of several volumes of the Godly Play stories into Swahili. The cost for this workshop is $60 (includes snacks, beverages and lunch) and space is limited to 25. Registration form and the full payment are due 15 days before the date of the training. Fees may be transferred to another participant, but are otherwise non-refundable. Please make checks payable to "Good Samaritan Episcopal Church" and write "Godly Play Workshop" on the memo line. For more information, please contact Robertson at 832-723-3129 or suzi@goodsamepiscopal.org. Good Samaritan is located at 1757 244th Ave. NE in Sammamish.
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Huston Center, Gold Bar, WA
 Online registration now available for Huston's year-round events and family camps!
· Women's Getaway, Jan. 13-16, 2012: A weekend escape to camp may be just what you need after the holidays. Join the Rev. Gail Wheatley and other women of the diocese for quality time, conversation, worship and some well-deserved R&R.
More information and online registration for these fun-filled events can be found at www.huston.org.
For more information, visit Camp Huston online, call 360-793-0441 or e-mail director Bill Tubbs at bill@huston.org.
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St. Andrew's House, Union, WA
 The biting cold weather is upon us! With the change of seasons comes many excited groups staying with us.
Bayne Cottage: Bayne Cottage has one bathroom and sleeps eight persons in three rooms. Being located right on the South Shore of Hood Canal, Bayne Cottage allows for exquisite views of the Olympic Mountains and sunsets.
Open Dates:
Jan. 3-12
Jan. 16-25
Come stay! Rates are $125/night weekdays, $175/night weekends. E-mail info@saintandrewshouse.org or call 360-898-2362 to book. First come, first served.
For more information, visit St. Andrew's House online or e-mail director Jeff Gruber at jeff@saintandrewshouse.org.
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Norah M. Joslyn
Director of Diocesan Communications
The Episcopal Church in Western Washington
www.ecww.org
206.325.4200/800.488.4978, ext. 2037
njoslyn@ecww.org
Diocese of Olympia
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