SUNDAY OFFERINGS

Sunday, December 8, 2024:

The Second Sunday of Advent

8 a.m. • The Holy Eucharist

in Thomsen Chapel

9 a.m. • The Holy Eucharist

in the cathedral nave



10 a.m. • Youth Group Coffee & Conversation

in Leffler House

10:10 a.m. • "Friends Talking" Forum with the Very Rev. Michael DeLashmutt

in Bloedel Hall

11 a.m. • The Holy Eucharist

in the nave and livestreamed

3 p.m. • Dramatic Reading: What Men Live By

in Leffler House Living Room

7 p.m. • Contemplative Eucharist

in Thomsen Chapel

7:30 p.m. • 20s/30s Questioning Together

in Leffler House Living Room

9:30 p.m. • Compline

in the nave and livestreamed

Aerial photograph of the cathedral building taken in 1965, around the time of the dedication of the renovated east façade and narthex.

NEW THIS WEEK

Welcome Sunday's Guest Preacher

The Very Rev. Michael DeLashmutt

Welcome (Home) Sunday's Deacon

beloved community member Lynne Markova

Giving Tree

gifts to be blessed at the altar this Sunday

20s/30s Questioning Together

with Prof Sarah Elwood

Bulletin Stuffing Party

a community gathering to prepare for Christmas services, December 20

Community Book Study

dates and registration details announced

Sacred Ground

a new series for Spring 2025 of the acclaimed curriculum exploring race and faith

The Inquirers' Class

next series begins February 2

Now Hiring

Saint Mark's seeks a babies/toddlers & preschool music teacher

Blood Drive Today

Friday, December 6, in Bloedel Hall

The 2024 Advent/Christmas Schedule of Events is now available here.

Welcome Sunday's Guest Preacher: The Very Rev. Michael DeLashmutt

GUEST SERMON: THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, at the 9 and 11 a.m. services

"FRIENDS TALKING " FORUM WITH DEAN THOMASON, 10:10 A.M., Bloedel Hall

The Very Rev. Michael W. DeLashmutt, Ph.D. is the Dean of Chapel and Senior Vice President at The General Theological Seminary. Dean Michael teaches and researches at the intersection of theology, arts, and culture, with work that spans teaching, writing, and spiritual formation. Raised in Poulsbo, Washington and with family on Camano Island, he and his wife, Julia (born in Bremerton!) have deep ties to the PNW and are delighted to be at the cathedral.

Dean DeLashmutt will be the guest preacher at the 9 and 11 a.m. services at Saint Mark's on December 8, and participate in an informal forum with Dean Thomason in the 10 a.m. hour between the services. NOTE: the following Sunday, December 15, the guest sermon will be offered by The Rev. Sr. Miriam Elizabeth Bledsoe from The Order of Saint Helena.

Sunday's Deacon is Lynne Markova

Longtime Saint Mark's member Lynne Markova—who over the years has served the cathedral as Chalice Bearer, Stewardship Ministry chair, Vestry member, and Senior Warden—has been raised up for ordination to the priesthood by this community. She has been enrolled in the hybrid M.Div. program of General Theological Seminary in New York since 2022, and over the past two years has been serving at St. Luke's, Ballard, and St. Dunstan's, Shoreline, as part of her field education. She will be ordained to the transitional diaconate at the ordination liturgy tomorrow morning, Saturday, December 7; then this Sunday, December 8, she will vest and serve as Deacon at the 9 and 11 a.m. services, in her first Sunday Eucharist as an ordained person. Congratulations, Lynne!

Youth Coffee & Conversation

THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 10 A.M.

All 9th–12th grade youth at Saint Mark's are invited to gather in Leffler living room following the 9 a.m. service (around 10 a.m.) for a hot beverage, treats, and a chance to chat with each other until 10:45 a.m.

