Blog - Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral

A Special Video for Choir Members

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 26, 2020 with 2 Comments

The music program at Saint Mark’s Seattle, somewhat famously, involves seven different choirs (Saint Mark’s Singers, Cathedral Choir, Evensong Choir, Compline Choir, Junior Choristers, Senior Choristers, and Schola). During this time when choirs are neither singing for liturgies nor meeting weekly to rehearse, choir members are feeling separation and absence acutely. Canon Kleinschmidt and Choir School Director Rebekah Gilmore made the following video to recreate the warm-ups which begin all choir rehearsals, when singers prepare our voices and our bodies … Read More

Kathy Albert: Prayers for Life

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 26, 2020 with 2 Comments

Parishioner Kathy Albert wrote this reflection on two meaningful prayers. Thank you for sharing, Kathy! When life gets rugged, I turn to a wealth of spiritual wisdom that has sustained me over the years. Here’s a prayer that I am saying out loud now after meals. It comes from Gates of the House: The New Union Home Prayer Book, published by the Central Conference of American Rabbis: “Let us praise God. Praised be the name of God, now and forever! … Read More

Share your Dinner Wednesday night!

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 24, 2020 with No Comments

Let’s gather virtually and have fun staying connected! This Wednesday, March 25, on our usual Cathedral Commons night, visit the Saint Mark’s Seattle Community Life during the Closure group and post a photo of your dinner table or what you’re eating. Some members of the group tried this last Wednesday, and it was so lovely to see everyone! (A few examples are pictured at below.) This Facebook group is “private”—to join in, just follow the link above, or visit our our regular Facebook … Read More

Jo Ann Bailey: Help Medical Workers by Making Fabric Masks

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 24, 2020 with No Comments

Community member Jo Ann Bailey, a professional seamstress and teacher of sewing, submitted this report below about making fabric masks for healthcare workers. (Last week on the cathedral’s Facebook Group, there was a call from Providence Hospitals for help sewing masks, but they have subsequently engaged manufacturers, including a Mukilteo furniture factory, to produce masks in quantity and are no longer soliciting volunteers. The opportunity described below is a better option!) A shortage of protective clothing for medical professionals is … Read More

Dean’s Letter: One Body, Many Parts

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 24, 2020 with 1 Comment

As we approach two weeks since the first public health directives upended our normal routines, with many in the interim faced with job loss, school closures, and the threat of illness coming too close, I am keenly aware that the stress of this disruption and the weight of the burgeoning health care crisis are bearing down on us, collectively and individually. It is difficult in the moment to find an unimpeded path to resolution and a return to normalcy (whatever … Read More

Compline on the Fourth Sunday in Lent

by Christopher Brown on March 23, 2020 with No Comments

Sunday, March 22, 9:30 p.m. • Compline on the Third Sunday in Lent The office of Compline will not be open to the public during the cathedral closure. It will be broadcast as usual on KING-FM 98.1 and king.org, and livestreamed from the Cathedral Nave, at 9:30 P.M. A beloved Seattle institution since 1956, the all-male Compline Choir sings the last monastic office of the day every Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Hundreds pack the nave each week for this meditative … Read More

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

by Christopher Brown on March 22, 2020 with No Comments

Sunday March 22, 11:00 a.m. • The Fourth Sunday in Lent • Service Bulletin Support the Mission and Ministry of Saint Mark’s Cathedral 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 make a contribution online at saintmarks.org/give (link opens in new tab). You may also donate using the Venmo mobile app from your smartphone (search for @SaintMarksCathedralSeattle ) Thank you for … Read More

Sonjia Gavin: Blessing and Curse

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 20, 2020 with 1 Comment

Yin and Yang. Sinner and Saint. Blessing and Curse. As they say, there are always to sides to a coin. In this time of limbo, I find myself thinking about this daily. What is the take-away from all of this? What are we supposed to be learning? How are we going to make it through? Will this ever this end? All around us, we are experiencing a new normal. Students are not in school, employees are being laid off (including … Read More

