CHILDREN & FAMILY MINISTRIES

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 6–8 P.M., Bloedel Hall, cathedral nave, and outdoors Vegetarian chili, toppings, cornbread will be served from 6–6:45 p.m., then a simple and lovely Eucharistic liturgy will be offered in the nave, concluding with a procession with the Advent Wreath to the outdoor bonfire. Bring Christmas greens from your own home to burn as well. Cocoa and cookies will be served outside. Please RSVP or volunteer to help by emailing Canon Barrie: wbarrie@saintmarks.org

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 10:10–10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall Between the morning services on Sunday December 11, Bloedel Hall will host a cookie swap! Please come, with or without cookies, but if you are able, we’d love you to bring two dozen of your favorite homemade cookies and a copy of the recipe to share. We’ll also wrap gifts for Lowell Elementary School children and hear Libby Carr read her new book, How Do the Reindeer Fly?

UPDATED WITH PHOTOS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1:30–4 P.M., meet at Carkeek Park trailhead, 6th Ave. NW and NW 100th Pl., rain or shine. The next intergeneration hike will explore Carkeek Park, near Northgate. After meeting at the trailhead, the group will follow Pipers Creek, which a group of citizen activists have restored as an active salmon run. The the trail passes one of Seattle’s early farmsteads, where old apple trees still bear fruit. Some people could walk straight to the … Read More

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom. Optional community dinner at 6 p.m. ($6/child; $8/adult; $25/max. family). In this forum led by Canon Barrie, we’ll explore the pre-Christian, Celtic roots of these holy three days and reflect on their relevance in the present day. You are invited to bring a photograph of someone you “love and see no longer” for the prayer table we’ll set with flowers and candles in commemoration of All Souls, better … Read More

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 12:30 TO 2:30 P.M., Bloedel Hall Hallow means holy, and Hallowe’en or All Hallows Eve is the night before All Saints’ Day, a time when the veil between this world and the next is thin. All children and youth are invited to join together in Bloedel Hall at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 30, for a light lunch and pumpkin painting or carving, followed by a screening of the Academy Award-nominated animated film The Secret of Kells. … Read More

Previous years’ services: Blessing of the Animals 2021 [2021 Service leaflet] Blessing of the Animals 2020 [2020 service leaflet] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2022, 4:30 P.M., on the outdoor labyrinth and front lawn On Saturday, October 1, Saint Mark’s will once again offer its beloved Saint Francis Day tradition. A few years ago this offering was moved from Sunday morning to Saturday afternoon, and the outdoor celebration has a truly festive community atmosphere. Dogs, cats, bird, bunnies, ponies, chickens, and all … Read More

New purple bags with color-coded tags (pink for toddlers, blue for preschoolers, yellow for elementary ages) filled with items to connect kids to worship are ready for this Sunday, September 11! Pick them up in the narthex and return them there when you leave. Each contains age-appropriate materials such as a clipboard with a children’s lectionary-based bulletin, a finger labyrinth for older children, a lacing lamb for younger ones, and Montessori hand kites with ribbons in liturgical colors for responding … Read More

The Needs and Hopes of Families with Children and What Happens After the 20s/30s Group? The Children and Families Committee has a survey for parents, grandparents, and caregivers about faith formation and community building for kids and their adults. We’d love to learn what you are hoping for! Find the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/se0nRia2RH What might be next for those who are moving on from the 20s/30s Group at Saint Mark’s? The cathedral leadership is eager to hear what you need … Read More

UPDATED WITH PHOTOS THREE WEDNESDAYS: JUNE 22, JULY 27, and AUGUST 24, 5 P.M.–8 P.M., in Bloedel Hall and throughout the cathedral grounds. Registration requested. Fee: $10 in advance; $12 at the door. UPDATE: On the Sunday following all three evenings (JUNE 26, JULY 31, and AUGUST 28) between the morning services at 10:10 a.m., participants in the Wednesday gathering will share some of what was presented and created at the event. Meet on the front patio. The gathering on … Read More

