O Antiphons is a beloved annual liturgy of music and pageantry that marks the beginning of Advent —the season of longing, vigilance, and expectation in preparation for Christmas—which this year is offered Sunday, November 28, 2021, at 7 p.m.. The form of this liturgy that was invented here is now used in churches around the world. An exciting element of this year’s service will be the world premiere of a newly commissioned anthem, conceived and written expressly for the Saint … Read More

A Message from Dean Thomason Dear friends, It is my great delight to share the exciting news that The Reverend Eliacín Rosario-Cruz has accepted the call to serve as Canon and Priest Associate at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. Eliacín (pronounced “ay-lee-uh-SEEN”) is no stranger to Saint Mark’s, having served as Adult Faith Formation Associate here 2005–2008, and he was ordained a priest in the cathedral in 2015. Since ordination he has served St. Luke’s~San Lucas Episcopal Church in Vancouver, WA, and, … Read More

UPDATE: Community Forum on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 6:30–8 p.m., via Zoom Community Conversation on the Formation Consultant’s Report In May and early June of this year, we held several Listening Groups with our Formation Consultant, Jamie Martin Currie, who captured a great deal of information and insights from these groups and the parish survey (which had more than 200 providing input). Thanks to all who participated. The report delivered in late June has a great deal of information and several … Read More

UPDATE: This event has been rescheduled for November 17, 2021. Learn more and register here. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021, 6:30–8 p.m. Hybrid gathering: in Bloedel Hall and via Zoom (registration requested for either option so we can plan accordingly) Earlier this year the Vestry unanimously adopted the Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action as a guide for our important work as individuals and community as we strive for justice and peace and respect for every human being. It is … Read More

From Prisoners of Pandemic to Prisoners of Hope: A Day of Reflection on Being Church in our Emerging Reality SATURDAY, JULY 24, 9:30 A.M.–12 P.M., in-person in Bloedel Hall or virtually via Zoom. Register here or below.  led by The Rev. Canon Walter Brownridge, Saint Mark’s Theologian-in-Residence “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”  —Desmond Tutu The past 16 months have been traumatic for many of us, and on so many levels. … Read More

An Invitation from Dean Thomason Dear friends, Come create our new way forward! Earlier this year the Vestry forged a key document—our Mutual Ministry Goals—which are designed to inform and guide our work as a community. These three goals center upon the work of justice, creation care, and intergenerational ministry as we plot a course of lifelong spiritual formation for every person in this cathedral community. They are intended to touch every aspect of our common life. So important are … Read More

The Episcopal Church and Indigenous Residential Schools In the 19th and 20th centuries, Indigenous children across North America were stolen from their families and forced into institutions whose explicit goal was the complete eradication of Native culture, language, and identity—that is, cultural genocide. The Episcopal Church has been complicit in the creation and operation of some of these institutions. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies Gay Clark Jennings have released this statement on this shameful … Read More

Diocese of Olympia Circles of Color Present: Juneteenth Service of Freedom and Healing | Saturday, June 19, 2021, 12:30 p.m.  Service Leaflet Offertory donations support the Richard Younge Curates of Color Fund which was established to honor the ministry of the Rev. Richard Younge and to support the ongoing formation of newly ordained people of color in the Diocese of Olympia. Please write “Juneteenth” in the memo line. Give using: saintmarks.org/give or venmo.com/saintmarkscathedralseattle or mail a check to: 1245 10th Ave E, Seattle … Read More

On May 25, 2021, the cathedral Vestry unanimously adopted a Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action, a revised and expanded statement of principals for this community. This document has been in the works for many months, and builds on the cathedral’s 2016 Statement, titled Renewing Our Covenant—which for many years has been posted on the church’s front doors—and A Covenant to Root Out Racism, created in Diocese of Missouri and adopted by the Diocese of Olympia at the 2020 … Read More

Dean Thomason sent the following message to the community regarding the creation and intention behind the cathedral’s Land Acknowledgment. Much more information can be found at Saint Mark’s Land Acknowledgment page. A Message from Dean Thomason Dear friends, You may have noticed in recent months more occasions when we have begun our worship or meetings with a Land Acknowledgment: Saint Mark’s Cathedral acknowledges that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People, who … Read More

photo by Brian Smale UPDATE: The post below is about the May 2021 project addressing people killed by the police. To learn about the June 2023 project in support of trans lives and trans kids here.  Justice means they would still be alive today.  May 25 marks the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, a watershed moment that has re-energized an ongoing nationwide movement and sparked an urgent conversation about the role of policing in our state. In Washington, … Read More

RACIAL JUSTICE AUDIT REPORT & RESOURCES NOW PUBLIC After two years and more than 1,300 surveys, the ground-breaking Racial Justice Audit of Episcopal Leadership is now available to the wider church and public. Conducted by the Mission Institute in partnership with The Episcopal Church’s Racial Reconciliation and Justice Team, the audit focused on two key questions: who makes up the leadership of the church; and what are their experiences of race and racism in their leadership roles?  The Mission Institute team mined the data for … Read More

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 6:30 P.M., via Zoom UPDATE: Follow-up Conversation to Absalom Jones Center “Dismantling Racism” Training If you participated in a session of the day-long Absalom Jones Center’s “Dismantling Racism” program, come join in a follow-up conversation via Zoom with your fellow Saint Markians. Dean Thomason, Canon Daugherty, and Canon Ross have all taken the training and look forward to talking with others who participated at any point these past three months, to share about our thoughts, feelings, and … Read More

One Service for Turtle Island: A Liturgy for the Diocese of Olympia SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 11 A.M. 10:00 A.M. – Musical Prelude 11:00 A.M. – Liturgy Begins 12:30 A.M. – Town Hall Connect here. In the cosmology of North and South American peoples, Turtle Island is the geographic region covering Canada, United States, Central America, and South America. Join together online Sunday, April 25, at 11:00am to worship Jesus with Episcopalians from all over the Diocese of Olympia led by … Read More

Canon Walter Brownridge leads Q&A and concluding reflections  SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 12:30-2 P.M., via Zoom. Register at this link.    Introductory presentation by Canon Brownridge occurred SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1-2 P.M., via Zoom. See video below.  Community discussion with small breakout groups occurred WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 6:30-8 P.M. Gather via Zoom on February 28 at 1 p.m. with Saint Mark’s Theologian-in-Residence, The Rev. Canon Walter Brownridge, for an introduction to acclaimed African-American religious leader and theologian Howard Thurman’s legacy (watch here … Read More

Dean Thomason sent an email message to the community on Thursday morning, March 18, regarding hate crimes against Asian Americans—not just in Georgia, but also in our own city, our own neighborhoods, and our own community. Dear friends, The news out of Atlanta over the last 36 hours has been a swirl of tragedy, horror, and a distressing series of comments by police that seek to point anywhere but to the fact that these murders were racially motivated. Sex addiction, … Read More

During Black History Month, check out the resources and materials made available at The Conscious Kid, an education, research, and policy organization that promotes healthy racial identity development in youth. Here are some quick tips from them: Name and take action against white supremacy with kids as early and as often as possible. Support racial identity as part of healthy child development. It is important to name whiteness, and for white people to identify as “white” in ways that acknowledge … Read More

The Mideast Focus Ministry’s eighth annual series of film screenings and discussion begins February 19! The theme of this Film Series is “Who’s at the Checkpoint?” Like most of the previous series, all events will be via Zoom. This year’s programming has a difference. In response to the U.S. apartheid-like parallels to Palestine in our own country, we will spend some evenings linking to Black Lives Matter and the story of Indigenous people in America. See the complete schedule with … Read More