Reflections on Signs of Grace…

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 20, 2020 with 1 Comment

After hearing Dean Thomason’s sermon on March 15, 2020, parishioners were invited to reflect on where they had been experiencing sacramental grace in their daily lives during this challenging time. I snapped a photo (attached) on my walk out of PCC this evening after being greeted by a brass band playing music together in the park. All of the musicians were standing at least 6 feet apart (practicing social distancing) while they played joyful music. Lifted my spirits immediately … Read More

An Introduction to Sunday’s Hymns: March 22, 2020

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 19, 2020 with 1 Comment

Canon Michael Kleinshmidt introduces some of the hymns that will be sung in the live-streamed liturgy at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle, on the Fourth Sunday in Lent.

Table Grace for Your Wednesday Night Supper

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 19, 2020 with No Comments

Every Wednesday night the community of Saint Mark’s has been invited to join together for a meal in Bloedel Hall. That meal always begins with the table grace sung by the choristers of the Choir School and all the parishioners who are attending. During this time of isolation, if you would like to begin your Wednesday night meal in the same way, Canon Keinschmidt offers this video > Be present at our table Lord; Be here and everywhere adored. These … Read More

Amanda: “We’re all in this together”

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 18, 2020 with 3 Comments

For Saint Mark’s member Amanda, the experience of social isolation and distance is not a new one. She recently posted this thoughtful reflection on the Saint Mark’s Community Closed Facebook Group, and it is being reposted here for the benefit of community members who do not use Facebook. Please leave a comment below if you are so moved. Hi church. I’m Amanda, my family started attending St. Mark’s this past summer. I’m stepping out in a moment of vulnerability to … Read More

Morning Prayer, 7 a.m. Thursdays

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 17, 2020 with No Comments

Note: this post form March 2020 is kept up for historical reasons, and is no longeer accurate. Please check the Worship Schedule page for the most updated information. For many years, a devoted congregation has gathered each Thursday morning for a weekday service of Holy Eucharist. Similar to daily Evening Prayer, the Thursday Morning Eucharist will likewise be replaced at this time by a service of Morning Prayer offered each week using the Zoom online teleconferencing platform. The begins Thursday, … Read More

Michael Seewer: “COVID-19 and Me”

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 17, 2020 with No Comments

The video that was live-streamed carefully avoided images of the empty pews and chairs, except for a few special moments at the beginning and end—but for those few of us present in the church the emptiness was a constant, unsettling presence. Cathedral Sacristan and Head Verger Michael Seewer posted a personal reflection about his experiences last Sunday on his personal blog. Below is a brief excerpt. Read his full post on his personal blog. As the liturgy was to begin, … Read More

Kelly Moody: “Everything Has Changed”

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 16, 2020 with No Comments

Associate for Spiritual Formation Kelly Moody recently sent the following letter to the participants in Children and Family Ministries at Saint Mark’s. Her reflection is relevant, however, not just to parents of young children, but to all of us, and so we are sharing it here. “Everything has changed.” We say that in Godly Play at the beginning of a new liturgical year, and it seems appropriate in the wake of the news all gatherings over 50 people are prohibited, … Read More

Daily Evening Prayer Online

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 16, 2020 with 3 Comments

Daily Evening Prayer is offered each weekday, Monday through Friday, at 6:30 p.m. PLEASE NOTE: This is an outdated page with inaccurate information, kept here for historical reasons. Please find accurate information on the main Daily Office page here. UPDATE: Beginning Tuesday, August 3, 2021, the service will be offered in person in Thomsen Chapel on Tuesdays only. Monday and Wednesday–Friday the service will remain online-only via Zoom. For many years, Saint Mark’s has offered a spoken service of Daily Evening Prayer … Read More

