January 26, 2025
Thank you for participating in this survey from the Communications Committee of the Saint Mark's Vestry. Be sure to scroll down to see all the questions (nine in total), and click the button marked "Done" when complete. If the appearance of the survey on this page causes any inconvenience, the same survey can be completed at this link.
TWO WEDNESDAYS, JANUARY 22 & 29, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. Free, no registration required. Optional Community Dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family)
led by Dean Steve Thomason
Our world is seemingly on fire, and the uncertainties of our time translate to a sense of chaos and upheaval. Anxiety and anger run amok. Under threat of change, the human impulse is to conservative inertia or even regression, which invariably leads to injustice and oppression. We are seeing that; we are living in this crucible moment when the paradigms that have historically made sense in the social fabric will not hold, and tweaks to them will not suffice. Paradigm shifts (revolutionary insights) are needed as we find our way. We are on the cusp of something as significant as Newtonian cosmology or modern Cognitive Psychology, but we will only breakthrough to new paradigms if we let go of the basic assumptions of the prevailing theories of social constructs built on a misguided transactional calculus. Hint: Jesus was on to something big!
Join online using this Zoom link.
UPDATE:
The following handout was shared at Part 1 of the forum: Vice & Virtue List (pdf)
The slides from Part 1 can be downloaded here (pdf).
A video will be posted here when it is available.
All members of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral congregation are invited to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting to elect new parish Vestry members and Delegates/Alternates to the Diocesan Convention. The agenda includes brief reports from parish leadership and committees, the presentation of awards, and the Dean’s address.
The Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. and may be attended in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. A potluck meal will not be offered in 2025.
The Vestry currently consists of 17 members: 12 elected from Saint Mark’s Parish, three diocesan members appointed with the consent of the Bishop, the Dean who chairs the Vestry, and the Bishop of Olympia (or the bishop’s designated representative). Additionally, the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Treasurer, and Clerk serve with the Vestry as non-voting officers. All Vestry members are to be persons with demonstrated qualities of dedicated commitment to Saint Mark’s (or their own parish), leadership and vision with responsiveness to the needs, concerns and hopes of the world.
Vestry leadership resides with the Dean and individuals who are traditionally known as “Wardens”, together with other Vestry Officers. In accordance with the By-laws (Art. IV, sec. 1), the Senior Warden, the Chancellor, and Vice Chancellor (the Cathedral’s attorneys) are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Dean. The Junior Wardens, Clerk, and Treasurer are elected by the Vestry.
Each member serves for one three-year term. This year, the members completing their terms are: Wayne Duncan, Scott Hulet, Kristen Kelly, Justin Mills, and Tina Blondino (Diocesan Member from St. Michael & All Angels, Issaquah).
The Vestry has adopted slight changes to the Election Rules this year. The Annual Meeting will be called to order in Thomsen Chapel at 8 a.m. to take nominations from the floor (if any). Voting will occur by paper ballot only, either at the table in the narthex between 8:05 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. or at the entry table in Bloedel Hall between 12:35–12:45 p.m.
Online voting for those joining the meeting via Zoom will no longer be available. Per cathedral by-laws, there is no early voting or proxy voting. Complete election rules are presented during the meeting.
The Second Restated Bylaws of St. Mark’s Cathedral Parish (Art. 1, sec. 3) provide:
In accordance with the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Olympia, “Parish Communicants” are those baptized persons who are faithful in corporate worship and who have received the Sacrament of Holy Communion at Saint Mark’s at least three times during the previous year (unless good cause prevented)...”;
“Parish Communicants in Good Standing” are those Parish Communicants age sixteen years or older, who are recorded contributors to the support of Saint Mark’s with money or with personal service... Unless subsequently defined otherwise by Diocesan or Episcopal Church canons, “Parish Electors” shall include all the Parish Communicants in Good Standing.”
Each fall, more than 500 delegates from around Western Washington come together to conduct diocesan business, including electing individuals to offices and deputations, admitting new missions or parishes, and voting on resolutions. The Bishop also gives an annual address.
The 115th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia will be held online and is scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2025.
Convention Delegates are a major link between the parish, the Vestry, and the Diocese, at both convention and other diocesan meetings. Delegates serve for two years. The 12 Delegates elected at the 2025 Annual Meeting will join the 12 delegates already elected in February 2024.
This committee is designated by the cathedral’s Constitution and Bylaws to present to the parish a list of nominees for the annual parish elections. The process involves careful vetting of all candidates as well as interviews with candidates for Vestry. This year’s committee is: Scott Hulet (chair & Vestry liaison), Maria Coldwell (co-chair), Carrie Davis, Jim Buskirk, Liz Shea, Adrienne Hubbard, Beatrix Hamm, and Dean Steve Thomason (ex officio). Questions? Contact: nominations@saintmarks.org
I am a fourth generation Episcopalian and son of an Episcopal priest. I came to St. Mark’s in 2006 after a three-year period where my wife and I attended every Episcopal Church in the diocese. I attend the 8 a.m. service where I am a chalice bearer as well as a lector and intercessor.
