SUNDAYS AND BEYOND - The Saint Marks Cathedral Newsletter
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020
THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Above: Michael Ramos speaks at the Sanctuary press conference at Saint Mark's, March 29, 2019. Photo by Gregory Bloch
Sunday Worship at 11 a.m.
Livestream service of Holy Eucharist

Download the leaflet in advance here.

Visit saintmarks.org/livestream to watch live. (The service will also be streamed on Saint Mark's Facebook page.)
Presider:  The Very Rev. Steven L. Thomason
Preacher:  Mr. Michael Ramos, Executive Director of Church Council of Greater Seattle
 
Scripture: Exodus 1:8-2:10; Matthew 16:13-20
 
Hymns: When morning gilds the skies [Hymn #427]; From God Christ’s deity came forth [Hymn #443]
 
Organ: Percy Whitlock, After an Old French Air; Théodore Salomé, Grand Chœur

Offertory solo: Felix Mendelssohn, I will sing of thy great mercies, from St. Paul, solo by Cathedral Choir mezzo-soprano Amanda Davis
This Sunday's Guest Preacher

Our guest preacher this Sunday will be Michael Ramos, Executive Director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle.

The Church Council of Greater Seattle was founded over 100 years ago, in 1919, and today brings together almost 400 Christian parishes and communities, both Protestant and Catholic, providing resources and support for work around housing and homelessness, racism and prejudice, economic justice, immigrant and refugee issues, ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, and more. When Michael was named Executive Director in 2008, he became the first layperson to serve in that role in the organization's history. Since then he has served as a prominent civic and interfaith leader in our community, with a deep understanding of the nuances of justice issues facing our city and region. He brings remarkable grace and collaborative skill to his role, and he is deeply committed to the gospel values this community espouses.
IN THIS ISSUE:

Friday afternoon tea
Friday 8/21, 3 p.m.

Holy Eucharist liturgy (livestream)
Sunday 8/23, 11 a.m.

Virtual Coffee Hour
Sunday 8/23, 12 p.m.

The Office of Compline
Sunday 8/23, 9:30 p.m.

Reinventing Power:
America's Clean Energy Boom
Tuesday 8/23, 7 p.m.

Wonder in Creation
Wednesdays, 9/16 & 9/23, 7 p.m.

Living the Questions:
A (Virtual) Class for Inquirers
Sundays 9/20–10/25, 12:30 p.m.
WEEKDAY SERVICES

Morning Prayer, THURSDAYS, 7 A.M. via Zoom. A service of morning prayer, followed immediately by some time to talk and be together. All are welcome. Email selwood@uw.edu for the link.

Evening Prayer, EVERY WEEKNIGHT, 6:30 P.M. via Zoom. A service of daily evening prayer to close the day.
Email mseewer@saintmarks.org for link.
Here is this week's introduction to Sunday's hymns, presented by John Stuntebeck. It was first broadcast live over Facebook on Thursday. Click here to watch the video on Facebook.

Join us next Thursday at 4 p.m. on the cathedral's public Facebook page to experience the next hymn chat live!
The Office of Compline

EVERY SUNDAY, 9:30 P.M.

Compline will be broadcast at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, now with a choir of four singers. Listen live on KING-FM 98.1 and online at king.org, and please subscribe to the Compline podcast: complinepodcast.org

Highlights: The eternal gifts of Christ the King (Tune: Aeterna Christi munera); Peter Hallock, Psalm 91; William H. Harris, Holy is the true light

All repertoire and liturgy information subject to change.
QUICK LINKS: LEAFLETS & CATHEDRAL PRAYER LIST | LIVESTREAM | SERMONS | CALENDAR
THIS WEEK IN WORSHIP
Special Musical Offering this Sunday

At the time of the Offertory this Sunday, a solo will be offered by cathedral community member Amanda Davis, mezzo-soprano. Amanda has sung with the Cathedral Choir since 2012, and has served on the Vestry and as Junior Warden. Her life as a vocalist began very young, when she was involved as a child in productions at the Village Theater, The Seattle Opera, and the 5th Ave Theater. She studied at Pacific Lutheran University, where she sang with the Choir of the West.

