Cathedral Commons Forum: Simple Gifts

by on November 13, 2025 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom

 

James Davidson and Molly Bosch will share what they are reading, listening to and gifting this season, with a focus on what’s grounding them and giving them hope and joy. Art, music, and literature are particularly important in the current social climate, and those attending in person and on zoom are encouraged to share their personal recommendations. We’ll also talk about alternatives to the holiday consumer frenzy, as a way of making a difference locally and an opportunity to participate in socially conscious gift-giving.

Please bring a favorite book in very good condition you’d like to pass on in exchange for another book. 

Join online using this Zoom link.

Program is free; optional community dinner at 6 p.m. ($8/adult; $25/family max.)

TERRA EXHIBIT: A Monumental Installation in the Cathedral Nave

by on November 4, 2025 with 4 Comments

ON VIEW MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3 through SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, in the cathedral nave. (The cathedral building is open 12–5 P.M., MONDAY–FRIDAY during the exhibit.)

OFFICIAL LAUNCH EVENT: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 5–10 P.M. Free, but registration required.

For three weeks in November, a 24-foot museum-grade Earth globe will be suspended from the central beam in the cathedral nave. This awe-inspiring exhibit is co-produced by Revival Gatherings and Orbis Globes, in collaboration with Saint Mark's.

The power of the TERRA Exhibition is in opportunity to experience the “overview effect,” a profound shift in human consciousness previously only made possible by viewing the earth from outer space. When Commander Frank Borman first glimpsed the blue-green marble from Apollo 8, he exclaimed, “This must be what God sees.”

Every weekday during the period when the globe is on display, the cathedral will be open and accessible to the public from 12–5 p.m., and it will form a moving backdrop to weekly offerings—like Cathedral Yoga, Contemplative Prayer, and Sunday services including Compline—as well as special events like the United We Stand Prayer Vigil (Wednesday, November 5, 7 p.m.) a Creation-themed Taizé litrugy (Tuesday, November 11, 7 p.m.) and the Skyros Quartet concert (Sunday, November 23, 3 p.m.).

In addition, there will be events specifically tied to the exhibit: a presentation and community resource fair organized by Saint Mark's Creation Care Ministry and Visual Arts Ministry on November 14 titled Thin Places: Climate Change and Seeing Earth Whole (Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m), and a five-hour "ritual concert experience" titled THE CIRCLE: Bridging Culture Through Song & Story organized by the producers of the Terra Exhibit itself (Saturday, November 22, 5:45–11 p.m.)

Debut event

The official TERRA debut evening on Friday, November 7, begins at 5 p.m. with an informal reception and refreshments, and continues with introductory remarks at 6:30, collective & participatory music-making at 7 p.m., and a sound bath at 9:30 p.m. This event is free, but attendance is limited, so registration is required. Register here.

 

Click on the photos to enlarge (but be aware that photos do not do the experience justice!)

United We Stand: An Interreligious Prayer Vigil in Troubled Times

by on November 4, 2025 with 4 Comments
Click the image above to download the flyer (pdf).

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 7–8 P.M., in the cathedral nave and livestreamed

In this time of trial and struggle, as we confront challenges to our civil society and our body politic, we are at a crossroads of conscience. And though the voices of vitriol and extremism often resound loudly, it is the judicious wisdom of resilient and courageous peacemakers who will lead us through this crisis. Prayerful reflection stands as a hopeful response to the static of cynicism.

Join local religious leaders and fellow citizens who will gather in Seattle’s Saint Mark’s Cathedral at this critical juncture of our nation’s history. In times of crisis, we come together. All are invited to join in this brief non-partisan interfaith service of hope, either in-person or via livestream. We ask you to embrace this moment of contemplation and connection, as we affirm the principles that transcend our differences, and the common cause that will bind the wounds of this great nation.

Event co-sponsored by: Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, St. James Catholic Cathedral, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Seattle, and the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement at Seattle University

United We Stand: An Interreligious Prayer Vigil in Troubled Times | Wednesday, November 5, 7 p.m.

Order of Service 

Thin Places: Climate Change and Seeing Earth Whole

by on November 4, 2025 with 1 Comment
Learn more about the TERRA globe here.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025, 7:30 P.M. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.), in the Saint Mark's Cathedral nave and livestreamed. Free and open to the public.

  • 6:30 p.m. Doors open for community tables
  • 7:30 p.m. Talk and Q&A
  • 9 p.m. community tables available again

Join Saint Mark’s Cathedral for a compelling public conversation with the Rev. Lisa Graumlich, Ph.D., a distinguished climate scientist and ordained deacon.

