WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. Free, no registration required. Optional Community Dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family)
Affordable Housing Project Update
We have exciting updates to share about the affordable housing project at St. Nicholas! Join Dean Thomason, Affordable Housing Committee Chair John Hoerster, and committee members, as they share updates regarding the redevelopment of the St. Nicholas property for affordable housing. Hear updates on selection of a developer/partner for the project, community engagement, community-based justice conversations, and much more. Learn more about this important missional project.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person ONLY starting in the cathedral nave. Free, no registration required. Optional Community Dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family)
Rogation Day Procession & Liturgy
An outdoor liturgy for Rogation Day, an observance that dates to the 5th century. For 1,500 years, the weekdays preceding Ascension Day have been marked by outdoor prayers and thanksgiving for the fruitful Earth. Following the community dinner in Bloedel Hall, participants will process around the cathedral grounds, stopping to reflect and pray at significant locations. Canon Rich Weyls will officiate. The liturgy includes a portion of the Great Litany
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. Free, no registration required. Optional Community Dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family)
Practicing Sabbath
For the final Cathedral Commons of the program year, we'll explore the theme of honoring the Sabbath through the first set of videos and discussion questions from Bishop Phil LaBelle's new Zimzum Discipleship series. This is a great bookend to Bishop LaBelle's first forum with us in September 2024, and a great way to consider rest and recreation in the summer months.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025
Walking the Pilgrim Way: The Camino de Santiago
Have you ever considered walking the medieval pilgrimage route, Camino de Santiago, in Spain? Several St. Mark’s parishioners have and they wish to share their experiences and enthusiasm for the Camino! This Cathedral Commons will cover questions such as: What is a pilgrimage and what is the Camino de Santiago? What are the most popular routes to Santiago? How does one make this journey? How are pilgrims changed by their experience and how do they serve future peregrinos? We may also have a brief presentation from the Friends of the Anglican Pilgrim Centre in Santiago promoting the beautiful guesthouse, Casa Anglicana del Peregrinos, and the historic Church of San Felix de Solovio (“San Fiz”) where Anglican liturgies are celebrated in English. Please join us for this interesting evening of information and faith sharing.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2025
Becoming a Poverty Abolitionist
“If America’s poor founded a country, that country would have a bigger population than Australia or Venezuela.” —Matthew Desmond, Poverty, by America
Why is there so much poverty in the richest country on earth? Can poverty be abolished? Participants in the recent Community Book Studies of Matthew Desmond’s, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City and Poverty, by America invite you to join this conversation at a Cathedral Commons on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Whether you have read one or both of these books is NOT a requirement to attend. We come together to consider our role in economic justice and to ask, What am I willing to change about how I live to abolish poverty?
Video and resources from this forum will be posted here when they are available.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2025
Forum on Supporting Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People
Come learn about the challenges facing transgender and gender non-conforming people in these uncertain times and how we can best support one of our most vulnerable minorities. Queer in Christ leaders Chloe Jett and Rose Hazard will guide us in learning more about the power of using gender affirming terms and how we can mobilize to help protect those in the transgender and gender non-conforming community.'
A video is now available here.
TWO WEDNESDAS IN LENT: MARCH 19 & 26, 2025
Generosity as Resistance: Living the Call to Radical Hospitality in Challenging Times
“From anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again” (Luke 6:29b–30).
Jesus proclaimed a message of extravagant generosity—a generosity responsive to God’s overwhelming generosity to us as the one who creates, sustains, and redeems us. But today there are voices in our nation and in the Christian Church who seek to restrict generosity to those deemed “worthy.” How are we to live out Jesus’ call in these times? How do we develop a counterculture of abundance in the face of a culture that operates out of scarcity? Join us on March 19 and 26 to reflect together on these questions. Led by Peter Snyder, James Davidson, and Greg Simon.
Slides and video from this forum are now available here.
SPECIAL THURSDAY EVENING EVENT FROM THE WISDOM SCHOOL
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025
Pádraig Ó Tuama: The Better Angels of Our Nature
We live in fraught times when violence seems to be the common denominator in a calculus based in mistrust and misanthropic othering. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind… Drawing on inspiration from his work with language and religion, conflict and peacemaking, this truth-teller of our time will draw us into an orbit of soulful wisdom and poetic grace.
