St. Benedict’s Weekly Prayers: Week of April 27, 2025

Second Sunday of Easter

The Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; 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 Carolyn, Judy, Patricia, Matthew, Chris, Pam, Ray, Kay, Pat, Andy, John, Elisabeth, Kathy, Rebekah and Becky
 
For Repose of the Soul:  Francis and Robert

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

Monday - April 28- For Parish Members

Dan and Johannah
Lucy
Judith

(LFF:  Saint Mark the Evangelist)

Tuesday - April 29 - For Parish Members

Andrew
Devin and Sam
JoAnn and Jay

(LFF:  Catherine of Siena, Mystic and Prophetic Witness, 1380)

Wednesday - April 30- For Parish Members

Alyssa and Blake
Kaye
Tricia

Thursday - May 1- For Parish Members

Patricia
Andrew
Julian and Janet

(LFF:  The Apostles Saint Philip and Saint James)

Friday - May 2 - For Parish Members

Joe
Jonathan and Aurora
Andrew, Norma and Susan

(LFF:  Athanasius of Alexandria, Bishop and Theologian, 373)

Saturday - May 3 - 

Easter Prayer
“Lord, on this feast day we ask you for this gift: that we too may be made new, so as to experience this eternal newness. Cleanse us, O God, from the sad dust of habit, tiredness and indifference; give us the joy of waking every morning with wonder, with eyes ready to see the new colours of this morning, unique and unlike any other.  Everything is new, Lord, and nothing is the same, nothing is old”
- Pope Francis 

Reverend Dr Beth Echols,

(LFF:  Elisabeth Cruciger, Poet and Hymnographer, 1535)

Sunday - May 4, 2025
Third Sunday of Easter

 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

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 the St. Benedict 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.

Send Prayer requests to the parish office via email at sbechurch@gmail.com or phone 360.456.2240

PLEDGE ELECTRONICALLY

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

St. John/San Juan concert series wraps up with Gala Organ Concert: May 18 @ 3:00 p.m.

You are invited to experience the amazing musicality of distinguished organist and church musician Dr. Curt Sather, who will present a gala recital on the renowned Schlicker organ at 3 p.m. May 18 at  St. John | San Juan Episcopal Church, 20th and Capitol Way, Olympia. Admission is by donation. Curt is well-known in the Olympia community for his 24 hours of Bach concert several years ago!

Capital City Pride 2025: June 27-29

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!

Ladies’ Tea Party: Saturday, May 17, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Moms, grandmas, daughters, grandaughters, sisters and girlfriends.   
Fancy food and wonderful tea or optional beverages.  
You are welcome to bring your favorite teacup and tell its origin story. Dress up? Wear a hat?  It’s all about having fun and spending time together. 
Sign up sheet is on the hall counter or call the church office (360) 456-2240     Come and have fun! It’s free! 

Watch our Butterflies Grow!

Stop by to see the Butterflies that have begun their growth from Caterpillars to Chrysalides to Painted Lady Butterflies!
Please visit quietly and do not attempt to move or jiggle their growing process…. there will be much more to see in a few days. It will be amazing as they prepare to be released into their natural environment on May 11th…. our celebration of 
Mother's Day on Sunday, May 11th!

Cinco de Mayo Taco Salad Bar and Mexican Bingo May 5th @ 5:30 pm

What's the Spanish word for PARTY?  Let's have a FIESTA!!!!
The whole family is invited to a Cinco de Mayo Taco Salad Bar and Mexican Bingo Night on Monday, May 5th at 5:30 pm.  
Let's celebrate the victory!!!!!     Mexico   1      France  0  
There is a sign up sheet in the lobby.  Please sign up pronto for what you would like to bring.

Statement from Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on the death of Pope Francis

My heart is heavy at the death of our brother in Christ, Pope Francis. Throughout his life and ministry, he has been a witness for the Gospel and a champion for the poor and marginalized. Especially in this season, I give thanks for his powerful advocacy on behalf of migrants and refugees. Pope Francis, who was the first Latin American pope, understood these siblings in Christ are never at the edges, fearful and alone. As he once wrote, “In the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, strangers and prisoners, we are called to see the face of Christ who pleads with us to help.” 
 
In 12 years as the Roman Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis transformed our theology of the environment and recognized the need for LGBTQ+ people to feel heard, seen, and included in their church. We are likewise grateful for his emphasis on reconciliation and ecumenical dialogue, in which our church has participated through the Anglican-Roman Catholic Theological Consultation in the United States of America. 
 
I thank God for the life of Pope Francis, and ask you to pray for him, for all who loved him, and for our Roman Catholic siblings in Christ. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Two-part class on the structures and processes of our democratic institutions

To be effective in advocating values and priorities in public policy making processes, it is important to understand how our governmental systems are structured and operate.

To assist with this this, our Sunday class period at St. Benedict (9:15 to ____) during the first two Sundays in May will feature a two-part class on the structures and processes of our democratic institutions.  They will be presented by our parishioner Karen Fraser.  She is a retired State Senator who held several major policy and budget leadership positions during her 24 years as a Washington State Senator.  She is a former Adjunct Faculty in the Master of Public Administration Program at The Evergreen State College and is a current Trustee at the College.  She formerly served as Lacey Mayor and Thurston County Commissioner.