2024 Giving Tree

Thank you so much for your support of this year's Giving Tree! All gifts are due back to the cathedral by 11 a.m. this Sunday, December 8, so they can blessed at the altar that Sunday and then be distributed to recipients in a timely fashion. If you have not yet participated, please visit saintmarks.org/give and select "Giving Tree" from the list of options (these donations will be distributed equitably among the recipient organizations). This link will stay open through end-of-day Sunday. Your generosity to Lowell Elementary, Mary’s Place, Casa Latina and Lambert House make a real difference. If you have questions about the Giving Tree, please contact Canon Barrie: wbarrie@saintmarks.org

20s/30s Questioning Together with Prof. Sarah Elwood

THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 7:30 P.M., in Leffler House

Longtime Saint Mark's parishioner and professor of geography at the University of Washington Sarah Elwood will lead this month's Questioning Together discussion about holding and embracing Christian identity within largely secular spaces. Seattle is one of the least religiously affiliated major cities in the country; how does this influence our identities as practicing Christians? We will discuss how Christian values can be embodied in irreligious institutions such as school and work. At 9:15, there is an option to head over to Compline together. Questions? Email Adrienne at adriennehub@gmail.com

Christmas Memorials & Thanksgivings

Help underwrite the beautiful flowers and special music of the season by making a special contri­bution in honor or memory of someone. Please fill out the form here or use the paper form inserted in your bulletin on Sunday. Then you can make your gift online at saintmarks.org/give, or donate by check in the offering plate, to the cathedral office, or by mail. Contributions received by Sunday, December 15, will be acknowledged in the bulletins on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Contact Erik Donner with questions: edonner@saintmarks.org

Bulletin Stuffing Party

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1–4 P.M., Bloedel Hall

Every year a group of parishioners known as the Holy Folders gather in Bloedel Hall and stuff inserts into the Christmas service bulletins. Knowing that many hands make light work, we invite you to join us on Friday December 20 at 1 p.m., until the work is done. We have been known to have snacks to keep us going. Check out this video from 2019 by David Wild for a taste of the fun! Please email Barbara Erickson at bje46@msn.com for more information or to sign up.

Community Book Study

In-person discussion of Evicted:

THREE SUNDAYS: JANUARY 12 & 19 and FEBRUARY 2, 12:30–2 P.M.

Zoom discussion of Evicted:

THREE THURSDAYS: JANUARY 16 & 23 and FEBRUARY 6, 7–8:30 P.M.

In-person discussion of Poverty, by America:

THREE SUNDAYS: FEBRUARY 9, 16, and 23, 12:30–2 P.M.

Zoom discussion of Poverty, by America:

THREE THURSDAYS: FEBRUARY 13, 20, and 27, 7–8:30 P.M.

Registration required—register using this form.

The Intergenerational Council, the Restorative Justice Council, and the Affordable Housing Committee invite the entire community of Saint Mark's to participate in a book study this winter to help us better understand issues of housing insecurity and houselessness. We've chosen two books by Matthew Desmond, Evicted from 2016 and Poverty, by America, published in 2023.

Thanks to a grant from the Episcopal Periodical Society, there are copies of both books available for anyone in the cathedral community for free. Books will be available to pick up on Sundays in the nave and in the church office during the week.

Curious to learn more about the subject and the author? Check out this podcast interview with author Matthew Desmond. Register using this form.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have lived experience of housing insecurity and are interested in reading Evicted in the safe space of an affinity group, please reach out to co-facilitators Deborah Anderson (waterlily3in1@gmail.com), Canon Wendy Claire Barrie (wbarrie@saintmarks.org), or one of the clergy.

Also available through the same grant is I See You, a wordless picture book published by the American Psychological Association intended to open a door for kids and parents to begin a conversation about homelessness. I See You is available for families with children and comes with resources for parents, educators, and neighbors. 

Sacred Ground at Saint Mark's

GROUP MEETS SIX SATURDAYS BEGINNING JANUARY 18, 2025, AND ENDING APRIL 26, 2025, 10 A.M.–3 P.M., location TBA. Registration required.