This presentation was recorded and the video was made available to those who registered to attend. Please reach out to info@saintmarks.org to learn more.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025
Eco-theology—Is God's Love Broad Enough for Bears?
led by Canon Rich Weyls
What does theology have to say about environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change? Ecotheology is a form of constructive theology that focuses on the interrelationship between religion and nature, particularly in the light of environmental concerns. In this session, we will explore classical theological notions of Creation, our neglect of these concepts in Western Christianity, and their restoration in the Triune God of love. This presentation will be given by The Rev. Canon Rich Weyls, Canon for Community Life and Senior Associate Rector. Canon Rich is also the staff support person for Saint Mark's Creation Care Ministry.
A video and slides are now available here.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRAURY 26, 2025
Thresholds and Transitions Across the Liturgical Year
led by Hannah Hochkeppel and members of the 20s/30s group
Hannah Hochkeppel and 20s/30s members will lead this forum on the final Wednesday before Lent to explore the liturgical calendar. What are our seasons? What do the colors and traditions of each season invoke in our spiritual life? Together we will uncover the ways in which the cyclical nature of the liturgical year invites us regularly into the experience of transition and reflection. This is a follow-up to a previous forum exploring the liturgical traditions of The Episcopal Church offered in April 2024.
Slides and video are now available here.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2025
An Introduction to Hildegard of Bingen's Approach to Psychotherapy
led by the Rev. Danae Ashley
What can a revolutionary 12th-century Benedictine nun teach us today? Plenty! Saint Hildegard von Bingen was a polymath and a German Benedictine abbess who lived from 1098–1179 in the Rhine Valley. Her myriad of gifts have been noticed throughout history: prophetess, composer, physician and healer, environmentalist, preacher, mystic, advisor, linguist of her own secret language, and much more. You are invited to learn more about St. Hildegard and her fascinating life, focusing on her holistic approach to mental health, through an interactive presentation with the Rev. Danáe Ashley—Episcopal priest, international speaker, and author of a forthcoming book from Tehom Center Publishing on Hildegard and psychotherapy.
A complete video is now available here.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025
Icons: Portals of Sacred Beauty
WEDNESDAY, FEBRAURY 12, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in Bloedel Hall and on Zoom
Byzantine iconography is an ancient and deeply prayerful art form in the Christian tradition, dating back nearly to the apostolic times. Over the centuries, it has evolved and developed as the faith spread throughout the world. Iconography follows a highly systematic and disciplined process which has been handed from teacher to student for centuries. It’s also a very comprehensively demanding educational course for those who want to explore and master the technical, historical, and spiritual aspects of this field. Fr. Peter Pearson, a Franciscan, will guide a reflection and conversation on icons, their use in worship and contemplative practice, and their contribution to art and beauty across generations. Lean more about Fr. Pearson and his other offering at Saint Mark's the week of February 12 here. All are welcome.
TWO WEDNESDAYS, JANUARY 22 & 29, 2025
What Do We Do Now?—Shifting Paradigms in Times of Chaos, Upheaval and Injustice
led by Dean Steve Thomason
Our world is seemingly on fire, and the uncertainties of our time translate to a sense of chaos and upheaval. Anxiety and anger run amok. Under threat of change, the human impulse is to conservative inertia or even regression, which invariably leads to injustice and oppression. We are seeing that; we are living in this crucible moment when the paradigms that have historically made sense in the social fabric will not hold, and tweaks to them will not suffice. Paradigm shifts (revolutionary insights) are needed as we find our way. We are on the cusp of something as significant as Newtonian cosmology or modern Cognitive Psychology, but we will only breakthrough to new paradigms if we let go of the basic assumptions of the prevailing theories of social constructs built on a misguided transactional calculus. Hint: Jesus was on to something big!
UPDATE: Video, slides, handouts, and resources from both parts of this forum may be found here.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025
Saint Mark's and Sanctuary—Responding to the Needs of Our Time
led by Dean Steve Thomason and Canon Emily Griffin
The Saint Mark's Vestry has once again authorized Saint Mark’s serving as a Sanctuary Hub, if called upon by the Sanctuary Network in our region. Dean Thomason and Canon Emily Griffin explored ways to respond compassionately and with intention, guided by our mandate to respect the dignity of every human being. Key to this effort will be a cohort of volunteers to serve in various ways, and we engaged in conversation during this evening about how we responsibly do that together.
