Dear friends,

“Shocked-but-not-surprised…” That’s the sad truth of the reaction many have expressed in the wake of another mass shooting in this nation—the 213th of this year. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the numbers tell a certain story:

• 213 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2022 through May 24 (the 144th day of the year) [source; source]
• 693 mass shootings in 2021
• Mass shootings in this nation have increased 50% since 2020 and nearly doubled since 2017 [source]
• 27 mass shootings in schools in 2022, at least 140 dead

The numbers are sobering; they prompt outrage, disgust, horror… but they do not tell the full story. We know the names of schools because of this blight of violence, seared into our collective memory that remains haunted by the serial trauma—Columbine, Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, Marjorie Stone Douglas, Santa Fe, to name just a few here. Now Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, is added to the long lamentable list. How long, O Lord, how long!

And we will say the names of those who died yesterday, as we did with those who died a week ago in Buffalo, and those before that… and those that are yet to come. We say their names prayerfully, with intention and purpose, as we commend them to God while holding their families in our aggrieved hearts. It is not a hopeless act to pray in such times, even as the weight of this nation’s epidemic of gun violence and repeated failure of our elected leaders may feel like there is no way out of this nightmare.

But there is; there must be. We must take the long view. Ten years ago, after Sandy Hook, I stood with fellow interfaith clergy in the sanctuary of Temple De Hirsch Sinai as we brought our moral outrage, our broken hearts, and our collective resolve to bear in that crucible moment. With civic leaders, we forged a new enterprise—the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility (WAGR), which has had extraordinary impact in our state. Good things have come from that effort, and we must continue. It is not hopeless.

I refuse to concede my hope to such evil and its conspiracy with feckless politicians who lack the courage to act. I refuse to concede my hope in God who I believe with all my heart is calling us into this work, even as we discern what that may be through the prism of our tears… tears shed for the children who have died, for all children who live in fear today, for all parents who heartache, and really for all people, including you and me, who bear the collective trauma of this insidious violence.

I will say more on Sunday in the sermon, and there is an interfaith vigil being considered, but for now I bid you reach out to your friends and family, and to one another in this cathedral community, and hold each other in your hearts. Know that you are in mine. And your clergy will hold the space with you—just ask.

Let love be our antidote to the venom of gun violence. Pour appropriate resources into your local school. Check in on the teachers and mental health professionals whom you know. Parents of young children, too. Get involved.

And I bid you be present in your daily prayers, show up in our corporate prayers and worship. Resist the numbness that can come in these moments. Be gentle with yourself, too. We take the long view, and we will find our way together.

Peace and prayers,

The Very Reverend Steven L. Thomason
Dean and Rector

Selected Prayers from Enriching Our Worship resource of the Episcopal Church

Gracious God, we come before you this day in pain and sorrow. We grieve the loss of the children and teacher in Texas. Give your grace to those who grieve, that they may find comfort in your presence and be strengthened by your Spirit. Be with the entire human family as they mourn, and draw all together in your healing love; in the name of the one who suffered, died, and rose for us, Jesus our Savior. Amen.

For a Child Who Dies by Violence
Loving God, Jesus gathered your little ones in his arms and blessed them. Have pity on those who mourn for the children in Uvalde— innocents slaughtered by the violence of our fallen world. Be with us as we struggle with the mysteries of life and death; in our pain, bring your comfort, and in our sorrow, bring your hope and your promise of new life, in the name of Jesus our Savior. Amen.

God our deliverer, gather our horror and pity for the death of your children into the compass of your wisdom and strength, that through the night we may seek and do what is right, and when morning comes trust ourselves to your cleansing justice and new life; through Christ our Savior. Amen.

UPDATED WITH SLIDES AND VIDEO

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 6:45–8:15 P.M., online via Zoom only

We are living in a moment of great cultural and spiritual change. At times it can feel like there are countless factors working against us to add stress to our lives. Yet, in our spiritual traditions we have a great wellspring of practices that can ground us in the Holy Sprit if we turn to them. In this presentation, The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining, Saint Mark’s 2022 Theologian in Residence, will invite us to explore some of these practices—new and old—that can bring wisdom and joy to our souls. In preparation for this event, participants are invited to read this article by Willigis Jäger from his classic work, Search for the Meaning of Life.

Participants in the March forums with Dr. Raining said, “She is an engaging teacher, warm, and accessible” and “she shares vital information for personal healing that then translates into community healing.” We are looking forward to another impactful evening—register here. Contact Canon Daugherty at jkdaugherty@saintmarks.org with any questions.

See the slides for the presentation here.