A VIDEO OF THE PRESENTATION IS NOW AVAILABLE: 

Held in conjunction with the TERRA Exhibit—a 24-foot rotating replica of the Earth suspended in the nave—Dr. Graumlich’s talk will explore how climate change reveals our world as a single, interconnected system. She will discuss the "thin places" where science and faith converge, showing us that our climate crisis demands not just new technology, but new eyes to see the Earth whole. The evening will be introduced by Dean Steve Thomason and will feature an extensive Q&A.

Dr. Graumlich is professor emerita of environmental and forest science at the University of Washington, who has served as the dean of the UW College of the Environment and as the president of the American Geophysical Union. She is also a deacon in The Episcopal Church.

Come early or stay late for a Community Resource Fair, with representatives of community, government, and faith-based groups focused on creation care and climate justice, who will have tables set up in the nave. All are invited to visit the information tables before the presentation begins, 6:30–7:30 p.m., or after it concludes.

Participants in the resource fair include:

  • Duwamish River Community Coalition
  • Empower Me
  • Episcopal Diocese of Olympia Creation Care & Environmental Justice Resources
  • Faith Action Network
  • First Church, Seattle (UMC) Climate Justice Working Group
  • St. James Cathedral Care for Creation Team
  • St. Joseph Parish Climate Justice Committee
  • Saint Mark’s Cathedral Creation Care Ministry
  • Save Our Wild Salmon
  • Third Act Washington
  • Tree Action Seattle
  • University Unitarian Church Climate Action Team

In addition, Queen Anne Book Company will be on hand to sell books, and the Saint Mark's Intergenerational Ministries will have a table with activities and resources for families and people of all ages.

About the Presenter

The Rev. Lisa Graumlich, Ph.D., is a distinguished climate scientist and Episcopal deacon who bridges the worlds of scientific inquiry and faith leadership. From 2010 to 2021, she served as the inaugural dean of the University of Washington College of the Environment. She recently completed her term as president of the American Geophysical Union in 2024. Dr. Graumlich has represented The Episcopal Church as a faith leader at the United Nations Climate Conferences in 2023 and 2024. She holds a special connection to the community of Saint Mark's, having been ordained to the vocational diaconate at the cathedral in 2023. She currently serves as a Deacon in Arizona.

See an interview from 2020 in which Dr. Graumlich discusses her work as a scientist and her faith journey here.

The Giving Tree 2025

by on November 1, 2025 with No Comments

This year's Giving Tree will be available at the Alternative Gift Market on November 23, and then be moved to the nave. Like every year, it will be filled with tags for gift cards to Lowell Elementary School, Casa Latina, and Lambert House, and toys for Mary’s Place.

Drop off donations at the cathedral on Sundays or at the cathedral offices Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. All gifts from the Giving Tree, Wish List, or gift cards are are due back to the cathedral by 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 7, so they can blessed at the altar that Sunday and then be distributed to recipients in a timely fashion.

 

Wish Lists

As an alternative to picking up a tag on the Giving Tree, you are welcome to use of the following wish lists:

When you check out from Amazon, look for the words "Gift Registry Address" under Canon Barrie's name (Wendy Claire Barrie) when selecting the delivery address so that it will be delivered to the cathedral to be blessed at the altar on December 7.

 

Gift Cards

You can also simply purchase a gift card directly and drop it off at the cathedral:

  • for Casa Latina, gift cards are requested in the amount of $25 for either Target or QFC/Fred Meyer.
  • for Lambert House, gift cards are requested in the amount of $25 for Target or QFC/Fred Meyer
  • For Lowell Elementary, gift cards are requested in the amount of $50 from Target, Ross, or Grocery Outlet.

All gifts from the Giving Tree, Wish List, or gift cards are are due back to the cathedral by 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 7.

Your generosity means an enormous amount to these families in our community. Additional opportunities to support our community partners will be announced each week, now through Advent!

Questions? Contact Canon Barrie: wbarrie@saintmarks.org

Second Annual Crafternoon!

by on October 30, 2025 with No Comments

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1–4:30 P.M., Bloedel Hall 

Let's gather in Bloedel Hall as a cathedral community for an afternoon of creativity! Bring your own craft project to work on or join in one of several activity stations making items to be sold at the Alternative Gift Market to benefit the Threshold Fund. Members of the Quilt Ministry will be on hand for quilt tying and nine-patch designing, we’ll make cranberry sauce and rosemary nuts, craft simple Christmas ornaments, pour or roll candles, and repot some small plants. Have an idea of something else we should make? Email Canon Barrie: wbarrie@saintmarks.org

A Special Opportunity. Toward the conclusion of Crafternoon,  from 3:30 to 4 :30 p.m., we’ll go to the nave for a private introduction to the TERRA Exhibit and an intergenerational song circle. TERRA Production lead Ben Browner will orient us to the purpose of the exhibit. Then, our own Elizabeth Antley will lead us in songs about creation, connection, and peace as we gather around the globe.

