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 Hallock's Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem, a thrilling anthem written in 1983 especially for this space and this choir.
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, April 10, will be acknowledged in the Easter service bulletins. Contact Erik Donner in the cathedral office with questions: edonner@saintmarks.org.
On three Sundays—March 20, March 27, and April 3, 2022—Saint Mark's is gathering needed supplies for Mary's Place. Please bring your donations of disposable diapers (any size), baby wipes, travel-sized toiletries, or deodorant and place them in the large wicker baskets in the Coffee Corner, and they will be delivered to families at Mary's Place.
TWO WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 23 & 30, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom
A Forum with The Rev. Linzi Stahlecker
Over the course of this two-week series, Rev. Linzi will explore embodiment as a way to come to know and love ourselves, each other, and God more fully; discussing together why this is essential for the mission of the Church. Drawing from interdisciplinary thinkers, Scripture, and spiritual practice, Rev. Linzi will frame this series in her own life experience, participants are encouraged to notice parallels and differences from their own social location and life story.
Rev. Linzi hopes you will join her in Bloedel Hall—the series will be hybrid and you are also welcome to join via Zoom.
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 7:30 P.M., Bloedel Hall or join in via livestream
Join the adults, teens, and kids of the Saint Mark's Evensong Choir for CHOIR UNVESTED, an evening of brilliant entertainment, gourmet desserts, and a silent auction. Enjoy delicious treats by Chef Marc Aubertin and refreshing beverages as you listen to the members of the choir sing favorites from The Sound of Music, Godspell, Pippin, and other Broadway gems.
Choir Unvested is a fundraiser for the choir's upcoming pilgrimage to Chichester and Bristol Cathedrals, England, where they will serve as choir-in-residence for one week each in August. Funds are being raised to ensure that all the members can participate regardless of their ability to pay.
Tickets are $75 (plus a processing fee), $50 of which is tax deductible. Proof of vaccination/recent negative COVID test will be checked at the door. Purchase tickets here.
To join online, purchase a ticket and a URL will be sent to you with your confirmation.
For a taste of what's in store at Saturday's UNVESTED cabaret fundraiser, check out this moment from a recent rehearsal, led by the cabaret's director and choreographer Heather MacLaughlin Garbes, featuring Evensong Choir countertenor John Garlid as Pippin (a role he seems to have been born to play!):
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022, 6:30-8 P.M. (note evening time!), in Bloedel Hall or via Zoom
The St. Nicholas Exploratory Committee has completed 18 months of study and reported its recommendations to the Vestry, which has received the report and adopted those recommendations. Next step is to report to the cathedral parish. Committee members will do so in a special forum to which all are invited.
There will be a Special Parish Forum on Sunday March 27, 2022, 6:30–8 p.m. in which the St. Nicholas Exploratory Committee will present its report to the parish along with recommendations it has made to the vestry. All are encouraged to attend, either in-person in Bloedel Hall, or via Zoom. The committee was established in Fall 2020 and charged by the vestry to explore the highest and best long-term use of the St. Nicholas property.
Several potential development approaches were considered, and the committee’s report can be viewed here. Committee members will be on hand to present key findings and recommendations, which have been adopted by the vestry, and to answer questions parishioners may have. We will also discuss next steps for potential campus development. All are welcome. Questions should be addressed to Dean Steve Thomason or Committee Chair John Hoerster.
Gratefully yours,
The Very Reverend Steven L. Thomason
Dean and Rector
Dean Thomason has prepared this brief (~2-minute) video message, announcing that the cathedral will resume offering the cup of wine to the entire congregation at the time of Holy Communion, on a strictly optional basis, beginning this Sunday, March 6, 2022.
TWO WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 9 & 16, 2022, 6:45–8:15 P.M. PACIFIC TIME, via Zoom only, registration required.
In the last few years, scientists have discovered what indigenous communities have known for countless generations: that the emotional and physical lives of our ancestors will fundamentally affect our emotional and physical lives as well. Yet, this concept of generational spirituality is underexplored in our faith communities. In this two part series, The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining, Saint Mark’s 2022 Theologian-in-Residence, will explore the role of our ancestors in shaping our lives as well as how we might help heal ourselves and others. Join us for a combination of scholarship and experience in community!
Participants are invited to read Rev. Raining’s article on spiritual inheritance and gratitude here. Learn more about Rev. Raining here.
SPIRITUAL GENOGRAM
Rev. Raining has invited participants to construct their own "Spiritual Genogram" before the second session on March 16. Here some resources to guide you:
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2022, 9 A.M.–12:30 P.M., at Saint Mark’s Cathedral
This gathering is open to all and free. The morning is designed to help us move deeply into the sacred seasons with morning prayer, centering prayer, walking meditation, and unstructured time for reflection held in shared silence. Freewill donations gratefully accepted ($10–15 suggested). For more information, contact Canon Wendy Claire Barrie.