See a complete video below:

UPDATED WITH VIDEO

GUEST SERMON: SUNDAY, MAY 22, at the 9 and 11 a.m. services
"FRIENDS TALKING" FORUM: 10:10–10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall

Rabbi Daniel Weiner has led the congregation of Temple De Hirsch Sinai, our neighbors on Capitol Hill, since 2001. Among his many roles and accomplishments he has placed a special emphasis on interfaith and ecumenical efforts, and has collaborated with Dean Thomason on multiple occasions over the last ten years. In March, Dean Thomason preached at Temple De Hirsch, and on May 22 Rabbi Weiner will reciprocate, offering a sermon at the 9 and 11 a.m. services.

Also on Sunday morning he will join the Dean in a "Friends Talking" forum at 10:10 a.m. in Bloedel Hall. (The forum will be recorded and posted on this page as soon as possible following the event.)

UPDATE: A complete video of the forum may be seen below:

Children's Activity in the Leffler House garden

10:10–10:50 A.M., Leffler House garden

When adults and children are having their own formation experiences between the 9 and 11 a.m. services, we can offer teaching around a theme and parallel resources to strengthen intergenerational connections and conversations. That's what we'll do this week, as Dean Thomason and Rabbi Weiner are having a conversation in Bloedel Hall, and children are invited to learn more about our Jewish friends and neighbors through a story and activity in the Leffler garden. Both offerings will begin at 10:10 a.m.

A MESSAGE FROM DEAN THOMASON

MAY 12, 2022

As you have likely observed in recent days, the number of people we know contracting COVID has increased substantially. Since April 12 (just one month ago) the King County daily infection rate has more than doubled! The good news—those who are fully vaccinated experience a relatively mild illness for the most part, and hospitalization rates have not risen in commensurate ways. The bad news—vaccinations and booster shots do not seem to carry as much protection with the latest variants as they did earlier. We must therefore rely on additional interventions to ensure the well-being of everyone who worships in the cathedral.

To that end, and with some grief at the need for it, it is time for us to resume the mask mandate for worship, until further notice, guided by the public health statistics. I hope it won’t be a lengthy imposition, but this is an important measure for us to take at this time. Effective this Sunday, May 15, 2022, all persons attending worship services in-person are requested to wear a mask of optimal protection—N95, KF94, KN95 types masks are highly encouraged, for your sake and for the benefit of others. Other forms of masks offer a much lower protective benefit.

I would encourage all ministry groups to resume a similar practice as well. The choirs have already adopted this, and I am grateful for their example. We can continue to worship well together, and with all the elements of liturgy to which we are accustomed. Of course, you can also join via livestream for the 11 a.m. Eucharist and 9:30 p.m. Compline service each Sunday.

I suspect this request will come as no surprise to any of you, perhaps a relief to some, but if you find it problematic, I would welcome the chance to visit with you. I am grateful for this community and for the ways we continue to care for one another.

Blessings and peace,

The Very Rev. Steven L. Thomason, Dean & Rector

MAY 12, 2022

The cathedral extends a warm welcome to our archives intern for the spring quarter, Eve Kausch, and to the new Diocesan Archivist, Erik Bauer. Together they are taking up the formidable task of organizing over a century’s worth of files documenting the cathedral’s history.

Eve Kausch is a graduate student in the Master of Library and Information Science program at the University of Washington. They are primarily interested in working in archives, especially those which engage with ideas of social justice and identity. Prior to moving to Seattle, Eve lived in New York, where they studied Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Barnard College and worked at the Barnard Center for Research on Women. They grew up in the Episcopal Church and are enjoying learning about the history of Saint Mark's through the archives.

Erik Bauer is the new Archivist for the Diocese of Olympia (replacing retiring archivist Diane Wells), as well as the new Saint Mark's Cathedral Archivist. We are lucky that he will be working in the archives at Saint Mark’s one day every week, usually on Fridays. He is originally from the Chicago area, and lifelong White Sox fan. He completed a Bachelor of Special Studies in history and English from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He moved with his wife and two cats to Salem, Massachusetts in 2010, where Erik would earn his MA in History from Salem State University and he and his wife would have a son. While living in Massachusetts, Erik was the archivist at the Peabody Institute Library in Peabody and archives manager at the Haverhill Public Library. During the pandemic Erik earned his Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Erik and his family moved to the Pacific Northwest and settled in Port Orchard in 2020..

The Cathedral Archives were established in 2020 thanks to a generous gift by The Rev. Canon Pat Taylor, given to the glory of God and in memory of her husband, Dr. Jim Taylor. Learn more about the creation of the Cathedral Archives here.

Update: An earlier version failed to note that Erik has a joint appointment, serving as both diocesan and cathedral archivist.