Sundays and Beyond at Saint Mark’s Cathedral Sunday, July 24- Pentecost 6 Dear Ones, Last week I wrote about our commitment to bless with travel prayers those who are beginning a journey. This week it is my intention to offer a reflection on another kind of journey – the internal journey of spiritual reflection and growth. The beauty of an incarnational and sacramental life is that it all matters, everything we are and everything we do matters – there is nothing that is not of value to the living, loving God we serve. My favorite theologian and scholar Robert Capon says it this way: Matter matters to God. It’s just that simple – matter matters to God. We are a unity of being, body and spirit and we are called to soulful living, deeply connected, congruent and wondrous. Spiritual and physical dimensions, like wave and particle become indistinguishable in the holy realm of our creator and so we move from dwelling to seeking and back again, intent on arriving at a place of peace, longing for a sense of home and yet always ready to be sent out again. We are a pilgrim people and all movement, internal and external is a reality that is hardwired. The choice is ours – will we grow in grace or squander our lives haphazardly? Will we be pilgrims on a journey or simply nomads wandering from one discontentment to another? This Sunday we will gather to witness a pilgrim who has grown in grace. As David Mesenbring wrote to you recently: I have news to share regarding the end of one chapter in my faith journey, and the beginning of another. After working among Anglicans over the past 35 years, I’m tired of calling myself a bad Lutheran and ready to claim the ecclesiastical identity I’ve been recommending to Newcomers Classes for more than five years. God-willing, and the people consenting, Bishop Greg Rickel will receive the Reverend David Mesenbring into the ranks of the Sacred Order of Priests this Sunday during the 11 am service. As David shared, it was been a long time coming, a lifelong journey of seeking and now he comes to this dwelling place to make cross this threshold and declare that he has arrived at his spiritual home. You are his witnesses and will commit to uphold him in this ministry. You are charged to be faithful to this commitment and you will be in my prayers on Sunday. I deeply regret I will not be there to stand with David and to welcome him into the collegial body of priests here in the Diocese of Olympia. I, too, am on a journey – a pilgrimage of sorts, Sabbath time to rest quietly and to seek a blessing from friends and family as I travel the pilgrim way. Blessings and Peace, Rebecca+ The Rev. Canon Rebecca L. McClain * The Rev. David Mesenbring’s letter to the congregation on Sunday, July 10 is available on our website: www.saintmarks.org– look for the link in the ―New at Saint Mark’s‖ box.
Food Drive Sunday, July 24 In honor of the Rev. Mesenbring’s reception into the Episcopal Church, we are collecting donations of nonperishable food on Sunday morning to be given to Northwest Harvest.
American Friends of the Camino Saint James Day Walk Saturday, July 23, 3—8 pm Cathedral The Seattle Chapter will hold its yearly Saint James Day walk. Meet at Saint Mark’s and walk to St. James Cathedral for Mass at 5 pm, then return to Skinner Hall (Saint Mark’s) for a potluck afterwards. Anyone interested in learning more about the Camino de Santiago in Spain are welcome. Please RSVP to Carol Green, ccgreen@u.washington.edu or Martha Crites, wsteyr85@gmail.com by July 15. Please, bring a dish to share.
Barbecue at Idriss Mosque The Islamic Center of Washington and the Idriss Mosque invite you to attend their Annual Community BBQ and Open House on Sunday, July 24, from 2 - 5 pm at Idriss Mosque, 1420 NE Northgate Way, Seattle 98125. The annual barbecue was implemented to bring Muslims and non Muslims together to get to know one another and collaborate for improving our communities and society. This event is part of the Islamic Center of Washington's and Idriss Mosque's mission for maintaining peace, encouraging compassion, seeking reconciliation to ensure justice for all people as well as offering an opportunity to strengthen our communities, promote harmony, tolerance and interfaith relationships.