Amanda will present "I will sing of thy great mercies," from Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio St. Paul. This work was written in 1836, and tells the story of the life of Paul as recounted in the book of Acts. This aria occurs at the point in the story when Paul and Barnabas have just been commissioned and sent out to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to the whole world (Acts 13:1–3).
Changes to Livestream Worship

This week a message was sent from Dean Thomason detailing upcoming worship changes. A few highlights are listed below.

Beginning this Sunday, August 23, Saint Mark’s Cathedral will resume weekly celebration of the Holy Eucharist each Sunday at 11 a.m., but with a few changes that we hope you will find meaningful and edifying for your worship experience.

  • The Eucharistic Prayer centers on a theme of creation care
  • At Communion time, all will be invited to say the Prayer for Spiritual Communion
  • Music will include congregational hymns and a psalm setting designed to lift the spirit and invite everyone into the liturgy
  • The service will be slightly shorter than our historical Cathedral Eucharist—without losing essential elements of the liturgy
  • The weekly Holy Eucharist returns as the central liturgy of congregational life
  • Choral Evensong resumes monthly, beginning October 4 at 4:30 p.m. via livestream.

You can read the full announcement here.
The Daily Office at Saint Mark's

We have ended our period of offering Morning Prayer on Sunday mornings, but services of The Daily Office continue at Saint Mark's! Since the Cathedral closure in March, we have offered daily services of Evening Prayer, and weekly services of Morning Prayer, via Zoom. Morning Prayer is offered Thursday mornings at 7 a.m., contact Sarah Elwood (selwood@uw.edu) if interested in joining. Evening Prayer is offered every weekday evening at 6:30p.m., to join, contact Michael Seewer at mseewer@saintmarks.org. Learn more about the Daily Office here.
You're Invited:
"Porch Prayer" at the Cathedral

An invitation from Dean Thomason was emailed last week to meet with clergy in person on the cathedral grounds. The Dean, along with Canons Jennifer King Daugherty, Nancy Ross, and Cristi Chapman, are available at designated times to sit outside with you and pray together for whatever is on your heart, remaining masked and physically distant at all times. You must make a reservation for a 30-minute time slot in advance by Contacting Erik Donner at edonner@saintmarks.org or 206.323.0300 ext. 217. All are welcome! 
FROM THE DIOCESE
Sign up for the Across the Diocese Newsletter

Each week the Diocese of Olympia publishes a newsletter, Across the Diocese., containing announcements, events, news, and special offering from the Bishop's office and from Episcopal parishes across Western Washington. The email is sent at 6 p.m. each Friday evening. In the most recent issues, in addition to the items highlighted below, you will find: an invitation to a weekly Black Lives Matter demonstration at St. Luke's in Renton, news about the upcoming virtual Diocesan Convention, current job listings from parishes in the diocese, and much more. It's a great way to stay connected to the larger community of which the cathedral is an integral part. Sign up to receive this newsletter here.
SIGN UP HERE
Appeal for Beirut and All Saints Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

We have all been shocked and saddened by the terrible explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, which has claimed the lives of more than 150 people, injured thousands more, and left up to 300,000 homeless. All Saints Episcopal Church in Beirut, located one mile from the blast zone, is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, one of the companion dioceses to the Diocese of Olympia. While no members of the church were killed or seriously injured, the church did suffer serious damage. Learn more, and read a letter from the Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, The Most Rev. Suheil S. Dawani, here.

