Vigil at the Altar of Repose, 2024

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MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 9 P.M. until dawn on Good Friday

The Vigil at the Altar of Repose begins upon the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday liturgy (around 8:45 p.m.) and continues through the night in McCaw chapel. This ancient practice is inspired by Jesus' question to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemene, "Could you not stay awake with me one hour?" As in recent years, this vigil will be an online offering, with a live video available all night.

The length of the vigil depends on those who volunteer. For security, doors are locked, and each participant opens the door for the next at the beginning of each hour. (If someone arrives late and the chain is broken, the vigil concludes at that point.) In 2023, volunteers were present continually until 8 a.m.

If you are interested in spending an hour in prayer, please sign up for a slot here no later than Monday, March 25. Contact Sacristan Michael Seewer with questions: mseewer@saintmarks.org

Restorative Justice Council Meeting, March 2024

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SUNDAY, March 17, 3–4:30 P.M., online via Zoom only

All members of the community of Saint Mark's are encouraged to attend the next gathering of the Restorative Justice Council. Guided by the Saint Mark's Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action and prompted by the cathedral's Mutual Ministry Goals, the Restorative Justice Council strives to lead the Saint Mark's community to actively pursue justice through spiritual practice and action and live out our Baptismal Covenant, "to seek and serve Christ in all persons." Join using this Zoom link.

Easter Memorials & Thanksgivings, 2024

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Each year at this time, all are invited to make a special contribution in honor or in memory of a loved one, in order to help underwrite the beautiful flowers and music of the celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection, which this year includes a full complement of brass and percussion for Peter R. Hallock's Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem, part of the observance of the 100th anniversary of Hallock's birth.

Fill out the form below, or use the paper form in the Sunday service leaflets. Then make a gift in any amount, using the method that is most convenient for you—by check, saintmarks.org/give, or Venmo.

Contributions received by Palm Sunday, March 24, will be acknowledged in the Easter service bulletins. Contact Erik Donner in the cathedral office with questions: edonner@saintmarks.org.

Fill out my online form.

First Saturday Run Group

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Hosted by 20s/30s—All are welcome

FIRST SATURDAYS: MARCH 2, APRIL 6, 7:30 A.M., meet on the outdoor labyrinth 

All ages are welcome to meet on the outdoor labyrinth in front of the cathedral for a three-mile morning run through Volunteer Park. All paces welcome. Afterward, there will be a chance for fellowship over coffee. Email Adrienne (adriennehub@gmail.com) or Emily (emeeks@saintmarks.org) with questions.

Announcing: the “Third Acters” Retirees Group

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UPDATE!

The First Hybrid Third Act-ers Potluck Brunch 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 12:30–2 P.M., in Leffler House or online via Zoom

The first Third Act-ers Retirees Group Potluck Brunch will be this Sunday, February 25, 12:30–2 p.m. in Leffler House as well as on Zoom. In addition to sharing food and conversation, there will also be an invitation to share ideas about what activities and gatherings the group could plan going forward. Contact Kathy Minsch (kminsch@gmail.com) and/or Elizabeth Clark-Stern (ecstern@yahoo.com) with any questions. Please bring food to share if in person. For those online, join using this Zoom link.


FIRST MEETING: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 3–4:30 P.M., online via Zoom

UPDATE: The March 12 meeting has been cancelled due to illness.

Saint Mark’s retiree group, the “Third Acters,” is for people approaching retirement, or those already retired who are seeking support, knowledge, and a joyful community for the “Third Act,” of our journey on Earth. Linzi Stahlecker will join us on Zoom the second Tuesday of every month, 3-4:30 p.m. The first meeting on Tuesday, November 14 will be an Open House for everyone to share or observe.

A guidebook for our journey will be Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward, which challenges the prevailing cultural myths about aging. He writes, “Get ready for a great adventure, the one you were born for, some new freedom, some dangerous permission, some radical grace.” All are welcome! To get the Zoom link to join, contact Kathy Minsch (kminsch@gmail.com) or Elizabeth Clark-Stern (ecstern@yahoo.com)


UPDATE: There will be no meeting in December 2023. 

Subsequent meetings are planned for the second Tuesday of each month.

 

Morning Prayer with Canon Linzi on Weekdays during Lent

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BEGINS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 7:30-8 A.M., via Zoom

Come just as you are to Morning Prayer each weekday morning of Lent, on zoom. Join Canon Linzi for this daily 30 minute liturgy, all are welcome, whether you're still in your pj's, joining from your workplace, or listening on the move. We will be praying straight from the BCP, so grab your prayer book and your Bible. For those who would rather, you can also follow along on these two sites, which also have apps that work on smart phones: Mission St. Clare; Venite.

No former experience with Morning Prayer is necessary. Join using this Zoom link. Please reach out to Linzi+ with any questions.

A Lenten Quiet Morning and Not-So-Quiet Afternoon, 2024

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SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2024, 9 A.M.–3 P.M., throughout the cathedral campus

The nave will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as a space for prayer and contemplation. Labyrinths will be available indoors and outdoors. Art materials for all ages, including play-dough and other contemplative activities, will be available throughout the day.

Note: The afternoon activities are particularly kid-friendly. The child care space will be unstaffed but available all day.

Freewill donations gratefully accepted ($10–$15 suggested). No RSVP necessary.

