FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026

Click here to view this email as a webpage.

SUNDAY OFFERINGS

Sunday, October 11, 2026: The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

8 a.m. • Holy Eucharist

Thomsen Chapel

9 a.m. • Holy Eucharist

cathedral nave

10:10 a.m. • Godly Play

St. Nicholas Building, floor 2

11 a.m. • Holy Eucharist

cathedral nave & livestreamed

12:30 p.m. • The Inquirers' Class, Session 3

Leffler House Living Room

7 p.m. • Contemplative Eucharist

Thomsen Chapel

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

Leffler Living Room

9:30 p.m. • Compline

cathedral nave & broadcast on KING FM

HEADLINES

Cover photo shows Dean Steve Thomason celebrating during the Holy Eucharist.

Stewardship 2027

At Saint Mark’s Cathedral, as Christians, we boldly proclaim, not only with our lips but in our lives, that…

• There is good news here for everyone.
• The humble will be exalted.
• God’s Kingdom breaks out in unexpected places.
• Every stranger is beloved of God.
• The Holy Spirit is alive in every moment.
• Our table always has room for more.
• We long to be transformed by mystery as the body of Christ.

A REFLECTION FROM HANNAH HOCHKEPPEL

Those close to me know that I love hosting a party—backyard parties, dinner parties, holiday parties. When I can, I also love taking the time to prepare all of the food and genuinely host friends who can just show up and have fun. However, I also love the opportunity to say something like "we'll grill some meat, y'all bring a side!"

In those moments I find myself noticing more than who makes the best potato salad or brownies. I notice a deep sense of belonging from everyone as we get the opportunity to value the various contributions and know that it took everyone to build this shared experience.

This stewardship season, I wonder what it means for all of us to find a role in Boldly Proclaiming—knowing that our community is better for the ways that each one of us shows up, contributes, and offers of ourselves.

QUICK LINKS: LEAFLETS | READINGS | VIDEO ARCHIVE | SERMONS | CALENDAR

Hunger Offering

THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11

The Hunger Offering supports six food programs doing critical work to reduce hunger in our local area: Ballard Food Bank, Food Bank at St. Mary's, Immanuel Community Services, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Pike Market Food Bank, and Saint Mark's Meal Sharing Ministry. A special offering is collected the second Sunday of every month; make a contribution online or via Venmo (@SaintMarksCathedralSeattle). Stop by the table in the coffee corner on Sunday to learn more.

The Inquirers' Class: Session 3

THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 12:30 P.M. in Leffler House Living Room

This five-week series is facilitated by clergy and canons and explores the basics of the Christian faith through the lens of the Episcopal Church. Many people who go through the whole series decide to receive the sacrament of baptism or are confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church. However, all are invited to attend one or a few sessions as you are able. Session 3 will be led by Canon Wendy Claire Barrie and will cover "How We Read Scripture."

Register for the series.

20s/30s Questioning Together

THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 7:30 P.M. in the Leffler Living Room

All in their 20s and 30s are welcome to join for Questioning Together in October. The Rev. Adam Conley will lead a discussion about the role of Christianity in supporting a liberal democracy like the United States. The ongoing post-colonial critique of Christendom has been valuable and necessary. At the same time, does Christianity still provide a “load bearing wall” in maintaining peace and civility in a civic society? If so, who determines how Christian faith in the American public sphere is properly construed? Fr. Adam will explore these questions and more with us, drawing inspiration from Jonathan Rauch’s recent book, Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy.

Tea and dessert will be provided. At 9:15, there is an option to head over to Compline together. Learn more.

Cathedral Closed in Observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12

The cathedral and offices will be closed on Monday, October 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Online Morning Prayer, Online Evening Prayer, Education for Ministry, Cathedral Yoga, and the evening 12-step meeting will meet as usual.

