"Abbey Way is a small, intergenerational faith community that leans into the ancient Rule of Saint Benedict for wisdom. Like Benedictine communities of past and present, our relationships are intentional, spiritual lives practiced, and hospitality generous. We believe seeing and listening to each other is one of the ways we can experience God and hear God’s voice, so we make space to sit in circles—large and small--and take time to listen to each other speak. We recognize God comes in the ordinary, so we like sharing meals, working side-by-side, and making things with our hands. Our liturgy is simple yet rooted in the ancient, accessible to even the youngest amongst us. Whether in worship, prayer, spiritual direction, or service, we seek to open ourselves to how God invites us all to participate in Christ’s life today."

Abbey Way anticipates launching their weekly worship gathering on Sunday, September 12^th @ 10:30am in Saint Mark’s Whipple Chapel. In addition to weekly worship and the daily practices of prayer, study, and service, the Abbey Way community will also plan for seasonal formation, activities and events, and festival worship.

We look forward to this new relationship and are excited to discover all the ways the Spirit will knit us together in the coming year.

If you want to know more about Abbey Way, you can visit their webpage at http://www.abbeyway.org.

Watch a brief video interview with Pastor Jan Bros here.

This Sunday, June 20^th at 8am & 10:30am, we’re honored to welcome the Rev. Jia Starr Brown to preach at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. Rev. Jia is a member of the Downtown Interfaith Senior Clergy group with Dean Paul and will be installed as the 12^th Senior Pastor of First Covenant Church here in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday, June 27^th. Please join me in extending your warm welcome and appreciation!

In addition to this new role, Rev. Jia also serves as the designer and convener of the ACTION Project, which involves thirty-one cathedral members/staff, along with hundreds of members/staff of several other local congregations, who are willing to make “A Commitment To Inclusion in Our Neighborhoods” (ACTION). This year-long racial and social justice journey (which began last fall) involves commitment, listening, reflection, and action – all in one year. The fire hose of injustice, white supremacy, and institutional oppression continues to be penetrating and fierce. The need for courageous listening and learning has never been greater.

Please check out some of what we have been reading, watching and reflecting on as we journey together:

Find one story from a Cathedral ACTION Project participant here.

The Saint Mark’s ACTION Team will be an essential component of our long-term commitment to Racial Justice & Healing within us, among us, and around us. We anticipate the ACTION Team completing their initial program just as Saint Mark’s Racial Justice & Healing Team begins to take shape this fall. Stay tuned next Friday for an introduction to the RJH Team and its leadership, and hold them in prayer as we prepare to commission them during the 10:30am Eucharist on Sunday, June 27^th.