For Christians, the Season of Lent offers a certain wisdom—that death is understood not merely as an event that occurs at the end of life, but also as an ever-present character in the story of our lives. Death is a mystery to be contemplated while we live.
For the past few years, I’ve made an annual appeal at the beginning of Lent for each adult at Saint Mark’s to undertake the work of planning your own funeral. Scores of people have done so; many have expressed how deeply meaningful this work is. If you have done so already, take time this Lent to dust off your plan, review and update it if needed. If you’ve not yet taken this work on, I exhort you to include this work this year in your observance of a holy Lent. It is indeed holy work. The clergy are happy to assist you in any way you find helpful.
Here are the documents that will serve as resources for you:
These documents are also available at saintmarks.org/funeral. Ideally, you would complete this planning form (or as much as you’d like to complete) and provide a copy to the Dean’s office, where it will be kept on file, and held in confidence, until the time it is needed (hopefully a long time from now!) Of course, you can retrieve it, amend it, or replace it at any time (and many of us do).
This year, I want to broaden this invitation to include preparation (or review) of your will. My granddaughter was born earlier this year, and her birth has prompted my daughter and her wife to prepare their wills. They are in their 30s; Kathy and I did much the same when our first child was born. It is never too soon to give thought to that part of end-of-life planning, including provision for heirs and designating legacy gifts for charitable agencies to which you are committed. Again, Lent is a particularly poignant time to undertake this work, or to conduct an annual review of your estate documents. For some with complex estates, an attorney will be needed. For others, this can be a straightforward exercise, and the Cathedral Foundation and the Diocese of Olympia have partnered withFreewill, a free online resource designed to help guide your decisions around estate planning and will preparation.
Kathy and I rewrote our wills a few years ago—maybe the fifth time in our lives—and we will review them again this Lent as a spiritual practice that evokes gratitude—for the blessings in our lives, for our children, and for Saint Mark’s, our alma maters, and other organizations we want to support with planned gifts.
This is holy work, my friends, wherever you are on the spiritual journey of life, wherever you are in the course of life. I hope you will embrace it as part of your Lenten observance.
Blessings and peace,
The Very Reverend Steven L. Thomason
Dean and Rector
Since Lent 2018, the Stations of the Cross by artistVirginia Maksymowicz have been displayed in the nave of Saint Mark's Cathedral, Seattle. Although they were originally commissioned by St Thomas Episcopal Church in Lancaster, PA—a very different kind of church interior than Saint Mark's—their elemental quality and stark appearance resonate visually and spiritually with the nave of Saint Mark's. Many are surprised to learn that they were not created specifically for this space! In fact, they have only been on loan to the cathedral since their first appearance here in 2018.
Now, Saint Mark's Cathedral is happy to announce that these artworks are now a permanent part of the cathedral collection. They have been given as a gift by The Rt. Rev. Gregory Rickel, Bishop of Olympia, and Mrs Marti Rickel, to the glory of God and in loving memory of Bishop Rickel's father, Morris E. Rickel Jr. These Stations of the Cross will serve the cathedral community, the diocese, and wider community as a beautiful and prayerful aspect of our Lenten observances for years to come.
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 10:10–10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall or via Zoom
Rev. Linzi, the newest member of Saint Mark’s clergy team, is excited for the opportunity to gather with the people of the parish for this Sunday forum - her spouse, Troy, will be here too. Linzi will share some of her surprising story, which begins as an outspoken and committed atheist living and working in London, England, and she will also introduce the Cathedral Commons she’ll be leading later this month. Learn more about Linzi here. Bring your coffee and your questions!
FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH, 6–6:30 P.M., in the cathedral nave
On Monday, March 14, 2022, beginning at 6 p.m., Saint Mark's Associate Organist John Stuntebeck will offer 30 minutes of drone-based improvisations on the Mighty Flentrop, as an aid to reflection and meditation, and as a prelude to yoga practice. Cathedral Yoga will follow immediately at 6:30 p.m.
Arrive at any time between 6 and 6:30, but note that the nave will not be open until just before 6 p.m.
You are welcome to stay for the organ prelude without attending the yoga class.
A very brief taste of the event may be heard in the video below:
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2 P.M., meet at the Tradition Lake trailhead
For the second intergenerational hike, intrepid hiker Betsy Bell has chosen a route that’s friendly to seniors and preschoolers. We’ll meet at the Tradition Lake trailhead at the end of the road at High Point exit off I-90. This includes the Swamp Trail which has a fun series of story boards about Zoe and the creatures in the area, the Ruth Kees Big Tree and Tradition Lake trails, about 2.5 to 3 miles with almost no elevation gain and a couple of good places to stop for prayer and song.
