
UPDATE 1/24/25:
Heartfelt gratitude to the many participant who came together to make January 19’s Afternoon of Service such a joyous community event. Together, we made 100 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Operation Nightwatch, inventoried all the hygiene supplies that have arrived for Donna Jean's Place Shelter, and filled 20 shower caddies that will be given to the shelter's first residents. We decorated cards to welcome the 20 women and additional decorated cards will be used later this spring when we celebrate teachers at Lowell Elementary School. We painted a new outdoor sign for Lowell, "Home of the Dragons", and made two knotted fleece blankets that will be given to children there. We made a delicious meal for a Saint Mark's family. A team went to a nearby L'Arche residence for yard work, and another team went to Volunteer Park to pick up trash. We look forward to this being an annual event on the Sunday of MLK Weekend, when we come together to serve our community.
SUNDAY MORNING FORUM
A Crash Course in the Principals of Non-Violence
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2025, 10:10–10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall
In this forum on MLK Weekend, we'll take a brief look at the fascinating history of non-violence with a special emphasis on the legacy of Bayard Rustin, a student of Mohandus (Mahatma) Gandhi, who brought back his learnings to the leaders of the American Civil Rights movement. A Black gay man and a Quaker, Rustin became a trusted advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr, and was the organizer of the March on Washington. While the principles of non-violence deserve much more time than this forum allows, Canon Barrie will provide resources for further exploration, including the pledge of non-violence and the invitation to a participate in the annual Season for Non-Violence.
RESOURCES:
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Short video on the history of non-violence with author and Episcopalian John Green
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Go here to take the pledge and observe the Season of Non-Violence from January 30 through April 4.
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Download the 64 daily practices guide.
- Download the Theory of Non-Violence handout.
- Download the MLK Commitment Card.
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We closed with a recording of Maya Angelou reading her poem, The Human Family: Anton Jarvis and Human Family byMaya Angelou

An Afternoon of Service
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 12:30 P.M., Bloedel Hall, registration requested. Lunch is provided.
UPDATE: Choir School families have the option of working on a project during the 11 a.m. service, and then joining the group for lunch. (Please indicate this option in the "additional comment" field of the registration form)
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”
–The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On the Sunday of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, people all ages and abilities are invited to gather at the cathedral in the afternoon for a variety of projects in the service of our community partners. There will be activities in service of Operation Nightwatch/Donna Jean’s Place Shelter, L’Arche Seattle, and Lowell Elementary School. Some of the activities will be seated, while others will be more active — you can indicate your preference when you register.
UPDATED DETAILS: We’ll start with lunch. Some participants will assemble welcome baskets for the first residents of Donna Jean's Place—making an inventory of received items, filling shower caddies with toiletries, and creating handmade cards. Others can work on crafting a wooden sign for our neighbors Lowell Elementary School (Home of the Lowell Dragons!).
Some new friends from L’Arche Seattle will join in these projects. A team from Saint Mark's will go after lunch to L'Arche Seattle's Angeline House near Volunteer Park to help with trimming back some shrubs and breaking up larger branches that have already fallen or been trimmed, raking, and taking down a large outdoor canopy. Please bring your own work gloves!
Depending on the number of volunteers who sign up, additional projects may be added.
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