Worship and Faith Formation from Home |
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Dear families,
In the past year, the familiar heavy doors pictured above have not been swung open by little hands or harried parents very often. Prior to the pandemic, they were the physical threshold we passed through into the expansive and sacred space where we worship together, and the signal to our bodies that we were moving into a different kind of time and attention together with God. I don’t know about you, but opening those doors always evoked a deep breath in me that settled my soul.
I have missed thresholds this year; the markers of transitions that help us shift our energy and attention, and prepare ourselves for what is next. We talk often of thresholds in Godly Play; of using the outward and visible world to help kids transition into places of curiosity and wonder with God inside themselves. As you have probably heard me say before, what’s good for kids is good for adults! We, too, need thresholds to help us make transitions.
This is one of the beautiful facets of the liturgical calendar. Built into our ecclesiastical timekeeping are thresholds like Advent, Ash Wednesday, Lent, or Palm Sunday that help us turn the corners in our spiritual lives. Episcopal worship includes bodily practices and experiences that support our internal work, and one of those is the imposition of ashes at the start of Lent. This year, instead of going into the Cathedral and having a cross imposed on your forehead by a priest, you will do this at home. You’ll see more details about this coming up in Sundays and Beyond, and in your mailbox! I hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to mark the transition into Lent with the Saint Mark’s community from home this year.
This note also serves as a threshold for me with you: I am resigning my role at Saint Mark’s to further discern my call to ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church in a smaller parish. I am excited to take this turn toward God’s beckoning, but I am also sad, because I love companioning you and your children in this life we share, and I will miss you. Transitions are often this way; they are filled with different kinds of emotions, and all of those are okay.
In the coming weeks, you’ll hear more from Dean Steve and Canon Jennifer about how you all will enter this transition together. I have confidence in the ministry and leadership of our incredible team of clergy and program staff, our vestry liaison, Kristen Austin, our dedicated church school leaders: Alicia Goodwin, Kristen Kelly, and Sonjia Gavin, and the abiding presence and care of Rebekah Gilmore, whose staff role continues among children and youth as choir school director and interim youth minister. And, I have complete confidence in you. We have learned and grown so much together these past 3 and a half years.
God’s spirit moves mightily in this community among you and your children. Trust that!
I do. It has been a humble honor and a privilege to cross so many thresholds with you, and see God revealed in our midst.
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Kelly Ramer Moody,
Associate for Spiritual Formation
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A Message from Canon Jennifer |
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Dear Families,
Blessings as we begin February and prepare for Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday on the 16th and 17th! You are all in my prayers as you continue to juggle parenting, schooling, work, family obligations and so much more. I am so inspired by your resilience, faithfulness and good humor in navigating the last year and I look forward to working with you more closely as we embark on the next chapter of Children and Family Ministries at Saint Mark’s. As Kelly noted, we are in good hands with our current leadership and will keep humming on Sunday mornings and throughout the week in the familiar rhythms.
I would love to hear how each of you are doing, so please do reach out to me with any updates, ideas or questions. My email is jkdaugherty@saintmarks.org and my mobile number is 206-331-2364. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
Sending peace and virtual hugs,
Jennifer+
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Shrove Tuesday
February 16
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Let's COOK and EAT together by zoom
as we say farewell to our Alleluias for Lent.
Pancake Making, Alleluia Scroll Burying, Door Closing and Palm Burning
Gather: 5:30 pm
Visit each other's kitchens as we cook together virtually! We will make pancakes together from our own kitchens and reflect on the meaning of our traditional meal as we turn toward a season of simplicity.
Eat: 6pm
We will break out into small "table groups" using the zoom "breakout room" feature for conversation and connection as we eat together.
Pray:6:30 pm
We will transition to our traditional "closing of the doors liturgy" beginning from the Nave at 6:30 pm, as we sing a fond farewell to our Alleluias, hide our scrolls at home, and close the doors on our Saint Mark's alleluia banner.
