St. Benedict’s Weekly Prayers: Week of Mar. 30, 2025

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

The Collect:

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 
Amen.

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, Marji, Matthew, Bill, Chris, Pam, Ray, Kay, Pat, Andy, John, Elisabeth, Jane, John, Teresa, Kathy and Rebekah

For Repose of the Soul:  William, Eldwin and Janet

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

Monday - March 31 - For Parish Members

Gift
Charlotte
Sally

(LFF:  John Donne, Priest and Poet, 1631)

Tuesday - April 1 - For Parish Members

Holly
Mary
Kelly

(LFF:  Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, 1872)

Wednesday - April 2- For Parish Members

Gary and Isabel
John
Tom

(LFF: James Lloyd Breck, Priest, 1876)

Thursday - April 3- For Parish Members

Gregory
Karen
Fran and Larry 

(LFF:  Richard of Chichester, Bishop, 1253)

Friday - April 4 - For Parish Members

Dave
Scott and Linda
Mary Michael

(LFF:  Martin Luther King, Jr., Pastor and Martyr, 1968)

Saturday - April 5 - 

A Prayer from Augustine of Hippo:
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.
Guard me, O Holy Spirit, that I myself may always be holy.
Amen.
 
Reverend Dr Beth Echols,

Sunday - April 6, 2025
Fifth Sunday in Lent

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

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

Thurston County Hunger Walk: May 7 @ 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!

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. 

Annual Spring Cleanup Time: April 5 @ 9:00 a.m.

Come one, come all to the St. Benedict church clean-up day, Saturday April 5th at 9AM.  It is time to make our church look nice before Easter!  There will be a sign-up sheet in the hallway on Sunday March 23rd. We welcome you to help with outside or inside cleanup including our Annual Spring Kitchen Cleanup.   If there are any questions, please feel free to contact Kelly Ellis by text at (970)901-3116 or by email, or ask our Sexton, Jim Lochner!  We hope to see as many as can make it!

The more the Merrier! 
Many hands make light work!  
Thank you!
~Kelly and Sharon

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.

Rest in Peace: The Rev. Robert L. Williams

The Reverend Robert L. Williams, a beloved servant of God, devoted family man, passionate traveler, and accomplished musician, passed away on March 5, 2025, at Providence Saint Peter’s Hospital in Olympia, Washington. Born on June 30, 1936, in Findlay, Ohio, Reverend Williams proudly served in the United States Army, playing the French horn in the military band.
During his service, he met and married the love of his life, Daphne B. Grint, in Lowestoft, England, with whom he shared a remarkable 68-year marriage. Together, they raised five cherished children while traveling through Europe, the United States, and Canada. Reverend Williams is survived and will be missed by his devoted children—Karen, Michelle (Marion), Andrew (Julie), Patrick (Susan), and Celia—as well as fourteen treasured grandchildren and eleven beloved great-grandchildren.
Following a distinguished 22-year career in the United States Army, Reverend Williams was ordained and dedicated himself to serving the Lord for forty-eight years in Washington and California. He found profound purpose in ministering to the needy, including prison inmates, shut-ins, and hospital patients.
In addition to his loving wife Daphne, Reverend Williams will be deeply missed by his grandchildren—Jason (Nicole), Devon (Connor), Rachel (Jeff), Orin, Nathan, Joshua (Aubrie), Kaitlyn (Kyle), Korey, Claire (Daniel), and Shane—as well as his eleven great-grandchildren. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, and compassion and will be deeply missed by all who know him, including his brother- and sister-in-law, John and Barbara Grint, of Lowestoft, England.
His family would like to thank the staff of Providence Saint Peter’s Hospital, Olympia, Washington for their kindness, compassion, and dedication to service. They also wish to thank Bishop LaBelle and Pastor Echols, both of the Episcopal Church, The Diocese of Olympia and Bishop Tom Nelson, Olympia 1st Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Instead of flowers please consider making a donation to Cure Alzheimer’s or Alzheimer’s Association. Our family is deeply grateful for your generosity.

