The Rubric Fall 2013

The

ubric

Fall 2013, Vol. 71, No. 1 Seattle, Washington

S tories of

ministry at aint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral

S

Photo credit Kevin C. Johnson

Welcoming all to live the light of Christ.

Welcome > Inspire Serve > Transform Photos in this issue were primarily taken by Kevin Johnson and Liz Sloat The Very Rev. Steve Thomason, Dean; Liz Sloat, Editor The Rubric is a publication of Saint Mark’s Cathedral that looks at who we are as a community: as a parish, as a cathedral for the Diocese of Olympia, as Episcopalians, and as Christians. We take time to look at and celebrate all aspects of who we are.

Please contact Liz Sloat, at lsloat@saintmarks.org or 206.323.0300, ext. 219 if you have an idea for an article or are interested in volunteering.

CONTENTS

Subscribe by email at www.saintmarks.orgclick on the link "Join Our Email Lists".

Subscribe by: US Mail: send your address by email to rubric@saintmarks.org or contact Liz at 206.323.0300, ext. 219.

2

Greetings from the Dean In August our nation observed the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and the delivery of Dr. Martin Luther King’s landmark “I Have a Dream” speech.

That occasion prompted me to once again peruse other sermons and speeches by Dr. King that have become part of my library. The prophetic voice speaks wisdom that transcends time and place. We reflect on his words and know we have come a great distance toward the fulfillment of a dream, but we still have a long way to go.

Writing a few years later, in 1967, King gave voice to this truth: “We are faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late…Now let us begin…”

Saint Mark’s Cathedral is engaging its mission with a sense of urgency, born in faith that God has called us to work for justice, mercy, peace and dignity here and now. This edition of the Rubric offers several snapshots into that work, as we strive to respond to a variety of urgent challenges in ways that are informed by our identity as people of faith. Read on, and you will

O Antiphons Alumni Compline & Peter Hallock Faith Formation: Making the Journey Together Recent Visitors to Saint Mark’s Narrative Theology Celebrating the Spirit of the Diocese From the Pulpit: One Body, Many Parts The Spirit at Work and at Play on the Hill

get glimpses into the timely work of sustainability, strategic planning, community building, justice ministries, and much more--all designed to engage us and empower us. Now is the time; this is the place; we are the community called to such work. It is good for us to be here, and there is a renewed sense of energy in our midst.

We have also begun the first work toward a capital campaign which will focus on the Cathedral Nave and its longsought solutions to walls and windows, as well as issues of accessibility and preservation. Now is the time.

And all this is undergirded by a keen sense of spiritual connection—to God, to each other, and to this place, at this time.

Six worship services are offered every Sunday (four Eucharists, Evensong, and Compline), with several more through the week, plus times to be still, and quiet, and trust that God is guiding us in this journey together.

I am deeply grateful to be one among you as we make this journey. I bid your prayers for this wonderful community of Saint Mark’s, and I invite you into this common work.

Peace,

The Very Rev. Dr. Steven L. Thomason Dean and Rector

3 3 4 5 6 7 9 10

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: The Great O Antiphons Procession SUNDAY, DEC. 1, 7 pm in the Nave On Sunday, December 1, the Saint Mark’s Cathedral Choir, directed by Canon Musician Dr. Mel Butler; the Compline Choir, under the leadership of Dr. Jason Anderson, and Saint Mark’s Boys and Girls Choir, directed by Rebekah Gilmore, will present this hauntingly beautiful and mystical service which includes incense, processions, lessons, and carols based on the seven “O” Antiphons as found in each verse of the Advent hymn O come, O come Emmanuel.

The seven antiphons were recited as part of the evening Vespers prayers of the Roman Catholic Church on the days before Christmas, December 17 to 23. The antiphons date back at least to the reign of Charlemagne (771814). Each of the antiphons presents a name given to Christ drawn upon Old Testament predictions about the Messiah (such as O Wisdom, O Branch of Jesse, O Key of David, O Desire of Nations, and O Emmanuel).

Although this particular service was created especially for Saint Mark’s Cathedral, it is now also presented in many other churches throughout the U.S. Each part of our sixty-minute service begins with the Compline Choir’s chanting of the “O” Antiphon in Latin, immediately followed by an English setting with music by our Canon Precentor Emeritus, Dr. Peter Hallock, sung by the Cathedral Choir and the Boys and Girls Choir.

