Rector Search Update

Rector Search Update

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In April the Profile Committee completed and submitted the St. Margaret’s Profile to the Diocese for Bishop Rickel’s approval. At that time and in view of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bishop suspended all rector search processes across the diocese.

In October, the Bishop notified the parish leadership and the Profile Committee that we could resume our work. The Profile committee commenced with reviewing the Profile and making changes to account for the current pandemic situation and adding a section “Resilience in the Time of Pandemic” to explain how we, as a parish, have navigated services from being on Zoom to our current Live Streaming platform, as well as continued “activities” during these past months. The Profile was resubmitted and has been approved by Bishop Rickel.

The final version of the Profile is available here.

The Profile will be posted on the National Episcopal Church’s Office of Transition Ministry website through the end of December 2020. Potential Rector candidates will submit applications to the Diocese of Olympia for review. After the position posting has closed and the Diocese has completed its review, names of potential candidates will be provided to the Search Committee.

This concludes the work of the Profile Committee: Shauna Backus, Andrea Feist, Mary Feltrup, David Hoffmann, Conrad Lee, Ed Leonard, and Davindia Steele, with Diocesean Consultant Paula Franck.

COVID-19 Update

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Dear Members,

As many of you already know, the entire Church Building and the Thrift Shop are closed until further notice, due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. There will be no services or meetings in the church building. We’re closely following guidance from the diocese, King County Public Health, and the Washington Department of Health, and we look forward to re-opening the building as soon as it is prudent to do so.

In a special meeting of the Vestry this week, they approved our ability to proceed with an application for the Payroll Protection Plan through US Bank. This is a federal stimulus package through the CARES Act approved by Congress. These loans convert to a grant if the reason for the loan is followed (75% of the money must be used to restore staff salaries). The amount that can be requested includes 2.5% of a month’s payroll expense and includes medical coverage. While applications for these grants which are on a first come first serve basis are now open, our Bank has not yet opened applications for nonprofits. With this Vestry approval we can apply as soon as it is open to us.

I am so grateful for all of the hard work of many members who have engaged in helping with our Virtual Services. Maundy Thursday, Stations of the Cross, and Good Friday are complete and posted and Easter services will be posted shortly.

I also want to thank Claire Webbeking and Robert Graham for their work with our youth and their support of our Diocesan Youth Programs. A shout out to all of you who helped our youth with the plant sale.

You have all stepped up with your generosity of giving and we are in a good financial place at this time. All of our bills were paid. I have been cautioned to be less enthusiastic about the possibility of restoring staff salaries so I will tone down that optimism. I am aware that our Bishop has extended the closure of our buildings through May 4 to comply with the Governor’s actions.

Pray for those members of our community who work in the healthcare field, as first responders, and as grocery employees. Pray for our children and their parents who are trying to navigate the closure of schools and those of our congregation who have been furloughed, laid off or otherwise had their employment altered.

We serve a mighty God and in him we put our trust.

In Christ,

Marda+

1 Peter 1:21 “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Be encouraged by the word of God.