After a 26-year career in software development, I have spent the last 15 years on diocesan staff as the Internet Strategist for the diocese. My time on diocesan staff ended on January 1, 2025.
I would be honored to serve St Mark’s on the Vestry. I’ve been coming to St. Mark’s since Cabbie Tennis was Dean a few decades ago. I currently serve as chalice bearer, intercessor, lector, and ALM (8 a.m. service). I am a retired CPA and have served on the boards of directors for other nonprofit organizations including Cathedral Associates and Seattle Shakespeare Company. I welcome the opportunity to be a more active part of our continued growth and development. I am inspired by the work already done to integrate future development with our strategic plan.
My faith formation began at St. John’s in Olympia where I grew up and was nurtured in college through the vibrant chaplaincy of the Episcopal Church at Yale. In graduate school, I worshipped at the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge and served in feeding and youth ministries in the Boston area. I have attended St. Mark’s for over 15 years, and have participated as a lector and usher, in Radix groups, feeding ministries, and as a supporter of youth choir ministries—my daughter is a member of the Schola and Evensong choirs. I have also participated in a prayer group and men’s retreat. I am grateful to be the father of two teenage children, Anneka and Malcolm, and married to my wife, Lynn Noordam. Lynn is a nurse practitioner who works at Seattle Roots Community Health clinics.
I am a co-founder and leader of two learning and technology companies, and currently lead a collaborative learning software business, Intrepid by VitalSource. My board experience includes serving as a director of Intrepid Learning Solutions, the Association for Talent Development, and New Futures (now part of Southwest Youth and Family Services). I love spending time with my family and friends, being active outdoors (running, hiking, and bootcamp workouts), traveling, listening to music, and reading. I would be privileged to serve as a member of the St. Mark’s Vestry and contribute to this community that has given so much to me and my family.
Though I officially came to Saint Mark’s in January 2020, I have had the pleasure of being connected to the Cathedral through partnerships and non-profit work for more than a decade. Overthe past 5 years I have had the pleasure of diving into liturgical ministries, serving on the Restorative Justice and Intergenerational Councils, and supporting the Choir School as a musicianship tutor.
My professional work has me deeply engaged in interfaith and faith-based justice spaces in the greater Seattle area, as well as national and international work. My primary focus is running youth education and peacebuilding programs that foster learning and dialogue for young people and for intergenerational groups.
My husband Michael and I live in Kirkland with our dog Max and in our free time enjoy hosting friends and traveling! I am thrilled to stand for Vestry this year and the potential opportunity to dig deep into this aspect of cathedral life and operations.
I first came to Saint Mark’s with my wife Kelly to check out the Compline service on a Sunday night in 2019. We’ve been attending worship regularly since then, and we were received into the Episcopal Church in 2024 on Cathedral Day! We live a block from the Cathedral, and our two daughters live nearby in Seattle with their husbands. I work as a physician at an Occupational Medicine/Urgent Care clinic, and I had a career as a software engineer before going to med school. I serve with the Liturgical Ministries team as a lector and intercessor, and I sometimes help Kelly with her volunteer work in the Gardening ministry. For fun, I enjoy music, food, indoor rock climbing, and doing various outdoor activities together with Kelly. I love Saint Mark’s, and I am motivated to help Saint Mark’s deepen its connections with parishioners and expand its impact in the community. I am honored to be nominated to the Vestry, and I would be blessed to serve you in this role.
I was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal church and began attending Saint Mark’s regularly since 2018 when I was reaffirmed in the church. Since then, I have served in the ushering ministry, the phase II discernment committee for Robert Stevens, and when my work schedule permits, bible study and the Radix Project. I have also attended a Wesleyan Small Group at Seattle Pacific University. I was very fortunate to be able to go on pilgrimage to Ireland and Iona last summer, a life-altering experience which brought my faith into focus and created bonds with my fellow pilgrims that both surprised and touched me.
I did my undergraduate work in Mathematics at MIT and graduate work in Applied Math at UW. After spending several years as a mathematician at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, I now teach in the Seattle Pacific University math department. I volunteered helping children with math in elementary school when my children were very young, then homeschooled my three children for middle and high school. I volunteered in the Saturday Science Academy in Los Angeles many years ago, teaching math every Saturday to very bright minority kids who otherwise would not have a chance to have high level enrichment.
