St. Peters Episcopal Parish - Seattle (WA)

5 /5 Christine Bingham: I have been a member and volunteer at St Peters since moving back to Seattle after many years abroad. With so much changing so fast in our city, it can be hard to feel known and seen; this communitys warmth and quick embrace helped make my transition back home feel seamless. My husband and I chose this parish for its location, diversity and rich history, and we have been coming back because of the kindness and genuineness of its people. So if youre looking for a spiritual home with gentle liturgy, real social engagement, good food (!) and stimulating conversation, pass by next Sunday.

5 /5 Caroline Phan: I have been attending St Peters for just under a year, and I love it! The congregation is diverse in many ways -- I feel this makes the parish stronger because there are people of all ages, races, etc., but there is an air of mutual respect for all, including my two little dogs that I take with me every Sunday. I have no human children, so my pups really are my children and provide a great deal of comfort to me, and I appreciate that everyone makes us feel welcome at all times. The parish is very open and welcoming -- a friend attended with me last Sunday, and she remarked that it was the most welcome she had ever felt at a religious service, and that truly warmed my heart to know that I am part of such a community! Parishioners wear name tags, which helps us learn each others names (which is not so easy when you only see each other once a week or less!). Coffee hour after service is really more like lunch -- plenty of food for a full meal, but even better, the opportunity for fellowship and getting to know others beyond just a handshake at the peace is awesome. There are also joint services with another small parish just a mile away, St Clements, and I love these joint services because I now feel like I have two church homes and feel welcome at and have friends at both places. One of my favorite joint services was Mass on the Grass this past summer -- we held mass outside at the park at one of the picnic shelters (shade in the case of sun, protection in the case of rain), and then we had a joint parish picnic afterwards. It was so fun, and it was terrific to socialize with parishioners from both churches outside in the sun! One of our parish goals this year is to deepen our relationship with our neighborhood, which I feel we do through the Diocese of Olympia Refugee Resettlement Office, which uses our church basement during the week, and through urban ministry options. St Peters began as the Episcopal Japanese Mission, so I have also learned more about Japanese history and culture. I highly recommend coming for a visit! :)

5 /5 Kevin Hollinz: When I moved to Seattle two years, I started looking for a new church. I thought I would try out a few, but St. Peters was the first place I visited and I didnt feel the need to go elsewhere. I immediately felt a sense of community at St. Peters. If youre used to going to larger churches, St. Peters will feel much smaller (about 50 people attend each Sunday). To me, attending each Sunday feels kind of like getting together with my extended family. The "sign of peace" lasts 5-10 minutes, and people make an effort to say hello to newcomers and guests in attendance. Then theres the famous coffee hour/lunch after service. The most striking thing about coffee hour is that just about everyone attends. Its a great space to get to know everyone, and Ive really enjoyed conversing with parishioners of all ages and backgrounds. Fr. Edmund is a thoughtful and humble leader. He prepares each Sunday sermon with a great amount of care and reflection, and as a young professional, Ive found his sermons to be especially engaging. He knows what its like to be a 20- or 30-something churchgoer in Seattle, and he understands the struggles many young people face in figuring out the role of church/religion in their lives. He welcomes doubt and skepticism as part of the journey, and he emphasizes our collective call to serve in the community.

5 /5 Vic Johnson: I had the opportunity to worship at St Peters yesterday and Im very excited about how God is moving at St Peters. It had a very welcoming and open culture where I felt welcomed as myself and not just a body. The emphasis of the service and the sermon was also centered on God and how God is calling us to serve and love Their creation. Its always amazing to find a church that preaches from the Bible the values of caring for everyone.

5 /5 Pauline M: Every visit Ive had with the congregation at St. Peters has been an enriching experience. The services and sermons feel intimate and focused, I always leave with a reflection for the coming week. The leadership is very responsive and available to engage one-on-one (if you wish). On my first visit, everyone was warm and welcoming, without being overwhelming. The community is small and diverse - people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. Ive really enjoyed getting to know each person over the delicious (and abundant) food at coffee hour. This is a church that takes its heritage and mission in the community seriously, and I feel very fortunate to have found it.