Worship & Prayer

Liturgical Ministries

2022 saw the liturgical ministries at Saint Mark’s return almost entirely to pre-pandemic levels. Cathedral liturgies now have a full complement of liturgical ministers, and new expectations (like mask wearing and vaccination requirements) have become a part of normal routines. I am extremely grateful for the leadership of the ministry leaders who assist in coordinating all the many volunteer positions in liturgical ministries across our numerous services, both Sunday and weekday. We have had many new liturgical ministers trained this year, and many more being trained as we speak.

As we enter 2021, we have a particular need for oblation bearers at both the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday liturgies, chalice bearers at the 7 p.m. Sunday Contemplative Eucharist, and ushers at the 11 a.m. Sunday liturgy. If you are interested in these roles, or in any of the ministries at any of the liturgies, I’d love to have a conversation with you! Reach out to me if you’re interested in exploring one of the many opportunities to serve.

A special thank you to Peter Snyder, Beatrix Roemheld-Hamm, Sue Tait and Walter Stuteville, Kathy Sodergren, Wayne Duncan, Don Sutkus, John Selberg, Kevin Johnson, Erik Donner, Ray Miller, and many, many others for taking on leadership in various liturgical ministries.

—Michael Seewer

every month). We pivoted to offering Evening Prayer on Wednesdays in-person again (the first time since pre-pandemic), while Evening Prayer the other days of the week continued on Zoom. At the end of 2022, the decision was made to discontinue Morning Prayer on Wednesday mornings, and the Thursday Morning Prayer no longer meets on the fifth Thursdays of the months when those occur (Holy Eucharist is celebrated in person in Thomsen Chapel on those Thursday mornings when Morning Prayer doesn’t meet, this is, on the first, third, and fifth Thursdays of the month).

 The Stripping of the Altar, Maundy Thursday, 2022 [kj].

 (previous page) A selection of stills drawn from livestream liturgy videos from throughout 2022.

Daily Office

Saint Mark’s continues to be blessed by its thriving Daily Office Ministry. In 2022, the Daily Office offerings at Saint Mark’s consisted of nightly Evening Prayer, Wednesday Morning Prayer (every Wednesday morning), and Thursday Morning Prayer (on the second, fourth, and last Thursdays

Many thanks to our many passionate and flexible worship leaders for your continued leadership and support of the Daily Office ministries at Saint Mark’s: Jo Ann Bailey, Sue Tait, Michael Murphree, Julia Logan, Deborah Person, Sarah Elwood, Penny Reid, Kathleen Nyhuis, Pamela Bradburn, Emily Meeks, Lynne Markova, Russ Campbell, and Norm & Tovi Harris! Thank you also to our Curate, the Rev. Linzi Stahlecker, for offering continued to support to the Daily Office ministries.

—Michael Seewer

2022. [gb]

Taizé prayer style with Saint Mark’s. If you are interested in learning more about this unique ministry and how you might contribute, we would love to speak to you. Reach out to Michael Seewer (mseewer@saintmarks.org) or Hannah Hochkeppel (hannah.hochkeppel@gmail.com) if interested!

—Michael Seewer

saint mark ’ s quilt ministry

Taiz Prayer

Toward the end of 2021, a group of parishioners began having conversations about their shared desire to bring Taizé Prayer to Saint Mark’s. After many months of dreaming and planning with the Dean and Vestry, the new Taizé Ministry offered its first service on April 5, 2022 in the cathedral nave. We are calling the services “Candlelit Prayer with music from Taizé” to honor the wishes of the monks who live in community in Taizé, France—their hope is that liturgies using the Taizé style are first and foremost about Prayer, and not about Taizé. Since that first Taizé liturgy was offered in April, three additional Taizé liturgies were offered through the rest of 2022. This ministry has been blessed by the talent of a group of people from Saint Mark’s whose passion and love for Taizé Prayer and Music brings life and beauty to this unique and ecumenical worship style. Thank you to Hannah Hochkeppel, Arthur Lee, Natalie Tapias, Jane Carter, Bruce Solsten, and Adam Conley, who shaped what Taizé Prayer at Saint Mark’s would look like, as well as to the many musicians who have added their voices to the beauty of the services, especially Ben Cope.