Learn more, including links to related events and resources, here.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025
Unpacking the Creeds
led by Canon Wendy Claire Barrie
The historic Creeds of the Church—most importantly the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed—are an essential and obligatory part of our liturgical tradition, and also a potential stumbling block for many. In this Wednesday forum led Canon Barrie, participants explored what the Creeds are (and what they are not), asked where they come from and how they came to be central to our worship practice, looked at some alternative creeds, and finally tried crafting our own.
UPDATE: a complete video and slides from this presentation are now available here.
WEDNESDAY, *DECEMBER 11, 2024
*Rescheduled from November 13, due to a power outage.
Where Spirituality Starts: An Intergenerational Approach to Faith
with Canon Vicar Emily Griffin
While growth in our relationship with God is a lifelong process, the relationship itself is there from the start. What we often lack—no matter our age—are ways to name and share what we experience of God’s presence. The Rev. Canon Emily Griffin explored the spirituality of childhood and how it provides a foundation for a lifelong faith. How might religious language, community, play, and authentic presence with one another nurture faith—and what might we learn from each other across generations as we journey together?
UPDATE: a complete video and slides from this presentation are now available here.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
Housing & Hunger Ministries Summit
The Restorative Justice Council, the Affordable Housing Exploratory Committee and the Intergenerational Council collaborated to bring together ministry leaders at Saint Mark’s and from the broader Seattle community in this event. The goal of the summit was for attendees to learn very practical ways they can be with our neighbors in need. The ministries represented were Operation Nightwatch, Sharewheel (Tent City 3), Lowell Elementary School, Meals Sharing Ministry, Affordable Housing, Habitat for Humanity, and the Saint Mark's Threshold Fund.
UPDATE: a complete video and slides from this presentation are now available here.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2024
Engaging the Numinous in Advent: "O" Antiphons at Saint Mark's
Facilitated by: Steve Thomason, Michael Kleinschmidt, and Jason Anderson
The "O" Antiphons service at Saint Mark’s is a signature liturgy that draws us into the orbit of Advent preparation and hope, connecting ancient themes and imagery that engages all the senses. The cadenced rhythms of chant, prayer, hymnody, and prophetic scriptures are held together by carefully choreographed movements that invite us into the realm of the numinous. This year’s service—December 1, 2024, at 7 p.m.—will include the premiere a newly-commissioned anthem, In the Stillness by Black composer Brittney Boykin.
In this Cathedral Commons forum, Dean Thomason, Canon Kleinschmidt, and Dr. Anderson explored with participants the theological underpinnings of the "O" Antiphons tradition at Saint Mark’s, the centuries-old liturgies that it taps into, and the origins and history of this special service. We also discussed ways we continue to adapt and evolve the liturgical expression of "O" Antiphons, seeking to amplify the voices of women prophets while also revising language of familiar hymns to foster sensitivity to Jewish traditions. Those present had the opportunity to sing a revised verse of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and also tried their hand at revisions to other verses of that quintessential Advent hymn.
UPDATE: a complete video and slides from this presentation are now available here.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024
Building Radical Shaker Community Through Song
"For what came we together to do but to sing the love of Mother to you?”
with Dr. Carol Medlicott, Scholar of the Shakers
Like many forms of Christian faith, Shakerism holds several simple spiritual truths at the forefront, while it also draws richness and strength from deeper theological nuance. The Shakers’ vast song tradition helps to elaborate their complex theology. At the same time, the song tradition reinforces the Shakers' communal identity and their novel conception of social order. Dr. Carol Medlicott, who has been studying Shakers and Shaker music for over twenty years, explored how these socially radical separatists that worshipped through dance have used song to create and sustain community for 250 years.
This forum is presented in conjunction with the Saint Mark's Music Series concert Shaker Harmonies: Celebrating 250 Years of the Shakers in America, featuring the Tudor Choir and the Women's Compline Choir of Saint Mark's Cathedral, on Sunday, November 10, 3 p.m.
