St. Benedict’s Weekly Prayers: Week of June 29, 2025

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Third Sunday After Pentecost

The Collect:

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Reverend Dr. Beth Echols

References below names "LFF" are celebrations from "Lesser Feasts and Fasts", 2021.  Holy Days are from the Book of Common Prayer Holy Day celebrations.  You can find "Lesser Feasts and Fasts" online at https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/21034

Daily Prayers for those in need or trouble:

Prayers for the Parish
Kathleen, Mary, David, Isabel, Gary Judy, Patricia, Matthew, Chris, Pam, Ray, Kay, Andy, John, Elisabeth, Rebekah, Jacob, Aaron, Daphne, Sally, Jane and Bob

Prayers for friends of St. Benedict
Nancy Jo, Adam, Tina, Amanda, Jess, Jim, Tim
__________________________________________
In the case of a pastoral care emergency please call the Rector directly
360-485-7281

Monday - June 30- For Parish Members

Kathy
Bob
Daisy

(LFF: Saint Peter and Saint Paul)

Tuesday - July 1 - For Parish Members

Esther
Kathleen
Roger and Jan

(LFF:  Pauli Murray, Priest, 1985)

Wednesday - July 2 - For Parish Members

Tom
Mark and Sylvia
Daniel

(LFF:  Moses the Black, Monastic and Martyr, c.400)

Thursday - July 3 - For Parish Members

Bob and Peggy
Kathy and William
Paul and Linda

Friday - July 4- For Parish Members

Robbie
Sally and Sara
Pam and Ray 

(LFF:  Independence Day)

           Saturday - June 28- 

Prayer for Independence Day Week

I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have the United States in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Devine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation. 
Amen

Prayer adapted from Washington’s Circular Letter to the States, which he wrote on June 8, 1783 as the commander in chief, at his headquarters in Newburgh, New York

The Reverend Dr Beth Echols

(LFF:  Irenaeus of Lyon, Bishop and Theologian, c.202)

Sunday - July 6, 2025
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Services - 8 & 10:30 am

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

Ildiko Baldwin
Reverend Robert Williams
Reverend Eldwin Lovelady
Robert Wilson
Patricia Basta

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

A Prayer for this Parish

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for St. Benedict's parish family.  Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent.  Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
      Amen.

Parish Leaders

The Rev. Dr. Beth Echols, Rector
The Rev. Tony Irving, Deacon
Mr. Bob Zych, Senior Warden
Ms. Kelly Ellis, Junior Warden
Vestry members
Jan Akin, Bob Beckman, Karen Fraser,
Norman Gregory, Nancy Zabel, Gerry Apple, clerk

Evangelism from St. Benedict

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Norman Gregory, Building Steward

I was pondering writing an article about the work we’ve been doing to spruce up our church and make it more visible and then my mind pivoted to the topic of evangelism.

Our Evangelical brothers and sisters might say that we Episcopalians don’t do a good job of spreading the Gospel because we don’t go out and shout from the rooftops at the top of our lungs. We even self mockingly joke about being the “frozen chosen”. I think this misses the point – we are much better at whispering to get attention and sharing our message. While this may be more subtle it can be very effective.

Our rector once commented on seeing that we have Episcopal shields on our vehicles (available from Amazon) that we were doing quiet evangelizing and she was right as periodically folks will ask us what that symbol means and a conversation is started (and who knows how many people remember that the driver of a car who politely let them merge on I-5 had an interesting symbol on the back). I have argued for years that whenever Clarice and I (and several others in our congregation) give care as nurses we are sharing our belief in God’s love through our hands. Spence and his team that quietly/faithfully make Meals for Many every month are doing evangelism by sharing their love to God’s Children in need. Even just welcoming a group that spins wool and makes garments from it counts as a form of quiet evangelism.

So why did evangelism come to mind when pondering writing about our garden and sign projects? Maybe because Clarice has made a new friend with our garbage collector who comments every week about the progress he sees. Maybe because I met our neighbors across Bowker Street and next door when we got into conversations about the work being done. Maybe because of the random people who have driven by and stopped to comment about how much better our grounds look with the work we have done so far even this early in the project. Finally, maybe because people have commented that our new mock-up sign has opened their eyes to the existence of a church they never noticed before. In other words the very act of changing the look of our grounds and having parishioners outside and willing to chat has made people aware that there is a living church here and that can well be the first step in quiet evangelism.

Faith in Action Ministry Update: June 28, 2025

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Thank you so much to each of you who have submitted suggestions for our Faith in Action ministry donations.  The ad hoc committee will be meeting to review the Faith in Action policy.  We will update you with the new information. Those not selected this month are saved for consideration in future months.  Your voice is vital to how we impact the Lacey communitee.  This month SBEC will be donating $500 to each of the following organizations:

PIZZA KLATCH
This group fosters resilience in LGBTQ youth in Thurston County  to create a safe and positive school experience through support, education, and empowerment.  Pizza Klatch is a space for LGBTQ students and allies to receive free support, eat free pizza and feel free to be themselves.
  
