Wisdom School – Silence and Honey Cakes: Lessons from the Desert for Modern Communities

by on February 4, 2026 with No Comments

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2026, 9 A.M.–12:30 P.M.
in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom, registration required.

with the Rev. Sr. Miriam Elizabeth Bledsoe, OSH

From the beginning, we were created for belonging and community. And yet, community also comes with many challenges, including the temptations of individualism, conformity, competition and power. How do we discern and nourish the truth of who we are and who our neighbor is? How do we manage the variations of gifts, limitations, calls and vocations within our communities while also nurturing the persons in those communities and in the margins? The desert mothers and fathers of the 3rd and 4th centuries understood that the heart of the Christian path was communion with God and with one another. They also knew the challenges of belonging and community. These ammas and abbas will be our teachers as we explore belonging, loving, and navigating the blessings and temptations that can manifest in community.

Fee $29 (includes sales tax now required by WA State). Registration is required for in-person or online participation (register to receive Zoom link). 

About the Presenter

The Rev. Sr. Miriam Elizabeth Bledsoe, OSH

The Rev. Sr. Miriam Elizabeth (Faith) Bledsoe, OSH is a religious sister in the Order of Saint Helena, an Episcopal monastic order for women in North Augusta, SC, where she serves as the Community Leader. She has an active spiritual direction practice and is an experienced retreat leader. She serves as a supply priest in the Diocese of South Carolina and as a mentor for Backstory Preaching, an online ministry that helps preachers grow in the spirituality and craft of preaching. She received her M. Div. in 2002 from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX and served churches in south Texas for nine years before joining the order. Prior to ordination, she worked as a hospital and rehabilitation speech pathologist. She enjoys kayaking on cool mornings, as well as all things creative including preaching, cooking, quilting and making art.

 

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Cathedral Commons—A Holy Lent

by on February 4, 2026 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom.  

A Holy Lent

Each year on Ash Wednesday, we are invited "to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word." At times, we may have heard that described as a time to “give something up” or “take something on.” What might it be like to approach a “Holy Lent” as an invitation to live incarnationally and sacramentally? Join Canon Wendy Claire Barrie and CSA Director the Rev. Carol Westpfahl as we explore spiritual practices meant to draw us closer to God.

🔗 Join via Zoom

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

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper with Closing of the Doors

by on February 4, 2026 with No Comments

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 6–7:15 P.M., in the cathedral nave. Suggested donation: $6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family. Registration requested.

It's time to party in the nave for Shrove Tuesday (a.k.a. Mardi Gras) before the start of Lent—load up pancakes with chocolate chips and whipped cream, chat it up with other cathedral parishioners, and listen to live music. We have crafts and games for the kids and kids-at-heart. Chef Marc Aubertin and the youth will be preparing our meal. In addition to pancakes, sausage, fruit, and toppings, Vestry members will provide jambalaya and gumbo.

The celebration in the nave will conclude with a brief liturgy to "bury the Alleluias" and close the great doors until Easter.

✅ We are requesting advance registration to assist in planning. Register using this form:

 

2026 Women’s Retreat to Sacred Waters

by on February 3, 2026 with No Comments

 

FRIDAY–SUNDAY, MAY 15-17, 2026, at Sacred Waters Center for Restoration and Retreat in Union, WA

Led by the Rev. Canon Emily Griffin

There are seasons to our relationships - with God, each other, and the world around us. It is a challenge to be fully present in whatever season we’re facing and to remember that it too will pass. We will gather again at the Sacred Waters retreat center on the Hood Canal (formerly St. Andrew’s House) for a weekend of rest and reflection on this theme. We’ll base our conversations on Denise Levertov’s Selected Poems (2002). Specific poems will be identified for participants in advance. As always, there will be plenty of time for connecting with new people and deepening existing friendships, as well as exploring the beautiful setting.

Registration will open soon on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to increased expenses at Sacred Waters as well as increased demand for their spaces, we are only using a portion of the campus – so space is limited.