Join Canon Daugherty over the course of two Wednesday evenings to explore the riches of creation-based spirituality in the Celtic tradition. She’ll share some of what she learned while on sabbatical in Ireland and Iona, and we’ll practice rhythms of embodied prayer and openness to daily encounters with the holy.
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 6–7:15 P.M., in the cathedral nave. Register here. Suggested donation: $5/person, $20/family.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Closing of the Doors
Please join us on Shrove Tuesday, March 1, in the cathedral nave, 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 evening will conclude with a brief liturgy to bury the Alleluias and close the great doors until Easter. (This is a tradition to unique to Saint Mark's—see a glimpse of what the Closing of the Doors has looked like in previous years below!)
Please register in advance here. Children 5 and under are very much welcome! Everyone older than 5 must be vaccinated or provide a recent negative PCR test. When you register, you will be encouraged to provide your proof of vaccination in advance, simply by emailing an image to Canon Barrie at wbarrie@saintmarks.org
(Registration will also be available at the door, but advance registration will aid in planning, and providing proof of vaccination in advance will speed up check-in.)
Above: Santa Marta Center donation links. Click to enlarge.
UPDATED WITH VIDEO
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 10:10–10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall or via Zoom.
The Santa Marta Anglican Center: Supporting LGBTIQ+ youth in El Salvador
The Santa Marta Anglican Center supports LGBTIQ+ youth in El Salvador who are facing homelessness. It is a ministry of the Diocese of El Salvador, part of the Anglican Church in Central America. Attend this Sunday morning form in person or online to learn more about Diocese of El Salvador's work to advance LGBTIQ+ rights, celebrate LGBTIQ+ stories, and support LGBTIQ+ youth and young adults who have been kicked out of their homes.
Check out an article about the work of the Center here.
Their fundraising official, Joseph Russ, is visiting from El Salvador to share the story of founding the Center, the faith that grounds this work, and how this faith becomes action by accompanying queer Salvadoran youth and young adults.
A complete video of the presentation may be seen here:
We'll take a guided walk led by David Poortinga through grasslands, wooded hillsides, wetlands and shoreline to discover the many waterbirds and more at Magnuson. No birding experience required.
Meet at the parking lot near the Magnuson Park Boat Launch off of 65th/Lake Shore Drive.
The slate of candidates for Diocesan Convention Delegates were elected by acclamation.
The new Vestry members elected to three-year terms at this meeting were:
Scott Hulet
Wayne Duncan
Kristen Kelly
Justin Mills
In addition, Doug Thorpe was appointed to serve a one-year term filling a vacant position.
The Dean announced the appointment of Emily Meeks as Senior Warden for this year.
The Pro Christo Et Ecclesia Award was presented to:
Virginia Lenker
Molly Henderson
The video presented at the meeting introducing the members of the staff and clergy may be seen below:
This year, in the interest of time (and considering that there will be no food served), two reports that would normally be presented at the meeting have been pre-recorded. Please view them at your convenience.
Food is a profound portal into spiritual growth even as it often carries trappings of stress and shame for many. It doesn’t have to. Sharing a meal is a holy experience, if we avail ourselves of the opportunity to practice presence and to see the bounty before us as opportunity to practice gratitude. Brief reflections across the day will include history of the meal, reflecting on food as spiritual metaphor, and participants will engage in sensate tasting and will share a meal prepared by all present.
Register by submitting the form below, or at this link.
In this service, we join our voices with those of Anna and Simeon when the boy Jesus was presented to them by Mary and Joseph in the Temple: "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared for all people." The Evensong Choir will offer an effervescent setting of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in G major by the English composer, Herbert Sumsion; and a contemplative setting of the beloved spiritual, "This little light of mine," by the African-American composer, John Wesley Work III.
UPDATES: Read Rev. Raining’s article on spiritual inheritance and gratitudehere.
See video of her two-part online forum on intergenerational trauma and intergenerational blessing, March 9 & 16, 2022,here.
See video of her online forum on spiritual practices in times of change, May 18, 2022, here.
Materials and video of her in-person workshop on Mary Magdalene and spiritual healing, August 20, 2022, may be found here. She also offered an in-person guest sermon and participated in a Sunday morning forum on Sunday, August 21, 2022.
Materials and video of her workshop on Liturgy and Intersectionality, Saturday, November 12. may be found here. On November 13, she preached (in person) as well as participating in a Sunday morning forum and led a discussion for youth.