Email Canon Linzi Stahlecker for more information about the morning activities: lstahlecker@saintmarks.org  For questions about afternoon activities, please contact Canon Wendy Claire Barrie: wbarrie@saintmarks.org


Schedule of the Day

Morning scheduled offerings:

9:30 a.m. - Morning Prayer

10:30 a.m. - Breathwork

11:30 a.m. - Centering Prayer

Tomato soup and grilled cheese lunch served in Bloedel Hall, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Afternoon scheduled offerings:

12:30 p.m. - Drum &Rhythm Circle

1 p.m. - Collage, Praying in Color, Quilt Ministry Activities

2 p.m. - Sound Bath

A Cathedral’s Complicity in Redlining and Restrictive Covenants

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2024, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via ZoomOptional community dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family)

A Cathedral's Complicity in Redlining and Restrictive Covenants 

Telling the Truth for a More Just Future

As Saint Mark’s Cathedral considers redeveloping the St. Nicholas property for affordable housing, there is an opportunity to reflect on the history of North Capitol Hill in which racial redlining and restrictive covenants discriminated against people of color. Segregation suppressed homeownership and wealth building opportunities for people of color and has contributed to ongoing impact of housing inequities. Join to learn more about Seattle’s unique civil rights history and racial segregation and consider how church communities have responsibility to honestly face this and respond in just ways in our time.

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Sunday Forum on Spiritual Practices

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UPDATED WITH VIDEO

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 10:10–10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall

Join in for a discussion and resources on three different spiritual practices—photography (Michael Perera), Centering Prayer (Phil Fox Rose), and cold water swimming (Sarah Elwood). "Being rooted in spiritual practices" is a theme that the Strategic Planning Committee recently shared from outreach learnings. This is a great opportunity to try a new spiritual practice during the season of Lent.


A complete video is now available below:

2024 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper with Closing of the Doors

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 6–7:15 P.M., in the cathedral nave. Suggested donation: $6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family.

Please gather in the cathedral nave on Shrove Tuesday (a.k.a. Mardi Gras), February 21, to end the season after Epiphany in the traditional way—by gathering in community, eating pancakes, and having fun! There will be live music, crafts, and games. Chef Marc Aubertin and the youth will be preparing our meal, and the members of the Seattle Service Corps will be decorating and assisting in the celebration.

The celebration in the nave will conclude with a brief liturgy to bury the Alleluias and close the great doors until Easter. (This is a treasured tradition unique to Saint Mark's—see some views of what the Closing of the Doors looked in years past below.) Finally, on the patio, palms are burned to create the ashes for the Ash Wednesday services the next day.

Complete Closing of the Doors Liturgy, 2023

Complete Closing of the Doors Liturgy, 2021

Closing of the Doors, 2020

Closing of the Doors, 2019

“Collective Impact” with Andrew Himes

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 7–8:30 P.M., in person in Cathedral House Room 210 or online via Zoom

The monthly meeting of the Creation Care Ministry in February will include a presentation from Andrew Himes, Director of Collective Impact for the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) at the University of Washington. Andrew was previously a long-time Saint Mark’s parishioner and former member of the Vestry. Andrew will share the CLF’s work building a global movement to decarbonize the building industry—the largest industry on the planet—and the impact of building materials and construction on climate change. Andrew asserts that, rooted in justice and compassion, working together to solve the climate crisis gives us the opportunity “to regain a sense of our shared humanity.”

Please plan to participate in this informative and inspiring presentation, with time for Q&A afterwards. Join via Zoom, or gather in person in CH210 where we will have time for snacks and visiting before/after the meeting.


The book discussed in the presentation was No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save Our Planet by Kim Stanley Robinson, Paolo Bacigalupi, and Sara Foster

Also recommended was the MCJ Collective podcast.

A video is now available below:

Saint Mark’s Singers Plus—February 2024

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 9:30–10:45 A.M., in the choir room
& SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, meet at 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. service

Experience what it's like to be in the choir

This invitation is for you if you have ever wanted to sing in a choir at Saint Mark's but have been unable to commit to the demands of the regular choir schedule. You are invited to "Saint Mark's Singers Plus." Come to one practice and sing one service with Saint Mark's Singers. The practice is on Saturday, February 24, 9:30–10:45 a.m. in the Choir Room. The service is on Sunday February 25, when we will meet at 8 a.m. and then sing the 9 a.m. Eucharist in the cathedral. Interested? Contact Canon Kleinschmidt to reserve your place. Can't join this time? Saint Mark's Singers Plus will be offered again April 6–14, 2024. Mark your calendars now.

“Clearing Space for God”—A QuiC Lenten Conversation Series

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FRIDAYS IN LENT, BEGINNING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, THROUGH MARCH 22, 6:30-8 P.M., Leffler Living Room

This Lent, Queer in Christ will host a Conversation series called Clearing Space for God, designed with queer people in mind. Join James Davidson and Michael Seewer each Friday evening in Lent as we explore and share sacred stories that celebrate otherness. We'll dig into these stories and discuss how they and we celebrate our special gifts as queer people, and reflect on how we move forward in the process of clearing space for God in our daily lives.

This series is being planned as an in-person offering in Leffler Living Room, but please let us know if you would prefer to join remotely so we can accommodate such requests. Interested in joining these conversations? Contact Michael Seewer: mseewer@saintmarks.org

Jeopardy and Potluck in Bloedel Hall

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 6–8:30 P.M., Bloedel Hall

What sounds like a fun time? Locally and spiritually-inspired game of Jeopardy! The evening will begin with a potluck dinner, and after the meal we'll group into teams to play an entertaining game of trivia—with some Saint Mark's history and Bible knowledge thrown in! This event is hosted by the 40s/50s Group, but all are welcome.