During the singing of each antiphon, magnificent banners depicting that particular Antiphon are processed to candlelit stands on the altar platform. A lesson, a carol, anthem or hymn and a collect then follow. After the seventh banner has been processed, the entire assembly accompanied by bells and organ sings O come, O come Emmanuel.

This popular service is open to the public. A free-will offering will be collected.

ALUMNI COMPLINE & PETER HALLOCK CELEBRATION WITH BOOK RELEASE! Sunday, November 17, 9:30 pm in the Cathedral Nave The Compline Choir, augmented with voices of alumni, will offer a special Compline service celebrating the choir and its founder and director emeritus Peter Hallock. The anthem will be Hallock's To the Supreme Being. Ken Peterson's recently published book Prayer as Night Falls: Experiencing Compline and compact discs of Compline and Hallock's music will be available for purchase from the Cathedral Shop, before and after the service.

About the book: This beautiful book allows you to experience and participate in the last office of the daily cycle of fixed‐hour prayer: Compline. Kenneth Peterson has sung Compline at the Cathedral since the mid‐1960, and tells the story of the history and themes of the office, woven together with reflections from his own spiritual journey. Links are included to musical selections that illuminate the books chapters, which provide a comprehensive look at this ever‐popular contemplative prayer service at the end of the day.

8

Faith Formation: Making the Journey Together —by Jo Ann Bailey, co-chair Adult Faith Formation Ministry

This fall, the Faith Formation ministry presented a myriad of exciting ways for people to join with others who are also on a spiritual journey for mutual support and exploration. They offered a variety of topics and styles for listening, discussing and learning, but all provided encounters with a loving God and invitations to respond to that love.

Dean Steve Thomason began a year-long “Sunday Dean’s Forum” investigating The Book of Revelation in a 4 week series, The Rapture Exposed: A Theology of Hope for the End Times. He explored the origins of contemporary apocalyptic thought and proposed an alternative theology of hope for the end of times. Other forums this fall included pictures and stories from Deacon Earl’s Trans Am bicycle journey last summer and a brief look at liturgy and neurology by Rev. Michael Carroccino.

Small groups gathered on topical explorations created and led by members of the congregation who themselves have studied certain topics and sought to open the conversation up to others. Historian Taylor Rockhill began a Sunday morning series about Empire & Religion: The Anglican Church and the Formation of the British and American Empires while Darel Grothaus, a retired banker and CPA, offered God & Money: A Gospel Response to the Economic Crisis as an evening encounters with a session.

Taylor Rockhill also took the convener role at a book group reading Marcus Borg’s book The Heart of Christianity over the course of a number of weeks.

loving God and invitations to respond to that love.

There are many ongoing bible study groups are open to all to attend when they can. On Sunday morning, a Hebrew Bible Study group led by Carter Mears meets most weeks at 10:10am in Cathedral House 101 (formerly “the Library”) . This fall, they take in depth look at the Book of Isaiah. For many years now, the Tuesday Bible Study has gathered for a brown bag lunch and a discussion of the readings for the coming Sunday (Tuesdays, Noon, Leffler Living Room).

4

Full information about all these classes and more in Advent, can be found on our website at http://www.saintmarks.org/Education/AdultFaithFormation.php. Contact information is listed, too. Bookmark the page and check back regularly– or pick up

Parker J. Palmer, founder of the Center for Courage and Renewal (couragerenewal.org), came to campus to lead a half-day workshop on Healing the Heart of Democracy in July.

Recent visitors to Saint Mark’s

The diocesan Outside Church Walls project brought author Diana Butler Bass to campus on September 13. OCW is discerning how God is calling the Episcopal Church in Western WA to live the Gospel in our time.

Dean Steve Thomason welcomed the Very Rev. Dr. John Hall Jr., Dean of Westminster Abbey in London. The visit included a Cathedral tour and tea at the Cathedral Shop!

The Rev. Nadia Bolz Weber, the founding pastor of the House for all Sinners and Saints an ELCA/Episcopal mission church in Denver talked about and read from her Pastrix: the Cranky, Beautiful, Faith of a Sinner and a Saint.