Sacred Ground is a place to study racism in our country and to share our personal stories about race. The facilitators think that now is a particularly important time in our history to uncover these truths about our institutions and our own experiences as we search for healing and strive for justice and peace among all people. Sacred Ground is an offering of The Episcopal Church Office of Racial Reconciliation, and the curriculum continues to be updated with new videos and readings. The participants' support for each other will deepen as we enjoy learning together in community over six Saturdays—January through April—in the new year. Find more details and register here. You are also welcome to contact the organizers with any questions you may have by emailing: sacredground@saintmarks.org

The Inquirers' Class

NEXT SERIES: FOUR SUNDAYS, STARTING FEBRUARY 2, 2025, 12:30–2 P.M., Leffler Living Room OR online via Zoom. Registration required.

Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, consider attending this four-class series, facilitated by clergy and staff, where we explore the basics of the Christian faith through an Episcopal lens. Whether you are new to Saint Mark’s, or simply interested in sharing and learning more, you are welcome. Those who are interested in baptism at the Easter Vigil (April 2025) or who would like to prepare for confirmation, reception into the Episcopal Church, or reaffirmation of faith on Cathedral Day (May 2025) are strongly encouraged to attend the Inquirers' Class. More information and registration link here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cathedral Seeks Baby/Toddler & Preschool Music Teacher

Saint Mark's is now accepting applications for the new position of Music Teacher for Baby/Toddler & Preschool Music Classes. The new member of the Choir School staff will design and lead interactive music classes designed specifically for babies & toddlers (ages 0 to 3) and preschoolers (ages 3-5), both with parent/caregiving participation. Find a complete job description and application instructions here. Please share this announcement with anyone you think might be interested!

Videos now Available

A complete video of the recent Sunday morning forum with leaders of the Saint Mark's Taizé Ministry can be seen on the Taizé page here.

A complete video of last Wednesday's Housing & Hunger Ministries Summit can be seen here. (Canon Griffin's opening remarks, on "Restorative Justice as Spiritual Practice" can be read and watched here.)

These and hundreds of other forums and presentations can be found collected in a YouTube playlist here.

A video of the newly-commissioned anthem that was sung for the first time by the Cathedral Choir at the "O" Antiphons liturgy on December 1, In the Stillness by B.E. Boykin, can be seen here. (The entire liturgy can be seen here.)

A Reminder about Phishing Email Scams

In recent weeks there has been an uptick in emails from scammers posing as Dean Thomason or other clergy asking for assistance by sending money, gift cards, etc. We apologize for the hassle these present, but they are prevalent scams for churches precisely because of the generous impulses church-goers have. Please know that neither Dean Thomason nor anyone else at the cathedral will ever send emails of this sort, and a quick look at the email address from which is sent will identify it as being bogus. If you ever have suspicion or concern, just call the church office or email Dean Thomason to confirm its veracity, or simply delete the phishy email.

Last Chance! Lost and Found

The Lost and Found Bin will be emptied soon, so take a look near the back Coffee Corner for your missing water bottle/sweater/scarf/notebook/gloves/hat/eyeglasses/blanket/eyeglasses! All items will be donated to charity after the 11 a.m. service this Sunday, December 8. Lost and Found items can also be seen Monday–Friday during church office hours, 9–4:30 p.m. in their usual location, Bloedel Hall. Generally, the bins are accessible anytime the church is open, and they are emptied seasonally (December/March/June/September).

VAM to SAM Excursion Rescheduled

Please note: the visit organized by the Visual Arts Ministry and the Second Sunday Book Group to see the recently-opened Joyce J. Scott retrospective, Walk a Mile in My Dreams, at the Seattle Art Museum, has been rescheduled to Saturday, January 4, 2025, due to the ordination liturgy on the originally-announced date of December 7. Gather at 10 a.m. in the lobby of the museum. Please contact Wayne Duncan from the Visual Arts Ministry with questions: duncan.sw@gmail.com

Bishop LaBelle to make special visitation to Saint Mark’s Cathedral

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2025

While the bishop of our diocese is always present at the cathedral a few times each year (e.g. Christmas Eve, Easter Vigil and Easter Day, Cathedral Day, Ordinations), an official "Episcopal Visitation" is a rarer and more special occurrence. Canon law requires every diocesan bishop to visit every congregation in their diocese at least once every three years. When this happens here, the bishop is visiting Saint Mark's as a parish community, rather than as a diocesan cathedral.