Sign up to bring a dish to share for the potluck using this link.

RSVP and questions to: Christopher Breunig (cjbreunig@gmail.com) or Michael Seewer (mseewer@saintmarks.org)

Blessing, Sending, and Celebration of Canon Jennifer King Daugherty’s Ministry

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, following the 9 and 11 a.m. services

Canon Daugherty's final day at the cathedral will be Sunday, January 28, and there will be receptions in her honor after the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. As is our custom, we will bless and send her from the baptismal font, giving thanks for her ministry among us, and follow with receptions celebrating her nearly ten years of ministry. More details to come next week, but mark your calendars now to join one or both of these.

Following. the 9 a.m. service,  a reception will be held in Bloedel Hall. Following the 11 a.m. service, the reception will be in the cathedral nave.

Cake will be served at the reception, along with treats contributed community members.


UPDATE: Below, a photo of Jennifer with the carved mahogany cross presented to her by the Vestry at her farewell. (photo by Stuart Meeks) 

Candidates for Vestry and Convention Delegate, 2024

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Vestry Members Continuing in Office

Term ends February 2025:
Wayne Duncan
Scott Hulet, Kristen Kelly
Justin Mills
Tina Blondino, Diocesan Member
(St. Michael and All Angels, Issaquah)
Term ends February 2026:
Greg Hamm
Peter Snyder
Doug Thorpe
Alexandra Thompson
Becky Kacel, Diocesan Member
Four members elected at the 2024 Annual Meeting will end their term January 2027.

All members of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral congregation are invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting to elect new Vestry members, to elect delegates and alternates to Diocesan Convention, and to transact such business as may properly come before the meeting. Reports will be presented by the Dean, Senior Warden, ministry leaders, Strategic Planning Committee, and the Finance Committee. We will also celebrate our common life, and Dean Thomason will award the Pro Christo medal and the Cathedral Cross. The Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 4, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. and may be attended in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. A potluck meal will not be offered in 2024, although coffee, tea, and light snacks will be available.


Who makes up the Vestry?

The Vestry currently consists of 17 members: 12 elected from Saint Mark’s Parish, three diocesan members appointed with the consent of the Bishop, the Dean who chairs the Vestry, and the Bishop (or her designee). Additionally, the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Treasurer, and Clerk serve with the Vestry as non-voting officers. All Vestry members are to be persons with demonstrated qualities of dedicated commitment to Saint Mark’s (or their own parish), leadership and vision with responsiveness to the needs, concerns and hopes of the world.

Vestry leadership resides with the Dean and individuals who are traditionally known as “Wardens”, together with other Vestry Officers. In accordance with the By-laws (Art. IV, sec. 1), the Senior Warden, the Chancellor, and Vice Chancellor (the Cathedral’s attorneys) are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Dean. The Junior Wardens, Clerk and Treasurer are elected by the Vestry.

Each member serves for one three-year term. This year, the parish members completing their terms are: Scott Kovacs, Chris Rigos, Carmen Brady, and Kathy Minsch. The term of Diocesan member Katie Prettyman (Trinity, Everett) is also ending.


Nominating Committee

This committee is designated by the Cathedral’s Constitution and Bylaws to present to the annual Parish meeting a list of nominees for Parish representatives. The committee also invites nominations for delegates to Diocesan Convention. The process involves careful vetting of all candidates and includes interviews with those standing for election to the Vestry. This year’s committee membership is: Julia Logan (chair), Jim Buskirk, Carrie Davis, Scott Kovacs, Michael Perera, John Selberg, Maria Coldwell, and Dean Steve Thomason (ex officio). Questions? Contact: nominations@saintmarks.org


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.”

Prior to the balloting, nominations may be offered from the floor.


Voting Remotely

Parish Parish Communicants in Good Standing who attend the Annual Meeting virtually using Zoom will be invited to vote using a link that will be posted in the Zoom chat during the meeting. The link to vote will not be available before the meeting. If you have concerns about your ability to vote remotely, call Erik Donner in the Cathedral office at 206.323.0300 ×217.

Per cathedral by-laws, there is no early voting or proxy voting. Complete election rules are presented during the meeting.


About the Diocesan Convention

Each fall, more than 500 convention delegates from around the Diocese of Olympia come together to conduct diocesan business. This includes electing individuals to offices and deputations, admitting worshiping communities as missions or parishes, and voting on resolutions. The Bishop also gives an annual address.

The 2024 Diocesan Convention is scheduled for October 25–26 at the Tacoma Convention Center and Marriott Hotel Downtown Tacoma.

Convention Delegates are a major link between the parish, the Vestry, and the Diocese, at both convention and other diocesan meetings. Delegates serve for two years. The 12 Delegates elected at the 2024 annual meeting will join the 12 delegates already elected in February 2023.