Fee: $330 for single or double occupancy; includes two nights lodging and all meals Friday dinner to Sunday lunch. Partial scholarships are available. A $100 non-refundable deposit will be required to hold your space.

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

Cathedral Commons—Reflections on Hiking in Nepal

by on January 21, 2026 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026  

Reflections on Hiking in Nepal with Canon Kleinschmidt

Canon Kleinschmidt will share stories, photos, and videos from his sabbatical project last October: a trek in the Himalayas of Nepal. The Sherpa people, Buddhist monks, yaks, helicopter pilots, fellow trekkers, stormy weather, and some of the most famous peaks and glaciers in the world will be featured, along with modest personal insights about the spiritual practices of sabbath-keeping and pilgrimage.

2026 Annual Parish Meeting & Elections

by on January 21, 2026 with No Comments

DOCUMENTS TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE MEETING:

SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2026

  • Meeting called to order at 8 A.M.
  • Voting, 8:05 A.M. - 12:45 P.M. (in person only)
  • Business Meeting, 12:30–2 P.M., Bloedel Hall and via Zoom

The 2026 Annual Meeting of St. Mark's Cathedral Parish, Seattle, will be on Sunday, January 25, 2026, 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, and will be available in the back of the nave starting Sunday, January 4. 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.

UPDATES

  • The slate of 12 candidates for Diocesan Convention Delegate was approved.
  • The new Vestry members elected to three-year terms were: Amanda Davis, John Gulhaugen, James Wilcox, and Sarah McCord.
  • The Dean appointed Julia Logan as Senior Warden.
  • The Pro Christo et Ecclesia medal was awarded to Randy Urmston, Eliza Davidson, and Re Knack

     

PLEASE NOTE:

  • The meeting will again be hybrid—you can attend in Bloedel Hall or via Zoom.
  • There will be no potluck meal again this year. 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.
  • Elections will occur as they did last year. Online voting for those joining the meeting remotely will not be available. Votes may be cast in person any time between 8:05 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. As usual, there is no early voting or proxy voting, per the cathedral by-laws. The election rules will be read by the Cathedral Chancellor during the meeting.

ELECTION RULES

Like last 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 is no longer available. Per cathedral bylaws, there is no early voting or proxy voting. Complete election rules are presented during the meeting.

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.”

ADDITIONAL LINKS:

Intergenerational Prayer Partners for Lent and Eastertide, 2026

by on January 14, 2026 with No Comments

Registration is now open!

Register using this form.

All members of the community of Saint Mark's are warmly invited to become an Intergenerational Prayer Partner, as part of special program lasting from Shrove Tuesday, February 18, through the Day of Pentecost, Sunday, May 24.

What does this mean?

Once you register to participate, you’ll be matched with a prayer partner of another generation, with whom you’ll regularly check in so you’ll better know their prayer needs. Perhaps you’ll sit together on Sunday mornings, and meet up occasionally at Saint Mark’s events, such as the Pancake Supper and the Pentecost Run/Ride/Roll.

How does this work?

You’ll fill out a brief form telling us which service you attend and what some of your interests are, we’ll do some match-making and put you in touch with your prayer partner by email. Then you and your assigned prayer partner will meet up at the Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Pancake Supper or after church the following Sunday, get to know each other a bit, and begin praying for each other.

We’ll have a webpage with written prayers which you may choose to use, along with other creative prayer suggestions. There will also be a list of Saint Mark’s events you might choose to attend together over the three-month period.

Can children and youth participate?

Yes! Parents can sign up on behalf of children and youth can sign up with parental permission. In all emails, parents will be copied, and we are only meeting up during church events, so prayer partners of children and youth will never be meeting privately, following Safe Church policies.

Can I be matched with another adult?

Yes! Intergenerational simply means you’ll be paired with someone of another generation, and you can let us know if that’s your preference.

Why are we doing this?

We want to help cultivate and strengthen intergenerational relationships among Saint Mark’s parishioners, and we know from other congregations who have adopted this model as well as from several Saint Markians who tried it last year that it’s a great way for people to meaningfully connect and engage with each other.