Community Book Study: The Asylum Seekers

by on October 30, 2025 with No Comments

SUNDAYS, DECEMBER 7 and 14, 2025, 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Cathedral Room 210, in person.

This Advent as we begin tracing the migrant journey of the Holy Family, the Restorative Justice Council invites the entire community of Saint Mark's to participate in a book study to help guide our response as followers of Jesus to questions of migrant justice. We’ve chosen The Asylum Seekers: A Chronicle of Life, Death and Community at the Border (2025) by Episcopal priest Cristina Rathbone. The book traces her four-month accompaniment of Mexican asylum seekers in 2019 as their informal chaplain at a tent community in Juarez. While laws and enforcement practices have changed since then, the violence pushing our neighbors to flee their homes and the spiritual reserves required to make such journeys remains. We’ll consider up through Chapter 18 at our first session and finish the book in our second.

Questions? Contact the Rev. Canon Emily Griffin at egriffin@saintmarks.org.

Cathedral Commons—Reflections on the Evensong Pilgrimage

by on October 30, 2025 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025

Join Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Rebekah Gilmore, and members of the Evensong Choir for reflections and discussion on their summer pilgrimage to serve as choir-in-residence for a week each in Lincoln and Durham Cathedrals, England. The forum will be led by Evensong Choir Members James Wilcox and Molly Porter, and some choir members will share some music that was sung during the pilgrimage.

Thanksgiving Day Eucharist and Community Meal, 2025

by on October 27, 2025 with No Comments

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27
10 A.M. (liturgy), in the cathedral nave and livestreamed
11:30 A.M. (community Thanksgiving meal), in Bloedel Hall, registration requested

Begin your holiday observance by offering your thanks to God at a service of Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. in the cathedral nave, then gather in Bloedel for a festive and abundant community celebration.

All are welcome, and feel free to bring others in your circles to join the fête. Turkeys (and a vegetarian alternative main dish) will be provided; bring a side dish, bread or dessert if you can. No worries if not—just come and be a part as we give thanks together in this place. In order to plan for room setup and the size of the turkeys, please reserve your spot no later than 10 a.m. on Monday, November 24. Register using this link or below.

(Check out some photos from Thanksgiving 2023 at the bottom of this page!)

Read More

2025 Alternative Gift Market!

by on October 23, 2025 with No Comments

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 10 A.M.–1 P.M. (after the 9 and 11 a.m. services), in Bloedel Hall. Sign up to volunteer here.

You won’t want to miss this year’s Alternative Gift Market on Sunday, November 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bloedel Hall. This year's market will include unique handmade items you won’t find anywhere else, a bake sale with delicious treats, opportunities to donate to meaningful causes, and more.

This event benefits our community partner organizations: Lowell Elementary School, Casa Latina, Mary’s Place, Lambert House, Operation Nightwatch/Donna Jean’s Place, Seattle Seafarers Center, L’Arche Seattle, and the Threshold Fund.

  • One-of-a-kind handmade items from Saint Mark’s ministries handmade items Quilt Ministry, the Ministry of Worsted Wool, and our neighbors at the Seattle Weavers' Guild
  • Dried flower creations from the Flower Ministry
  • Holy Honey from our hives, homemade cranberry sauce and elderberry syrup
  • Hot cider, cocoa, coffee, tea, and baked goods, hot soup and fresh rolls available for shoppers
  • Donation certificates to include in your Christmas cards to family and loved ones, indicating that you have given a donation to one of our community partner organizations in their honor, as a meaningful alternative to the consumer frenzy
  • 2025 Giving Tree

Sign up to support this great community event here—volunteers are needed to help set up the space on Friday and Saturday, or helping out during the market itself or helping to clean up on Sunday.

Another way to give at the Alternative Gift Market is to bring something new and unopened that our community partner organizations need:

  • Operation Nightwatch is collecting men's socks
  • Saint Mark's is filling Christmas stockings for Donna Jean's Place (the women's shelter on the cathedral campus) tinted lip gloss, nail polish, and purse-sized hand lotion
  • Mission to Seafarers needs full-sized toiletries: shampoo, body wash, bar of soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and shaving cream

Questions? Contact Canon Wendy Claire Barrie: wbarrie@saintmarks.org

Depolarizing Ourselves Introductory Workshop: A First Step Toward Civil Engagement

by on October 22, 2025 with 1 Comment

A Forum with Braver Angels

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 7–8:30 P.M., in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom

NOTE UPDATED TIME!*

Register here to attend in person in Bloedel Hall*

Register here to participate online via Zoom

Capacity for the in-person event is strictly limited. If you register, but your plans change and you can no longer attend in person, please email Erik Donner in the cathedral office at edonner@saintmarks.org to cancel your reservation. You may register to participate online via Zoom at any time up to the day of the event.