Burial Office and Commendation will be held at St. Benedict Episcopal Church, March 26, 2025 at 11:00 am, followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall.

Committal and Internment will be at Woodlawn Funeral Home Cemetary at 2:00 pm.

Please Donate for Easter Flowers

Would you like to give a donation for our Easter flowers?
Envelopes are available in the Narthex.
Thank you, your Altar Guild.

Time for Easter Baskets

Greetings All !
Our annual Easter Basket donations to the families assisted by the Family Support Center begins now! This project began more than 20+ years ago in the Olympia School District when homeless elementary children attended Madison Elementary School and were fed breakfast and lunch. 
The Social Services rep was delighted to see this begin with such generous enthusiasm!  Ever since it has continued at every church I served and continues on!
A display with detailed information will be available in the Narthex this Sunday. And your contributions of filled baskets will accumulate there.
Every Basket will be distributed to the needy who would otherwise not experience this. 
We will deliver to the Family Support Center the week before Holy Week.   Many, many thanks for your continued generosity!

Lenten Soup Supper: Guest Speaker, Roxanne Lowe from the Washington State Genealogical Society

Roxanne has been a member of the Washington State Genealogical Society since 2008 and is a proud, longstanding member of the Gray's Harbor Genealogical Society.  Roxanne’s interest in genealogy began as a child in Aberdeen, WA. Her paternal grandmother gave her a written family history, loaded with names, dates and locations. Many years later this interest led to a passion as she joined the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society and attended many conferences, workshops and Seminars
We look forward to Roxanne's presentation where she will be sharing information on how to write our own or somebody else's obituary.
 

There are sign-up sheets on the hallway counter where you can sign-up to be a soup chef or a member that wishes to come to be fed with knowledge and scrumptious soup.
There will be two kinds of soup available and one offering of soup will be vegetarian
 
These events will  go through April 9th.
 
Hope to see you there! If you have any questions please call Caroline Madden at (360)-490-4965.

Book Club Update: March 8

The Wednesday Morning Book Group is starting a new book:  The Hope of Glory: Reflections on the Last Words of the Cross by Jon Meacham.  
 
We expect to start discussing The Hope of Glory at our 11:00 am Zoom meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 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 

Notes From the Sacristy: Communion Wine

by Nancy Zabel, Sacriston

This Californian vineyard has a long tradition of making the finest sacramental wines on the market. All wines are prepared in accordance with Canon Law. Vineyards have ecclesiastical praises by the Bishops in their respective dioceses. The Eucharistic wine is traditionally red to symbolize the blood of Christ, which was shed for the forgiveness of sins. The use of red wine helps to visually, and symbolically represent the blood of the new Covenant, as mentioned in the words during the Eucharist. 

Adult Education Update: Giving Up Church for Lent

—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.

Altar Guild UpDate

The Altar Guild meets every Sunday after the 10:30 service to take care of the sacred vessels, vestments, and linens.
We would love to have you join us. Alone, our responsibilities take 30 – 40 minutes on Sunday.  With YOU... about 15 minutes. We are especially looking for parishioners from 8:00.  You are invited to come and see what it's all about.  Email for more information: nancyzabel4@gmail.com

Women's Group Update

The Women’s Group is back!
We will be meeting this Saturday, February 22nd at 10:30 am at Pat's Cafe - 6011 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey
All women Welcome, Join us!

Let There Be Light

Norman Gregory, Building and Grounds Steward

Oh how the Altos and Sopranos do grumble when they can't their music see!

(The Tenors and Basses are so used to being kept in the dark.)

When what should appear but Devin with his electrician's license in hand
to lead the charge while Norman played apprentice with glee.

And soon the choir area glowed with a new found light and all was ready
for the next time we sing "Hark!"

(Sorry bad poetry but great lighting!)