Photo of the June 2, 2022, Interfaith March and Prayer Vigil Against Gun Violence by photographer Mark White, via Faith Action Network. Click to enlarge. Alliance for Gun Responsibility The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility (WAGR) works to end the gun violence crisis in our community and to promote a culture of gun ownership that balances rights with responsibilities. Saint Mark’s Cathedral and Dean Steve Thomason collaborated with other civic leaders to create the Alliance in 2013 to support policy, … Read More

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 3:30-5:30 P.M., Seward Park, Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle Calling all bikers, scooters, walkers, rollerbladers, runners, unicycles and so forth to join in a Trinity Sunday Ride/Run/Roll around Seward Park in Southeast Seattle. We will meet on the lawn near the Seward Park Playground at 3:30. Look for a St. Mark’s banner and table to find us! From there, we will head around the Seward Park 2-mile paved and flat loop. Celebrate the turn to Ordinary Time … Read More

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person only, outdoors on the cathedral grounds Rev. Stahlecker, Canon Rosario-Cruz, and Canon Barrie will lead this intergenerational, prayerful exploration of the tradition of Rogation days, an ancient practice, dating from the 5th century, of blessing and giving thanks for the earth which sustains us. The service begins with a blessing of Leffler House gardens, followed by a procession with stations, and concludes with the Great Litany (including the Supplication for use “in times … Read More

SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2:30 P.M., meet at the Discovery Park North Parking Lot For the next intergenerational hike, we will be exploring Discovery Park! The walk will include the park’s nature trails as well as the Daybreak Star Cultural Center. A brief liturgy of prayer and song will be offered on a high bluff overlooking Puget Sound. Participants in the previous intergenerational hikes have found them a fun opportunity to connect with community members in a new way. If you … Read More

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 7 P.M., in the cathedral nave, registration required This groundbreaking Christian worship event, hosted and co-sponsored by Saint Mark’s, was created in 2018 by a team led by The Rev. Yolanda M. Norton (Disciples of Christ). Beyoncé Mass is a worship service rooted in womanist theology that uses the music and personal life of Beyoncé as a tool to foster an empowering conversation about Black women—their lives, their bodies, and their voices. What if “Flaws and All” was a … Read More

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 … Read More

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2022, 6:30 P.M. – 8 P.M. 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. Come together in the cathedral nave on January 5 for a brief rite to bid farewell to Christmastide … Read More

GIVING UPDATE: From online donations to the Giving Tree for Casa Latina and Lowell Elementary,  $5,180 was raised to purchase Target gift cards in $50 or $25 increments. In combination with gift tags that were purchased directly by parishioners, we reached the requests of 100 gift cards for Casa Latina and 75 gift cards for Lowell Elementary. Additionally, Mary’s Place received about 100 gifts from Saint Mark’s parishioners.   Once again, Saint Mark’s is sharing Christmas joy with families from Casa … Read More

A Message from Dean Thomason Dear friends, It is my great delight to announce that Wendy Claire Barrie has accepted the call to serve as Canon for Intergenerational Ministries at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle. She will begin her work November 1, 2021. Her visionary leadership and vast experience in lifelong spiritual formation and her passion for intergenerational ministry will complement the many gifts our formation team already brings into these areas, and as a lay person herself, she has a keen … Read More

UPDATE: Check out the Creation-themed liturgy shared at the event here, and some photos below:  SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2021,  2 –5:30 P.M. Let’s hike together! All ages are welcome on this 3 mile roundtrip hike to Twin Falls as we take time to connect, move and pray in nature after church. We’ll meet at the trailhead at 2 p.m. and finish by 5:30 p.m. Bring your water, snacks and appropriate gear – we recommend good hiking shoes, layers, sunscreen and … Read More

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021, 6-7:30 P.M. We all know that the last year and a half has been hard for everyone, but especially for kids. Now, as the new school year looms, many challenges remain. To mark this milestone, all are welcome to a back-to-school gathering on Friday evening, September 3—to reconnect in person, to have some fun together, and to lift up and honor the amazing kids of our community. Bring a blanket and your own picnic dinner. The … Read More

WEDENSDAY, JULY 14, 4:30 P.M., via Zoom Join the choristers for a Choir Camp Evensong over Zoom! The Saint Mark’s Choir School’s Quarantine Quire Camp for senior choristers is happening July 11–14! On Wednesday, July 14, at 4:30 p.m., the participants will be leading a Zoom Evensong service. These talented young people will lead our prayer as officiants and cantors. Join using this Zoom link.