Dean Thomason has sent money in Saint Mark’s name from the Discretionary Fund to support the relief effort in Beirut. If you’d like to give individually, you may do so through the website of the American Friends of the Diocese of Jerusalem, here.
Spirit Disciplines: Entering God's Presence

Join Dr. Grace La Torra, the Dean of the Diocese of Olympia Iona School, for a video recording of the first in a series of webinars exploring a variety of spiritual discipline topics. This first webinar provides an overview of spiritual disciplines and proposes that spiritual disciplines are a way of entering into God’s presence. Using Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s theory of Flow, look at spiritual disciplines as a means to human thriving.
Spirit Disciplines: Entering God's Presence
Book Sleuth: Finding the Books you Need

Join Diocesan Librarian (and beloved Saint Mark's parishioner) Sue Tait for a video recording of a webinar that explored the Diocesan Resource Center Library as an integral part of our diocesan vision and introduces resources from the library’s home page. Spend time exploring the online catalog and learn helpful search tips for finding topics or individual titles.
Book Sleuth: Finding the Books You Need
COMMUNITY LIFE
Saint Mark's Choir School Returns

The Saint Mark’s Choir School returns in September for a year of music-making, liturgical learning, and fun! We begin online this fall using Zoom and will continue in this fashion until it is deemed safe to gather in person. Online, weekly "rehearsals" will teach: music theory, ear training, vocal training, choral repertoire and listening, liturgical knowledge, faith building, and camaraderie. Juniors (ages 5, beginners) rehearse Tuesdays from 4–4:30 p.m., and Seniors (3rd grade - 8th grade, intermediate) rehearse Wednesdays from 4–4:45 p.m.

You can register your child online here, or contact Rebekah Gilmore, Choir School Director, and Madeleine Stephens, Choir Administrator, by emailing choirschool@saintmarks.org.
Tent City 3: Community Update

Although an annual footwashing event was cancelled, this week residents of Tent City 3 did receive a footwashing, in a way.
 
A SUV was fully-loaded with towels, socks (including compression), wash basins, nail clippers, zip lock bags, band-aids, surgical gloves, travel lotion and foot powder. It was all delivered to Tent City 3 yesterday. Tent City residents were thrilled to receive the delivery, and each person helping unload seemed to be especially excited about something different. But a common theme was the happy surprise about the basins... a place to soak feet in cool water in the heat. Thank you to the volunteers for their donations of time, talent and treasure to make these events and gifts happen!
 
If you have questions or would like to know about other ways to help, please reach out to The Rev. Canon Cristi Chapman, cchapman@saintmarks.org or Chris Rigos, crigos33@gmail.com. Learn more about Tent City 3 here. 
Facilities Update

After the exhausting task of cutting back and clearing the brush from the rear driveway, around the back of Bloedel Hall, the long-neglected barrier was stripped of its flaking paint, the broken beams were removed and replaced, the posts were reinforced with new concrete footings, and the whole thing refreshed with new coats of non-toxic paint. This driveway, which all visitors to the cathedral property must drive past, now looks better than it has in many years! Thanks to David Wagner, Chris Brown, Jaime Rubio, and Ethan Pannell (son of Director of Operations Jim Pannell), who all contributed their labor to this ambitious project.
Living the Questions:
A (Virtual) Series for Newcomers

SUNDAYS, SEPTEMBER 20–OCTOBER 25,12:30 P.M., via Zoom

Are you curious about Episcopal liturgy, beliefs, or tradition? Are you feeling called to create a deeper commitment with God? No matter where you are on your journey, consider attending this multi-week series, where will explore the basics of the Christian faith through the Episcopal lens. The series will begin virtually on Sunday, September 20 and continues on Sundays weekly through October 25. Sessions run from 12:30–2 p.m. in via Zoom. Bring your lunch and your curiosity! Interested? For more information or to RSVP, contact The Rev. Canon Cristi Chapman, cchapman@saintmarks.org.
Creation Care Ministry

While concerns about the spread of COVID have hampered the use of reusable bags, and we are concerned about sustainability during this time, there are positive things to consider. According to Kristi Straus of the UW College of the Environment, health benefits are also an important component of sustainable living, and many of us are getting these in spades while we safely practice social distancing. As we spend more time at home, we are preparing more home-cooked meals, walking and biking more frequently, and spending less time driving.