Candidates for Vestry

Christopher Breunig

I have attended Saint Mark’s since 2018, with periodic attendance at services and meetings over the past 30 years of living in the Seattle-area Episcopal churches. I live on the Eastside and attend 9 or 11 regularly. At Saint Mark’s I have participated in justice ministries, feeding programs, Radix groups, Cathedral Yoga Committee, Men’s Retreats, and other ministries. I came to Saint Mark’s after serving as a Diocesan member of the Vestry from 2015 to 2018 and realized my church home was at Saint Mark’s. I am divorced father of two—a married son and a non-binary child, both of whom live in Seattle. I am an in-house lawyer at Costco Wholesale where I support technology projects. Outside of work and church, I volunteer legal services and love to spend time with family and friends, cook, hike, and cycle. I am excited to stand for Vestry to serve this amazing community as it grows and transforms the world.


Martha Craig

Like many before me, I entered Saint Mark’s through the music door, as a member of the Gallery Choir. In my nearly 23 years as a parishioner, I’ve experienced the joy of being part of a loving, purposeful community and learned how rewarding it is to say “yes.”

I now sing in the Cathedral Choir. I’m on the Radix planning committee and have helped facilitate numerous Radix groups. I’ve been a confirmation sponsor as well. I was moved to become a Eucharistic visitor after a serious injury, when I found myself on the receiving end of a visit. It wasn’t until then that I fully understood what a profound gift of love it is to be embraced by your faith community. Over the years, I’ve taken full advantage of the opportunities Saint Mark’s offers to go deeper with my spiritual journey. I’ve taken many classes and I’m currently in my first year of Education for Ministry.

Now that my children, Catherine and Paul, are grown and I’ve retired from my 45-year career as a marketing and advertising writer, I can devote even more time to saying “yes.” I would be honored if you’d consider me for a position on the Vestry.


Nancy George

I grew up in a small town on the Oregon coast. My family did not attend church regularly, though we sometimes attended with my grandmother. I knew there was a God, because we said the Lord’s Prayer every morning in school. I worked in aerospace for 35 years starting out as an airplane mechanic, and then working my way into engineering. I was a mechanical engineer in fasteners with Boeing when I retired in 2017. After retirement I felt like I needed to grow my community, so I started attending services at Saint Marks. The first morning I walked into the 11 a.m. service, Carolyn White introduced herself, told me about the service, and sat with me until it ended. After a couple more services I felt like I found a home. I was baptized and joined the church in 2018. I am currently active in the Garden Ministry and the Facilities Committee, and serve as Greeter, Acolyte, Oblation bearer, and Eucharistic visitor (2nd). I have participated in the Women’s Retreats and in Radix groups. I love to figure out how things go together and how to fix them when they don’t. I’m always trying to learn more about how the church works and where my work is within it. Joining the Vestry might tie it altogether. I’m not sure where I’m going on my journey, but I know I’m going with God.


Phillip J. Haas

Having been a cradle Lutheran for over four decades, I joined Saint Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Bellevue in 2000 and Saint Mark’s Cathedral in 2005. I have enjoyed singing in the Cathedral Choir since then. After co-chairing the Cathedral’s 2007 annual campaign, I served on the Vestry from 2008 to 2010 and was Senior Warden for 2009–10. I have served on the board of directors of the Cathedral Foundation of the Diocese of Olympia since 2017 and was its board chair from 2019 to 2022.

I served on the Cathedral’s Finance Committee from 2017–22 and as chair of the Cathedral Office Space Task Force in 2021. I was a delegate to the Diocesan Convention twice, most recently in 2019, and served on Phillip Lienau’s Discernment Committee in 2018–19. I worked with Jim Green, Steve Thomason, Bishop Rickel, and others to develop a pastoral conference on Physician-Aided Dying in 2018.

Now retired from my 50-year career in health care administration and finance, I have worked as a Clinical Associate Professor for the Health Administration Program at UW, Network Market Head-Northwest Markets for Aetna, Administrator for Payer Relations at Valley Medical Center, Health Plan Executive Director at Virginia Mason Medical Center, and President/CEO of First Choice Health Network during my 38 years in Washington.

I have served on the boards of Pacific Vascular Inc. (2013–present), Group Health Cooperative (2013–17), the Association of Washington Health Plans (2004–2011), and First Choice Health Network (1999–2004).


Julia Logan

A “cradle” Episcopalian, I moved to Seattle in early 2013 and began attending Saint Mark’s, becoming a member shortly thereafter. In my previous church, I served on the Vestry and was Clerk and Junior Warden. I was elected to the Vestry at Saint Mark’s in 2018 and served as Senior Warden in 2019 and 2020. I was co-chair of the 2020 Strategic Planning Committee. I have been Chair of the Nominations Committee and have served on the planning committee for several iterations of Radix, as well as a facilitator. I am a Lay Worship Leader for Evening Prayer, and I serve as a greeter at the 11 o’clock Sunday service, along with a number of other ministries. I am one of the mentors for the Monday morning EfM class. Currently, I am Chair of the Board of the Cathedral Foundation of the Diocese of Olympia.

In the past, I have served as a chalice bearer, lector and intercessor. My work experience includes retail management, transportation management and logistics for a wholesaler, and non-profit work. Serving on the Vestry is a commitment of time and energy, but it is anincredibly rewarding way to give back to this community that I love. I am excited at the prospect of serving again.


Sarah McCord

I was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal church and began attending Saint Mark’s regularly since 2018, when I was reaffirmed in the church. Since then, I have served in the ushering ministry, the Phase II discernment committee for Robert Stevens, and, when my work schedule permits, Bible study and the Radix Project. I have also attended a Wesleyan Small Group at Seattle Pacific University. I will join in the pilgrimage to Ireland and Iona this summer as well.