*PLEASE NOTE: Both in-person Evening Prayer and Community Dinner will be offered as usual this Wednesday, at 5:30 and 6 p.m., respectively. As always, food service will end promptly at 6:30. To allow time to re-arrange Bloedel Hall, the forum itself will begin at 7 p.m. and continue until 8:30 p.m. (slightly later than a normal Cathedral Commons offering).

Civil discourse requires mutual respect. Respect, not agreement, is an essential key for a healthy discussion. This workshop addresses how we may inadvertently be complicit in, or possibly even encourage, polarization.

What is the Depolarizing Ourselves Introductory Workshop?

The Depolarizing Ourselves Introductory Workshop is designed to help you lessen the effects of polarization when you encounter them in your political conversations. Note that by “polarization,” we are not referring to healthy disagreements over issues or philosophy. We are talking about how we regard and talk about large groups of ordinary people on the other side of our own politics as if they were enemies.

This is a group session that is approximately 1.5 hours long. It is led by a volunteer Braver Angels Facilitator. Braver Angels is a non-religious organization that develops educational tools to build bridges between people divided over politics. We also partner with religious and other groups who use our tools in the context of their own traditions.

Goals

To teach participants:

  • How to be more aware of their own “inner polarizer”.
  • How to interact without demonizing, dismissing or stereotyping large swaths of the population.

In our current political climate, much of our conflict stems not from healthy disagreement over policies, issues, or philosophy. Instead, it’s created by the often emotional, rancor-escalating, and highly polarizing conversations that we typically have with others. Braver Angels has created our Depolarizing Ourselves Workshop to help you reframe how you view the other side in the face of disagreements around politics. Successfully ‘taming’ our inner polarizer starts with recognizing our tendencies around harmful generalizations about the other side. This requires acknowledging how we often attribute negative intent and motivations to the other side without first trying to understand them.

Register here to attend in person in Bloedel Hall*

Register here to participate online via Zoom

*NOTE: Capacity for the in-person event is strictly limited. If you register, but your plans change and you can no longer attend in person, please email Erik Donner in the cathedral office at edonner@saintmarks.org to cancel your reservation. You may register to participate online via Zoom at any time up to the day of the event.

Emergency Preparedness Workshop

by on October 22, 2025 with 2 Comments

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 9 A.M. to 2:30 P.M., Bloedel Hall. Fee: $25, includes lunch. Registration required.

NOTE: This workshop will be offered only in person, but the presentation will be recorded and a video will be poste on this page following the event.

Topics Covered:

  • The Roles and Commitment of a Safety Ministry Team
  • “The First 30 Seconds”-Case Studies of Active Assailants and Killers and Lessons Learned
  • Normal Human Response to Deadly Force Situations and how it affects survival
  • “Until the Police Arrive” after an incident, big or small.
  • Run, Hide, Fight”-the Challenges
  • Attackers-common traits and trends
  • Application of Relevant data, affordable training for Church for planning and training.
  • Intentional Situational Awareness- Staying “Left of Bang”
  • Most Effective Deterrent’s to Violence-What you can do today.
  • First Steps in Starting teams
  • Resources for Affordable, Quality Training for Safety Ministry Courses, and Networking

The content of this presentation includes several actual videos of violence in a house of worship and interviews of heroes. Every effort has been made to avoid any gratuitous display of such. There are valuable lessons to be learned. This is not a topic that one cannot ethically sugar coat and project images of unicorns and rainbows. Respect for those who are victims and heroes is paramount. There will be ample time for discussion of all the materials presented as we proceed.

 

Who Should Attend:

Clergy, Staff, Vestry, Ushers, Front Line Volunteers
Choir, Children & Youth Ministries Leadership
and anyone interested in emergency planning and preparedness.

 

About the Facilitators:

Ronald J. Miller, MA, MS

Retired CA police officer, licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Behavioral Forensics Investigator, and Clark County Special Deputy Cold Case Homicide Investigator.

Joanne L. Miller, RN, ARNP, MHL, MSN (retired)

Retired after 38 years as a Critical Care and Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner and a Trauma Coordinator for a major metropolitan Level II Trauma Hospital, and as an instructor in Advanced Life Support certification for nurses and physicians. She is also a Certified Firearms Instructor.

