Youth at Saint Mark's

Youth of Saint Mark’s will primarily engage with one another using online platforms this fall. Fellowship, bible study, service projects and confirmation training will be offered to our kids beginning remotely but with the hope of strengthening their camaraderie even during the time of Cathedral closure and online schooling. As in-person gatherings become possible in compliance with Cathedral reopening plans, we will work to gather our youth in person once again.

Want to get involved?

Contact Interim Youth Director Rebekah Gilmore: youth@saintmarks.org

Guiding Values

Welcome

Saint Mark’s is committed to creating a place where youth are fully welcomed and valued as members of the church community. We recognize that all members of this community add a richness to our shared experience. This is why on any given Sunday morning youth participate in all aspects of the service including serving as acolytes, lectors, or greeters.  ALL are welcome to participate in “making” worship happen.

Inspire

We strive to be a place where youth feel not only welcomed, but urged and encouraged to let their voices, collective and individual, be heard and honored. We hope to create a space for youth to be a part of and help make community.  We also hope to inspire our youth to be a driving force in creating a welcoming and inspiring community for all. We hope that in doing so, our youth will help the other communities they are a part of to be welcoming and inspiring as well.

Transform

By showing, modeling and creating a healthy and safe community where all are welcomed, respected and honored, we hope to be a place a transformation.  A place where youth have room to consider how navigate a world that sometimes does not present as safe and healthy. We believe that by offering a glimpse of other cultural experiences and giving room to see other ways of being in the world as possibilities, allow for youth who can be transformed and see the world through the lens of Jesus.

Serve

We recognize that church is more than what we do when we gather on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Although these times are important to creating and sustaining community, they also serve as a time to learn who we are called to be in the world, to practice this way of being, to wrestle with our struggles and to pray for each other as we journey together. When we gather, we support and prepare ourselves to be in the world serving those in any kind of need.

The Rite of Confirmation for Youth

Confirmation is about making a mature decision to be a part of a community and the desire to have a deeper relationship with God. There is no “right age.” It is typically offered at the cathedral once a year, on Cathedral Day. If you believe this is something you would like to do, then let’s begin the conversation.

Current Events

Youth Service Project with Nurturing Roots Community Farm

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 12:45–3 P.M., 6218 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle

Middle School and High School youth will offer their elbow grease to assist with the fall chores on this thriving urban farm and community farming program that values community, self-sufficiency, food empowerment, social justice, and education. The Saint Mark's Creation Care Ministry hosted a wonderful forum last April called "Sacred Ground" which included Nyema Clark from Nurturing Roots. If you're interested in an update, check out this inspiring new 6-minute video about the activities at Nurturing Roots, including their "focus on sharing the truth about systematic oppression with an emphasis on food and environmental justice." The youth of Saint Mark's are invited to visit the farm and get their hands dirty for a good cause (or plan ahead and bring work gloves!). We will meet onsite at the farm at 12:45 p.m. on October 10 after church. Check out the farm's website at www.nuturingrootsfarm.org.

Diocesan Youth Night

SUNDAYS 7–8:30 P.M.

Every week join youth from around the dioceses for Youth Night! Youth (grades 8-12) from all across Western Washington gather for games and activities, discussions, guest speakers, and worship. We’ll engage with topics such as racism and social justice, the environment and God’s creation, mental health and wellness, where God shows up in our daily lives, as well as more low key topics such as favorite movies or books, or what music we’re listening to right now.

Register here, or contact Alex Flannagan (aflannagan@ecww.org) for more information!

Past Events

Spring Youth Vespers on the Labyrinth

SUNDAY, MAY 2, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Screening/check-in from 7:15-7:30 p.m. Pre-registration required. Register here.
Come to the CATHEDRAL for an outdoor Vespers service at sunset. We will have some time to chat with each other, help out on the cathedral grounds to remind ourselves that we love the place, and end our time with a Vespers service as the sun goes down.

Youth Movie Night

SUNDAY, MAY 16, 7 – 9 p.m.
Tune into Zoom (email Rebekah Gilmore to get the link) and watch 2040 together.
Care about climate change? We need to watch this movie together! How old will you be in 2040? What will this world look like for you then? Let's watch this entertaining and engaging documentary together and talk about it. We are God's hands in this world. How will we respond with hope to the climate crisis? Check out this YouTube trailer for 2040.

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.

UPDATE: 344 total prayers were made by viewers during this Lenten discipline. To view our Lenten prayers, visit the St. Mark's Youth YouTube Pop-Up Prayer playlist found here.

Youth Advent Sunset Vespers on the Labyrinth

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 3:45–4:45 P.M.

Middle School and High School Youth gathered in person outside, on the cathedral's front lawn and labyrinth, at sunset on December 20.

Youth Kickoff Meeting and Great Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Extravaganza!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 7-8:30 P.M., via Zoom
As this unique school year begins, the youth of Saint Mark's will be invited to dig deep, goof off, wrestle with big questions, and learn to lean on each other—figuratively if not literally. Join us for our first event of the season to learn what is coming up this year from service projects to Bible study to confirmation. How will we be together when we can't be together? Let's talk about it. Here is Rebekah's kitchen recipe.