I did my undergraduate work in Mathematics at MIT and graduate work in Applied Math at UW. I teach at Seattle Pacific University in the math department. I volunteered helping elementary school children with math when my children were very young, then homeschooled my three children for middle and high school. I volunteered in the Saturday Science Academy in Los Angeles many years ago, teaching math every Saturday to very bright minority kids who otherwise would not have a chance to have high-level enrichment. I live with my husband and children and one grandchild and have several family members in the area. I’m interested in being more involved with Saint Mark’s, learning more about theology and my place in the church.


Christine Szabadi

I am a retired classical musician and teacher. After graduating from Trinity College of Music in 1963, I taught music in a girls’ high school as well as piano at the Westminster Abbey Choir School. Growing up in London, I attended public school where “scripture” was on the curriculum and daily services were the norm. Attracted initially by the liturgy of the Anglican church, I joined at the age of 13 and was confirmed by the Bishop of Chelmsford a year later. After I married we moved to Basel, Switzerland, where I attended the Anglican church in the chapel at Basel Cathedral. When we arrived in the USA, I joined the Episcopal Church in New Jersey (Diocese of Newark). There I sang in the choir as soloist, was lector and intercessor and served two years on the vestry. In this country I have served on several Boards of Directors, including The Professional Music Teachers’ Guild of New Jersey and Seattle Opera Guild, serving as Board President of both. In New Jersey, I also ran a successful piano studio. Since I came to Saint Mark’s, I truly feel I have come home. I would be proud and honored to represent you on the Vestry.


David Thompson

I am a retired lawyer, married with two adult children. Over the years, I’ve served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations with missions including music, higher education, and the environment. It would be a special honor to serve on the Vestry at Saint Mark’s. After years of occasional visits, I joined Saint Mark’s in 2014, drawn as so many are by the liturgical tradition coupled with a commitment to social justice. I usually attend the 9 a.m. service and have served on the ushering team and as a lector/intercessor. I also served on the 2020 Strategic Planning Committee.

Tom Hayton talked me into signing up for EfM in 2017. Reading the entire Old Testament that first year was a slog, but the warm camaraderie of our little group kept me going through the full four-year program. Radix offered another meaningful small group experience. Prayer with fellow seekers—what a gift! Saint Mark’s serves a unique function in our city. It is as warm and welcoming as any of the small Episcopal parishes I attended before moving to Seattle. At the same time, it is big enough to provide space—both literal and metaphorical—for large events and diverse programs that serve both the congregation and the wider community. I look forward to being a part of finding new ways to serve each other and our city in this special place.


Candidates for Diocesan Convention Delegate

 

Nancy Beadie

Nancy is grateful for the generous welcome she has experienced from Saint Mark’s clergy, staff, and parishioners since becoming a regular Saint Mark’s communicant in the Autumn of 2022. Raised in various Methodist and Presbyterian Churches in the Northeast and Midwest, and active as an adult congregant in Lutheran and Congregationalist churches in upstate New York and New England, she is glad to have finally found her church home as a confirmed Episcopalian, the church in which her parents were married and her uncle and cousin both served as ordained priests. Especially appreciative of the many opportunities Saint Mark’s offers for deepening her faith, she has participated in the Inquirer’s class, Radix groups, the Wisdom School, Thursday morning prayer group, and the Saint Mark’s writing group. Serving as a delegate to the Diocesan Convention would enable her to continue that process of learning and discernment. Perhaps pertinent to that role, as a recently retired professor at the University of Washington she previously served as elected President of the faculty of the UW College of Education (twice), as elected President and Vice-President of two national professional organizations, and as Senior Editor of her national professional journal, History of Education Quarterly.


Bob Carter

A former Roman Catholic, I moved to Seattle from Virginia in 2017, began attending Saint Mark’s with my wife Lauren in 2018, and became a member of the Episcopal Church and Saint Mark’s parish in 2021. I cherish the welcoming, inclusive spirit of the Saint Mark’s community and our strong commitment to equality, justice, service, and spiritual growth. At Saint Mark’s, I serve as a lay reader and member of the Restorative Justice Council, and I am enrolled in Education for Ministry. I have joined six Radix groups and facilitated two of them. Before the pandemic I served in prison ministry at King County jail. I attend weekly Cursillo group reunions and the Second Sunday Cathedral Book Group. I hold a Ph.D. in American history. I have taught at every level of public instruction and served as a historian and manager in Virginia’s State Historic Preservation Office for 35 years. Lauren and I have been married for fifty-one years and have three sons and six grandchildren.


Sallie Crotty

Sallie Crotty is a lifelong Episcopalian. She was born in Dallas and raised in Galveston, Texas, where her family attended Trinity Episcopal Church. Her mother became one of the first female Episcopal priests in Texas.
Episcopal schools also shaped Sallie: Trinity in Galveston, St. Stephen’s in Austin, and Sewanee: The University of the South. At each place, she served in various capacities. While at Harvard earning her Ed.M., she attended Christ Church Cambridge.

In Dallas, where she lived for 26 years, she attended St. Matthew’s Cathedral and married Mark. They later attended St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church and raised their two children, Kate and Stephen, there. She served in various roles and ministries there, including serving as Vestry Senior Warden, leading a Vestry retreat and stewardship campaign, and serving as a delegate to Convention.
After moving to Seattle in June 2019, Sallie and Mark joined Saint Mark’s. She finished Education for Ministry and has been active in Radix, EfM book group, Saint Mark’s Writers’ Group, and Creation Care ministry. She is honored and grateful to serve as a Diocesan Convention Delegate from Saint Mark’s.