The Millers have been presenters at a number of Church workshops on creating a Safety Ministry with a focus on risk mitigation and reduction, and how to set up a safety and security team. Ron is the designated (volunteer) Safety & Security Coordinator for the Diocese of Olympia.

Special Parish Forum: Affordable Housing Project Updates

by on October 16, 2025 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom

Join the Affordable Housing Committee to discuss key project milestones and meet some of the partners in our work. This forum will provide updates and insights from Redwood Housing, Saint Mark’s development partner, community engagement planning, and an opportunity to preview initial visioning for an innovative community-based organization model that will help guide the development of a housing community on campus. More details to come.

Learn about the history of the project up to this point here, and join the forum online using this Zoom link.

Program is free; optional community dinner at 6 p.m. ($8/adult; $25/family max.)

Cathedral Commons – Forum on the Archbishop of Canterbury

by on October 9, 2025 with 1 Comment

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom

WITH THE REV. ADAM CONLEY

The recent election of Sarah Mullaly as the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury is an historic event. What is the Archbishop of Canterbury all about? How did this clerical role gain such primacy? What does the recent election mean for the Episcopal Church, the Church of England, and the worldwide Anglican Communion? Fr. Adam will guide an exploration and discussion of the role, meaning, and impact of the Archbishop of Canterbury for Anglicans across the globe. He will offer stories of his personal experiences at an enthronement of a past archbishop and share perspectives on the current archbishop from different corners of the Worldwide Anglican Communion.

UPDATE: Download the slides from this presentation here.

The following references and resources were shared at the forum:

  • An NPR interview about the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury
  • An episode of the Holy Smoke podcast, "What can we expect from the first Female ABC?" (Oct. 3, 2025) [NB: Fr. Conley recommends this single episode, not this podcast as a whole.]
  • This article from The Living Church, which outlines the diversity of responses to Sarah Mullaly’s appointment
  • The Anglican Communion at a Crossroads (2018) by Christopher Craig Brittain and Andrew McKinnon
  • Anglican Theology: Postcolonial Perspectives (2024) by Stephen Burns and James Tengatenga
  • The Anglican Tradition from a Postcolonial Perspective (2023) by Kwok Pui-Lan
  • Christianity and Social Order (1942) by William Temple (Archbishop of Canterbury,1942–1944)
  • Love's Redeeming Work: The Anglican Quest for Holiness (2003), ed. Geoffrey Rowell, Kenneth Stevenson, and Rowan Williams
  • Anglicanism: A Very Short Introduction (2006) by Mark Chapman
  • The Book of Common Prayer [...] According the Use of The Episcopal Church (1979)

St Francis Day Celebration and Blessing of the Animals

by on October 2, 2025 with 2 Comments

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 4:30 P.M., on the front lawn and labyrinth

On Saturday, October 4, Saint Mark’s will once again offer its beloved Saint Francis Day tradition. This Saturday afternoon outdoor offering has a truly festive community atmosphere. The cathedral extends a special invitation to folks in the neighborhood who may not usually attend Saint Mark's. Dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, ponies, chickens, and all creatures great and small are welcome.

The service at 4:30 p.m. includes prayers for healing humanity’s relationship with the earth, and for all the creatures who share the earth with us. Music will be offered by choristers of the Choir School. After the service, animals can receive an individual blessing from a priest if desired. A festive reception with treats for pets and people will conclude the afternoon.

All are invited to attend, with or without their animal companions. Stuffed animals are also welcome to be blessed, as are photographs of pets who would not find attending the event a blessed experience. Animals should remain leashed or kenneled. You are welcome to bring your own chair to use on the lawn, although chairs will also be provided.

Photos from the Blessing of the Animals in previous years:

Cathedral Commons – Naming Our Thresholds

by on October 2, 2025 with No Comments

Part of the Wisdom School at Saint Mark's 2025-26 season 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom

Facilitated by the Rev. Canon Emily Griffin

Thresholds are places for entering and leaving­—for moving from one kind of space or time to another. We make these kinds of transitions throughout our lives but often don’t know how to prepare for them, mark them, or discern the shape of our lives in light of them. In this session, we will share tools for narrating our own life stories and explore how our shared story as Christians helps us make meaning of our endings that are also new beginnings.

Download the slides from this presentation here. 