2026 Martin Luther King, Jr., Afternoon of Service

by on January 13, 2026 with No Comments

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 12:30 P.M., Bloedel Hall, registration requested. Lunch is available (suggested donation: $8/adult; $25/family max.).

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" —The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Join us on the Sunday of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend as people of all ages and abilities gather for a day of service. We’ll begin our afternoon together with a pizza lunch from Pagliacci (suggested donation: $8/adult; $25/family max) before heading out to support our community partners and care for our cathedral home.

We have a wide variety of ways to get involved, ranging from gentle, seated activities to active outdoor projects.

 

Offsite Service Teams

  • Casa Latina: Join a group traveling to work with women in our community as they prepare for their annual fundraiser.
  • L’Arche Angeline House & Lowell Elementary: We are sending teams for requested outdoor work. The forecast is calling for sun and 50 degrees—perfect weather to serve our neighbors near Volunteer Park!

 

Onsite Projects at the Cathedral

If you prefer to stay on campus, we have several essential projects running in Bloedel Hall and the sanctuary:

  • Outreach & Creativity: Making sandwiches for Operation Nightwatch, tying a quilt for Donna Jean's Place, and painting watercolor cards for Donna Jean’s residents and Lowell teachers.
  • Stewardship of Space: Deep cleaning of the nave woodwork, brass polishing, cobweb removal in the chapel, and detailing the Bloedel kitchen.

 

Registration is requested so we can plan for food and project supplies. You can indicate your physical activity preference when you sign up.

Cathedral Commons – Film Screening: SUGARCANE

by on January 4, 2026 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2026, 6:45–8:30 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall only.
Post-film discussion and dessert 8:30-9 p.m. with Rev. Adam Conley

Film Screening: SUGARCANE, A Documentary About the Indian Residential School System

Join the Saint Mark’s community for a compelling opportunity, a screening of SUGARCANE, the award-winning feature documentary. SUGARCANE is a groundbreaking investigation into an Indian residential school, shedding light on years of forced separation, assimilation and abuse that Indigenous children experienced at the hands of Church and government. This urgent and timely film brings the hidden story of cultural genocide while celebrating the resilience of Native people as they work to overcome cycles of intergenerational trauma.

This screening is part of Saint Mark’s continued commitment to addressing the legacy of Indigenous Schools within the Episcopal Church and for building deeper and ongoing relationship with Indigenous people. Learn more: saintmarks.org/justice/land-acknowledgment

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

Cathedral Commons: Letters from Prison

by on December 30, 2025 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2026  

Letters from Prison—St. Paul, Bonhoeffer, and King

FACILITATED BY DEAN STEVE THOMASON

St. Paul wrote at least four of his New Testament letters while in prison. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a prolific writer in the concentration camps of WWII, and Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is considered by many to make the compelling case for civil rights. Something about the crucible of confinement prompts prophetic figures to write more prolifically. There are themes that run through all three writers’ reflections, and they offer theological riches worth mining in our own time, in a world beset by chaos and suffering. Dean Thomason will guide an exploration of the points of convergence. No preparation is needed to participate fully, but if you want to read some samples in advance, read Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (esp ch. 2-4), any of Bonhoeffer’s writings compiled posthumously by his friend Eberhard Bethge, excerpted here, and/or King’s Letter.

🔗 Download slideshow.

WATCH

Epiphany Celebration with Burning of the Greens & Chili Supper, 2026

by on December 9, 2025 with No Comments
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026, 5:30 P.M., in the cathedral nave and parking lot. Registration requested.

 

Join us for an evening of worship, tradition, and fellowship as we mark the end of the season of Christmas and observe great feast of the revealing of the Light of Christ in the world

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

  • 4:30 p.m. – Choral Evensong. We begin with an evensong liturgy incorporating scripture readings for the feast of the Epiphany, in the nave and livestreamed.
  • 5:30 p.m. – The Burning of the Greens. Following the service, everyone will process to the lower parking lot for a bonfire. Please bring a few branches of your Christmas greens from home to add to the fire!
  • ~6 p.m. – Chili Supper and S’mores! After the bonfire, we will gather for a community potluck. The cathedral will provide a green salad and a toppings bar. We need volunteers to bring the rest!