Preaching to End Hunger: Bread for the World and the Church Council sponsored a homiletics workshop with the Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister Emeritus of The Riverside Church.

Bishop John Shelby Spong spoke on August about his new book The Fourth Gospel: Tales of Jewish Mystic

Greater than the Sum of its Parts We are defined by our stories. Like poetry, the stories we tell contain shades of meaning and depths of understanding that are not always readily apparent.

- by the Rev. Michael Carroccino, curate

Narrative Theory – a discipline that has had a tremendous effect on everything from theology to psychology to leadership – is based on the assertion that narrative – or story-telling – is central to the way we experience our lives and make meaning of them. By listening to the stories that a person tells, or that a whole group of people tell, or by paying close attention to the stories of a faith tradition, one can begin to get a sense of the ways in which they interpret the world and the resulting possibilities and limitations they create for themselves.

happened to walk through the doors of Saint Mark’s on Sunday. Narrative theory asserts that every level of story that exists between those two is crucial to understanding either of them.

Narrative encompasses not just our explicit stories, but the implicit understandings which undergird them. Often, these implicit understandings go unquestioned in our lives and cause much confusion and suffering – precisely because they are invisible and unconscious. An understanding of narrative provides a key for identifying and untangling the subtle shades of humanity that are the sources of our greatest joys and struggles alike.

It takes quite a bit of time and understanding to connect Abraham’s experience of wandering the desert with God – a story that begat three of the world’s major faith traditions – with the story of how it is that any one of us 6

To experience wholeness from a narrative perspective, each of our stories must be shared and they must all find a place within the larger community narrative, which is itself only a puzzle-piece within the tradition from which it springs. We cannot tease these stories apart and examine them individually without doing at least some damage. Our stories, for better or worse, find their place only within the larger stories of our communities and culture.

In Narrative Theology, the Bible is greater than the sum of its parts.

Rather than draw on one particular story or teaching in an effort to tease out an underlying principle or precept, interpreters will instead look for patterns and relationships in a wide variety of stories before drawing conclusions. Each encounter with scripture must attend to not only the story that appears on the page, but also the historical milieu which produced that story and the layers of meaning that have accrued since it was written.

Continues on next page.

Celebrating the Spirit of our Diocese -by Virginia Lenker, Planning Committee “Celebrate the Spirit:

a Diocesan Celebration at Your

Cathedral” took place on a sunny Saturday last May. After a lapse of several years, “Cathedral Day” came back to the cathedral.

Why? For fun!

This time, we included some fun workshops -- Cheryl Smith taught us how to make beautiful glass mosaics.

The Rev. Janet Campbell helped us construct our own baptism scrolls. Becky Morrill showed us the Cathedral’s “special equipment” for liturgy.

Parishes brought their own banners, and we had a grand diocesan parade into a Festival Eucharist together in the Cathedral Nave. Many folks met each other, and our dean, for the first time.

As a special bonus, the

bishop’s office introduced the diocese’s new mobile app.

Now we can easily connect to parishes across the diocese.

Continued from previous page.

After Eucharist and a picnic lunch together, we went to the front lawn for a carnival.

Beanbag toss, hitting the

Even with such rigor, theologians must still be aware of yet another level of story: their own. We all read the Bible through a lens shaped by our particular context and place in life. As we encounter the sacred texts and the assumptions and contexts within them, we become more aware of those stories we bring along in our task. The Bible, then, is a story that interprets our story – it creates echoes that, like bats chirping in a dark cave, begin to define the invisible spaces of our interior lives.

whiffle ball, whipping up fruit smoothies by pedaling on a

This narrative understanding can help us discover much about ourselves and our assumptions, and this is best done through regular engagement. The stories of a person or a family or a nation are often prone to break down over time.

The annoying uncle from our youth is realized in retrospect as the person who cared most about us; the battle entered into under noble pretext gradually becomes meaningless; and so it goes. Our sacred stories and rituals, however, provide for us a body of time-tested stories that have served countless generations in their shared pursuit of the holy.

When we encounter them in study and worship on a regular basis, they begin to convict or affirm us, to shape or to break us, in ways that will transform us and bring us closer to God and one another.

next year’s Cathedral Day on Saturday, May 17, 2014.

bicycle were all lots of fun.