The Somatic Enneagram: Listening to the Wisdom of the Body

by on October 2, 2025 with 2 Comments

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7 and SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025

FACILITATED BY ALICIA DIVERS

This two-day workshop invites participants to explore the Enneagram not only as a tool for understanding personality but as a pathway to deeper spiritual awareness through the body. Through gentle practices, reflection, and shared inquiry, we’ll consider how our habitual patterns live within us physically—and how tuning into the body can open us to healing, presence, and the sacred. No prior experience with the Enneagram or somatic work is needed—just a willingness to slow down and listen.

HANDOUTS

Alicia Divers has shared the following documents in advance of the workshop:

The Somatic Enneagram (Handout)

Resourcing For Safety

Somatic Enneagram Mapping, Practice, and Integration

Somatic Mapping Worksheet

Discover Anchors of Safety

List of Sensations

SLIDES

Download the slides from Day 1 (Friday)

Download the slides from Day 2 (Saturday)

RECORDINGS

About the Facilitator

Alicia Divers is a trauma-informed somatic practitioner, spiritual director, and Enneagram coach. She writes: “I help people slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and begin to heal—especially when life, trauma, or religion has pulled them away from themselves. I’ve spent over 15 years in full-time ministry, and I’m currently a pastor at Good Shepherd New York, an inclusive ecumenical church in Manhattan. My roots are in spiritual care—but over time, I realized that true healing happens when we bring the body into the conversation. That noticing led me into the world of somatic therapy, where I now support clients through nervous system healing, emotional resilience, and deeper spiritual reconnection.”

Between Two Worlds: Thresholds of Expectant Hope in Advent

by on October 1, 2025 with No Comments

AN ADVENT QUIET MORNING WITH THE VERY REV. KATE MOOREHEAD CARROLL

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025, 9 A.M.–12:30 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom; registration required.

Using the witness of sacred scriptures, the wealth of wisdom gleaned from life’s experiences, and the grace given in prayerful waiting, participants will be invited to explore meaning found amidst the ambiguity of life in these remarkable times.

Registration required for in-person or online participation (register to receive Zoom link). Suggested donation: $25.

About the Presenter

The Very Rev. Kate Moorehead Carroll is the 10th Dean of St. John’s Cathedral, Jacksonville, FL. Kate is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College, a Carpenter Scholar at Yale Divinity School and has a Masters in Divinity cum laude from Virginia Theological Seminary. Kate is the author of eight books, the most recent are Vital Signs of Faith: Finding Health in Your Spiritual Life, Angels of the Bible, and Healed: How Mary Magdalene Was Made Well.

Fill out my online form.

2026 Vestry Member and Diocesan Convention Delegate Nominations Now Open

by on September 25, 2025 with No Comments

Discerning Leadership Opportunities at Saint Mark’s

I consider serving on Vestry as a ministry, a privilege and a joy. It’s a commitment of time and energy, but it is also incredibly rewarding. In the process of making decisions that affect every aspect of Saint Mark’s, we form bonds, learn, grow and make lasting connections. Our shared love for this place informs all that we do.

—Julia Logan (2018–21 & 2024–27) former Senior Warden and current Junior Warden

Serving on Vestry and/or as a Convention Delegate are significant leadership ministry opportunities that help define and articulate the mission of the church, steward our resources, and share team ministry with Saint Mark’s clergy and staff.

There will be four open positions on Vestry as members rotate off in January after serving their three-year term. Parish Bylaws require that two candidates are nominated for each open Vestry position, with the result that eight candidate opportunities are open. In the case of the Diocesan Convention Delegate slate there will be 12 open positions, as the Bylaws do not require a double slate of candidates for Delegates. Elections will occur at our Annual Parish Meeting on January 25, 2026.

Candidate slates for election to these positions are selected by the Nominating Committee, which is composed of parish members appointed each Fall by the Vestry.

Every Sunday in October, after the 9 and 11 a.m. services, members of the Nominating Committee or Vestry will be present in the Coffee Corner. Come by to learn about the experience of those who are currently serving. Pick up material that further clarifies the role and responsibilities of Vestry membership and Convention Delegate. Parish members can nominate themselves or another parish member for consideration by the committee by submitting a form (available at the table) or by email to: nominations@saintmarks.org

Nominating Committee Members: Jim Buskirk, Carrie Davis, Hilary McLeland-Wieser, Peter Snyder, Alexandra Thompson, Nancy Valaas, Greg Hamm (Chair), Dean Steve Thomason (ex officio)

Intergenerational Hike to the Oxbow Loop Trail

by on September 25, 2025 with No Comments

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 3 P.M., at Oxbow Loop Trailhead

Enjoy an easy, scenic 2-mile out-and-back on a well-surfaced, mostly level trail (<60 ft gain) with access to the Snoqualmie River—perfect for young children and anyone who prefers an unhurried pace. Dogs on leash are welcome. Rain or shine!