🔗 RSVP to attend

🔗 Sign up to bring food or to help in other ways

Wisdom School: Wilderness Spirituality

by on November 25, 2025 with 1 Comment

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2026, 9:30 A.M.–12:30 P.M.

with The Rt. Rev. Phil LaBelle, bishop of olympia

For centuries, Christians have been following Jesus’ lead and heading into the wilderness to find God. Wilderness experiences—both those intentionally taken in the natural world and those unplanned and taken metaphorically —strip away what’s unnecessary in our lives and give us an opportunity to pay attention to the inner workings of the soul. Belden Lane suggests that while there are times when we descend into difficult times in our lives, it is then that we “may discover our greatest joy in having survived the night, in finding resources we did not know we had, falling back on a strength that was more than ours.” During this day, we’ll discuss the realities of being in the wilderness—whether a hiking trail or a difficult season of life—and contemplate how to prepare for those times with spiritual practice, discovering how we can cross the threshold from a time of descent to one of delight.

Program slides are available for download. 

About the Presenter

The Rt. Rev. Philip N. LaBelle is the Ninth Bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, previously serving as rector of St. Mark’s Church in Southborough, Massachusetts. In 2024, Bishop LaBelle received his Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Seminary focused on Christian Spirituality. His thesis work explored the theology and practice of zimzum and how to make space in our overly busy lives for God, others, and the natural world. He received his MDiv from Yale University in 2004, and holds a Master’s degree in composition and rhetoric from Northeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree in English and theological studies from Gordon College. During a 2017 sabbatical, he explored wilderness spirituality, the beauty of the natural world, and the need for climate justice. Additionally, he and his family walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and he and Noah have summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

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Between Two Worlds: Thresholds of Expectant Hope in Advent

by on November 24, 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.

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.

Note that the video recording started several minutes into the presentation.

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.

Cathedral Commons—Forum on The Council of Nicaea

by on November 20, 2025 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2025

A Cathedral Commons Forum with the Rev Canon Rich Weyls

This past summer marked the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea (325). Martin Luther considered it "the most sacred of all councils." The decrees of the Council helped us find language to describe what we mean when we say "God." We will explore the historical context of the Council while reflecting upon its rich theology in order to discover significance for today. Rather than being a list of intellectual propositions, the Council is a gift to the church and an act of praise to God.

UPDATE: The slides for this presentation can be seen here. 

The handout with the original text of the Creed as adopted at the Council of Nicaea in 325 can be seen here.

Canon Rich closed the forum with a prayer to the Holy Spirit written by Pope Leo XIV in his Apostolic Letter on the occasion of the 1,700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. Here is that prayer: 

Holy Spirit of God, you guide believers along the path of history. We thank you for inspiring the Symbols of Faith and for stirring in our hearts the joy of professing our salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, consubstantial with the Father. Without him, we can do nothing. Eternal Spirit of God, rejuvenate the faith of the Church from age to age. Help us to deepen it and to return always to the essentials in order to proclaim it. So that our witness in the world may not be futile, come, Holy Spirit, with your fire of grace, to revive our faith, to enkindle us with hope, to inflame us with charity. Come, divine Comforter, source of harmony, unite the hearts and minds of believers. Come and grant us to taste the beauty of communion. Come, Love of the Father and the Son, gather us into the one flock of Christ. Show us the ways to follow, so that with your wisdom, we become once again what we are in Christ: one, so that the world may believe. Amen.

Pope Leo's remarks at the joint liturgy in İznik (Nicaea) with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I can be heard here.  

A complete video of the forum is now available below. 