The schedule:

 Sunday, May 2.  An overview of authority relationships between federal, tribal, state, and local governments and international treaties.

Sunday, May 11.  An overview of the "nuts and bolts" of the Washington State legislative process.

Thank you for your Easter flower donation!

—Nancy Zabel, Sacristan

Thank you to all our Easter flowers donors. Easter flowers add beauty and symbolism to the holiday, representing new beginnings, hope, faith, and the resurrection of Jesus. Buying plants instead of cut flowers adds sustainability to our planet. Our hope is you will take home a plant the 2nd Sunday in Easter and plant it in your yard.  Thanks to your generosity, we have extra money to add a few plants to our newly refurbished garden and benches in our entry.

Tellers Count, Can You?

Martha Liska, Head Teller

We would like to add one or two new folks to the tellering ministry.  Tellers count, tally and deposit the church's incoming funds.  The tellers work in teams of two and do their work following the 10:30AM Sunday service.  The tellering task takes about 90 minutes and each teller is scheduled to work about 14 times a year.  Training will be provided.  We say, "tellers count," so can we count on you?  Contact, Martha Liska, head teller with questions or to volunteer for this vital church ministry.  Best way to reach Marthe is in person or via email:   mlisk@comcast.net

Thurston County Hunger Walk: May 4 @ 3:00 p.m.

Save the Date! We would like to invite our community to join the annual hunger-relief fundraiser—Thurston County Hunger Walk—on May 4! This walk and celebration supports both the Thurston County Food Bank and The Community Kitchen!
 
●  Sunday, May 4, 2025 @ 3 PM
●  Huntamer Park 618 Woodland Square Look SE, Lacey WA
●  Live music and camaraderie! Outdoors!
●  Leashed dogs are allowed!
●  Many ways to participate!
 
GIVE what you can. WALK if you want.

Join the St. Benedict Episcopal Church Team – Donate or walk with us!

Is it Time for a new SBEC Sign?

—Norman Gregory, Building Steward

When we first moved to Lacey and came looking for St. Benedict, we looked down Bowker Street for a familiar shield on a sign that announced to everyone that a strong Episcopal church was ready to welcome our family. But we did not see anything except a row of flowering trees, and we were confused.  We drove down the street further and eventually saw a small sign among the trees and realized that we had arrived. 
We have talked several times about that first impression and wondered how many other people seeking to come to St. Benedict simply missed our church and drove on and so the idea of a different sign was born.  We looked at traditional Episcopal Churches with tall steeples and walls of stone in our travels and wondered how we could bring that feeling of permanence to our modern-looking building.   
At the Vestry’s request these concepts were taken to sign shops in the area and the first rendering has come in. Now the Vestry would like to hear from the congregation how the design feels to them. Would a new sign with this or a similar design do a better job of helping people looking for a church home to find their way to our door? Please consider conveying your thoughts to a Vestry Member. 

Book Club Update: March 19

The Wednesday Morning Book Group is starting a new book:  The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind—a New Perspective on Christ and His Message by Cynthia Bourgeault.  
We expect to start discussing The Wisdom Jesus at our 11:00 am Zoom meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 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.

St. Benedict Outreach: Faith in Action

Last month, Vestry approved a motion to take a 3-month hiatus on Social Justice donations to redevelop the outreach program. Subsequently, a subcommittee drafted a “Faith in Action Ministry Policy” which was proposed to Vestry on March 27th.  

The policy's purpose is to ensure that funds granted to organizations by SBEC are in line with our mission, while controlling the best use of available funds. This policy will serve to guide Vestry in the outreach decision-making process. Vestry will deliberate over the draft and anticipate accepting and approving a final policy next month. During the time a SBEC policy is being crafted, Vestry may approve specific donations.  

Our commitment to outreach remains unwavering. Feel free to reach out to a Vestry Member with your questions. Also, anticipate a forthcoming SBEC survey on the topic to further shape the outreach ministry. 

Rest in Peace: The Rev. Ed Lovelady

The Reverend Edwin (Ed) Lovelady, retired from the Air Force after 22 years of active-duty service and attended Seminary at the School of theology of the University of the South, Sewanee, TN. graduating and ordained Deacon and Priest in 1993. 
 
The Rev. Lovelady served as Curate of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Jamestown, NY (1993-1998); Rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Westfield, NY (1998-2004) and Rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Las Vegas, NV (2004-09). 
 
In his retirement the Rev. Lovelady served in the Diocese of Olympia (WA) as Interim Rector of St. Luke-San Lucas, Vancouver, WA (2010-2011) Associate priest of St. Mary’s, Lakewood, WA (2012-2016), and Interim Vicar and Rector of St. Benedict’s, Lacey, WA (2016-2020), Assisting Priest at St. Mary’s, Lakewood, WA (2021 – 2022 ) and Sunday supply in several congregations in the diocese of Olympia.  He entered full retirement in Oct 2020.
The Rev. Edwin Lovelady was married to the love of his life Debbie for 48 years until her death January 29, 2021.  His wife is inurned in the columbarium at Ascension Pueblo CO.  His grief at his wife's death was profound. 
 
The Rev. Lovelady did significant mission work in the Philippines and had a great fondness for the people there.  He was actively posting on Facebook as late as Jan. 29.  
 
Join us in giving thanks for the life of this faithful and gracious servant; and commending his soul to God.