  • Trail info: WTA’s Oxbow Loop page.
  • Optional early supper in North Bend afterward at a casual restaurant.
  • Want more challenge? Hike the nearby Pratt Balcony trail earlier in the afternoon and meet the group at 3 p.m.

RSVP: Canon Wendy Claire Barrie — wbarrie@saintmarks.org

 

Sunday Forum: Reclaiming the Book of Revelation in the Face of Current Events

by on September 15, 2025 with 6 Comments

Reclaiming the Book of Revelation in the Face of Current Events: A Critique of Empire and Christian Nationalism Run Amok

A three-week series by Dean Thomason

THREE SUNDAYS, SEPTEMBER 14, 21, & 28, 10:10–10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall

The Book of Revelation is perhaps the most misunderstood and misappropriated book of the entire Bible. “Rapture Theology” is a thoroughly modern phenomenon that is not actually supported by the Book of Revelation, and yet it has served as the backdrop to current events in which imperial power, Christian Nationalism, Christian Zionism, war in the Middle East, and much more have taken root and hold sway in our society in alarming ways today. Join Dean Thomason as he unpacks current events and Revelation’s unrelenting critique on Empire meant to offer a sustaining hope in the midst of strife. This book is as relevant as ever, but we need to reclaim it and the faith in Christ to which it calls us.

NOTE: This series of presentations will not be available via Zoom or livestreamed, but it will be recorded, and videos will be posted here shortly after the event.

PART 1

Download Dean Thomason's slides from Part 1 here.

A video of Part 1 is now available:

PART 2

Download Dean Thomason's slides from Part 2 here.

Two handouts mentioned in part 2:

A video of Part 2 is now available:

PART 3

Download Dean Thomason's slides from Part 3 here.

The handout distributed in part 3:

The German theologian mentioned by Dean Thomason:

A video of Part 3 is now available:

St. Francis, Honeybees, and Caring for Creation

by on September 11, 2025 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025

Rick Samyn is the Pastoral Assistant for Social Justice at St. Leo Church in Tacoma. A former Capuchin Franciscan Brother, he has been beekeeping for 24 years. In this forum, Rick will invite us to expand our view of what it means to live incarnationally. We'll learn and talk about how to renew our bond with creation, taking St. Francis of Assisi as our guide and honeybees as our model.

Watch a recording of this forum:

2025 Gratitude Conversations

by on September 11, 2025 with No Comments
The leaders of the Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral Stewardship Ministry will present a five-week series of reflections, prayers, mediations, and short stories to prepare the way for our 2025 Stewardship Campaign. We welcome your thoughts and reflections in response, either using the comment box at the bottom of this page, or via email: stewardship@saintmarks.org.
If you have any questions or reactions, please write Junior Warden for Stewardship Pete Snyder at: petersnyder58@gmail.com

WEEK 5

by Peter Snyder

Through advertisements and social media I am constantly bombarded with images of things I ‘need’ to make me more successful, thinner, more stylish, or what have you. The underlying message in all of this is that I should focus on me, and what will make me happy. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy, but experience tells me that it is not things that make me happy—it is living a life that is directed towards something greater than myself.

At St. Mark’s, I hear a different message: “strive first for the kingdom of God…and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt 6:33). To me this says that I will find more satisfaction in those things I have, and less dissatisfaction from those I don’t have, when I am oriented towards God.

Our generous God welcomes all into the kingdom and invites us to live into that same generosity. Mark Reike, our consultant for the Living Stones II capital campaign, was fond of saying that the gift one should give is the gift that will bring the most joy. This has stuck with me because I have found there really is more joy in generous giving than in a life filled with ‘stuff.’ I am so thankful to be part of a community that strives to embody this joyful generosity!

WEEK 4

by Alexandra Thompson

I brought the dried hulls of a radish plant gone to seed to my gardening group last night. The brittle hulls contain the seeds for a next round of radishes to grow, not just in my garden, but in those of my neighbors. It brought me joy to think of how generous nature. We take something tiny and make food out of it. If we fail at making food, the plant gives us another chance. In my life Saint Mark’s is not much different. The church has an institution and the people inside have been so warm and generous to me and my family over the past 20 years. My small contribution of time, talent and treasure contributes to a vibrant cathedral community. I am glad to be part of Saint Mark's Cathedral and gladly choose generosity when it comes time to make a financial commitment this Fall.