I live in a multigeneration household, with my husband and children and one grandchild and also have several family members in the area—the richness of my family has been the center of my life. As I get older, I am finding the complexity of maneuvering this life has surprised me, somehow both more painful and more delightful than I knew it would be. I want to explore God’s message and my own purpose, in part by being more involved with Saint Mark’s, learning more about theology and my place in the church.
I turned to St. Mark’s during the darkest times of the pandemic, streaming services and regularly participating in morning and evening prayer. I remember being so comforted and inspired by the services and warmly welcomed into every virtual space I joined. It was an easy, joyful decision to be confirmed in the spring of 2021, and since then I have taken full advantage of many opportunities to serve and grow together. I currently am one of the worship leaders for morning and evening prayer, serve on the altar guild and as a chalice bearer, am on the Cathedral Foundation Board, and help in the kitchen whenever I get the chance. Previous service has included helping to lead our Meal Sharing Ministry, helping to organize our women’s retreats, and serving on the Stewardship committee.
Before retiring, my work life was devoted to the arts and nonprofit leadership, and most of that work was spent leading the Seattle International Film Festival—very much a calling in my life. I continue to support our arts community by serving on nonprofit boards, most recently Town Hall Seattle. I believe that my work vand volunteer experience combined with my love and care for our community here at St. Mark’s could make me a good fit for service on the Vestry. It’s my pleasure and honor to be considered as a candidate.
I am a retired classical musician and teacher. After graduating from Trinity College of Music in 1963, I taught music in a girls’ high school as well as piano at the Westminster Abbey Choir School. Growing up in London, I attended public school where “scripture” was on the curriculum and daily services were the norm. Attracted initially by the liturgy of the Anglican church, I joined at the age of 13 and was confirmed by the Bishop of Chelmsford a year later. After I married my husband and I moved to Basel, Switzerland, where I attended the Anglican church in the chapel at Basel Cathedral. When we arrived in the USA I joined the Episcopal Church in New Jersey (Diocese of Newark). There I sang in the choir as soloist, was lector and intercessor and served two years on the Vestry . In this country I have served on several Boards of Directors, including The Professional Music Teachers’ Guild of New Jersey and Seattle Opera Guild, both of which I served as President. In New Jersey, I also ran a successful piano studio. Since I came to St. Mark’s I truly feel I have come home. I would be proud and honored to represent you on the Vestry .
I’ve been an active member of St. Mark’s for over a decade and served on the Vestry from 2020 to 2023 (including two years as Junior Warden). I was drawn to Saint Mark’s for the music program and the liturgy, and stayed for the inclusive theology and community. I am a member of the Cathedral Choir and the Evensong Choir, serve on the finance committee, and help teach the youth confirmation classes. I have a master’s degree in fashion history and museum studies and work as the Curator of Collections at the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). I look forward to the opportunity to serve as a convention delegate and learn more about the work of the Diocese.
Luciano Falzone is an 11th grader enrolled at Nova High School, also taking classes at Bellevue College. He presently sings baritone for both the Evensong and Schola choirs, having begun his journey at the church singing for the Senior Choristers over 6 years ago. He is captivated by philosophy and religion having studied it more deeply at St. John’s college this past summer, and hopes to incorporate the two in his pursuits such as ultimate frisbee, ethics bowl, and the mock trial team he is starting at his school. He is deeply appreciative of the guidance and support that St. Mark has given him over the years, and is enthused to be able to give back to and engage the community to the best of his ability as delegate.
I was born and raised in Seattle, and did not grow up in a faith community. I joined Saint Mark’s in the Summer of 2023, while starting a master’s program at the University of Washington. I was first involved in the Lowell Ministry, having volunteered at Lowell the previous year, and having attended Lowell many, many years before that. I am continually impressed by the kindness and generosity of the Saint Mark’s community, and I am constantly meeting new people who support this community in different ways. In the Meals Ministry, I’ve been able to serve at the Saint Martin de Porres shelter, at Teen Feed. It also helped me see how ministries can work together, when the Meals Ministry made a meal for dozens of students and their families during the Lowell Math Night. Through Saint Mark’s, I’ve been able to participate in the Operation Nightwatch Street Ministry. This ministry gives me valuable perspective on the experiences of vulnerable people in Seattle, which continues to be something Seattle struggles with. Most recently, I’ve joined the Affordable Housing Committee. Affordable housing is something which very strongly affects the Lowell community, food access, and homelessness, and Saint Mark’s is showing fantastic initiative in addressing this. I would be excited to connect to the larger Episcopal community as a convention delegate. Thank you!