But guess what got the most laughs? Yes, it was the dunking booth!

Our own beloved Bishop Greg, followed

by Dean Steve, sat up in the chair waiting for someone to hit the target. Being early spring, the water was rather chilly.

After some good-natured teasing, they each hit

the water—more than once!

The Cathedral Foundation sponsored a small silent auction, too.

We hope for an even bigger turn-out at

7

ONE BODY, MANY PARTS Excerpts from a Sermon preached by The Very Rev. Dr. Steven L. Thomason on May 18, 2013 at Celebrate the Spirit, A Diocesan Festival at Your Cathedral Some of you may know that until last year I was a bivocational priest, serving also as a physician when I still lived in Arkansas. I am a student of the human body, a physiologist of sorts, who marvels at the remarkable ways the body hums along homeostatically with more stored up energy than a rocket ship.

I am also a student of Christ’s body, a theologian of sorts, who marvels at the remarkable ways the body hums along, always more than the sum of the parts. And days like this one are designed with that profound truth in mind. We celebrate the whole today, and I am so delighted that you have all come to your Cathedral to take your place in this festival of the Body.

dummy did us wrong. So I pondered the pathways of pain, from finger to spinal cord to brain, and nerve regeneration where now weeks later there is still a little numbness on the tip of the thumb…

I awkwardly strapped two bandages over one another, and went about my business. Next day it was red and angry, and tender, and I ran the traps on the lymphocytes and macrophages already at work cleaning things up, and the early infection these immune cells were trying to fight.

A little water to clean the wound and some antibiotic ointment for good measure, and off we went.

Now all that may seem a little trite to you, or perhaps you may think this new dean has too much time on his hands. But here’s the deal, my friends: all this driveling about a cut finger is at once a scientific and theological observation for me, you see, because I could just as well be talking about the Body of Christ, the Church in an analogous manner.

About three weeks ago I was making a sandwich, and I foolishly sliced my thumb with the knife, rather deeply.

It bled quite a bit, and so I grabbed a towel and held pressure until it slowed, but then, I got to thinking about clotting factors, fibrinogen and platelets, the marvelous body at work, and I just had to peak and ponder how it was all working in real time right there, in my fileted thumb….

Which is when I noticed the pain…the throbbing thumb, pulsing with blood still, but enlivened with nerve endings, too, cut off from the whole, leaving their loose ends to send unhappy signals to the brain that this 8

Cheryl Smith, founder of Uncommon Mosaics and Walls and a member of Good Samaritan Church (Sammamish), guided Celebrate the Spirit attendees in creating a mosaic for the diocese called Water of Life using shards of glass. .

But let me also say that if the leadership of this Cathedral has failed you, the Body, in some way through the years, then I stand here today and say to you all, as your Cathedral dean, as your fellow member of the Body, I am truly sorry for the pain and suffering we have caused, and I ask humbly for your forgiveness.

Paul speaks of one Body, many parts, each with a calling to a certain role, for the good of the whole. He spoke in terms of feet and hands and head, all necessary for the body to be complete.

The truth is the Church functions much like an organism, hum-ming along in richly creative ways that are life-giving to all. We each have a role to play in that good work.

But anyone who spends enough time in the Church will know that we can also speak of our brokenness in bodily terms, the wounds we have as the body of Christ, sometimes sadly even inflicted on each other.

And there are those among us whose calling is to lead in such anxious times. Others are truth tellers—speaking the truth in love, that it hurts when we do harm to one another; still others offer a healing presence in our midst.

And the list goes on and on.

What I’d like to say to all of you who have gathered here at your Cathedral today, is that if this Cathedral (your Cathedral) has been the source of life-giving goodness at points through the last 85 years, then let’s celebrate that today.

I long for this to be a place of grace and Photo credit Liz Sloat good will and celebration of the spirit in which we, as the body of Christ together, live and move and have our being.

To be that body, we need leaders from across the diocese to help live into the fullness of being here and in every congregation. Teach us and guide us. We need truth tellers to offer feedback on what is working at your Cathedral and what is not. We need the healing presence of your gentle spirit to guide us with grace and wisdom.

