The following is a review of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (my worship community and place of work). The reviews include 29 more faith communities in Seattle including a some emerging churches.

A Month of Sundays – Features – The Stranger, Seattle’s Only Newspaper
St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral

1245 10th Ave E

Sunday services: 8 am, 9 am, 11 am

www.saintmarks.org

This place is fucking gorgeous: 50-foot ceiling; stone-slab floors; white concrete pillars bookend the altar; light-pink, yellow, and off-white stained glass filter the morning light; and the piano-and-flute-heavy ensemble croon away.

In an era when Christianity is marketed as a sort of rock concert meets Gatorade commercial—with TV-screen preachers beamed into makeshift houses of worship in high-school gyms—St. Mark’s splendor is awesome. I understand the populist impulse of the evangelicals, but God deserves some gentle beauty.

When it comes time for Communion, I leap at the chance to float down the aisle and hang out at the grand dais.

Again, there’s no skimping here: I’m startled at the size of the slab of pita bread I get. When the guy jams it in my mouth, I’m wondering if he’s made a mistake: Am I supposed to tear it in half and share with the old lady on crutches next to me in line? Are there two parts to this ritual—am I supposed to eat only half now with the wine and bring the rest back to my seat to dip in charoset? JOSH FEIT

Read the rest of the reviews…

NuBios: Christ the Enemy 1
Who likes change? Even the most adventurous person will resist change at one point. When Jesus entered into this world there was a developed theological belief in Israel. A belief system that based on what we read in the Gospels was oppressive and contrary to the will of God. Then comes Jesus… The religious leaders are confronted with their selfish, ego elevating theology. Christ becomes the enemy.

Read more…

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton, “Thoughts in Solitude”

as an international associate of the Northumbria Community, I try to live by this rule.

Summary of the Rule of the Northumbria Community -
A Way for Living

This is the Rule we embrace. This is the Rule we will keep: we say YES to AVAILABILITY; we say YES to VULNERABILITY.

We are called to be AVAILABLE to God and to others:

Firstly to be available to God in the cell of our own heart when we can be turned towards Him, and seek His face;
then to be available to others in a call to exercise hospitality, recognising that in welcoming others we honour and welcome the Christ Himself;
then to be available to others through participation in His care and concern for them, by praying and interceding for their situations in the power of the Holy Spirit;
then to be available for participation in mission of various kinds according to the calling and initiatives of the Spirit.

We are called to intentional, deliberate VULNERABILITY:

We embrace the vulnerability of being teachable expressed in:
a discipline of prayer;
in exposure to Scripture;
a willingness to be accountable to others in ordering our ways and our heart in order to effect change.

We embrace the responsibility of taking the heretical imperative:
by speaking out when necessary or asking awkward questions that will often upset the status quo;
by making relationships the priority, and not reputation.

We embrace the challenge to live as church without walls, living openly amongst unbelievers and other believers in a way that the life of God in ours can be seen, challenged or questioned. This will involve us building friendships outside our Christian ghettos or club-mentality, not with ulterior evangelistic motives, but because we genuinely care.

2 very different Seattle churches decide to unite

Interbay’s roots stretch back to 1942. Half the worshippers filling its pews are 50 and older. The brick church building features soaring curved beams, amber windows, beige walls and a red curtain covering a baptistery.
  Mike Urban / P-I Interbay Covenant Church member Liz Howell, right, is greeted by Rachel Ellis of Quest Church as the congregations hold their first united service at Whittier Elementary School in Seattle on Sunday. Ellis is engaged to marry Interbay member Karl-Peter Hammersborg, left, in what all members are calling the new church’s first real union.
Quest started in 2001 in a living room with eight people and now attracts hundreds of 20-somethings. They meet in a renovated warehouse that doubles as a coffeehouse and concert venue, with gallery artwork displayed on walls painted burgundy, taupe and mustard.

read more…