My name is Kate Halamay and I have been attending St. Mark’s since about 2011. I live in Wallingford with my mischievous tuxedo cat Olive. A lifelong Episcopalian, I grew up attending church with my grandmother at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Starting with college and continuing through many moves, I have always been fortunate to find a local Episcopal church where I could worship and return to the familiar rhythms of the liturgy. A pediatrician by trade, I moved to Seattle in 2006 to start my pediatrics residency at Seattle Children’s/UW and never left! After trying out a few churches during residency, I found my spiritual home at St. Mark’s a few years after finishing my training. I am truly grateful for the vibrant and loving community I have found here and who has embraced me with open arms. I currently serve as an acolyte and verger and also help to lead and organize activities for the 40s/50s group at St. Mark’s. I have participated in a couple of Radix groups and prior to the pandemic volunteered at Noel House before it moved offsite. I have served as a delegate to convention three times before and have loved getting to participate in the governance and decision making that affects our local diocese. I would be honored to represent you at Diocesan Convention once again.
My wife Karen and I moved to Maple Valley in February 2019, and I began attending Saint Mark’s right after that, joining the Saint Mark’s Singers at the 9 a.m. service where I sing tenor. I have served one term as diocesan delegate for Saint Mark’s, found it very fulfilling (especially as we took part in the special convention last May to elect the new diocesan bishop), and would love the opportunity to serve again. In my prior church in Maryland I served a term on the Vestry and three years as diocesan delegate for our parish, attending convention at Washington National Cathedral. Taking part in activities that support the work of the church and the diocese is something I truly enjoy. Karen and I are both retired from our respective careers as a school teacher and Amtrak manager and spend our days reading, visiting family, and traveling from time to time.
Hilary McLeland-Wieser is a PhD student studying Public Health at the University of Washington. A Seattle area native, she has attended Saint Mark’s since she moved back to the area from Washington, DC in 2022. Hilary is involved with the 20s and 30s group at Saint Mark’s and is a member of the stewardship committee. She also serves as an usher and an acolyte at the 11am service. In her free time, Hilary enjoys baking and knitting.
I’ve been attending Saint Mark’s for nine years, and have previously served on the Vestry and as a convention delegate. I am currently a member of the diocese’s Commission on Ministry. As our diocese moves into the future with our new bishop, I am excited and humbled (if chosen) to represent our beloved cathedral community at diocesan convention.
David grew up in Arlington, Washington, and was raised in the Christian Reformed Church. He has been a church pianist since he was a teenager. He studied political science at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. While attending graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh in 2016, he discovered the Episcopal Church and fell in love with Anglican liturgy and music. David has been an active member of St. Mark’s since mid-2023 and was confirmed at Cathedral Day in 2024. He is grateful for friendships formed at St. Mark’s and a sense of belonging and community. He is involved in a number of ministries, serving as the Taizé ministry coordinator, a musicianship tutor for the choir school, and a member of the 20s/30s visioning group. He is an avid birdwatcher and has led a couple of bird walks for St. Mark’s events. He currently lives in Ravenna and works as a piano and music instructor.
Although I have been a member for many years, I am still impressed by the warmth, skills and talents of the congregation that is Saint Mark’s. I now serve as a greeter (an activity that I can recommend to any member). In the past, I have been a member of the Usher, Flower, and Chalice Bearer Ministries. I have also been a convention delegate ( a role I would enjoy performing again).
Saint Marks, a place of joy and wonderment, has been my spiritual home for the last twenty years. My current ministries include greeters, chalice bearers, Facilities Committee, and Habitat for Humanity. It is a special privilege to be a candidate for becoming a representative to the Diocesan Convention.
I have so many questions about how the Diocese does its work and being a delegate to the Diocese would be a great way for me to learn. I am interested in budgets and policy and have a solid professional public policy background. I have a lot of energy around this and I enjoy sharing with others what I have learned.
I joined St. Mark’s in 2014, drawn, as so many are, by the liturgical tradition coupled with a commitment to social justice. I usually attend the 9 a.m. service and have served on the ushering team, as a lector/intercessor, and on the 2020 Strategic Planning Committee. I’ve completed the four-year cycle of Education for Ministry and have participated in two Radix groups. I would be honored to serve as a delegate to the Diocesan Convention, learning more about the wider context for the cathedral’s role in the Diocese.
LINKS:
DOCUMENTS TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE MEETING (links will be updated as documents become available):
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2025, 12:30–2 P.M., Bloedel Hall and via Zoom
The 2025 Annual Meeting of St. Mark's Cathedral Parish, Seattle, will be on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. in Bloedel Hall and via Zoom. The meeting will include election of parish Vestry members and delegates/alternates to Diocesan Convention. A brochure featuring the candidates is now available here, and will be available in the back of the nave starting Sunday, January 5. We’ll also hear reports from the Dean, Senior Warden, and ministry leaders. The Dean will bestow Pro Christo Awards. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our vibrant parish. As with last year, there will be no potluck meal, but light snacks and coffee/tea/water will be available to those in Bloedel Hall, and you are welcome to bring your own food if you find that helpful.