One body, many parts.

And we need water and a healing balm, outward and visible signs of God’s grace given to us all, as the Body, sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever.

After lunch we will fill a tank of water outside expressly for the purpose of dunking our beloved bishop. I hope we will see this as more than mere revelry at his expense, that you might consider this as a tangible sign of his ministry among us and to us, going down into the waters, over and over and over again.

Bless you for being here today. Bless you in your ministry in the Church and in the world. Bless you for being part of the Body of Christ. Amen.

Full text of sermon available on our website at www.saintmarks.org/Sermons/sermons.php

9

The Spirit at Work and at Play on the Hill Laying the groundwork for a Capital Campaign

Creation! A member of the Flower Committee, at the Flower Arranging Workshop led by the National Cathedral Flower Ministry.

Fellowship! Playing baseball on the lawn between services this summer.

— by Jean Leed, chair, Capitol Campaign Steering Committee The Capital Campaign Steering Committee (CCSC), which was commissioned last May to coordinate the process of initiating a capital campaign at Saint Mark’s, has met twice a month since then. In August, we recommended to the Vestry (and they concurred) that they retain Marc Rieke of The Enrichment Group in Tacoma to conduct a Feasibility Study this fall.

Enrichment was founded in 1987, and serves Christian churches in developing stewardship programs and strategic planning. Marc has partnered with at least a dozen Episcopal parishes in our Diocese on feasibility studies and capital campaigns, including Holy Cross (Redmond), St. Thomas (Medina), and St. Mary’s (Lakewood).

The Feasibility Study will seek parishioners’ response to proposed capital improvements that will enhance our building’s sustainability while reducing its carbon footprint, and making our building more accessible, welcoming, and functional for all of the many worship services and other events that we hold here. It will also give us some feedback on who should lead the campaign and how much money we can hope to raise.

If you would like to participate in the study, we heartily encourage you to do so by contacting Erik Donner, accounting associate/database manager, at 206.323.0300, x 217 or edonner@saintmarks.org as your responses will greatly assist our planning. Marc will present his report at our Annual Meeting in January 2014.

We are currently working with the Vestry to select an architect/designer who can propose specific design solutions for the key components of these improvements. We anticipate recommending a firm to the Vestry by late November so that when the campaign actually begins, (hopefully next Spring), we will be able to present drawings to illustrate the proposed improvements, along with a detailed description of each component.

If you have questions about the process, feel free to contact any of our members: Jean Leed (Chair), Dean Steve Thomason, Senior Warden Walter Stuteville, Junior Wardens Maria Coldwell and Jo Ann Bailey, Foundation Chair Neal Sullins, Herb Williams, Gakyung Chung, and John Hoerster.

Episcopal Preaching Foundation And the Diocese of Olympia MARCUS BORG WALTER BRUEGGEMANN

A.J. LEVINE LAUREN WINNER

S CRIPTURE AND S ERMON : A NEW VISION FOR BIBLICAL PREACHING Saint Mark’s Cathedral Seattle, Washington February 25-27, 2014 Registration $75 To Register: www.preachingfoundation.org, telephone 931-598-1471.

10

Parents group: for fellowship and support

-- Kristin Carroccino, Parents Group In September, a new parents' support group was formed as a venue for parents to gather and talk about the joys and challenges of 21st century parenting.

Celebrating the Feast of Saint Francis with the Blessing of the Animals

The group is going strong and continues to gather energy and enthusiasm for upcoming discussions. Topics that we have enjoyed so far include strategies for getting to church on time (or at least within the first forty-five minutes!), the challenges of beginning to make parenting decisions for aging parents and also be the parents of young children, being the parents of adopted children, and what it means to raise Episcopalian children.

In addition to check-ins and structured discussion time, we are really enjoying getting to know each other and planning events together as families. One of our larger goals is to plan activities that include all of the generations of people at Saint Mark's, so that our children get to know their extended church family. The group meets each week during the Sunday School hour in a comfortable and light-filled new "parent's room" adjacent to the Godly Play classrooms in the St. Nicholas Building .