Sallie is a writer, educator, and mental health advocate. She holds a BA in English from Sewanee: The University of the South and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She will graduate from Queens University of Charlotte in January 2024 with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, with a focus on poetry. She aspires to bring poetry creative writing workshops into outpatient and inpatient mental health settings. Sallie and Mark are deeply grateful for the Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral community.


Wayne Duncan

I am honored to be nominated to serve as a delegate from Saint Mark’s to the Diocesan Convention. I am interested in the larger diocese, having gotten to know more members from different parishes as I have served on the Vestry, where I am currently completing the second year of the three-year term. Having completed the Education for Ministry program that extends throughout the diocese, I am interested in ways we can strengthen ties between Saint Mark’s and other parishes. Participating in Diocesan Convention is one way to do this, and I would be honored to serve in this role, especially as churches across the diocese recover from the pandemic, and as we welcome a new bishop in the next year.


Sarah Elwood-Faustino

Sarah Elwood-Faustino began attending Saint Mark’s in 2006, where the Thursday 7 a.m. Eucharist has long been her base community-within-the-community. She serves as a Eucharistic Visitor and Lay Worship Leader for Morning Prayer, and most often feels the presence of God when she’s biking, hiking or swimming in this beautiful place we call home. In her work life, Sarah is a professor of geography at the University of Washington, and her research and teaching focus on urban geographies, impoverishment, and creative politics forged by marginalized communities fighting for justice, equity, and self-determination. She’s excited to have a chance to learn more about the broader workings of our church as a Delegate to Convention.


Barbara Erickson

I have been a member of Saint Mark’s since the early 1990s, and I currently serve as Clerk of the Vestry.

I attend the 11 a.m. service. I am currently volunteering at the cathedral office front desk on Monday and Friday mornings, and I am a member of the Restorative Justice Council, the Feeding Ministry, the Bread Bakers, the 11 a.m. Greeters, and the Ministry of Worsted Wool (knitters). I belong to and volunteer with the United States Power Squadrons, a boating education organization, and the Good Sams Club of Washington, my RV group.

I grew up in Wickliffe, Ohio, attended Ohio State University, moved to the Seattle area in 1973, where I worked in and retired from the telecommunications industry, and found Saint Mark’s. My family consists of my husband, Steve, and kitty Gloria. Post pandemic, I have felt a call to know more about being an Episcopalian, to get to know the Diocese, and to be involved on a different level.


Hamilton Harris

I am a tenor in the Schola Choir at Saint Marks. I’m a junior in high school. I’m passionate about music. In addition to singing I also play the violin. I’m also passionate about nature and I do gardening at my school. I look forward to serving as a Delegate to Convention and to learning more about our Diocese.

 

 

 


Anneka Herring

Anneka Herring (she/her), is a sophomore at Garfield High School in Seattle. She has been in the Saint Marks Choir School for almost 10 years, and currently sings as a member of the Schola and Evensong choirs. She is passionate about the environment and loves hiking, camping, and going backpacking with her dad. Outside of choir, she also plays piano, softball, and runs cross country. Anneka listens to Taylor Swift, SZA, and Fleetwood Mac, and seeing live music is one of her favorite things. She loves traveling abroad, and hopes to see as much of the world as she can in her lifetime. Anneka is excited to serve as a delegate for Diocesan Convention and can’t wait to contribute to the church that has played such an important role in her life.


Jacquelyn Miller

I grew up in an evangelical Christian tradition. However, when my husband and I lived in Cambridge, England, in the mid-80s, we began attending Anglican services and found ourselves drawn to this religious tradition. After completing our graduate degrees at Rutgers University and elsewhere, we moved to the Seattle area, began attending Saint Marks in the mid-90s, and have participated in the Habitat for Humanity justice ministry for over twenty-five years. Eventually we officially joined the Saint Mark’s Cathedral community and, as a result, I began to intensify my involvement in its daily activities, including serving almost six years on the Justice Ministries Coordinating Team, a group that promoted and liaised with a wide-range of justice-oriented volunteers, and as a co-leader of the Habitat for Humanity ministry for many years. I have also served as a convention delegate twice before, and this experience of participating in the Episcopal governance tradition has inspired me to seek this appointment once again. I am a Professor Emerita from Seattle University where I was a member of the History Department. I spend much of my free time learning Spanish, biking, birding, hiking with a wonderful group of women every Wednesday, and volunteering with AARP as a Tax-Aide counselor preparing tax returns at no charge for people of all ages and income levels.


Gordon Miller

I have been involved in the life of Saint Mark’s for over twenty-five years, having been drawn to the spirit and mission of the Episcopal Church after living in England during the late 1980s, and was received into the Anglican Communion at Easter 2012. I have served primarily as co-leader of the Habitat for Humanity justice ministry for the past eighteen years and have participated in local, national, and international building projects, including a Jimmy Carter build in Mexico, several trips to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, leading a Global Village trip to Mexico, and, more recently, coordinating numerous projects on the Saint Mark’s campus. I am an Emeritus Professor of Environmental Studies at Seattle University and in 2023 I presented a Sunday Forum at Saint Mark’s growing out of my interest in the spiritual dimensions of ecology and natural history. I have been a Diocesan Convention delegate twice before, most recently in 2018, and would be honored to be of service in this way again.