PLEASE NOTE:
NOTICE OF CHANGES TO ELECTION RULES
The Vestry has adopted slight changes to the Election Rules this year. The Annual Meeting will be called to order in Thomsen Chapel at 8 a.m. to take nominations from the floor (if any). Voting will occur by paper ballot only, either at the table in the Narthex between 8:05 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. or at the entry table in Bloedel Hall between 12:35–12:45 p.m. Online voting for those joining the meeting via Zoom will no longer be available. You must be a Parish Communicant in Good Standing to vote.
WHO CAN VOTE IN THE PARISH ELECTION?
The Second Restated Bylaws of St. Mark’s Cathedral Parish (Art. 1, sec. 3) provide:
In accordance with the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Olympia, “Parish Communicants” are those baptized persons who are faithful in corporate worship and who have received the Sacrament of Holy Communion at Saint Mark’s at least three times during the previous year (unless good cause prevented)...”;
“Parish Communicants in Good Standing” are those Parish Communicants age sixteen years or older, who are recorded contributors to the support of Saint Mark’s with money or with personal service... Unless subsequently defined otherwise by Diocesan or Episcopal Church canons, “Parish Electors” shall include all the Parish Communicants in Good Standing.”
Order of Service | Each week's repertoire is posted here.
The Order of Service & repertoire may be found at: complineunderground.wordpress.com/2025/01/19/compline-2025-the-second-sunday-after-the-epiphany/
January 19, 2025 • The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
ORISON (H 135): Songs of thankfulness and praise (Tune: SALZBURG) – mel. Jakob Hintze (1622-1702); harm. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
PSALM 36:5-10 – Jason A. Anderson (b. 1976)
HYMN 138: All praise to you, O Lord (Tune: CARLISLE) – Charles Lockhart (1745-1815)
NUNC DIMITTIS – Jeff Junkinsmith (b. 1956)
ANTHEM: Tribus miraculis – Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594)
POST-COMPLINE ORGAN MUSIC:
Jean Langlais, Chant de Paix Op. 40, No. 3
J.S. Bach, Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582
Jean Langlais, Fête, Op. 51
Jason Anderson, director • Jeffrey Ricco, reader • Jeremy Matheis, cantor • Michael Plagerman, post-Compline organ recitalist
Thanks to this evening's Compline volunteers: Hospitality Ministers Estephan Mezsa and Priscilla Strand; and videographer Michael Perera.
Compline at Saint Mark's Cathedral has been a Seattle tradition since 1956. All the singers are volunteers. Learn more at: https://saintmarks.org/worship/compline/
and: https://complinechoir.org/
If you watch and enjoy our live-streamed or archived services, please consider making a donation in support of the mission and ministry of this cathedral.
You may also donate using the Venmo mobile app from your smartphone (search for @SaintMarksCathedralSeattle ) Thank you for your generosity.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. Free, no registration required. Optional Community Dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family)
led by the Rev. Danae Ashley
What can a revolutionary 12th-century Benedictine nun teach us today? Plenty! Saint Hildegard von Bingen was a polymath and a German Benedictine abbess who lived from 1098–1179 in the Rhine Valley. Her myriad of gifts have been noticed throughout history: prophetess, composer, physician and healer, environmentalist, preacher, mystic, advisor, linguist of her own secret language, and much more. You are invited to learn more about St. Hildegard and her fascinating life, focusing on her holistic approach to mental health, through an interactive presentation with the Rev. Danáe Ashley—Episcopal priest, international speaker, and author of a forthcoming book from Tehom Center Publishing on Hildegard and psychotherapy.
A Zoom link will be posted here when it is availlable.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. Free, no registration required. Optional Community Dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family)
led by Canon Rich Weyls
What does theology have to say about environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change? Ecotheology is a form of constructive theology that focuses on the interrelationship between religion and nature, particularly in the light of environmental concerns. In this session, we will explore classical theological notions of Creation, our neglect of these concepts in Western Christianity, and their restoration in the Triune God of love. This presentation will be given by The Rev. Canon Rich Weyls, Canon for Community Life and Senior Associate Rector. Canon Rich is also the staff support person for Saint Mark's Creation Care Ministry.
A Zoom link will be posted here when it is available.
THURSDAY–SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13–15, 2025, registration required.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 6:30–9 P.M.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 6:30–9 P.M.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 9 A.M.–4 P.M.
(additional session Sunday afternoon, February 16, if needed)
Byzantine Iconography is a highly structured and disciplined art form which combines prayer and painting techniques to create serene images of Christ, Mary, the angels and the saints following centuries old guidelines.