SUNDAY, JULY 18, 3:30–5 P.M. Grab your bikes, rollerblades, or walking shoes and do the 2.7-mile loop around Greenlake with other cathedral families. Parents must accompany their children or have a designated adult chaperone. Social distancing will be observed. Parking isn’t awesome on a beautiful summer Sunday but in addition to the on-site parking lot, free Sunday street parking in available in the area.   3:30 P.M. Gather at the outdoor stage area, east side of the Greenlake Community Center. Address: 7201 … Read More

SENIOR CHORISTER CAMP REGISTER: Senior Chorister Camp registration here. AGES: rising 3rd grade–8th grade CAMP DATES: July 11-14, 2021 Sunday, July 11, 3–4:30 p.m.: Camp kickoff (masked/distanced at the cathedral) Monday, July 12–Wednesday, July 14, 10–11:40 a.m. daily: Camp via Zoom Wednesday, July 14, 4:30 p.m.: Final Zoom Choral Evensong TUITION: No tuition fees will be charged for camp 2021.   SCHOLA HIGH SCHOOL CAMP REGISTER: Schola Camp registration here. AGES: rising 9th-12th grade, and younger newly changed-voice tenors/basses CAMP DATES: August 2-6, 2021 7–8:30 p.m. … Read More

Sign up today! Calling all families with elementary school children! Saint Mark’s faith formation leaders are preparing packets for you to observe Holy Week at home while staying connected to the broader community. We’ll drop off your packet between April 25 and 27, or will mail it to you if you are at a longer distance. We want to be sure to include all families with younger children—please send a note to Canon Jennifer with your name, address, and names of children at jkdaugherty@saintmarks.org. We’ll … Read More

WEDNESDAYS IN LENT, BEGINNING FEBRUARY 24, 4:30 P.M., via Zoom During the season of Lent, the choristers of the Choir School will host a weekly Evensong service over Zoom on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. All are welcome! Take a break in your week to be led in prayer by the voices of our cathedral choristers. (Daily Evening Prayer continues at 6:30 p.m. as usual.) Join using this Zoom link. Although these services are led by the choristers of the choir … Read More

What Lenten prayers are on your heart? We may be distanced from each other in these times, but we can share our prayers, a piece of ourselves, in community. All in the Saint Mark’s cathedral community are invited to contribute to a display of prayer banners around the labyrinth—a tangible and tactile expression of our prayers, both personal and communal. UPDATE: On Maundy Thursday all the banners will be gathered together, collectively blessed at the evening liturgy, and offered up … Read More

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 10:30 A.M., via Zoom Join your Dean Steve, Canon Jennifer and Canon Nancy on Saturday, March 6 from 10:30–11:30 am on Zoom as we make pretzels together and learn why they are a Lenten tradition. Download the recipe here—you won’t need many ingredients, just flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and an egg! Join using this Zoom link. Contact Canon Jennifer at jkdaugherty@saintmarks.org for the Zoom link and for more information.

The season of Lent has provided a certain rhythm to the lives of Christians for twenty centuries now. Through thick and thin, Lent is a steadfast part of the journey for people of all ages. Of course, this year will be different, but there is also an opportunity to return to our roots in the early Christian community, before church buildings became normative, and the home was the principal place for gathering and growing in faith. Here are some resources … Read More

The following message was included in the February 2021 edition of Be Present at Our Table, the monthly newsletter of Children and Family Ministries at Saint Mark’s.  Dear families, In the past year, the familiar heavy doors pictured above have not been swung open by little hands or harried parents very often. Prior to the pandemic, they were the physical threshold we passed through into the expansive and sacred space where we worship together, and the signal to our bodies … 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

