UPDATE: The leaflet for the concluding liturgy of this event may now be downloaded here:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 9:30-11:30 A.M., via Zoom (no fee; registration required) Hosted by Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral.
Renowned interspiritual teacher Mirabai Starr returns to Saint Mark’s on December 5 to offer a virtual workshop on loss, grief, and hope. She will share teachings from the mystics of various traditions that illumine the connection between loss, spiritual longing, and reframing the future. The teachings of the sixteenth-century Spanish saints Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross show us how we may approach the radical mystery that often accompanies loss and lament as a spiritual opportunity rather than as a problem requiring a solution. By engaging a contemplative approach, we cultivate an environment of emotional refuge and deep peace in which we can name and offer our burdens to the Holy One.
Our time together will include poetry and contemplative reading, deep dialog in small breakout groups, writing exercises, and a closing liturgy. We especially invite those who are grieving any kind of loss or those who find the holiday season a painful or difficult time. We will gather via Zoom. The event is free but pre-registration is required. Register for the workshop here. For more information, contact Canon Jennifer Daugherty at jkdaugherty@saintmarks.org.
Read Dean Thomason's message to the parish regarding this exciting news.
More information about the future of the St. Nicholas property can be found here.
SEATTLE, WA— Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle, has received a major gift from long-time cathedral members Laura Ellen and Bob Muglia. Seventeen years ago, the cathedral joined with The Laura Ellen and Robert Muglia Family Foundation to acquire the St. Nicholas Building, a historic school building immediately adjacent to the cathedral. In August of this year, the Muglias gifted their share of that joint venture to the cathedral. A small gathering took place Sunday, October 25, on the St. Nicholas grounds, at which the Muglias were recognized publicly for the first time as “silent partners” in the ownership of the property. To acknowledge and celebrate their recent gift, the Rev. Steven L. Thomason, Dean and Rector of Saint Mark’s Cathedral, said “This is the sort of legacy gift that frames the mission of a church across generations, and for that we are exceedingly grateful.”
Laura Ellen and Bob Muglia’s visionary leadership and extraordinary generosity were key in the acquisition of the St. Nicholas property in 2003, as an LLC partnership. Their original gift totaled $5 million. The historic building has provided classrooms, auditorium space, and resource rooms for the cathedral parish, as well as space for two local non-profits, Bright Water Waldorf School and Gage Academy of Arts. The sublease income has been used to benefit the St. Nicholas property, including maintenance, improvements, and debt reduction.
At the October 25th event, a plaque honoring the Muglias was unveiled on the St. Nicholas façade. In her remarks at the event, Laura Ellen Muglia said, “Participating in this project has been a blessing in our lives. It is our fervent hope and prayer that having full access to this historic and beautiful property will enable the people of St. Mark’s to chart the next stage of how they want to live, love, and serve in the world.”
The Muglia Family Foundation has now gifted outright to Saint Mark’s Cathedral their share of ownership in the St. Nicholas property. The ultimate goal for acquiring the St. Nicholas site was, in their words, “to promote the vision, mission, strategic plan, and charitable purposes” of Saint Mark’s. Their generous gift furthers that missional goal. The entire cathedral community is deeply grateful to them.
The generosity of Saint Mark's parishioners to the 2020 Alternative Giving opportunity was overwhelming. The cathedral ended up sending more gift cards to Casa Latina and Lowell Elementary than they asked for! For Lowell Elementary and Casa Latina, you gave $14,700—for a total of 588 gift cards, and that does NOT include gifts to Mary's Place (which collected donations directly). Know that our friends at Casa Latina and Lowell were so heartened—responding a resounding “WOW” and “That’s incredible!” THANK YOU to all who gave this year!
Yes! Saint Mark’s is still sharing Christmas joy with families from Casa Latina, Lowell Elementary School, and Mary’s Place even though we can’t meet in person! This year, we need donations for gift cards.
Our neighbors have asked that Saint Mark’s provide gift cards rather than physical gifts this year, for safety’s sake—so we are asking you for donations here to purchase a $25 gift card for each child for Casa Latina and Lowell Elementary School to distribute to their families. (We invite you to donate to Mary’s Place directly.)
In this year of so much hardship, your generosity means even more to these wonderful families, and the gifts cards will help parents provide food and toys for their children for the holidays. So instead of taking a tag from a tree, please think of how many children you might “buy a Christmas present for” and donate online here by December 7 so that we can provide the gift cards with plenty of time for families to shop! You may also donate by mailing a check to Saint Mark’s (with “gift cards” in the memo line), using the Venmo mobile app (@SaintMarksCathedralSeattle; put "gift cards" in the comment), or by calling Erik Donner at 206.323.0300 x217.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 7 P.M., livestreamed at saintmarks.org/livestream
The annual "O" Antiphons Liturgy is considered by many to be a highlight of the liturgical year at Saint Mark's. The particular form of this liturgy that we use was invented here, first presented in 1986, and is today used by churches around the world. It is structured around the seven medieval antiphons, each beginning with the word "O ," which also form the basis of the Hymn "O Come O Come Emmanuel." This beloved cathedral tradition provides a moving and evocative entrance into the Advent season of prayerful expectation. This year's event will offer the familiar service reimagined for the medium of livestream, with a number of exciting musical and liturgical elements in store, culminating in Saint Mark's grandest virtual choir presentation yet.
Advent Processions have been offered at Saint Mark’s Cathedral for many years, though known by several names: Advent Vespers, Advent Lessons and Carols, etc. In 1986, a liturgy using the Great “O” Antiphons as a framework was developed and presented here for the first time. Today, the form of this liturgy created here is used in churches around the world. In normal times, it is one of the few opportunities each year to hear the Compline Choir, the Cathedral Choir, and the Choir School collaborate in a single service Through the decades, former music directors Peter Hallock and Mel Bulter have written a number of works especially for this service, these choirs, and the space of the cathedral nave—these include several settings of the O Antiphons themselves, the processional anthem "Let My Prayer Come Up as the Incense," and the arrangement used for the culminating rendition of "O Come O Come Emmanuel," among others.