To Preserve and Enhance this Revered Cathedral's Buildings and Grounds — by Kathy Thompson, Foundation Board The Cathedral Foundation of the Diocese of Olympia (formerly the St. Mark's Cathedral Foundation) was founded in September 1995 as an independently governed, tax exempt organization. Its sole purpose is to support the future of the Cathedral by receiving, raising, and managing capital and endowment funds for the Cathedral’s buildings and grounds. In January 2011, the Foundation became affiliated with the Bishop’s Office of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia.

Current and deferred gifts to support the Foundation’s purposes are gratefully received at The Cathedral Foundation of the Diocese of Olympia, 1551 Tenth Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102. The Cathedral Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization; contributions to it are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

This year, the Foundation received the largest single gift in its history. An extraordinarily generous bequest by long-time Saint Mark’s parishioner Rosa Claringbould nearly doubled the size of the funds managed by the Foundation.

Board meetings are open to the public and held between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Diocesan House. The last meeting in 2013 will take place on Mon., Nov. 18. The 2014 Annual Meeting will be held on Mon., Feb. 3. For further information, contact cathedralfoundation@ecww.org.

11

Photo credit Kevin C. Johnson

D IOCESAN O RDINATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AT S AINT M ARK ’ S C ATHEDRAL IN J UNE .

From l to r: Erik Donner (Saint Mark’s, Seattle), the Rev. Eric Mason (Church of the Apostles, Seattle), the Rev. Jonathan Myers (Church of the Apostles, Seattle), the Rt. Rev. Cabby Tennis, The Rev. Stephen Crippen (Saint Mark’s, Seattle), the Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel (Bishop of Olympia), the Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera, the Rev. Mary Shehane (Church of the Ascension, Seattle), the Rev. Michael Carroccino (St. Paul’s, Bellingham), the Rev. Curtis Farr (Good Shepherd, Vancouver), the Rev. Alfredo Feregrino (Saint Mark’s, Seattle)

A n s w e r i n g G o d’s c a l l t o w o r k f o r Ju s t i c e , R e c o n c i l i at i o n a n d Pe a c e

The JMCT is made up of lay members Justice Ministries at Saint Mark’s who serve three-year terms. This Team continues to evolve. In late 2012, we coordinates the volunteer Justice changed the group’s name from Ministries of the Cathedral by setting “Church in the World” to “Justice standards of performance and providing Ministries” to reflect the reality that all members of Saint Mark’s Cathedral are — by Mac Brown & Marjorie Ringness oversight. It works in partnership with the ministry groups to grant funding; called to be God’s church in the world, educate and inform the congregation about the needs, not just those involved with justice-related ministries. hopes, and concerns of the world; provide leadership in Justice Ministries at Saint Mark’s Cathedral are response to human need; and work for justice, accountable to the Cathedral’s membership via the reconciliation, and peace.

Justice Ministries Coordinating Team, a standing The Team has recently taken on some new members committee of the Vestry. and lost a few members, and now has a single chairperson The mission of the Justice Ministries Coordinating (Mac Brown). The Team is currently working to Team is to encourage and support the people of St. improve its communication and collaboration among the Mark’s Cathedral and their community allies as they various ministries, as well as between the ministries and answer God’s call for justice in the world.

Saint Mark’s congregation.

12

A r t s a t S a i n t M ar k ’ s expands its offerings — by Vonne Worth Arts at Saint Mark's first met July, 2013, at Saint Mark's Cathedral to create a vibrant arts ministry here, said its leader, Canon Musician, Dr. J. Melvin Butler. Dean Steve Thomason said he envisions the arts ministry as a means "to explore ways that the arts invite us into a rich experience of the divine."

The work of the arts ministry will be diocese-wide and hopefully will enfold the entire community, Mel added.

The Arts at Saint Mark's plans to host spiritually based, invitational visual arts exhibits, as well as celebrations of visual artists at Saint Mark's and other Seattle Parishes.

Interested in the Arts at Saint Mark’s concerts and exhibits in 2013-2014?

Find the full calendar on our website at www.saintmarks.org or contact Canon Musician Mel Butler to be added to the e-mail list mbutler@saintmarks.org

It also aims to create new or expanded offerings in the areas of drama, film, and writing, including: 1) Develop a series of play readings, 2) Develop a series of creative writing classes/ workshops, and 3) Expand the film series. In music, the ministry intends to increase participatory musical programs, host an annual diocesan choir festival. and enlarge other programs.