This year, we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus together from home!  Your family may participate in one of the Cathedral services together through a computer or TV, following along with the service leaflet, or you might choose to light candles, sing and pray and read scriptures together on your own. You might even choose to act out the story of the Nativity! It doesn’t matter how you choose to celebrate Christ this year on Christmas Eve. What matters … Read More

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 7 P.M., via YouTube live premiere; Community Zoom afterparty to follow. Missing the Christmas Pageant this year? The delight of little angels, the sweet sounds of children’s voices, Magi processions, and three choirs gathered? Want to sing your carols as part of the experience? Pageants are an ancient way of telling the sacred story—a way that nourishes us deeply. Join Dean Thomason and others in the cathedral community as we experience a prayerful telling of the Nativity … Read More

This simple form of evening worship is intended to be used during the lighting of the Advent wreath or other table candles at home from November 29 to December 24. It can be used at the daily evening meal, or another time. The entire form will take no more than five minutes. The beauty is in the simplicity and repetition for people of all ages. Repeating these words together centers them in our heads and hearts, and draws us into … Read More

UPDATE!  The generosity of Saint Mark’s parishioners to the 2020 Alternative Giving opportunity was overwhelming. The cathedral ended up sending more gift cards to Casa Latina and Lowell Elementary than they asked for! For Lowell Elementary and Casa Latina, you gave $14,700—for a total of 588 gift cards, and that does NOT include gifts to Mary’s Place (which collected donations directly). Know that our friends at Casa Latina and Lowell were so heartened—responding a resounding “WOW” and “That’s incredible!” THANK … Read More

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 10–11:30 A.M. (mini-pilgrimage), 12 P.M. (prayer service) Watch video of the concluding prayer service: Service Leaflet As the season changes and the weather becomes colder, Saint Mark’s offers an opportunity to remember and be of service to those in our community who lack safe and secure shelter. Participants will create small care packages, known as “Manna Bags,” containing items that people experiencing homelessness themselves have said are most useful to them. The act of assembling these bags … Read More

UPDATE: The video had its premiere at the conclusion of the “O” Antiphons liturgy, and watching it was a meaningful and moving experience for many. Huge thanks to everyone who participated, including community members from across the country and around the world! The completed video can be seen below, or with the other recent offerings on the Virtual Choir Video Collection page. You—yes, YOU—are invited to be part of a video offering of “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” the closing … Read More

The Wisdom of Children is an audio project recorded in June, 2020, featuring the voices of the children of the Saint Mark’s Cathedral community. Listen now using the embedded player below, or read on for other ways to listen. LISTEN NOW: A MESSAGE FROM DEAN THOMASON Dear friends, Several weeks ago, in the throes of feeling the acute loss of human interaction, it washed over me how much I missed hearing the voices of children in my life—the murmurs of … Read More

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, at 4 P.M., via Zoom So much has changed so quickly! As parents and caregivers, we are continually adapting to these unusual times. Many of us report that juggling competing responsibilities and dealing with ongoing change is trying and overwhelming. It can also reveal a capacity for resilience we didn’t know we had. Join The Rev. Canon Cristi Chapman and fellow parents for connection and reflection each month. To receive the link, contact the Rev. Canon Nancy … Read More

Monday, June 1. Special service of Evening Prayer: 6:30 p.m., via Zoom Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has joined with over one hundred other faith leaders—from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions representing major denominations, national faith-based organizations, local congregations, and millions of people of faith across the country—in calling for a National Day of Mourning and Lament to grieve and honor the over 100,000 people in the U.S. who have now died from COVID-19. This call is being supported by the U.S. … Read More

The Feast of Pentecost is upon us! On May 31, the Church observes the Feast of Pentecost. It is a great feast, a grand day, and one full of joy and anticipation!  While social distancing may change the look of some of our celebrations, nothing can stop the Holy Spirit from transforming our lives and the life of the Church. This year, there are lots of ways to catch that Pentecost Spirit at Saint Mark’s! Read on for some suggestions… … Read More

Spend some time with The Rev. Canon Cristi Chapman and The Rev. Earl Grout, and hear how Earl approaches the reading of the Gospel, the stories of the Bible, and the way we tell our stories as people of faith! Earl also shares a few of his favorite Bible stories. What are your favorite bible stories?  Post in the comments below.

