Rest in Peace, Charlotte Dickison

CHARLOTTE LOUISE DICKISON
April 5, 1925 – September 1, 2026

Charlotte was born April 5, 1925, in Omak, Washington.  She died September 1, 2026.  Charlotte is survived by her brother, Wallace Pascoe Jr. (99), and three nephews: Wally, Wes, and Wade.  Charlotte and Wallace lived together these last several years and enjoyed each other and traveling together.
 
Charlotte had three children and one stepdaughter: Becky Bond, Charlene Corrigan (deceased), Kevin Parkinson, and Diane Cox (deceased); five grandchildren: Louis Bond (spouse), Wendy, Brenda Clark, Lisa Myers (spouse), Dave, Albert Bond (spouse), Debra, and Kurt Corrigan (spouse) Caren.
 
Great Grandchildren: twenty-five, Great-Great Grandchildren: forty-five. What a large five-generation family that she was so proud of!
 
Charlotte retired as an accountant with the civil service from Fort Lewis.  She started in Moses Lake, Washington, at Larson AFB, and then spent time in Arizona, and then back to Washington at Fort Lewis. She and her husband, Robert Dickison (deceased), moved to Germany for her work.  While there, they became world travelers!  Then back to Fort Lewis to finish out her civil service career.
 
Charlotte then became a bookkeeper for a few Ben Franklin stores. After the loss of her husband, she and some friends got involved with Dixieland Jazz.  That became a passion for which there was no turning back!  She joined the Greater Olympia Dixieland Jazz Society (GODJS).  There she found a home.
 
She became the director of the GODJS Festival that held a four-day dance once a year at St. Martin’s College.  The festival was considered one of the best in the United States.  She traveled all over the States to attend Dixieland dances.
 
Charlotte was also very active in the PEO Chapter FW (fabulous women), where she put some of her talents towards raising money for women’s scholarships.

Charlotte was also one of the founding members of St Benedict Episcopal Church, where she was a very proud and active member.
 
Charlotte loved to cook and was excellent.  She sewed from an early age and, in later years, became a quilter. She had a special eye for patterns and color.
 
The family wants to give special thanks to Gladys of Dignify Care, who is a very special person, and to Monique, who was special in taking care of Mom. They were above and beyond wonderful. We can’t express our appreciation enough!

The Burial and Committal Service will be held at St. Benedict Episcopal Church on September 26th at 2 o'clock, followed by a reception.

Prayer Cycle for the Week of Sept. 20, 2026

The power of prayer keeps us connected with God and each other.

We invite you to pray daily for yourself, your family, and for our parish family.
Note: The cycle of prayer for parish members is from our Parish Directory.

LINK TO OUR WEBSITE
LINK TO SUNDAY WORSHIP BULLETINS
LINK TO DAILY PRAYERS ONLINE

The Third Sunday of Creation Season  
Proper 20 Collect 

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. -BCP

John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1871
  The names below, "LFF" are celebrations from "Lesser Feasts and Fasts", online 2025. Holy Days are in the Book of Common Prayer.  https://www.episcopalchurch.org/wpcontent/uploads/2025/03/lesser_feasts_and_fasts_-_2024__final_.pdf

Prayers and Gratitude for the Parish

David, Isabel, Gary, Judy, Matthew, Chris, Pam, Ray, Kay, Jane, Daphne, Kissa, Carolyn, Charlotte, Stephen, Bill, Gregory, Tim, Tasha, Gloria, Helen, Fran, Milinda, Don, Jill, Mel, John, Rebekah, Zack, Michelle, Harrison, Elisha, Scott, and Kathy. 

We stand in awe and wonder for the natural beauty of our Parish and for Richard who is deployed in service to our Nation.