UNION GOSPEL MISSION
This group has an after school program for youth where it offers homework assistance and nutritious dinners in a safe and nurturing space.  It is not only helping children succeed academically but it also fosters hope and stability for the families. In addition to  meals, they also provide hygiene, clothing, monthly haircuts, some benevolence and dental care and overnight shelter seven days a week.  The shelter is completely financed through the generosity of donations. 

Activity Bags for Children during Church

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Dear Parents and Guardians, 
Since Sunday school is not going to meet for the summer, we know that you would like to have activities for your children to do during church. There will be activity bags available in the narthex for you to pick-up and use. The children will find crayons, colored pencils, and color sheets to use while in church. There are younger and older bags to choose from, indicated on the bag.
Please return your bags at the end of the service and we will re-supply with new activities the next week. 
 
Your Sunday school teachers

Diocesan Events for Summer

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Summer for Children & Teens — There's so much going on for children & teens in the Diocese of Olympia including Vacation Bible School, day camps, and overnight camps! Visit the summer activities page to see what's happening in June, July and August.
 
Dinner with the Bishop — People in their 20s & 30s are invited to the Office of the Bishop in Seattle for a casual gathering with our new Bishop, Phil LaBelle. We'll eat, do some Q & A with +Phil, tour the just-renovated Leary mansion, and then welcome summer with a solstice liturgy. Wednesday, June 25, 6:00 PM. Free! More info and RSVP here.
 
Seattle Pride Parade — Show your pride and demonstrate the warm welcome of the Episcopal Church by marching in the Seattle Pride Parade! Sunday, June 29, downtown Seattle, noon. More info and register here.
 
Sailing Adventure — High-school-age youth are invited to sail away on the historic schooner, Adventuress. This voyage is a little bit creation care (Adventuress is a floating science lab), a little bit high seas adventure (climb the mast! explore local islands!), and a great way to deepen faith and friendships. August 27 - 30. $250/person; sibling discount and scholarships available. More info and register here. 

Dear Sunday School parents and students

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Kelly Ellis, Junior Warden

Sunday school came to a close last Sunday. We have had such fun with your children and we will be looking forward to starting up again in the fall on September 7th.  

On this last Sunday, our students painted rocks to take home and also leave here in our church garden as a gift to this congregation. If you find a painted rock in your walks around the church, please enjoy it, and re-hide it for others to find. During Sunday stories, we read the book “Everyone needs a Rock” by Byrd Baylor and decided to help everyone find their important rock.  

We have loved being your children’s teachers this year and look forward to stories and adventures for the next.  

Kelly Ellis 
Helen Johnston 
Mary Jones  
Caroline Madden 

Capital City Pride 2025: June 27-29

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St. Benedict has been asked to support St. John Episcopal Church in Olympia as they prepare for Capital City Pridefest 2025!  More information about this event will follow shortly but, in the meantime, to have it on your calendars, it will be the weekend of June 27-29, with the parade on Sunday morning starting at 11am.   Kelly is working on gathering contact information if any SBEC parishioners want to consider volunteering!  SBEC has been a great source of support for our LGBTQIA+ community for years, and showing our support to our neighbors at St. John is part of being the Hands of Christ in the heart of Lacey!

Wednesday Healing Service

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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.

Book Club Update: June 11

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The Wednesday Morning Book Group is starting a new book:  We Will Be Jaguars:a Memoir of My People  
by Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson. Nemonte is a leader of the Waorani people from the Amazon 
Region of Ecuador as well as being the winner of the 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize.

We expect to start discussing We Will Be Jaguars at our 11:00 am Zoom meeting on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

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 .

Adult Education Update: Giving Up Church for Lent

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—Rev. Dr. Beth Echols

Church, do we really need it?  The numbers in America are staggering
Key Statistics:

  • 20% of Americans attend church every week (Gallup)

  • 41% of Americans are in monthly church attendance or more (Gallup)

  • 57% of Americans are seldom or never in religious service attendance (Gallup)

  • Regular church attendance has steadily declined since the turn of the century (Gallup and Pew Research Center)

Some of our most brilliant thinkers even prophesied with glee the death of religion and in particular, Christianity,
“And I said, isn't it great that religion is just fading as a force in American life? We'll all be more enlightened and more tolerant and less bigoted and ignorant as a result.” (Jon Rauch)
It turns out that the Lord is not finished yet and many pundits are singing a different tune that is more lament than delight.
We will explore the ever present and always evolving face of religion in America during Adult Education.
I hope that you will join us.