2025 Alternative Gift Market!

by on November 20, 2025 with No Comments

UPDATE (December 12):

This year's Alternative Gift Market and Giving Tree raised an amazing combined total of over $12,900 in cash and gift cards for the Threshold Fund and our community partners: Casa Latina, Lambert House, Lowell Elementary, L’Arche Seattle, L’Honey Tacoma, Operation Nightwatch, and Seattle Seafarers. Plus, on top of that, a sleigh full of toys for Mary's Place and eleven warm and colorful outfits for Lowell students!

A team of more than forty people made the 2025 Alternative Gift Market a resounding success, making edible gifts, decorating and setting up Bloedel Hall, pricing items, staffing the tables, and cleaning up afterwards. Erik Donner deserves special recognition as the financial wizard responsible for tracking all the donations.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time or talents, donated or made items for the Alternative Gift Market, fulfilled the tags on the Giving Tree with purchases of toys or gift cards, or made donations to our community partners and the Threshold fund. You really made a difference, and we are so very grateful.

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

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
  • Products from L'Honey, a ministry of St Leo's parish, Tacoma, and L'Arche Farm, Tacoma.
  • 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

Christmas Memorials and Thanksgivings, 2025

by on November 18, 2025 with No Comments

DONATIONS RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 15 WILL BE PRINTED IN THE CHRISTMAS BULLETINS.

Help underwrite the beautiful flowers and special music of the season by making a special contri­bution in honor or memory of someone. Please fill out the form here or below, or use the paper form inserted in your bulletin on Sunday.

Then you can make your gift online at saintmarks.org/give, or donate by check in the offering plate, to the cathedral office, or by mail (instructions may be found on the form.) Contributions received by the end of the day on December 15 will be acknowledged in the bulletins on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Contact Erik Donner with questions: edonner@saintmarks.org

 

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The Longest Night 2025: A Service for All Who Grieve in These Days

by on November 18, 2025 with No Comments

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 7 P.M., in the cathedral nave

Each year Saint Mark's offers a service for those for whom the holiday season brings a mix of emotions, and for anyone for whom grief is a companion in life. The service (formerly known as "Blue Christmas") is held near the winter solstice, marking time with intention in the candlelit cathedral while holding space for those present to pray, remember loved ones, and (if desired) have anointing by the priests before we share Holy Communion.

Although the Christmas season is claimed by our culture as festive and happy, for many people it is a painful time of year. Memories of loved ones who have passed away or other losses can stir up grief and exacerbate loneliness. For those who are grappling with the loss of health or happier times, the expectation to be joyful can be difficult. And for others, preparation for Christmas stirs up a general sadness that is hard to pin down.

This service is offered in the nave, but is not livestreamed. Canon Rich Weyls will preside, Canon Emily Griffin will offer a brief reflection, and they, along with Dean Thomason and Fr. Conley will be on hand to offering anointing and prayers individually for any who would like that. All are welcome at this service, wherever you are on your spiritual journey or whatever concerns you bring.

Cathedral Commons Forum: Simple Gifts

by on November 13, 2025 with No Comments

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2025

 

James Davidson and Molly Bosch 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.

Watch a video recording of the forum:

TERRA EXHIBIT: A Monumental Installation in the Cathedral Nave

by on November 4, 2025 with 12 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 3 Comments
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

UPDATE (December 12):

This year's Alternative Gift Market and Giving Tree raised an amazing combined total of over $12,900 in cash and gift cards for the Threshold Fund and our community partners: Casa Latina, Lambert House, Lowell Elementary, L’Arche Seattle, L’Honey Tacoma, Operation Nightwatch, and Seattle Seafarers. Plus, on top of that, a sleigh full of toys for Mary's Place and eleven warm and colorful outfits for Lowell students!

A team of more than forty people made the 2025 Alternative Gift Market a resounding success, making edible gifts, decorating and setting up Bloedel Hall, pricing items, staffing the tables, and cleaning up afterwards. Erik Donner deserves special recognition as the financial wizard responsible for tracking all the donations.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time or talents, donated or made items for the Alternative Gift Market, fulfilled the tags on the Giving Tree with purchases of toys or gift cards, or made donations to our community partners and the Threshold fund. You really made a difference, and we are so very grateful.

2025 Giving Tree

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.

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