Third Acters (60+) Zoom Gathering

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 3-4:30 P.M. on Zoom

All aged 60+ are invited to the monthly Third Acters Zoom Gathering. The group will check in and toss out a topic for lively discussion; bring your capacity for joy and laughter, your ideas, and your curiosities.

Kathy Minsch will send out a Zoom link to those on our email list; email Kathy to be added to the email list.

THE WISDOM SCHOOL & CATHEDRAL COMMONS

When is Suffering Redemptive, and Who Decides?

with the Rev. Canon Emily Griffin

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 6:45 P.M. in Bloedel Hall and on Zoom

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.

SAINT MARK'S MUSIC SERIES PRESENTS
All-Night Vigil

Cappella Romana
John Michael Boyer, conductor

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 7:30 P.M. in the nave

Cappella Romana presents Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil, a luminous bridge between ancient Slavic spiritual traditions and late-Romantic expression. With bass notes that challenge the limits of the human voice, it is an outpouring of profound emotional and spiritual vision.

The concert will last 60-65 minutes with no intermission. Parking is available for free in the cathedral's lot. The box office opens at 6:30 p.m. and the house opens at 7 p.m.

20s/30s & Third Acter Potluck Dinner

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 6 P.M. in the Leffler House Living Room

This potluck dinner is a collaboration between the 20s/30s Ministry and the Third Acters (60+) and an effort to continue building intergenerational relationships in the cathedral community. Anyone in their 20s or 30s and those aged 60+ are welcome to gather for this potluck. After filling plates and sharing conversation, Canon Emily Griffin will offer a Godly Play-style presentation on Speaking the Truth in Love, and we will wonder together about how we can create space for wisdom to emerge across generations. Please bring a main dish, side dish, or dessert to share or just your dear self.

Contact Elizabeth Clark-Stern, Kathy Minsch, or Else Trygstad-Burke with questions.

Organ by Night

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 10 P.M. in the nave & organ loft

Geoffrey Liu will offer this month's Organ by Night music following Compline on Sunday, October 18. He serves as organist at Kent United Methodist Church. He will play Compline-inspired works by Gerald Near, Johann Gottfried Walther, Fritz Kreisler, and Carl Haywood.

On every third Sunday of the month, organists offer 20 minutes of music on the mighty Flentrop organ, and encourage listeners to join them in the gallery to see and hear the organ and organist up close. They are also happy to answer questions about the music and the organ itself.

Register for Radix 17—The Book of Job

OPENING PLENARY

CATHEDRAL COMMONS: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 6:45 P.M. in Bloedel Hall and on Zoom

For the seventeenth iteration of The Radix Project, Saint Mark's series of small group discussions, we are focusing on the Book of Job.

If you have ever argued with God, or wondered if you could, if you’ve questioned how human suffering and God’s justice can co-exist, if you have asked yourself how to be with someone who is grieving, you’re invited to explore these questions in the context of scripture and prayer with a small group. Radix participants practice active listening and respectful communication as they form and deepen relationships with one another.

Whether you have participated many times in the past, or have never joined a Radix group before, we encourage you to take this opportunity to engage some of the most beautiful and challenging passages in the Bible. Participants are asked to prioritize the meeting dates in your calendar so you are present for all (or most) of the meetings.

Small groups meet once a week for six weeks, starting Thursday, October 22 in person or online via Zoom. Registration is required by Sunday, October 18 at 3 p.m. If you have any problems registering, contact Canon Wendy Claire Barrie.

SUNDAY FORUM

Wholehearted Companions: Becoming a Dementia-Friendly Congregation

with Emily Meeks

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 10:10 A.M. in Bloedel Hall

Dementia raises profound questions of identity, personhood, and faith. Many of us know or will know someone experiencing a form of dementia. Join seminarian Emily Meeks to explore how congregations can companion people with dementia on their spiritual journey through liturgical and spiritual practices and intergenerational relationships.

Emily is a third year student at Virginia Theological Seminary and a candidate for Holy Orders to the priesthood sponsored by Saint Mark's Cathedral. At VTS, her research has focused on the intersectionality of our Baptismal Covenant and different expressions of spiritual memory.