The Arts at Saint Mark's is currently developing a plan and process by which proposals for arts events can be submitted, with final approval coming from the Dean. The ministry is lay led, with lay leaders of subcommittees for visual arts, writing, and theater/drama/film. Mel is seeking a volunteer to convene the Music Subcommittee. A subcommittee for Consulting/Advisory/Administration helps with legal advice, and other matters. The ministry is seeking to build audiences and increase resources for all the arts of this ministry.

Anyone interested in serving on the Arts at Saint Mark's (and any subcommittee), please contact Mel Butler at mbutler@saintmarks.org or 206.323.0300, ext.220.

Welcome to a GreenFaith Sanctuary!

In June 2013, the Cathedral was officially certified as a GreenFaith Sanctuary for religious environmental leadership by GreenFaith (www.greenfaith.org), an organization that supports communities of faith in becoming environmental leaders, advocates, and teachers. Saint Mark’s is the first cathedral to achieve this certification.

"This is just the beginning," said the Rev. Stephen Crippen, deacon. "Our Green Faith Sanctuary certification is the result of two years of hard work by a core team of lay volunteers who followed a task list that is literally more than six feet long! But we now need to turn to the question, ‘What's next for Saint Mark's?’

“Green Faith is about an ongoing process of consciousness-raising and advocacy to honor our obligation to the earth. This work is deeply rooted in our spiritual tradition as Christians who are called to care for the good world God made."

Certification was achieved after a two-year process that included adult and youth sustainability education, training of leaders, and worship services that celebrated creation themes. Additionally, in local environmental justice, we are developing an ongoing relationship with the Duwamish Tribe and others who are impacted by the polluted the Duwamish Waterway, a Federal superfund site.

The process doesn’t end here! For more information about ongoing environmental efforts, please contact: Susan Nicoll, sh_nicoll@comcast.net; 206.528.1393.

13

Staff news Welcome to new curate, the Rev. Michael Carroccino Sunday Service Times 8 a.m. Eucharist in Thomsen Chapel 9 a.m. Eucharist in the Nave 11 a.m. Eucharist in the Nave 5 p.m. Choral Evensong in the Nave 7 p.m. Eucharist in Thomsen Chapel (Social hour co-sponsored by Integrity Puget Sound, LGBT ministry of the Episcopal Church) 9:30 p.m. Compline in the Nave, chanted by the Compline Choir and broadcast live on KING 98.1 FM

Michael Carroccino, his wife Kristin, and their two young children returned to the Diocese of Olympia after a three-year sojourn at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.

Before seminary, Michael spent seven years in Bellingham building and remodeling houses with a small crew of fellow carpenters. He most enjoys time spent with his family – and particularly when it involves the outdoors: Michael has training as a wilderness guide and still enjoys hiking, climbing, and boating.

During seminary, he developed particular interests in family formation and narrative leadership. He and his wife have committed much energy to fostering spiritual practices in their home life, and they spent last summer on the road together visiting Episcopal churches across the country to hear the stories they tell. Read their blog: boatswithoutoars.blogspot.com, or read his blog at www.jesusstoolbelt.blogspot.com.

WHAT IS A CURATE? Literally, a person who is invested with the care or cure (cura) of souls of a parish. (Wikipedia) For Michael, he will be here at the Cathedral for what is essentially a two-year residency to gain experience and prepare him for future ordained leadership.

ERIK DONNER: Erik’s position as Accounting Associate/ Database Manager will become full-time this winter. We’ve been sharing him with the diocese for the last year, but the job here is big enough to require his talents on a full time basis.

Weekday Service Times Tuesdays, 7:15 pm Centering Prayer in Thomsen Chapel Wednesdays, 12 noon Holy Eucharist in Thomsen Chapel Thursdays, 12noon Contemplative Prayer in the McCaw Chapel Thursdays, 7 a.m.

Holy Eucharist in Thomsen Chapel 6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday in McCaw or Thomsen Chapel For more information about Worship at Saint Mark's, please go to http://www.saintmarks. org/Worship/

CINDY SPENCER: At the beginning of the summer, Cindy was named to a new position as Children and Family Ministries Coordinator. She will be at the Cathedral part-time now, as she shares her time and knowledge of children's ministry with the Diocese.