We are offering five Taizé Prayer liturgies throughout 2023, and look forward to new and creative ways of sharing the

As part of the Pastoral Care network the Saint Mark’s Quilt Ministry sews quilts to be given to parishioners in times of illness, in transition, and blessings for staff and parish family departures. This year we added small flannel blankets to be given to families welcoming newborns. This project proved to be so easy and fun that one member made dozens of them! Some slightly older siblings also received child-sized quilts.

Quilts were on beds in Leffler House to welcome new Seattle Service Corps members. We were delighted to hear that a former SSC member was taking his quilt to a new post in Japan. Saint Mark’s sent staffers to new jobs, parishioners to seminary and the Rubio family out of sanctuary, all with quilts of blessing. Saint Mark’s welcomed a Syrian family with quilts when they came to share their story during a meeting in Bloedel. By the end of December, a second Afghan family with small children was welcomed with quilts as they made Leffler House their temporary home in Seattle.

We were a busy group in 2022, meeting monthly to sew new quilts, to finish completed layers with colorful yarn ties, to enjoy being in community with one another and to share a potluck lunch. You don’t need to sew or quilt to join us. We have machines and can teach simple sewing skills. Tying is easy to learn and is an essential part of our work.

Total quilts given in 2022: 30

Total infant blankets given in 2022: 12

hospitality/newcomers ministry

The Newcomers’ Ministry hosted monthly Newcomers’ Coffees and responded to an average of 10 online inquiries every month. Ministry volunteers met frequently with individuals seeking information and connection with Saint Mark’s, and guided them to ministries, programs, and groups. It’s worth noting that in recent years a significant portion of newcomers who affiliate with the parish are young adults. Many of the newcomers of all ages attend the Inquirers’ Class and seek confirmation or reception and become members.

Eucharistic Visitors

This year found the Eucharistic Visitor Ministry continuing to live into its mission with a spirit of flexibility given the ebb and flow of community covid status. We give thanks for our visitors who have met the need with great compassion, adapting to the requirements of parishioner health status and facility requirements. The gifts of the table and community are perhaps even more poignant during times of uncertainty, and through the barriers of infection control. This year brought the loss of several parishioners that we see no longer, and our band of visitors has known the blessing of the holy ground that makes itself known during those times.

Should you have any questions about the ministry or want to learn more about becoming a licensed visitor, or if you have need of a visit, please do not hesitate to contact Kevin Johnson (contact info in the cathedral directory) or The Rev. Canon Jennifer King Daugherty.

—Kevin Johnson

Visual Arts Ministry

VAM’s 2022 began with the rehanging in the nave of The Stations of the Cross by sculptor Virginia Maksymowicz. We are grateful to The Rt. Rev. Gregory & Mrs. Marti Rickel for donating funds this year in memory of his father Morris E. Rickel, Jr. for the purchase of the Stations for Saint Mark’s. In early spring of 2021 parishioner Louise Kind gave Saint Mark’s a grant in memory of her husband Walt Kind to mount an art exhibition by a Coast Salish artist. After an extensive research process, we invited Upper Skagit artist Peter Boome to exhibit his paintings and serigraphs in the nave in the late spring and early summer of this past year. One of the paintings displayed was the template for a large mural depicting orcas that Mr. Boome has since completed at Pier 66 on the Seattle waterfront. Another canvas, entitled Birds of a Feather, is now hung in a place of honor in Bloedel Hall, thanks to the generous donations of 25 of Saint Mark’s parishioners. Boome’s informative Sunday morning Forum about Coast Salish art is available as a video on the Saint Mark’s website.

Several projects are being considered for next year and beyond, including an exhibition of art in 2023 by artists portraying Washington farmworkers and agriculture, to be cosponsored by the Creation Care Ministry.

—Deborah Brown

 Birds of a Feather, a large painting by Coast Salish artist Peter Boome, on exhibit in the cathedral nave. After the work was acquired for the cathedral, it was installed in its permanent location in Bloedel Hall. [gb]

 Canon Kleinschmidt conducting a rehearsal of the Evensong Choir in Bristol Cathedral during the choir’s UK pilgrimage in August, 2022.