Rollin Salsbery

Hello! I’m Rollin Salsbery and I’ve been coming to Saint Mark’s for around eight years. I serve at the 11 a.m. service as an acolyte and, more recently, as a verger. I am originally from Montana (a small town called Malta—after the island) and came to Seattle for college at Seattle Pacific University. During my time there, I first came to Saint Mark’s for Compline. My wife Kathryn and I live in Magnolia with our dachshund Persephone. I would be absolutely pleased to serve as Diocesan Convention Delegate, and I am honored to be nominated.

 


Jen Younggren

My name is Jen Younggren, and I am excited to be a candidate for Diocesan Convention Delegate. I grew up going to Presbyterian services, and, growing up in Virginia, I had exposure through friends to Southern Baptist, Evangelical, and Episcopal churches as well. While in college and medical school at the University of Virginia, I started attending Episcopal services regularly at Saint Paul’s Memorial Church, where I was involved in the choir. I really connected with the liturgy and seasonal rhythms of the church, and it was my church home during those eight years, although I did not join as a member.

For lots of life reasons, some having to do with busyness, and some having to do with wide-ranging personal journeys, I spent a long period away from organized religion, and even from regularly practicing Christianity. In 2021. I felt a strong call to return my faith, and began attending Saint Mark’s. I was confirmed at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in May 2022. I have relished my worship life there, and have become quite involved in the community, participating in the Inquirer’s Class and serving in the feeding ministry, as an acolyte, and most recently as a chalice bearer. I have also very much enjoyed being involved with Radix, as a participant, facilitator, and on the planning committee. I was blessed to have the opportunity to make close connections, and deepen faith by joining the pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2023.

Restorative Justice Council Meeting, January 2024

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 3–4:30 P.M., online via Zoom only

All members of the community of Saint Mark's are encouraged to attend the next gathering of the Restorative Justice Council. Participants will hear reports from the Justice Affinity Groups, review the council's Mission Statement, and identify goals for 2024. Consider how you can make a difference and where you are called to action. Guided by the Saint Mark's Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action, and prompted by the cathedral's Mutual Ministry Goals, the Restorative Justice Council strives to lead the Saint Mark's community to actively pursue justice through spiritual practice and action and live out our Baptismal Covenant, "to seek and serve Christ in all persons." Join using this Zoom link.

COP28 Roundup with The Rev. Lisa Graumlich, Ph.D.

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UPDATED WITH VIDEO

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 7–8:30 P.M., in person in Cathedral House Room 210 or online via Zoom

The Creation Care Ministry invites everyone January's monthly monthly meeting, in person in Room 210 (large conference room), or online via Zoom. The January 16 meeting will feature a special debriefing from the Rev. Lisa Graumlich, Ph.D. about the recent annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). What actions were taken/not taken at COP28? What can we do as individuals and as The Episcopal Church to make a difference in global climate policy? Learn about the first ever interdenominational Faith Pavilion at COP28. Lisa is a climate scientist and deacon whose ministry bridges the worlds of science and faith. She was a member of the Episcopal Church's delegation to COP27 in 2022. She currently serves as the President of the American Geophysical Union and as Deacon at Trinity Parish, Seattle.


UPDATE: A resource list shared at this presentation can be see here (pdf).

A video is now available below:

Compline in Collaboration with the Choristers of the Choir School, 2024

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 9:30 P.M., in the cathedral nave and livestreamed

Since 2015, the men of the Compline Choir have occasionally been joined by trebles from the Senior Choristers and Schola of the Cathedral Choir School to chant the Office of Compline at its usual time at 9:30 p.m. Sunday—creating an enriching intergenerational experience for all the singers involved, and a unique sound for the congregation. These collaborations are intended to occur every two years, but the last one was in February of 2019. This Sunday's office will feature a variety of special repertoire, including Peter Hallock's anthem Whom should we love like thee?, accompanied by Canon Michael Kleinschmidt on the organ.


UPDATE: A video of this service is now available:

The Order of Service & repertoire may be found at: complineunderground.wordpress.com/2024/01/14/compline-2023-the-second-sunday-after-the-epiphany-2/

January 14, 2024 • The Second Sunday after the Epiphany (sung with the Senior Choristers of the Choir School)

For this service, the men of the Compline Choir were joined by the Senior Choristers of the Saint Mark’s Cathedral Choir School, directed by Rebekah Gilmore. (This collaboration is intend to occur every other year, but it has not happened since 2019.) The organist for this service is Canon Michael Kleinschmidt.

ORISON: Here, O Lord, your servants gather (Tune: TOKYO) – Based on Japanese Gagaku mode; setting by Isao Koizumi (1907-1992)

PSALM 139 – Peter R. Hallock (1924-2014)

HYMN 689: I sought the Lord (Tune: FAITH) – J. Harold Moyer (1927-2012)

NUNC DIMITTIS – Roger Sherman

ANTHEM: Whom should we love like thee? – arr. Peter R. Hallock

Jason Anderson & Rebekah Gilmore, directors • Michael Kleinschmidt, organist • Gregory Bloch, reader • Tyler Morse, cantor

Thanks to this evening's Compline volunteers: hospitality ministers John Gulhagen and James Davidson, and videographer Chris Brown.

Compline at Saint Mark's Cathedral has been a Seattle tradition since 1956. All the singers are volunteers. Learn more at: https://saintmarks.org/worship/compline/
and: https://complinechoir.org/

Creation Care Tips!