A Webinar with Shelley Mackaman, PhD, and Wayne Duncan, PhD SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020, 3 P.M., via Zoom  Documents for this event: List of Resources (pdf) Complete Powerpoint presentation (pdf) A complete video of the webinar is available below: Do you find yourself fretting or anxious about reopening? Are your children stressed with the challenges of virtual school? Are you struggling to balance all the aspects of life now converging in your home life? We are all facing new pressures … Read More

A few days ago, I saw a t-shirt with the words DO LESS. It didn’t have anything else written on it so I’m not sure how to execute that plan but it was an intriguing idea. I’m clear I cannot do more but I’m not sure doing less is an option either. With that conundrum in mind, I’m offering a few ways to weave a little Godly Play into our current quarantined lives. Many of our stories tell us God … Read More

Earlier this week, the people of Saint Mark’s were invited to create home altars to serve as a focal point for their Holy Week observances. Visit this post for details. Below are some of the photographs that members of the community have sent in to the cathedral or shared in the Facebook Group. Click to enlarge!

The music program at Saint Mark’s Seattle, somewhat famously, involves seven different choirs (Saint Mark’s Singers, Cathedral Choir, Evensong Choir, Compline Choir, Junior Choristers, Senior Choristers, and Schola). During this time when choirs are neither singing for liturgies nor meeting weekly to rehearse, choir members are feeling separation and absence acutely. Canon Kleinschmidt and Choir School Director Rebekah Gilmore made the following video to recreate the warm-ups which begin all choir rehearsals, when singers prepare our voices and our bodies … Read More

Let’s gather virtually and have fun staying connected! This Wednesday, March 25, on our usual Cathedral Commons night, visit the Saint Mark’s Seattle Community Life during the Closure group and post a photo of your dinner table or what you’re eating. Some members of the group tried this last Wednesday, and it was so lovely to see everyone! (A few examples are pictured at below.) This Facebook group is “private”—to join in, just follow the link above, or visit our our regular Facebook … Read More

Yin and Yang. Sinner and Saint. Blessing and Curse. As they say, there are always to sides to a coin. In this time of limbo, I find myself thinking about this daily. What is the take-away from all of this? What are we supposed to be learning? How are we going to make it through? Will this ever this end? All around us, we are experiencing a new normal. Students are not in school, employees are being laid off (including … Read More

After hearing Dean Thomason’s sermon on March 15, 2020, parishioners were invited to reflect on where they had been experiencing sacramental grace in their daily lives during this challenging time.    I snapped a photo (attached) on my walk out of PCC this evening after being greeted by a brass band playing music together in the park. All of the musicians were standing at least 6 feet apart (practicing social distancing) while they played joyful music. Lifted my spirits immediately … Read More

Every Wednesday night the community of Saint Mark’s has been invited to join together for a meal in Bloedel Hall. That meal always begins with the table grace sung by the choristers of the Choir School and all the parishioners who are attending. During this time of isolation, if you would like to begin your Wednesday night meal in the same way, Canon Keinschmidt offers this video > Be present at our table Lord; Be here and everywhere adored. These … Read More

Associate for Spiritual Formation Kelly Moody recently sent the following letter to the participants in Children and Family Ministries at Saint Mark’s. Her reflection is relevant, however, not just to parents of young children, but to all of us, and so we are sharing it here. “Everything has changed.” We say that in Godly Play at the beginning of a new liturgical year, and it seems appropriate in the wake of the news all gatherings over 50 people are prohibited, … Read More

All who feel a connection to the community of Saint Mark’s Seattle (where ever they might be) is invited to join the closed facebook group Saint Mark’s Community Life during the Closure. The purpose of the group is to connect with each other and with the cathedral during this time of isolation, quarantine, and building closure. Check it out! For those who do not use Facebook, content from the group will be posted on the Online Community Life page on … Read More