Peter Pearson has been studying and painting icons for more than fifty years and teaching others to do so for over half that time. He’s authored three books on the subject and has painted hundreds of icons for churches, monasteries, seminaries, convents, and individuals all over the world. No previous experience or natural talent is required. We paint, pray, and follow the simple step-by-step instructions. Participants will be invited to envision and paint an icon image of Christ (see the color image on the right).
Fee: $450, includes all supplies and selected meals across the 3-day workshop. Limited to 20 participants; first come, first served. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space. Payment in full is due February 1, 2025.
Register below or using this form.
NOTE: Peter Pearson will also lead a Cathedral Commons forum on Wednesday, February 12 for the broader community (see below), offer a guest sermon at 9 and 11 a.m. on Sunday, February 16, and participate in an informal "Friends Talking" Sunday Morning Forum with Dean Thomason in the 10 a.m. hour on Sunday, February 16.
UPDATE 1/22: In conjunction with his workshop, sermon, and forums, members of the Saint Mark's Visual Arts Ministry is presenting an exhibition of a selection of sacred icons by Peter Pearson. There are 18 icons in total, each painted with acrylic paint on wooden panels using traditional Byzantine methods and varnished to protect the surface. A page identifying the title of each icon is available on the bench by the exhibition, and can also be viewed online here.
Please note: Some of the icons displayed will be for sale by contacting Fr. Pearson directly. Watch for more information about which icons are available in future weeks.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRAURY 12, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in Bloedel Hall and on Zoom
Byzantine iconography is an ancient and deeply prayerful art form in the Christian tradition, dating back nearly to the apostolic times. Over the centuries, it has evolved and developed as the faith spread throughout the world. Iconography follows a highly systematic and disciplined process which has been handed from teacher to student for centuries. It’s also a very comprehensively demanding educational course for those who want to explore and master the technical, historical, and spiritual aspects of this field. Fr. Peter Pearson, a Franciscan, will guide a reflection and conversation on icons, their use in worship and contemplative practice, and their contribution to art and beauty across generations. All are welcome.
About the instructor
Peter Pearson has been on this path for fifty four years, after being introduced to an icon by his elementary school art teacher. He’s painted thousands of icons and has introduced scores of students to the process. At this point, Peter has studied with more than a dozen master iconographers, including Nina Bouroff, Phillip Zimmerman, Nicholas Papas, Charles Rohrbacher, Valentin Streltsov, Damian Higgins, Xenia Pokrovsky, and Michael Kapeluck. He holds an Masters of Divinity in Sacred Theology from Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and recently completed a Doctorate in Sacred Theology with a thesis on Byzantine icons and spirituality.
Peter is the author of three books on iconography—including A Brush with God: An Icon Workbook and Another Brush with God: Further Conversations about Icons—and is working on a fourth. He regularly offers workshops and lectures on iconography around the country. He’s a sought after speaker with enthusiasm and the ability to make complicated issues accessible to every audience. His icons grace the walls of churches, monasteries, and homes throughout the world.
Peter is also a priest and a Brother in the Community of Francis and Clare in the Episcopal Church.
Order of Service | Each week's repertoire is posted here.
The Order of Service & repertoire may be found at: complineunderground.wordpress.com/2025/01/12/compline-2025-the-first-sunday-after-the-epiphany-the-baptism-of-jesus/
January 12, 2025 • The First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Jesus
(with Translation of a Member to Inactive Status)
ORISON: ‘I come,’ the great Redeemer cries (Tune: THIS ENDRIS NYGHT) – English mel.; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) and Martin Fallas Shaw (1875-1958)
PSALM 29 – Peter R. Hallock (1924-2014)
HYMN 121: Christ, when for us you were baptized (Tune: CAITHNESS) – melody from The Psalmes of David in Prose and Meeter, 1635; harm. The English Hymnal, 1906
NUNC DIMITTIS – Plainsong, Tone VI; harm. Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
ANTHEM: The Baptism of Christ – Peter R. Hallock
This service concludes with a brief rite of leave-taking for Vernon Nicodemus, who joined the choir in September of 1975, and served faithfully from 1975–2004, and 2016–2025. This was his final service as an active member of the Compline Choir.
Jason Anderson, director • Gregory Bloch, reader • John Garlid, cantor • anthem soloists: Joey Blundell, John Garlid, and Tyler Morse
Thanks to this evening's Compline volunteers: Hospitality Ministers James Davidson and John Gulhaugen.
Compline at Saint Mark's Cathedral has been a Seattle tradition since 1956. All the singers are volunteers. Learn more at: https://saintmarks.org/worship/compline/
and: https://complinechoir.org/
If you watch and enjoy our live-streamed or archived services, please consider making a donation in support of the mission and ministry of this cathedral.