Our newly consecrated bishop, The Rt. Rev. Phil LaBelle, will preside and preach at all three morning services on Sunday, January 12—8, 9, and 11 a.m. It is customary for the bishop to offer Baptisms and Confirmations/Receptions on this day, and January 12 happens to be the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, one of the four Baptismal Feasts of the church year! If you’d like to consider being baptized, confirmed, or received on this day, please contact Canon Wendy Barrie soon so we can began the process: wbarrie@saintmarks.org

Check out Bishop LaBelle's Advent message below:

FROM THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Good News Gardens—An Invitation

Building Faith, a program of Virginia Theological Seminary, just posted an article by Brian Sellers-Petersen, a longtime member of the Saint Mark's community, about Good News Gardens. With participants from across The Episcopal Church, Good News Gardens is a movement of individuals, congregations, schools, colleges, seminaries, monasteries, camps, and conference centers involved in a variety of food and creation care ministries—gardening, farming, beekeeping, composting, gleaning, feeding, food justice advocacy... Brian's article includes a shout-out and link about the beekeepers of Saint Mark’s! Check out the article here.

An invtation: Anyone involved in way with any of the gardening or related ministries at Saint Mark's in encouraged to register with Good News Gardens. When you register you will receive a monthly newsletter along with various opportunities to connect with a community of people involved in similar work. Learn more and register here.

FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

Blood Drive

TODAY! FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 10 A.M.4 P.M., Bloedel Hall. Advance registration required, same-day appointments are available

UPDATE: Bloodworks Northwest informs us that there are many registrations slots available for the December 6 event in Bloedel Hall. Please consider making an appointment today.

The holidays are a magical time, filled with togetherness and gratitude. For our community blood supply, it’s one of the toughest times of the year when fewer people have time to donate. It’s critical we take the time to keep our blood supply strong and stable for the people who need help. Will you donate blood to support patients during this critical time? Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral is hosting a blood drive in Bloedel Hall today, Friday December 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please sign up and reserve your spot to give blood! Appointments are required. If you need help booking your appointment, please contact the Bloodworks Northwest DONOR CARE TEAM at 1-800-398-7888 or e-mail schedule@bloodworksnw.org. For information about blood donation, please visit BloodworksNW.org

Friendly reminders to hydrate well and eat a meal prior to giving blood and bring photo ID. Please note: As of one year ago (December 2023), all potential donors regardless of gender or sexual orientation are asked the same screening questions. Learn about eligibility here.

FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

Seattle Choral Company presents: Comfort and Joy: An English Christmas

TOMORROW! SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 8 P.M. in the cathedral nave. Pre-concert talk at 7 p.m., and carol sing-a-long at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $5–$27.

This year, the heart of any Scrooge will take delight in this concert devoted to English choral works for the Christmas season. Start off your holidays in the right spirit with the Seattle Choral Company’s Comfort & Joy: An English Christmas. The program includes works by John Rutter, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Cecelia McDowall. Returning to our concert stage will be talented soloists Jennifer Bromagen, soprano; and Darrell Jordan, baritone. Members of the North Corner Chamber Orchestra will also take part in this merry and festive holiday evening. Purchase tickets here.

FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

The Gospel Magnificat

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 4 P.M., at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church; and

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 7 P.M., at Seattle First Baptist Church. Tickets $15–$25.

Through the ages, across many cultures, there have been numerous depictions of Mary, the Blessed Mother, through visual art, sculpture and architecture. Similarly, in music, over the centuries, Mary has been celebrated in a treasure of Marian hymns—from Ave Maria to the majesty of the Bach Magnificat. And so, this season, you are invited to a contemporary celebration: THE GOSPEL MAGNIFICAT: A Gospel/Jazz setting of the Canticle of Mary. In addition to the gospel and jazz elements, the music embraces a palette to include the spirituals, blues, Middle Eastern themes and Brazilian rhythms. Also featured are guest vocalists and musicians, and a concert choir with voices from six faith traditions, as well as voices from The City Cantabile Choir and The African American Cultural Ensemble.

