SACRED SPACES

Ongoing Offerings:

• CATHEDRAL TOURS: A tour of the cathedral, telling the story of this unique building and visiting some little-seen spaces in the crypt, is offered immediately following the 11 a.m. service on the last Sunday of each month. Gather under the clock in the rear of the nave after the liturgy concludes. At about 12:30, the group will move to Thomsen Chapel to begin the tour.
• LABYRINTH: Walk the outdoor labyrinth on the front lawn (accessible 24 hours a day) or the indoor labyrinth in Compline Corner (whenever the nave is open). Finger labyrinths will also be available, along with a selection of books and materials for all ages about engaging with the labyrinth as a spiritual tool.

• GARDENS: Bring your own picnic on the front lawn and enjoy the beautiful ornamental plantings by the Garden Ministry, explore the Saint Mark’s Greenbelt, and visit the Leffler Vegetable Garden (when it is open on Sundays and Wednesdays). Check out the Seed Library in the cathedral nave, where you can take seeds for planting and bring seeds from your own garden for others to use. Engaging with the gardens and gardening serves as an invitation to consider Creation Care as a spiritual practice.

• CHILDREN'S CORNER: Whenever the cathedral is open, so is the Children's Corner, with a variety of creative and reflective activities appropriate for a range of ages, along with a curated selection of picture books and toys. A cathedral coloring book and a family guide will be available.
• ART INSTALLATIONS: During the summer the cathedral nave will contain a set of three large-scale worship-themed installations by artist Sandy Nelson created in collaboration with the community of Saint Mark's: Communion of Saints, Waters of Baptism, and Hands of Pilgrimage. A video of Sandy introducing these site-specific works will also be available.

This program is made possible through a "Vital Worship, Vital Preaching" Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.

Art Installations by Sandy Nelson 

Three large-scale installations by artist, designer, and cathedral community member Sandy Nelson, titled Communion of Saints, Waters of Baptism, and Hands of Pilgrimage, will be on display in the cathedral nave for the duration of the Sacred Spaces offerings. All three were created in collaboration with members of the Saint Mark's community of all ages. Hear Sandy explain each of the works in the videos below.