Offering a balanced path for spiritual transformation grounded in prayer and practice, drawing on the Christian contemplative tradition while respecting the diversity of experiences born from contemplative practices of other traditions.
2026-2027 Program Year
A Spirituality of Suffering and Solidarity
How do we cope with and respond to the suffering in our world? In our own lives? And what does it mean to be in solidarity with those who suffer? We begin with God…the God whom we sense is somehow participating in human suffering, instead of passively tolerating it. The prophetic path creates solidarity, first, by honoring the divine presence in each human being, and, secondly, orienting us to compassion, lament, and actionable response. This spirituality acknowledges the painful reality that the world is broken and that we are broken. In this we find our deep bonds with the wounded ones of our world, and with the Wounded Healer. And from that vulnerable place we find in our hearts the courage to have compassion.
“What are we to do about the troubles of the world? Well, Jesus calls us—his brash and troublesome disciples who question, doubt, and continually fail him—to take up the mantle of prophecy, to discern the signs of the times, and to be an ever-present balm in a troubled world…”
-Barbara Holmes, “Solidarity and Compassion,” 2023 Daily Meditations: The Prophetic Path, cac.org, April 11, 2023.
All sessions are offered in-person and online via Zoom, unless otherwise noted. Wednesday evening sessions are offered as Cathedral Commons and are therefore free and preceded by a community dinner at 6 p.m. ($8/adult; $25/family max).
Wisdom School Plenary: A Spirituality of Suffering and Solidarity
How are we to respond to human suffering in our time? What does solidarity with those who are suffering look like? What does compassion, meaning ‘to suffer with,’ really mean in a world that has erected all sorts of diversions—the economies of war, wealth disparities, and constant entertainment? If we are created in God’s image, and if there is so much suffering in the world, then God, too, must be suffering.
Solidarity in Suffering: The Martyrs of Memphis, Frances Perkins, Jonathan Daniels, and Pauli Murray
We’ll examine the lives and ministries of faithful Episcopalians whose lives embodied solidarity in suffering. While they responded to their times, circumstances, and the deep needs of others in unique and profound ways, we can draw inspiration and practical wisdom in their remarkable stories and find resonances in the present day.
When is Suffering Redemptive, and Who Decides?
Much has been written about redemptive suffering; that is, the possibility of suffering for the sake of justice or love leading to a greater good. Others counter that the concept is unjust and contributes to further victimization. We’ll question whether redemption is in the eye of the beholder and consider what roles grace and resurrection play in how we make meaning of our suffering.
God and the Alcoholic Experience: Suffering and Solidarity with the Addicted
1 in 6 Americans struggle with addiction at any given moment. Recovery and healing are found through solidarity with fellow addicts, forming community, and service to others.
Contemplation as Solidarity: Beyond Thoughts and Prayers
The life of Jesus teaches us that God stands with the wounded, vulnerable, and forgotten, and that even where the cross is most present, the quiet power of the resurrection is already at work.
A Saturday in Advent
Advent invites us to prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ, God with us. We hear again the angel’s proclamation to Mary, and to all of us who follow her child.
NYE Labyrinth Walk with Midnight Eucharist
As the old year passes and a new one begins, take time in the quiet, candle-lit space of the cathedral nave to pause, look inward, and experience walking a labyrinth.
Talking to God in the Whirlwind: A Sufferer’s Wisdom in the Book of Job
How are we to make sense of suffering when God so blithely allows the life of his servant Job to disintegrate into dust and ashes?
A Saturday in Lent
How do you stay in God’s presence during your day? There are a variety of practices and approaches that have been developed to ground us in the Holy while we go about our daily lives.
ONGOING OFFERINGS
Cathedral Yoga
EVERY MONDAY, 6:30 P.M. in the cathedral nave.
In the soaring sacred space of the cathedral nave, this practice encourages health, releasing tension and deepening spirituality—in a welcoming style for any experience level. A freewill offering is appreciated.
Contemplative Eucharist
SUNDAYS, 7 P.M., Thomsen Chapel (September–May)
This evening Eucharist offers periods of silence for reflection, simple meditative music, and lots of candlelight, with anointing and healing blessings offered after the service.
Contemplative Prayer
MOST TUESDAYS, 7 P.M., cathedral nave
The gatherings will still begin with a period of silent meditation, followed by discussions on a variety of contemplative practices including Centering Prayer
Centering prayer is inspired by the writings of major contributors to the Christian contemplative tradition, including the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing, Teresa of Ávila, John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux and Thomas Merton. Through the silence, we open our minds and hearts—our whole being—to God, the Ultimate Mystery, reaching beyond thoughts, words, and emotions, that we might experience God’s presence within us.
Morning & Evening Prayer
MONDAY–FRIDAY, 7:30 A.M. & 6 P.M., online via Zoom
Every weekday, lay readers from Seattle-area congregations including the cathedral lead a spoken service of daily prayer following the form of the Book of Common Prayer 1979. In the morning, we praise God for the beginning of a new day. In the quiet of evening, we give thanks for the day just passed. All are welcome to participate in both.
Wednesday In-Person Evening Prayer
EVERY WEDNESDAY (SEPTEMBER-JUNE), 5:30–6 P.M., in McCaw Chapel (behind the altar in the cathedral nave)
Hosted by 20s/30s Group—All are welcome
Gather in McCaw Chapel—the space in the cathedral nave behind the altar platform, beneath the rose window. Whatever your prior experience with the Daily Office, come and pray together in community. Attendees can head down to the community dinner in Bloedel Hall at 6 p.m. immediately following the service, and are encouraged to stick around for a Cathedral Commons forum if one is offered.
The Center for Spirituality and Action
The Center for Spirituality and Action at Saint Mark’s Cathedral supports those who want to draw nearer to God and deepen the spiritual grounding of their daily lives. In a nine-month cohort, participants engage in intentional community for a time of shared learning, developing contemplative practice, acts of service, and mutual accountability. This framework is designed to enrich relationships with God, self, others, and creation while being guided by ancient practices.
God’s first language is silence. Everything else is a poor translation. —Father Thomas Keating, OSCO, expanding on St. John of the Cross