BRE OVERTON: Bre has taken on the role of interim Youth Ministry Coordinator. Bre has been working with the youth in a supportive role for special events and outings for the last couple of years. Bre will be part-time.

BECKY MORRILL: During Easter Sunday services, Bishop Rickel and Dean Thomason honored Becky with the new title of Canon Precentor. Becky prepares our thoughtful and beautiful liturgies each week.

(And what is a precentor? The term comes from Latin, and signifies the person who plans and facilitates worship services—literally “the one who comes before the cantor”.)

Photo credit Liz Sloat

Sometimes being LOST is a good thing

CHOIR CAMP 2013!

The campers began each morning with Morning Prayer in Thomsen Chapel and then headed off to choir rehearsal to enjoy anthems, liturgical music, and contemplative refrains.

All the music came in

handy as the 28 campers travelled around Seattle to sing at the Volunteer Park water tower, Fred Lind Manor retirement home, and Benaroya Hall’s main stage. The afternoons were filled with a cathedral scavenger hunt, organ demonstration by Mel, a stained

-by Rebekah Gilmore, Associate Director, Saint Mark’s Cathedral Choir School

glass art project with Cheryl, drumming class with Lacey, composition class with Brian, keyboard class with Cara, organ lessons with Mel, written reflection times and a service project.

To thank Saint Mark’s for hosting the camp, choristers put on work clothes to wash and oil

This past July 8 -12, choristers rd

in grades 3 Mark’s

th

- 7

Cathedral

from Saint and

many

other parishes in the Seattle area joined voices for the first St.

Mark’s

Cathedral

Choir

Camp, “Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise”. Camp instructors included

Rebekah

Gilmore,

Brian Fairbanks, Mel Butler, Lacey Brown, Cara Peterson, and Cheryl Smith.

all wood paneling around the nave as well as the communion rails and the sides of the pews.

The enthusiasm of the children for cleaning would

have

been

unrecognizable

to

their

parents and it saved the cathedral hundreds of dollars on a job well done! And it was a blast!

To finish the week, campers sang Evensong on Friday afternoon and then returned to lead the 11am liturgy on Sunday morning.

The music staff would like to say a special word of thanks to all the volunteers who gave of their time during the week of the camp, to all those who donated to the scholarship fund, to those who brought snacks or loaned keyboards, and to the staff of Saint Marks who all chipped in to make the week a resounding success.

15

P RAYER worship.php

The Cathedral Shop The "out of the ordinary" shop for all of your gift-giving needs. You'll be surprised at our wide selection. of books, CD's, jewelry, gifts and greeting cards all offered in a warm friendly atmosphere.

Shop Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

206.323.1040 shopatsaintmarks.org

Saint Mark's Counseling Service Located on the second floor of Leffler House, we offer professional counseling: * Spirituality * Career issues * Relationship Concerns * Pre & Post Marital/Union Counseling * Major Life Cycle Transitions * Grief & Trauma * Anxiety/Depression Together we tailor therapy to meet your specific needs and goals.

Safe and confidential.

Sliding scale fee is available.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call Kathleen Tyrrell M.S., L.M.F.T.,

206.323.0339

a practice of mind and body At the center of the spiritual life is prayer, stillness and surrender.

This past summer, Contemplative Prayer, a weekly offering on Thursdays at noon, began as a new, regular offering.

Those who are able to attend meet in McCaw Chapel for simple chant followed by prayer and stillness.

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us. This method is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. (Mondays, 7:15-9, usually in McCaw Chapel of the Nave.)

Saint Mark’s Cathedral 1245 10th Ave E Seattle, WA 98102

To nurture our bodies and focus our breathing, we now offer Cathedral Yoga on Sunday evenings at 6 pm in the nave.

This spiritual practice is designed to improve health, release tension, and deepen spirituality.

It is a gentle practice, and the instructors (Wendy Townsend and Brenna Kramer) guide the group in ways that welcome newcomer and experienced practitioners alike. (www.cathedralyoga.org) Come once, come once in a while, come every week: this time of contemplation in community is open to all.