You may also donate using the Venmo mobile app from your smartphone (search for @SaintMarksCathedralSeattle ) Thank you for your generosity.
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
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:
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.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2025, 6:30–8:30 P.M.
and SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2025, 9:30 A.M.–2:30 P.M., in person and via Zoom. Registration required.
This three-part workshop will approach the Spirituality of the Enneagram in ways we have not previously considered in the Wisdom School. Friday evening’s session will use the foundational concept of the soul child to describe the nine types with specific egoic reactions that come when disconnected from our original goodness. We will explore each type’s pride, virtue, avoidance, trap, and passion as portals into the spiritual journey of life. Saturday morning will explore inner dynamic flow, wings, and levels of consciousness, and we will delve into experiential exercises with our respective personality types. After lunch, participants will explore the soul’s essential qualities for spiritual development through guided meditations and interactive exercises. This last part is highlighted in Dr. Howell’s latest book, Know Your Soul.
Joseph Benton Howell, Ph.D., is a graduate of Samford University (B.A.1971), Yale Divinity School (MAR 1974), The University of Virginia (Ph.D.1978), and Fellow in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (1978-79). He is an International Enneagram Association (IEA) Accredited Professional Teacher, and the founder of the Institute for Conscious Being.
Dr. Howell has been practicing Clinical Psychology since 1980 in Anniston, Alabama. He began teaching topics in spiritual development in the late eighties and has traveled extensively presenting conferences and seminars in such disciplines as dream work, the Enneagram, levels of spiritual development, techniques in spiritual direction, and the theology of Henri Nouwen, Joe's mentor at Yale Divinity School. He is the author ofBecoming Conscious: The Enneagram's Forgotten Passageway and is in demand as a conference presenter all over the country.
UPDATE: The slides from this presentation are now available here. A complete video recording (divided in three parts) is now available:
UPDATED WITH VIDEO
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025
led by Canon Wendy Claire Barrie
The historic Creeds of the Church—most importantly the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed—are an essential and obligatory part of our liturgical tradition, and also a potential stumbling block for many. In this Wednesday forum led Canon Barrie, participants explored what the Creeds are (and what they are not), asked where they come from and how they came to be central to our worship practice, looked at some alternative creeds, and finally tried crafting our own.
A complete video is now available:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025
led by Dean Steve Thomason and Canon Emily Griffin
The Saint Mark's Vestry has once again authorized Saint Mark’s serving as a Sanctuary Hub, if called upon by the Sanctuary Network in our region. Dean Thomason and Canon Emily Griffin explored ways to respond compassionately and with intention, guided by our mandate to respect the dignity of every human being. Key to this effort will be a cohort of volunteers to serve in various ways, and we engaged in conversation during this evening about how we responsibly do that together.
Upcoming opportunities shared at the forum:
from The Church Council of Greater Seattle:
Immigration Organizing Faith Convening – Thursday, January 16, 6:30 p.m., at First Church Seattle (180 Denny Way); learn more and register here.
from Episcopal Migration Ministries:
Walking With: Migrant Accompaniment for Ministry Leaders in 2025 and Beyond – Friday, January 17, 9–10 a.m. Pacific Time, online webinar. Learn more and register here.
from the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN):
Rapid Response Training on Saturday, January 25, 12–2 p.m., online only. Rapid Response teams are groups of trained individuals who are activated to document and provide support to affected families when activity, raids or detentions by immigration agents are reported in their community. Learn more here. (We are hoping to create a Rapid Response team here at Saint Mark’s that can be activated as needed.) Register using the Zoom link.
Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Rally in Olympia – Thursday, January 30, 2 p.m.; learn more and register here. (The full-day program is at capacity and registration is closed, but you can still register for the march and rally)
Accompaniment Training Online – Wednesdays, February 12 & 19, 6–8 p.m., online only. Learn more and register here.
from the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW:
Advocacy Training – Monday, February 10, 6:30–8 p.m., online only. Learn more and register here.
Accompaniment Training – Sunday, February 23, time and in-person location TBA. Learn more here.
UPDATE: The slides from this presentation are now available here.
A video is now available below. (Note that the opening land acknowledgment and welcome are missing form the video. We apologize for the inconvenience.)
Order of Service in Christmastide | Each week's repertoire is posted here.