Sunday, December 8, 2024:

The Second Sunday of Advent

Download the service leaflets in advance here.

Join the 11 a.m. service via livestream here.

Read the Scriptures appointed for this Sunday here.

Scripture:

Malachi 3:1–4

Canticle 16 (The Song of Zechariah)

Philippians 1:3–11

Luke 3:1–6

8 A.M. • THE HOLY EUCHARIST

in Thomsen Chapel

Presider & Preacher: The Rev. Canon Emily Griffin 

Solo: Gregorian Chant: Deus, tu convertens

Hymns:

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry [Hymn #76]

Comfort, comfort ye my people [Hymn #67]

Organ:

J.S. Bach, Chorale-prelude on Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659

David Thorne, Chorale Prelude on Merton (“Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding”)

9 A.M. • THE HOLY EUCHARIST

in the cathedral nave

Presider: The Very Rev. Steven L. Thomason

Preacher: The Very Rev. Michael DeLashmutt  



Hymns:

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry [Hymn #76]

My soul cries out (Canticle of the Turning) [ELW #723]

Prepare the way, O Zion [Hymn #67]

Choir:

Claude Goudimel, arr. John Ferguson, Comfort, comfort

Jacob Handl, arr. Rick Fabian, Blessed are you, O Lord our God

Organ:

Georg Böhm, Variations on Psalm 42 (“Comfort, comfort ye my people”)

David Thorne, Chorale Prelude on Merton (“Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding”)

11 A.M. • THE HOLY EUCHARIST

in the cathedral nave & livestreamed

Presider: The Very Rev. Steven L. Thomason

Preacher: The Very Rev. Michael DeLashmutt  

Hymns:

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates [Hymn #436]

There’s a voice in the wilderness crying [Hymn #75]

Comfort, comfort ye my people [Hymn #67]

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry [Hymn #76]

Choir:

Healy Willan, O Radix Jesse

Francisco Guerrero, Canite tuba

Organ:

J.S. Bach, Chorale-prelude on Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659

Georg Böhm, Trio and Postlude on Psalm 42 (“Comfort, comfort ye my people”)

7 P.M. • CONTEMPLATIVE EUCHARIST

in Thomsen Chapel

Officiant: The Rev. Canon Emily Griffin

Musician: Charles Coldwell, recorders

9:30 P.M. • COMPLINE

in the cathedral nave & livestreamed

A beloved Seattle tradition since 1956. Broadcast live on KING 98.1 FM, and king.org; livestreamed on saintmarks.org and Facebook and YouTube; and available as a podcast. Learn more here.

Highlights:

Gregorian Chant, People of Zion, look up

Swedish Hymn, Prepare the way, O Zion

Richard Proulx, Nunc dimittis

Tomás Luis de Victoria, Ecce Dominus veniet

Liturgy and repertoire information subject to change.

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH, 12:30 P.M., meet in the rear of the nave following the 11 a.m. service.

A newcomers' coffee with clergy is offered on the first Sunday of each month immediately following the 11 a.m. Sunday service. This coffee hour is offered especially for newcomers, guests, or anyone who has questions about the cathedral community and liturgies. Gather in the back of the nave. Email newcomers@saintmarks.org if you cannot attend in person, or with any other questions. And as always, please spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested.

Each week, those for whom the community has been asked to pray are published each Friday afternoon in the Cathedral Prayer List, found as a PDF at saintmarks.org/prayer

On that same page, find information about joining the cathedral's Prayer Chain, to receive emails about individual prayer requests as they are submitted. The prayer list is also available in printed form in the back of the nave.

Weekday Services

Daily Morning Prayer is offered online via Zoom, Monday–Friday at 7:30 a.m.

Daily Evening Prayer is offered via Zoom, Monday–Friday at 6 p.m.

Thursday Morning Chapel Eucharist: A service of Holy Eucharist is offered in person in Thomsen Chapel 7 a.m. on the 1st/3rd/5th Thursdays of the month only.