 Prayers for Friends of St. Benedict

Nancy Jo, Adam, Tina, Amanda, Jess, Tim, Gary, Shane, Marianne, Ron, Kelly, Oran, Judy, Michael, Kevin, Lauri, Jason, Cindy, Beverly, and Tanner

Prayers for the Departed  

Charlotte Dickison

Prayers for Birthdays & Anniversaries 
__________________________________________

In the case of a pastoral care emergency, please call the Rector directly
360-485-7281

Monday - September 21 - For Parishioners
 
Annette

Tuesday - September 22 - For Parish Members

Dianne

Philander Chase, Bishop, 1852

Wednesday - September 23 - For Parish Members

Tony
Doretha

Thecla of Iconium Proto-Martyr Among Women, c.70

Thursday - September 24 - For Parish Members

Don
Kay

Anna Ellison Butler Alexander, Deaconess and Teacher, 1947

Friday - September 25 - For Parish Members

Zula

Sergius of Radonezh, Monastic, Moscow, 1392

Saturday - September 26- For Parish Members

Mary

Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop, 1626

Sunday - September 27, 2026
4th Sunday of Creation

By what authority?

Worship Services - 8 am and 10:30 am 

For the members of our parish family that
passed away  this year:

Mary Eberling
Kathleen Bruner
Kristie Louise Gouley
Paul Conroy
Judith Rockwell
Carolyn Baldwin
Charlotte Dickison

Give to the departed eternal rest;
Let light perpetual shine upon them.

Parish Office:

Call or leave a message for an Appointment
office@stbenedictlacey.org

Vestry members:

Gerald Apple, Bob Beckman, Dianne Hoist, Vicky Newlun, Nancy Zabel

Parish Leaders:

The Rev (Dr) Beth Echols
Rector

The Rev. Kathy Prehm,
Associate Priest

The Rev. Tony Irving,
Deacon

Mr. Jeff Zahir
Senior Warden

Mr. Norman Gregory
Junior Warden

Mrs. Karen Monroe,
Maestra

Dedication of the Bell Tower

The bell tower envisioned by the founding members of St. Benedict has finally arrived.  The 40” bell cast in the late 1800’s and donated to St. Benedict by All Saints Episcopal Parish in Rainier Beach, Seattle, Washington, will be dedicated to the purpose of announcing to the Parish of Lacey when services begin.

Please remember that the bell tower project (and sewer connection project) has decreased the “rainy day” funds of St. Benedict considerably.  You are encouraged to add a donation above and beyond your usual donation to the plate offering marked for the sewer and/or bell tower projects.  This is also a good time to consider if St. Benedict Episcopal Church is mentioned in your will, as this has been a major funding source that has supported our major projects through the years. 

We hope that you will join us for the celebration that will be announced at a later time.

Join the Singing Saints Benedict Choir

Choir at St. Benedict has started up again!  We meet on Tuesday evening, 7 - 8:30 pm.

If you enjoy singing, we would love to have you join us as we prepare for Worship Services.

Childcare is provided.

Questions?  Please contact:

Karen Monroe, Music Director (Maestra)
music@stbenedictlacey.org

School Supplies Collection was a Big Success!

Thank you for coming together and supporting the children in our Parish.  Thank you to Caroline and Tim Madden for heading up the project and delivering supplies. Please keep all students, teachers, administrators, and staff in your prayers

Almighty God, source of wisdom and truth:  Bless all students as they learn and grow. Grant them curiosity to discover deep truths about this world, patience when they struggle, and confidence in the many unique gifts you have given them.
Surround them with supportive friends, guide their choices, and keep them safe in their coming and going. Help them to know your presence every day, that they may use their knowledge to do what is right, just, and loving in your world.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCP

If you ring it, they will come (Updated Sept. 15th)

Summoning the faithful to worship by the ringing of bells is an ancient tradition in the Christian church; one that is especially beloved in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition. The British have developed it into an art form, known as change ringing. When St. Benedict Episcopal Church was built in 1987 the original design called for a bell tower. However, money ran out and the tower was never completed. After a nearly 40-year wait, that plan is finally coming to fruition. We are in the process of building that long-awaited bell tower. This page will document that progress.

To follow the journey from the beginning,
jump to the bottom of the page, and scroll up.

Monday, September 14, was a historic day in the history of St. Benedict Episcopal Church.  The tower was raised by a giant crane, and the bell from All Saints Episcopal Church, Seattle, WA, was installed.  Even Sheriff Sanders dropped by to take a look.

Special shout-out to our own Norman, who carried the vision of our founders forward, who envisioned a bell tower generations ago.  We were also blessed with parishioners who stepped forward in labor, Bob Wille and Bob Knudson, Clarice Gregory, and others.  And to the many parishioners who have supported this project in funding and prayers.  Thank You

The Lord has commissioned our Congregation to call the people of Lacey to worship, and we shall.