A MESSAGE FROM DEAN THOMASON
Dear friends,
It is my delight to share the news that The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining will serve as Saint Mark’s Theologian-in-Residence for the coming year. In this role, Dr. Raining will bring her manifold gifts and considerable experience as she engages the cathedral community at periodic intervals as theologian, priest, preacher, teacher, and ministry consultant. We look forward to her presence among us, which will be virtual initially, with travel to Seattle coming later this year. Dr. Raining writes:
“I am thrilled to journey with the cathedral this year! I believe that the Holy Spirit will speak to us during this time of fellowship, theology, and experience. ”
Dr. Raining serves in several roles as a leader in the Church: she is rector of St. Christopher Episcopal Church in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania (the first woman to rector a 500-member parish in the suburbs of Philadelphia); she is the Founding Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at the General Theological Seminary in New York City; she has served as a deputy to several General Conventions of the Episcopal Church; she serves on the Presiding Bishop’s Task Force for the Way of Love; and she serves as mentor, coach and spiritual advisor to several people seeking ordination. She is a member of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Native Americans, and she recently published an article in Anglican Theological Review on “blood memory and gratitude as a multi-lineage spiritual practice.” She is also a founder of The Hive, a home for wellness, spirituality and growth.
Dr. Raining earned her Doctor of Ministry from Drew University (2014), her Master of Divinity from Yale University (2007), and Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Psychology from Moravian University (2005). Read more about Hillary, her background, writings, reflections and publications on her website.
Dr. Raining is scheduled to offer a two-week series in March for Cathedral Commons on “blood memory and our spiritual inheritance.” We will share more on that in the coming weeks.
I look forward to Hillary engaging our community at regular intervals in the course of next year, and I hope you will join me in welcoming her. I am,
Gratefully yours,
The Very Reverend Steven L. Thomason, Dean & Rector
SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2022, 9:30 A.M.–3 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall OR online via Zoom
A Saturday gathering led by Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows
The year 2022 is already being called “the year of all things,” as the world attempts to catch up on two years of pandemic postponements. But Jesus, ever attentive to the present moment, calls us to liberation from the tyranny of being overcommitted and offers us the invitation to rest, heal, and be well. This workshop will explore the resources of our faith tradition for grounded and connected life and ministry for all of God’s people.
Besides Saturday's Wisdom School forum, the visit to Saint Mark's of the Bishop of Indianapolis, The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, also included a workshop for clergy, Sunday morning preaching, and a "Friends Talking" Sunday Forum in Bloedel Hall.
UPDATE: Watch the Video of Bishop Baskerville-Burrows' Wisdom School Forum below.
View the Workshop Slides here. (Thanks and credit for workshop slides to @blackliturgies)
MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022, 11 a.m. Rally; 12:30 p.m. March Starts
At the Garfield High School Front Parking Lot on 23rd
Grab your walking shoes and join us at the 2022 MLK Jr Rally and March in Seattle on Monday, January 17. This year will mark the 39th year of the event honoring Dr. King's legacy.
Due to COVID, Garfield High School is CLOSED. There will be porta-potties (including an accessible unit), so please plan accordingly. Please dress warm and wear comfortable shoes.
PLEASE NOTE: While this is an outdoor/outside event, as always, during this time of COVID, use your best judgment and wisdom in deciding how comfortable you are participating in large/crowded events.
How to get there:
At this point in the pandemic, the cathedral is not going to organize carpool/ride-sharing.
If you decide to use Public transportation, these are the directions for using public transportation from Saint Mark’s:
Leave Saint Mark's at 10:10 a.m. on the #49 headed to University District station
Get off at NE Campus Parkway and Brooklyn Ave NE
Walk three minutes to 15th Ave NE & NE 40th St.
Catch the #48 headed to Mount Baker Transit Center (departs from 15th Ave NE & NE 40th St. at 10:30 a.m.)
Reach Garfield High School 10:50 a.m.
Returning to Saint Mark’s from Federal Building downtown (this is where the march have ended in the past).
Walk 10 minutes to Westlake Station
Catch the Northgate train to Capitol Hill station
Catch the #49 headed to University District station, which goes past the cathedral on 10th and Galer
SIX SUNDAY MEETINGS, 12:30–2 P.M., BEGINNING MARCH 6, 2022, AND CONTINUING THROUGH PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2022
IN-PERSON IN BLOEDEL HALL OR ONLINE VIA ZOOM, registration required
No matter where you are on your journey, consider attending this two-class series, facilitated by clergy, where we will explore together the basics of the Christian faith through the Episcopal lens. Whether you are new to Saint Mark’s, or just interested in sharing and learning, you are welcome.
The current series will meet at 12:30 p.m. on:
March 6
March 13
March 20
March 27
April 3
April 10
After completing the series, many people often decide to receive the sacrament of baptism or be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church. Attendees are strongly encouraged to attend all six sessions.
Since Lent 2018, the Stations of the Cross by artist 
It is my delight to share the news that The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining will serve as Saint Mark’s Theologian-in-Residence for the coming year. In this role, Dr. Raining will bring her manifold gifts and considerable experience as she engages the cathedral community at periodic intervals as theologian, priest, preacher, teacher, and ministry consultant. We look forward to her presence among us, which will be virtual initially, with travel to Seattle coming later this year. Dr. Raining writes:
