Written in 2010

St. John’s South Sudanese Episcopal Church has been worshipping together for approximately nine years. They currently meet at the Church by the Side of the Road in Tukwila. The congregation is made up of members who have come from South Sudan, most of whom are refugees who have come to Seattle from resettlement camps in Kenya and Uganda. 

This ministry began in 2001 when several of the “Lost Boys of the Sudan” who had made their way to the Seattle area felt called to minister to the 200 Sudanese refugees then housed in this area.

William Deng Deng, one of the “Lost Boys” who became an Episcopalian in 1987, was ordained to the diaconate in 2000 and is currently studying for the priesthood.

Many members of the Sudanese community are Anglican and it was natural for the Diocese of Olympia to work with the members of this community. 

St. John is the patron name associated with the Episcopal Church in the Sudan and is a logical name for this congregation.

The congregation currently holds Eucharist the first Sunday of every month and holds Morning Prayer on the other Sundays. The congregation uses the 1979 Book of Common Prayer for the Eucharist as well as the Dinka Prayer Book and Dinka Episcopal Hymnal. The services generally use a combination of English and Dinka (the official language of the Sudan).

Drums, maracas and other percussion instruments provide music. Attendance at St. John’s averages between 35-85 and the congregation hopes to develop more participation by young people.

Clergy

2001-2008       William Deng Deng

2009-               Supply clergy & lay leaders