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The Creation Care Ministry will be offering tips on a variety of topics related to carbon reduction in the cathedral newsletter this season. 


Heat Pumps

In spite of their name, heat pumps are a way to cool AND heat your home, and they have a lighter impact on our planet. According to Energy.gov, heat pumps can reduce the electricity you use to heat your home by as much as 65%! The IRS offers a tax credit of up to $2,000 for a heat pump. Keep an eye on the Washington Department of Commerce website for details on additional energy incentives available to Washington homeowners in 2024. And don’t forget to check with your utility provider for other potential incentives.


Future tips will be archived on this page, as they are published.

2024 Annual Parish Meeting & Elections

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LINKS:

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 12:30–2 P.M., Bloedel Hall and via Zoom

Documents distributed at the meeting (links will be updated as documents become available):


UPDATES:

The slate of candidates for Diocesan Convention Delegate was approved by acclamation.

The new Vestry members elected were: Martha Craig, Christopher Breunig, Julia Logan, and Phil Haas.

The Rev. Gail Wheatley will serve as a new Diocesan Member of the Vestry.

The Dean appointed Greg Hamm as Senior Warden.

The Pro Christo et Ecclesia medal was awarded to Scott Hulet.

The Cathedral Cross was awarded to Emily Meeks.

A complete video of the meeting is now posted below. 


The 2024 Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday February 4, 2024, following the 11 a.m. service (start time: approx. 12:30 p.m.). The business will include election of parish vestry members and delegates/alternates to Diocesan Convention. A brochure featuring the candidates is available now in the back of the nave. Reports will be presented by the Dean, Senior Warden, ministry leaders, Strategic Planning Committee, and the Finance Committee. We will also celebrate our common life, and Dean Thomason will share Pro Christo Awards and a Cathedral Cross to individuals. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our vibrant parish.

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 by paper ballot in Bloedel Hall, or electronic ballot for those on Zoom. The link to the electronic ballot will only be available in the Zoom chat during the meeting. 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.

A Forum on the Book of Common Prayer

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. Optional community dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family)

The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) shapes how Saint Mark’s worships, what we believe, and how we see the world and ourselves in the Episcopal tradition. It is designed to inform every aspect of our lives in rich ways. Join in for a discussion to learn more about its history, language and theology and explore ways to incorporate it into our spiritual lives. Facilitators will include Dean Steve Thomason, James Davidson, Peter Barrie and Canon Wendy Claire Barrie. A physical copy of the BCP or a free online version are not needed to attend but could be helpful to have available. All are invited to join whether you are new to the text or have been engaging with this book for years.

A video of the forum will be posted here when it is available.


 

Resources:

Two Forums on Ignatian Spirituality

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Resources

Books

 

Apps

 

Podcast

 

Materials from the Jan. 21 Sunday Forum

UPDATED WITH VIDEO OF BOTH PRESENTATIONS


SUNDAY FORUM

Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality: Going Deeper in Your Life of Prayer

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 10:10-10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall

Come take part in a discussion on the gifts of Ignatian Spirituality. This Christian spiritual tradition is inspired by St. Ignatius Loyola and is a spirituality for everyday life, beckoning us to see that God is ever-present in our world and active in our lives all around us. Learn about the basic tenets of this approach that can support deepening prayer and attuning discernment as we listen to how the Spirit may be moving in our midst. Facilitators include Erin Beary Anderson, Ross Hays, and Dean Steve Thomason. On February 7, a follow-up Cathedral Commons will go deeper into the The Daily Examen, a technique for meaningful reflection of your day (see below).

UPDATE: A complete video of the Sunday forum now available below.


CATHEDRAL COMMONS

The Examen: Finding God Across Your Day

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. Optional community dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family)

Usually prayed in the evening, the Daily Examen is a way to help notice and attend to God’s presence throughout the day through prayer. Come learn about the history of this practice with an overview from Dean Steve Thomason, hear experiences from Molly Bosch and Bryan Pansing who learned the Examen in the Jesuit Service Corps, and practice with a guided exercise from Ross Hays and Erin Anderson. Together we will consider what’s bringing us closer to God and what may be creating distance for us?

UPDATE: A complete video of the Sunday forum now available below.

Twelfth Night Eucharist & Burning of the Greens, 2024

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 7 P.M., in the cathedral nave and parking lot

In our tradition, the celebration of the Feast of Christmas lasts twelve days, beginning December 25 and ending on January 5 (that is, the day before the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6). The evening of the last day of Christmas is known as “Twelfth Night,” and is an opportunity for festivity and reflection.

All ages are invited to celebrate the end of the Christmas season on Friday, January 5 at 7 p.m. We’ll gather in the nave for a simple, intimate, and brief Eucharist with the Epiphany gospel. Following the liturgy, we’ll process with the Advent wreath to the bonfire in the lower parking lot. You are most welcome to bring your greens from home to toss into the fire. Then, we’ll toast marshmallows, enjoy s’mores, hot cider, and good cheer.

UPDATE! For more information about events around the Burning of the Greens at other Episcopal parishes, check out this article, featuring quotes from our own Dean Steve Thomason, as well as the Rev. Hilary Raining, PhD, our former Theologian-in-residence who will return here this March to lead a Wisdom School event.


Check out some photos from the Burning of the Greens in years past below (click to enlarge):

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