Midway Gathering: Where the Heck is My Village?

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 12:30 P.M. in Room 210

We are always hearing “it takes a village” to do basically anything: raise a family, heal from illness or surgery, process trauma, live life. But our current society is not really conducive to this village model. Can the church be that? Do we want it to be? If so, how do we foster that in our faith community today? How do we show up for each other beyond Sundays? Join the Midway Group for an engaging and thoughtful discussion accompanied by a potluck brunch.

Midway is the Cathedral’s affinity group for those in middle adulthood—after young adulthood but before retirement. All who see themselves in this description are welcome. Contact Jen Younggren with questions.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Discerning Leadership Opportunities

Serving on Vestry or as a Convention Delegate are significant leadership ministry opportunities that help define and articulate the mission of the church, steward our resources, and share ministry with Saint Mark’s clergy and staff.

At the Annual Parish Meeting January 24, 2027, we will elect four new vestry members from the Parish and 12 delegates to Diocesan Convention. 

Each Sunday in October, after the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services, members of the Nominating Committee will be present in the Coffee Corner to answer questions and offer material that clarifies the role and responsibilities of these roles. Parish members can nominate themselves or another member for consideration by the committee by submitting a form (available at the table) or by email to nominations@saintmarks.org.

Nominating Committee Members: Christopher Breunig, Carrie Davis, Greg Hamm, Hilary McLeland-Wieser, Peter Snyder, Nancy Valaas, Julia Logan and Martha Craig (Co-Chairs), Dean Steve Thomason (ex officio)

Become an Oblation Bearer

The Oblation Bearer ministry is looking for volunteers. At the Eucharist, oblation bearers serve by carrying the bread and the wine from the back of the nave to the altar during the offertory. Oblation bearing is a simple ministry, but a vital one for our worship. If you would like to learn more about this once-a-month opportunity to serve, contact Michael Perera.

Help with Wednesday Night Dinners

On most Wednesday nights, everyone is welcome to enjoy a delicious dinner served in Bloedel Hall from 6-6:30 p.m., and we are looking for people willing to help serve dinner and clean up afterwards. There are two shifts: set up and serving (5-6:30 p.m.) and serving and clean up (6-7:30 p.m.) No special skills are required, other than the ability to be on your feet for one to two hours. Ideally, we are hoping to find individuals willing to help at least once a month, but all levels of participation are welcome—feel free to sign up once and try it out. If you are interested in learning more, contact Deborah Person.

Position Open: Director of Communications

Saint Mark's Cathedral is now accepting applications for the Director of Communications. This role is responsible for the overall communications and messaging of the Cathedral and for timely content creation across various channels (digital and print) - cultivating a sense of belonging among parishioners and the broader community through effective storytelling and consistent brand identity. Read the job description and application instructions.

New Quiet Space for Families

We've created a quiet space for parents who need to step out of our morning services for any reason. This space is unstaffed and has access to a changing table and a stream to the service, so you can continue to participate in worship. If you need to leave with your child, please know we'd love for you to rejoin services, especially to share in the Eucharist. This space is on the fifth floor (accessible by elevator). Contact Canon Wendy with any questions.

Youth Confirmation: Final Call for 2026-2027

Youth interested in joining this year's confirmation cohort should register by Sunday, October 11. The confirmation class schedule (a 15-session mix of Monday evenings on Zoom and Saturday in-person classes) is available here. We have a strong cohort already assembled and are excited to add to it. Register by October 11.

Grief Process Group

Saint Mark’s will offer a six-week Grief and Loss Process Group on Friday afternoons from November 6 to December 11, 3-4:30 p.m. in Leffler House. A Licensed Professional Counselor will facilitate the process using contemporary scholarship and secular ritual, and the group will be limited to four participants.

If this group sounds like it could be of benefit to you, please send an email inquiry to the Rev. Mary Petty Anderson.