The Order of Service & repertoire may be found at: complineunderground.wordpress.com/2025/01/05/compline-2025-the-eve-of-the-epiphany/
January 5, 2025 • THE EVE OF THE EPIPHANY
ORISON: Brightest and best of the stars of the morning (Tune: MORNING STAR) - James Proctor Harding (1850–1911)
PSALM 96 – Jason A. Anderson (b. 1976)
HYMN 112: In the bleak mid-winter (Tune: CRANHAM) – Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
NUNC DIMITTIS (Tune: MARILYN) – Peter R. Hallock (1924-2014)
ANTHEMS: The Three Kings – Peter Cornelius (1824-1874); arr. Ivor Atkins (1869-1953) and Jason Anderson
Quem pastores laudavere – arr. Susan LeBarr (b. 1981)
Jason Anderson, director • Joel Matter, reader • Tyler Morse, cantor
Thanks to this evening's Compline volunteers: Hospitality Ministers Robin Ethridge and Estephan Meza.
Compline at Saint Mark's Cathedral has been a Seattle tradition since 1956. All the singers are volunteers. Learn more at: https://saintmarks.org/worship/compline/
and: https://complinechoir.org/
If you watch and enjoy our live-streamed or archived services, please consider making a donation in support of the mission and ministry of this cathedral.
You may also donate using the Venmo mobile app from your smartphone (search for @SaintMarksCathedralSeattle ) Thank you for your generosity.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2025, 10:10–10:50 A.M., meet in the St. Nicholas Building, just to the northing of the cathedral. (rescheduled from Jan. 12)
Between the 9 and 11 a.m. services on February 2, Dean Thomason will join representatives from Operation Nightwatch and lay leaders to formally bless the new Emergency Women’s Shelter on the Saint Mark’s Cathedral campus. The shelter is a partnership between Saint Mark's and Operation Nightwatch—street ministry in Seattle in which cathedral members also serve as volunteers—and will be called Donna Jean’s Place at Saint Mark’s, named in honor of Donna Jean Palmberg, whose late husband, Pastor Bud, founded Operation Nightwatch nearly 57 years ago. The shelter will serve up to twenty women nightly, and provide not only beds to sleep in, but showers, laundry, and lockers to store their belongings. There will also be a small clinical room for the women to receive medical and mental health care services. Gather in the space on the first floor of the St Nicholas Building following the 9 a.m. service—signage will guide you.
NOTE: Donations are still needed to help complete the facility. See the list of requests and ways to donate here.
UPDATES (1/8):
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2025, 4:30 P.M. (Evensong), 5:30 P.M. (Burning of the Greens and Chili Supper, registration requested)
UPDATE (1/2/25): At this time, the response to the potluck has been overwhelming, and folks have committing to bring more food that we could possibly need. You are still welcome to bring a dish to share, but be aware that there will be an abundance! Please still register to attend so Chef Marc and his crew can have the correct amount of cider and s'mores on hand.
In our tradition, the celebration of the Feast of Christmas lasts twelve days, beginning December 25 and ending on January 5 (that is, the day before the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6). The evening of the last day of Christmas is known as “Twelfth Night,” and is an opportunity for festivity and reflection.
Since January 5 falls on a Sunday in 2025, the traditional Twelfth Night outdoor bonfire of Christmas greenery will follow first-Sunday Choral Evensong this year. Bring greens from home to burn as well!
A community potluck chili supper will follow. (Chili toppings, salad, s'mores fixings, and hot cider will be provided—chili and cornbread requested.) Register to participate in the dinner by submitting the form at this link or below on this page.
(click to enlarge)
Order of Service in Christmastide | Each week's repertoire is posted here.
The Order of Service & repertoire may be found at: complineunderground.wordpress.com/2024/12/29/compline-2024-the-first-sunday-after-christmas-day/
December 29, 2024 • The First Sunday after Christmas
PROCESSIONAL (H 102): Once in royal David’s city (Tune: IRBY) – mel. Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876); harm. Arthur Henry Mann (1850-1929)
PSALM 147 – Peter R. Hallock (1924-2014)
HYMN 82: Of the Father’s love begotten (Tune: DIVINUM MYSTERIUM) – Sanctus trope, 11th cent.; adapt. Piae Cantiones, 1582; arr. Richard T. Proulx (1937-2010)
NUNC DIMITTIS (Tune: MARILYN) – Peter R. Hallock
ANTHEMS: O beatam et Sacrosanctum diem – Peter Philips (1561-1628)
When Christ was born of Mary free – John Joubert (1927-2019)
Jason Anderson, director • J. Scott Kovacs, reader • Theo Floor, cantor
Thanks to this evening's Compline volunteer: Hospitality Minister Estephan Meza.
Compline at Saint Mark's Cathedral has been a Seattle tradition since 1956. All the singers are volunteers. Learn more at: https://saintmarks.org/worship/compline/
and: https://complinechoir.org/
If you watch and enjoy our live-streamed or archived services, please consider making a donation in support of the mission and ministry of this cathedral.
You may also donate using the Venmo mobile app from your smartphone (search for @SaintMarksCathedralSeattle ) Thank you for your generosity.