Burn: Close of the service
The traditional pyre to prepare ashes for Ash Wednesday begins, and you are invited to prepare dirt or ashes for the following day at home as well.
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Ash Wednesday
February 17
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We will do this from home together by livestream.
Services at noon and 7pm.
More information coming here, and in Sundays and Beyond.
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Preparation Guidelines and Resources
for Shrove Tuesday
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Gather your ingredients and recipe for pancakes before 5:30 and set up your Zoom device in your kitchen area.
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Print your Alleluia banner! If you want to use our template, find it here or make your own with the word Alleluia emblazoned with Easter joy. Kids and adults alike can decorate the banner using crayons, markers, ribbons, or glitter. Ponder where in your house to hide your banner at the end of the night's service.
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Consider where you will eat your meal and how you will see your device during dinner. Set your table!
Leaflet for the Closing of the Doors liturgy can be found here.
The goal is to be able to eat together by 6pm but don't fret if you aren't ready by then. Let's enjoy being "together" and visiting.
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Sing along with the podcast below! A new episode arrives on Sundays.
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Pray by Podcast with Kelly and Rebekah!
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9 A.M. SUNDAY: Godly Play (pre-K—2nd grade) with Alicia:
Meeting ID: 424 345 9316
Passcode: 1GiJf3
In January,
we reflected on the calling of Moses, and the calling of the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the 10 Best Ways to live. In February, we will explore worship spaces: The Ark, the Temple, the Synagogue, the Upper Room, and our own homes as places of worship!
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10 A.M. SUNDAY: Saints and Sacraments (3rd-5th grade)
with Sonjia and Kristen:
In February, we will discuss some formative saints, including: Samuel Seabury and St. Augustine, and explore the sacramental rites of reconciliation and healing.
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Next YOUTH Gathering
Lenten Daily Pop-Up Prayer
When is the right time of day to turn your heart to God for a moment? NOW!
Each day of Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday, February 17, the call will go out for youth to hop on YouTube Live for a quick minute of guided prayer. When will it happen? Youth and parents will be given a few minutes of warning via text message and email to stop what they are doing and PRAY as lead by lay leaders, clergy, and other youth.
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Mid-Winter Break for Choir School
No Choir School rehearsals will be held during Seattle Public School Mid-Winter break, February 15-19.
Wednesday Lenten Zoom Evensong lead by the Sr. Choristers
Each Wednesday of Lent at 4:30PM, the Sr. Choristers will lead Evensong or the cathedral community over Zoom. Choristers will serve as cantors and lectors.
Virtual Choir Video recordings for Lenten Evensong
Schola and Sr. Choristers are both being asked to contribute a virtual choir recording that will be repeatedly used in the Lenten Evensong services. Submissions will be due by bedtime on February 14th! Chorister families should watch their email for further instructions this week.
Jr. Choristers Tuesdays 4:00-4:30ish
Meeting ID: 824 9934 6782
Passcode: ILOVEJESUS
Sr. Choristers Wednesdays 4:00-4:45PM
Meeting ID: 237 757 3429
Passcode: ILOVEJESUS
Schola Wednesdays 7:00-7:45PM
Meeting ID: 878 8567 6650
Passcode: ILOVEJESUS
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During Black History Month, check out the resources and materials made available at The Conscious Kid, an education, research, and policy organization that promotes healthy racial identity development in youth. Here are some quick tips from them:
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Name and take action against white supremacy with kids as early and as often as possible.
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Support racial identity as part of healthy child development. It is important to name whiteness, and for white people to identify as “white” in ways that acknowledge racisim in society and give white children models of people who have utilized their power and privilege to take action against racism and oppression.
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When questions or comments about race rise in your child, try to understand your child’s thought process, provide factual information and answers, and correct any misinformation rather than dismissing the comment or question. If you get asked a question that you are not sure how to answer, you can model that it's okay not to have all the answers.
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Continued work to take up our responsibility for racial justice is in the works at Saint Mark's. Watch for updates here.
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