 

WEEK 3

by Greg Simon

In our consumer culture, we’re prompted to post online reviews of nearly everything we purchase. But we’re not usually prompted to post reviews when we give rather than buy. So I’ll take this opportunity to post my online review of our household’s annual giving to Saint Mark’s Cathedral:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review title: Choose generosity!

This is the deal of a lifetime! Nothing I’ve purchased before has given me this kind of joy and satisfaction. The durability and reliability just can’t be beat; it’s even more satisfying after many years as it was on the first day. Choose generosity – and you’ll just keep wanting more of it!

 

WEEK 2

by Deborah Person

I was at a game this weekend, and in front of me was a very young girl, so completely generous with her smiles, laughter, and attention to everyone around her. It was contagious. Everyone around her received her gifts of joy and generosity of spirit and spread it to each other. I went home grateful for that reminder of how quickly generosity can spread.

I wish I always expressed generosity as freely and easily as my new young friend did this weekend at the game. But in these challenging times, I can too easily forget that generosity is always a choice. When I choose generosity, I not only shift my experience, but those around me as well – it’s a game changer (pun intended!).

I am grateful for this community for so many reasons, especially for the opportunities we have to practice choosing generosity, supporting each other and serving together.

 

WEEK 1—Choosing Generosity

by Greg Hamm

Each year at around this time, we hear about stewardship, and we are encouraged to make a pledge to Saint Mark’s Cathedral. It is easy to think about this in very mundane terms: “Well, the church is a valuable presence in our lives and our community, and it needs money to operate, so maybe I’ll contribute.” This is certainly not wrong—the church is utterly dependent upon generosity to keep functioning. Annual pledges are especially important because they allow the cathedral to budget and plan for the coming year.

And it is certainly true that the presence of Saint Mark's Cathedral is vitally important, especially in these challenging times. The cathedral provides an island of coherence in our lives that helps keep us from giving in to despair or apathy. It helps people in need, advocates for justice, and keeps alive the story of another, more caring way in our society.

But pledging, at whatever level, is valuable in a different, and more personal way. This is where choosing—the first word in our stewardship theme, Choosing Generosity—comes in.

When I make a pledge, I am choosing to be generous, not once, but repeatedly over a whole year. And making this choice changes me. Generosity becomes a practice—a practice of gratitude, and of belonging. I start paying attention to more of the things happening at Saint Mark’s. I start chatting with “strangers” after worship (who aren’t really strangers anymore). At Communion, I look the chalice bearer in the eye, and we smile.

Everyone is welcome at Saint Mark’s; I have always felt that. When I choose generosity, I let that welcome all the way in. I belong here; I am home.

Crossing Thresholds as Sacred Journey—The Wisdom School 2025-26 Opening Plenary

by on August 21, 2025 with No Comments

The Wisdom School at Saint Mark's 2025-26 season opening plenary.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2025, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom

In the practice of medicine, the liminal point marks the bounds of perception—below it, one does not experience a discernible physiological or psychological response. In mythology, the crossing of a threshold marks the protagonist’s journey from routine (unaware) to sacred (new awareness). The ancient tradition of religious pilgrimage takes similar shape. The “in-between” space is often marked by uncertainty or a sense of suspension; one must muster courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to let go of what was in order to embrace the new beginning. Sacred rituals and practices help us orient to these transformative moments so that, even in the routine, we see the sacred.

The slides from this forum can be downloaded here. 

Undaunted Joy!—A Cathedral Commons Forum with Shamaiah Gonzalez

by on August 21, 2025 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom

Does joy just seem too difficult to come by these days? Does it seem irresponsible or naïve? Maybe you don't feel like you can be joyful, don't know how to, or don't deserve to?

Local author Shemaiah Gonzalez shares stories from her new book Undaunted Joy: The Revolutionary Act of Cultivating Delight. In her collection of short essays on defiant joy, Shemaiah reflects on how she gradually learned to see joy not as an indulgence but as a necessity—a way of life and the fruit of faith. Shemaiah will led us in conversation to notice God in the mundane and magnificent.

Once you start looking for joy, you might start finding it everywhere. It's time to live joyously.

UPDATE: A complete video is now available below.

Find links to purchase the book here.

The prayer with which Shemaiah closed the forum can be read here. 

About the presenter

Shemaiah Gonzalez is a writer with degrees in English Literature (BA), Intercultural Ministry (MAPS) and Creative Non-Fiction Writing (MFA). She thrives in moments where storytelling, art, literature, and faith collide. Her work has appeared in America Magazine, Image Journal’s Good Letters, Ekstasis, The Curator, and Loyola Press, among others. A Los Angeles native, she now lives in Seattle with her husband, whom she has known since she was 14 years old, and their two teen sons.

1 2 3 4 … 28