Call for Entries: Quilt Exhibit at Saint Mark's Cathedral

presented by the Visual Arts and Quilt Ministries

We invite quilters from across the Episcopal Church in Western Washington to submit their original works reflecting our theme: “The Joy of Creating.” Quilts will be hung in the cathedral nave, January 3 -31, 2027.

The submission deadline is November 21, 2026. More information and the entry form is here.

FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

Harvest Harmony with Choral Arts NW

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 3 P.M. in the nave

Toast the season and settle in for Harvest Harmony, a joyful celebration of autumn’s bounty told through choral music from six corners of the globe. Choral Arts Northwest journeys from English wassails and Basque harvest songs to German lieder, Indonesian folk melodies, and Appalachian fiddle tunes, with vibrant stops in Spain and the Pacific Northwest. Collaborative pianist Serena Chin and violinist/fiddler Evan Hjort bring rich instrumental color throughout, while this program threads together toasts, laments, dances, and drinking songs from centuries and cultures apart. Whether it’s a Swedish toast, a Scottish farewell, or a Batak folk tune from North Sumatra, Harvest Harmony reminds us that the rhythms of harvest season are universal.

FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

Seattle Weavers' Guild Show & Sale

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 5-7:30 P.M.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 10 A.M. - 7:30 P.M.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24. 10 A.M. - 4 P.M.

The Seattle Weavers' Guild Show & Sale in Bloedel Hall will showcase one of the northwest’s largest selections of fine handwoven textiles by regional fiber artists with artist talks and demonstrations. This is more than just a sale—it's a chance to find that exceptional, one-of-a-kind item for your home, your wardrobe, or someone special in your life.

Take a peek at the offerings here. Admission and parking is free.

PASTORAL CARE

To submit a prayer request for the Prayer Chain or to be added to the spoken Prayers of the People on Sunday, send an email to prayers@saintmarks.org or call 206.323.0300 x314.

We also invite your prayers as informed by:

• The Anglican Cycle of Prayer
• The Diocese of Olympia Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
• The Saint Mark's, Seattle, Cathedral Cycle of Prayer

THIS WEEK'S RECURRING OFFERINGS

Below are recurring offerings at Saint Mark's this week. Click the photo to learn more, or visit our cathedral calendar.

Sunday, October 11

during the 9 a.m. service

in Thomsen Chapel

All children are invited to join the Gospel procession and gather around the Deacon as the Gospel is proclaimed. Parents are welcome to join; otherwise they will return to their families in the nave at the Peace.

Sunday, October 11

10:10 a.m., St. Nicholas Building floor 2

Godly Play is a space for children to deeply experience the texts and stories of the Bible. The younger class will dive into Exodus while the older class will learn about the Story of Jonah.

Monday through Friday 
on Zoom

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

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

Monday, October 12

6:30 p.m. in the cathedral nave

Cathedral Yoga will be led by Tami Hafzalla. Doors open to welcome participants at 6 p.m. and close at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 13

12 p.m. on Zoom

This group provides a weekly conversation around the scripture readings for the following Sunday.

Email Bible Study leaders for the Zoom link.

Tuesday, October 13

3 p.m. on Zoom

All 60+ are invited to join this monthly gathering with a time for connection and discussion.

Email Third Acters leaders for the Zoom link.

Tuesday, October 13

6:30 p.m. in the nave

Contemplative Prayer gatherings begin with a time of silent meditation, followed by a discussion of contemplative experience and practices.

Wednesday, October 14, 5:30-8:15 p.m.

Cathedral Commons begins with Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m., a community dinner from 6-6:30 p.m., and a forum from 6:45-8:15 p.m.

Thursday, October 15

7:30 a.m. 
in Thomsen Chapel

A service of Holy Eucharist is offered and followed by fellowship and a community breakfast in Leffler House.

Saint Mark’s Cathedral acknowledges that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People, who are still here, and we honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of all the Coast Salish tribes. [Learn more]