UPDATE: a complete video and slides from this presentation are now available here.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024 (in person only)
A Liturgy for All Hallows Eve
We celebrated the evocative and brief liturgy of All Hallows Eve from the Book of Occasional Services. By candlelight we sang and prayed and heard the ancient stories of Saul and the Witch of Endor and Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones, and reflected on the deeper meaning of the Triduum of All Hallows, All Saints, and All Souls. Afterwards, we enjoyed hot cider and a sweet treat.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024
Film Screening—A Case for Love
A screening of the 2024 feature-length documentary inspired by "the teachings and writings of Bishop Michael Curry, most well-known for his passionate sermon about “The Power of Love” at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, inspire A CASE FOR LOVE. Through the stories of Americans across the US, this film examines the question of whether or not love, specifically—unselfish—love, is the solution to the extreme societal and political divide facing the world.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024
Recology–Waste/Recycling/Composting
Do you have questions about recycling? Here's your chance to ask those specific questions and learn more. Representatives from Recology, the cathedral's recycling provider, will provide information about what to recycle, what to compost, and what to throw away, and what happens to the items we dispose of. Come and learn about how our collective actions make a difference.
A complete video and other resources are now available here.
This event is followed up by a “Beyond the Cart” Community Re-use and Recycling event offered in collaboration with Recology on the cathedral campus, Saturday, October 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more here and download the flier here.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 2, 2024
Reflections on the Celtic Pilgrimage to Ireland and Scotland
Walking in the footsteps of the saints, in the land of the sacred beauty, is a transformative journey which thirty-five souls from the cathedral community recently made. As Christians, we are all called to make pilgrimage as a spiritual practice, drawing on sacred experiences, near and far. This special forum was designed to share a bit of the flavor, rhythms, challenges, and insights gleaned from the experience on the pilgrimage. Many have asked when we might hear more about the trip—this was the opportunity to do so.
UPDATE: a complete video and slides from this presentation are now available here.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2024
Meeting God In Our Busy Lives: The Theology and Practice of Zimzum
FACILITATED BY THE REV. PHIL LABELLE — BISHOP-ELECT OF THE DIOCESE OF OLYMPIA
With overly-packed schedules, many of us wonder if we’ll ever be able to live the lives we yearn for. A life with space for the important things. With a connection to God, others, and the natural world. Jewish mystics suggest that God’s first act of creation was zimzum, a sacrificial self-withdrawal. God needed to open up space within God’s self before God could call forth the cosmos. What might that concept mean for us who are made in the image of God? The Rev. Phil LaBelle joined us for an exploration of the Jewish mystical concept of zimzum, and what it can mean for us today.
UPDATE: a complete video from this presentation is now available here.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
A Spirituality of Hope and Healing
2024/25 WISDOM SCHOOL OPENING PLENARY LED BY THE VERY REV. STEVEN L. THOMASON
Drawing on his decades of experience as a hospice physician and parish priest, Dean Thomason will explore a spirituality of hope, as a virtue worthy of practice especially in challenging times, and a spirituality of healing, as the prevailing gift of peace that comes to those who lean into newfound creativity and freedom.
UPDATE: a complete video and slides from this presentation are now available here.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2024
The State of Emergency Shelters in Seattle, and a New Women’s Shelter Coming to Saint Mark’s
Join Dean Thomason and invited guests—Deacon Frank DiGirolamo and others from Operation Nightwatch, with whom Saint Mark’s is partnering to provide a new Women’s Shelter on the cathedral property, launching later this fall in space formerly occupied by Gage Academy of Arts in the St. Nicholas building. The shelter will serve up to twenty women nightly and will have showers, laundry, a clinical care room, and lockers where women can secure their belongings. We will begin with a consideration of the lack of adequate shelter beds in Seattle and reasons for it, then learn more about the important ministry of Operation Nightwatch, and finally share some of the details of the new shelter at Saint Mark’s as a sacramental sign of our commitment to seek and serve Christ in all persons. Those present in Bloedel will have the opportunity to tour the rooms in the St. Nicholas building where the shelter will be located.
A video is now available here.