Compline on the Third Sunday in Lent

by Christopher Brown on March 15, 2020 with 4 Comments

Sunday, March 15, 9:30 p.m. • Compline on the Third Sunday in Lent The office of Compline will not be open to the public during the cathedral closure. It will be broadcast as usual on KING-FM 98.1 and king.org, and livestreamed from the Cathedral Nave, at 9:30 P.M. A beloved Seattle institution since 1956, the all-male Compline Choir sings the last monastic office of the day every Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Hundreds pack the nave each week for this meditative … Read More

Cathedral Beekeeping Ministry

by Christopher Brown on March 15, 2020 with 2 Comments

Cathedral Beekeeping Ministry Saint Mark’s houses honey bees on the rooftop of the Cathedral House. Leaders have obtained apprentice certification from the Washington State Master Beekeepers Association, and are ready to educate any interested community members who wish to participate. For more information, contact ministry leader Kelly Canaday [stmarksbees@gmail.com]

The Third Sunday in Lent

by Christopher Brown on March 15, 2020 with No Comments

Sunday, March 15, 11:00 a.m. • The Third Sunday in Lent • Service Bulletin Support the Mission and Ministry of Saint Mark’s Cathedral 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 make a contribution online at saintmarks.org/give (link opens in new tab). You may also donate using the Venmo mobile app from your smartphone (search for @SaintMarksCathedralSeattle ) Thank you for … Read More

Sandra Smith: A Reflection on Social Distancing

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 13, 2020 with 4 Comments

Sandra Smith is a longtime parishioner who was recently named Cathedral Chaplain. Her perspective as an immune-compromised person is uniquely valuable at this time, when we are all forced to consider the effect that our choices and habits could have on others. She submitted the thoughtful reflection below: Thank you all—the people of our Church and of our State—for participating in social distancing as we all navigate preventing and containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. I am very proud … Read More

The Labyrinth is Open!

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 13, 2020 with 2 Comments

While the cathedral building is closed, don’t forget that the cathedral’s outdoor labyrinth is open and available for a meditative, spiritual walk at any time. (Be sure to practice social distancing when you visit.) If you are new to walking the labyrinth as spiritual practice, The Veriditas organization is a good place to start.

From the Dean: Reframing the Challenge

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 13, 2020 with No Comments

The following is an excerpt from the Dean’s letter sent out on March 7, 2020. For the full text of the letter, and information about Saint Mark’s response to the current viral outbreak, please visit the cathedral’s Coronavirus outbreak information page. Every Lent we retell the account of Jesus’ forty-day retreat in the wilderness as a time of temptation, but also as a time of prayerful discernment, for Jesus and for all who follow him. Jesus began his worldly ministry … Read More

Join the Saint Mark’s Community Life Facebook Group!

by Saint Mark's Cathedral on March 13, 2020 with No Comments

All who feel a connection to the community of Saint Mark’s Seattle (where ever they might be) is invited to join the closed facebook group Saint Mark’s Community Life during the Closure. The purpose of the group is to connect with each other and with the cathedral during this time of isolation, quarantine, and building closure. Check it out! For those who do not use Facebook, content from the group will be posted on the Online Community Life page on … Read More

The Second Sunday in Lent

by Christopher Brown on March 8, 2020 with No Comments

Sunday, March 8, 11:00 a.m. • The Second Sunday in Lent • Service Bulletin Support the Mission and Ministry of Saint Mark’s Cathedral 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 make a contribution online at saintmarks.org/give (link opens in new tab). You may also donate using the Venmo mobile app from your smartphone (search for @SaintMarksCathedralSeattle ) Thank you for … Read More

Choral Evensong on The First Sunday in Lent

by Christopher Brown on March 1, 2020 with No Comments

Sunday, March 1, 4:30 p.m. • Choral Evensong on The First Sunday in Lent • Service Bulletin Support the Mission and Ministry of Saint Mark’s Cathedral 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 make a contribution online at saintmarks.org/give (link opens in new tab). You may also donate using the Venmo mobile app from your smartphone (search for @SaintMarksCathedralSeattle ) … Read More