All Saints', Vancouver

“Loving our neighbor” is a special joy when that neighbor is a newborn. 500+ babies are born in Clark and Cowlitz Counties every month and about thirty of them need our help! Their parents are challenged by low-incomes, often single moms, sometimes homeless or victims of domestic violence. They may have medical problems, job loss, or special-needs babies. We provide them essentials for the first few months of life, car seats, and gift bags for their siblings. To do this, we collect new and gently used clothes, bedding and more, and meet monthly to assemble the gift packs. We are joined by caring folks from many churches, civic and social groups. Our assembly days are heartwarming and lots of fun. Join your hearts and hands with ours. 

What is Traveling Day Society? 

Names are very important to Native/First Nations Peoples. A name can speak volumes about who a person is or perhaps aspires to be. It can also speak about their Vision and how they work to be useful in the Creator’s Service. A Name can also speak of a person’s or a group’s role in the Community… what we do and how we might do it.

Names of First Nations members are rarely, if ever chosen… but are gifted after humble discernment, prayer and often, Ceremony.

Native/First Nations Spirituality is diverse and customs and beliefs can vary widely from Nation to Nation. However, one strong and recurring theme throughout the First Nations spiritual spectrum is that we are welcomed in a good way by our Ancestors and by “Greeter” Spirits when we cross from the physical world into the Spirit world.

For many in the Plains Tribes, one of these Spirit “Greeters” is Traveling Day Woman. On the day of our Crossing… our “Traveling Day”… Traveling Day Woman greets and guides us on our journey to the Creator.

“Spirit Societies” are prevalent throughout the First Nations culture. Members of Spirit Societies are “called” to perform certain necessary Traditional tasks on behalf of the Community. Some Spirit Societies are Healers, Warriors, Story Tellers, Wisdom Keepers, Drummers and Singers.

The Traveling Day Society is a Spirit Society whose primary Vision and purpose is to help transition those who are crossing from the physical world into the spirit world in an easy, blessed and graceful way. To accomplish this we use the prayerful and beautiful voices of the Drum and the Native American Flute.

As an inter-tribal and multi-cultural blend of singers and musicians, working closely with both the health care and hospice communities… our name says it all.

Traveling Day Society Contact information:

If you are interested in membership, our public events, booking an event, or for media, press or other purposes, contact Elizabeth Madrigal at (360) 281-1615 or elizabeth@womanonthegoodside.com.

For HOSPICE SERVICES or appointments, please contact Father Joe Scheeler at (360) 573-8106 or admin@allsaints-vancouver.org

All Saints Episcopal Church, through our All Saints/Trinity collaboration, is part of an inspired partnership with Vancouver’s Lincoln Elementary School. Our main focus is to connect in those ways that most benefit this absolutely amazing group of students. Working with Lincoln’s committed parents, and guided by a highly engaged faculty, we partner in many ways that enable students to thrive academically and socially. 

Lincoln’s student body is comprised of children from kindergarten through fifth grade with an approximate enrollment of 400. As a neighborhood school, Lincoln is fortunate to have a diverse student body from a variety of cultural traditions. This presents an opportunity to further enrich students’ social and educational experience.

In addition to great parental support, Lincoln is blessed with a highly committed faculty. The school also offers a vibrant Family Resource Center wholly dedicated to supporting the needs of students and their families. Using ingenuity and community partnerships – like the one with All Saints Episcopal and Trinity Lutheran – the educators at Lincoln are smart, focused and intentional. Our shared goal is to provide an environment with all the tools necessary to position Lincoln students for success.

How We Help

Lincoln’s broad student diversity is economic as well as cultural. Students whose parents meet the criteria are offered free and/or reduced cost meals on school days. Unfortunately, when the school closes, the cafeteria does too. Our initial efforts have been focused on supporting the school in ways to remedy this gap, such as helping supply its “free” grocery store. (The store’s purpose is to supplement home pantries during summer and school vacations.) We also help with clothing drives, provide back-to-school supplies and participate in events and projects that support the efforts of faculty and parents. It is a privilege to be a small part of the terrific projects and resources our innovative partners offer. The goal is to ensure every Lincoln student has an opportunity to thrive.

Interested in finding out more? Mona Pocha leads the Lincoln Partnership effort and looks forward to adding more volunteers to our amazing team. For more information, please feel free to connect with her at church or through the church offices at (360) 573-8106 or via email at admin@allsaints-vancouver.org.