The scaffolding is up. The materials have arrived. As soon as the crane arrives, construction can begin.

Our Sunday School children (and one big kid!) testing our new bell.

A Second Bell Finds a New Home! 

A hearty thanks to Bob Knudson and Bob Wille, who, with the passion and inspiration of Norman Gregory, have given St. Benedict another bell, much bigger and older than the first.  Construction has started on the tower as well. We stand in awe and gratitude for the blessings that we have received. 

We welcome contributions towards the
bell and construction of the tower.

A bell tower needs a good foundation. We don’t want our tower to lean that that one in Pisa. Forms set and concrete poured. Word has gotten out. Todd Henderson, the Canon for Property in the Diocese of Olympia came to visit. He is being shown the progress by our Junior Warden, Norman Gregory. Mr. Henderson be on the look-out for a second bell we can use.

Our bell will need strong brackets to hold it in place. Bell ringers can be enthusiastic. Here is Arthur Fischer from the Barony of Glimm Mere group that meets at St Benedict. He came to offer his professional welding skills to help Norman and Clarice make custom bell tower brackets as called for by the structural engineer.

A bell needs a tower. The designer of the St. Benedict Bell Tower is Dennis Lyons, shown here with the model for his design. Mr. Lyons is a known craftsman in our Community who is behind many of the projects that you see throughout the neighborhood.

It starts with a bell. We searched for a bell, and found an Episcopal Church willing to donate one. A good start, but we are looking for a companion, so it won’t feel lonely.

Planting Party: Sat. Sept. 19th, 9:00 a.m.

Saturday, September 19th, 0900. Planting of drought-tolerant plants will take place for the planting strips surrounding the trees. One of our parishioners has lovingly raised these plants, and now it's time to get them into their permanent home. Please join us. We need people to dig, plant, water in, and potentially haul some of our remaining compost to the planting holes. This will allow the starts to get settled in as our cooler, wetter weather comes to us.

-Clarice Gregory, Garden Lead.

Changes

Did you know that there are actually two ways to celebrate Communion, along with Communion under Special Circumstances?  We will try out Rite I at the 8 o'clock service during September.  The 10:30 Service will continue with Rite II.

A way to distinguish the two services is that Rite I tends to be more traditional with a focus on reconciliation and Rite II is more contemporary with a celebratory nature.  You may find that your spiritual life benefits by mixing things up a bit.

Season of Creation 2026

Remember to Wear Orange

Creation Season begins on Sunday.  We will take the time to renew our relationship with the beautiful creation that the Lord has given us to care for and love.  The Episcopal Church has not decided on a liturgical color for the season, so we will join in dress with the United Churches of Canada from the first Sunday in September until the first Sunday in October.  The Season closes on St. Francis Day and the blessing of the animals, and lizards, and birds, and the glory of creation that finds their way to worship with us on October 4.

The Book Club is reading the book: "Theo of Golden "

The Wednesday Morning Book Group is reading the book: Theo of Golden: A Novel by Allen Levi. We expect to start discussing Theo of Golden at our 11:00 am Zoom meeting on Wednesday, August 19th, 2026.

If you’re new to the group and wish to join us, please send me an email, and I’ll send you a link to the meeting.  

Send the email to Anne Metzler at annieg426@gmail.com . 

Episcopal News Service

The Episcopal News Service (ENS) has been added to the St. Benedict Web Site for your convenience.  It is a successor to the bi-weekly paper, Episcopal News, that ran from 1835 to 1937. Episcopal News Service  offers in-depth reporting of local, regional, national and international news for Episcopalians and others interested in the church’s mission and ministry. Episcopal News Service is the official news source of the Episcopal Church.

The link will be posted each week for your easy access.  We hope that you find this new service helpful, click on the link below. 

Wednesday Healing Service

The Episcopal Church has an established tradition of providing healing services. The St. Benedict Healing service is a public gathering where folks come together to pray for healing and wholeness for themselves and others, with the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. The Service emphasizes prayer, spiritual support, and a sense of community in seeking God's healing presence.

Our community is blessed with the Great Cloud of Witnesses and so we call on the Saints of our faith to inspire us to wholeness.

We gather each Wednesday at the side chapel at 12:15. I hope you will join us.