“These alternative travel methods can reveal just how connected our neighborhoods are and show us how easy it can be to leave the car at home and walk or bike to our destination instead,” says Straus. Think about these positive changes that you are making now and consider how you can continue them even after the pandemic.

Email marjorie@ringness.org for more information on the ongoing work and conversation of the Creation Care Ministry.
Earth Ministry
Reinventing Power:
America's Clean Energy Boom

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 7 P.M. via Zoom

Saint Mark's parter organization Earth Ministry, along with Northwest Energy Coalition, St. James Cathedral, and Temple De Hirsch Sinai, are hosting a discussion this coming Tuesday centered on a provocative documentary about the future of renewable energy in the United States. Learn more about the discussion here, and see the 2-minute trailer here. Email Patrick Barredo, St. James Director of Social Outreach and Advocacy at pbarredo@stjames-cathedral.org to get the link to view the film online ahead of time, and for the Zoom link for the discussion.
sunny-tree-boughs.jpg
Wonder in Creation: A Two-Week Series of Spiritual Practice in Creation

TWO WEDNESDAYS IN SEPTEMBER: 9/16 & 9/23, 7-8:30 P.M. via Zoom
 
How do you experience God in everyday life? How might your daily living itself be and become a spiritual practice? The Creation Care and Faith Formation ministries will jointly host a two-week series in September to explore how spiritual practices outside bring opportunities to encounter presence, connection and reflection. Each evening, a panel from Saint Mark's will reflect on their own experiences, and you will have time to share your own. We'll also introduce tangible ways to share in active spiritual practices and reflect on how they may nurture reflection and faith in our response. Join us to "Celebrate the Harvest" on 9/16 and to practice "Mindful Steps" on 9/23. For questions and to obtain the Zoom link, contact cchapman@saintmarks.org.
CATHEDRAL CONVERSATIONS
PODCAST EPISODE:
Maria Coldwell: The Second Half of Life

Cathedral Conversations is a podcast by, for, and about the community of Saint Mark's Cathedral. In the newest episode, choir member, vestry member, former Canon for Cathedral Operations, Education for Ministry mentor, coordinator for the cathedral renovation project and setting up the livestreaming ministry, Maria Coldwell talks about her journey to Saint Mark’s, and the seminal experience in her life that helped her reconnect with God. Listen at saintmarks.org/podcast or download and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILIES
Summer Offerings

  • THE SAINT MARK'S PRAYER PODCAST FOR CHILDREN: In each 6–8-minute episode, you'll hear a verse of scripture, sing a song with Miss Gilmore, and be invited to pray together. Search for "Prayer Podcast for Children" wherever you get your podcasts, or check out all the episodes here!

  • UPCOMING YOUTH OFFERINGS include the weekly diocesan youth-led worship service "Worship Wednesdays," and plans for the fall. Read all about it on the Youth page of the cathedral website.
Friday Afternoon Tea  

EVERY FRIDAY at 3 P.M., via Zoom. 

Remember when we used to get together in coffee shops? We can still do that... online! Michael Perera will host afternoon tea once a week; drop in and chat about whatever’s on your mind. Bring your favorite hot beverage and let’s continue hanging out and making the isolation easier. Email Michael Perera with questions or to get the link to join: perera.michael@gmail.com.
Do you know someone who might need to be contacted?

Is there anyone you know who might benefit from a quick phone call, or a note in the mail, from clergy or a member of the community? Email Dean Steve Thomason at sthomason@saintmarks.org or Erik Donner at edonner@saintmarks.org, or call either one—or any of the clergy—at 206.323.0300.
Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
206-323-0300
info@saintmarks.org
www.saintmarks.org
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