Email from Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral

The Weekly Connector

February 16, 2026

UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS

Feb. 18, Wednesday - Ash Wednesday worship, 12:15 pm and 7:30 pm

Feb. 22, Sunday - Forum led by Dean Search Committee, 9:30 am, Banquet Room

Feb. 24, Tuesday - Fresh Start at Great River Landing, 12:00 pm

Feb. 25, Wednesday - Voices of Reconciliation, 7:00 pm, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman and Dr. Andy Stewart (see below and website)

Feb. 26, Thursday - Sound Journey, 6:00 pm, Nave

Feb. 28, Saturday - Men's Ministry, 9:00 am, Library

THE MONTHLY CONNECTOR:

Complete information on worship, events, and more can be found in the new Saint Mark's Monthly Connector, available in the Welcome Center, many places around the Cathedral, or on our website by clicking here..

Donation Drive to Support our Immigrant Neighbors

Saint Mark’s is holding a donation drive for Casa Maria in Richfield to support their essential work in caring for our immigrant neighbors. Casa Maria has requested the following items:

1) laundry detergent

2) gift cards to Aldi and Cub, in $25 increments

3) masa, regular size (no bulk please)

Please bring your donations to Saint Mark's and leave them on the table in the Parlor, or at the Welcome Center desk. If you have any questions, please contact Michaela Johnson, Lay Ministry leader for “Send” ministries at Michaelajohnson1214@gmail.com

Thank you for your support!

Casa Maria Food Shelf

a ministry of St. Nicholas/San Nicolas Episcopal Church

Joining the Episcopal Church

The winter offering of the Joining the Episcopal Church series continues through March 22. Sessions meet from 9:15 to 10:15 am Sundays in the Library. The program is open to all interested adults (16+ years old) but may be particularly appropriate for people who would like to be baptized during the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 4, 2026. Questions about this series may be directed to Rev. Kent Rahm, kentrahm@comcast.net

Confirmation, Reception, and Re-affirmation will take place on Saturday April 25 at 10:00 am, (new date and time), as part of the ECMN Regional Confirmation service. If you have questions about joining the church or becoming a member of Saint Mark's, please contact Mary Lusk, maryl@ourcathedral.org

Fresh Start Monthly Meeting

February 24th 12-1:30p

From the beginning, our partnership with Fresh Start at Great River Landing has been a blessing and inspiration. From speakers to storytelling, establishing a library, computer room, and bedding drive, to breaking bread together, listening and learning---- we are building community together!

What's Next?

The top priority for the next three months is to connect the residents with employers who will hire felons. Just planning this has already created excitement and connections.

Come and join us to make this happen:

Date: February 24th

Time: !2:00- 1:30p

It’s a pizza lunch with your fellow St Markans, Fresh Start Staff, and residents.

Community Room at Great River Landing

813 N 5th St. (North Loop), Mpls.

For more information, contact brandt.linda@gmail.com

Big Impact, Small People

Saint Mark's Nursery

The nursery needs more volunteers to keep running. When you volunteer in the nursery, you’re doing more than childcare for the 6 month to 6 year old members—you’re strengthening our whole church. You get to share joy with curious, joyful children, form meaningful relationships with families, and help make church accessible for parents, aunties, uncles, and grandparents.

For 10 months of the year, with 41 weeks and 2 volunteers per Sunday, our current team of 6 volunteers are trying to fill the 82 slots available for the year. They need your help. Training provided, you pick your schedule. Please contact Kimberley Johnson at kimberleydarnalljohnson@hotmail.com

FROM YOUR LIBRARY

^{We are doing something different with our Lenten book
display in the Parlor this year. Our focus this Lent is on the
connection between Lenten spirituality and meditation and the voices
and stories of our immigrant and refugee neighbors. As we walk with Jesus
through his ministry and final days, we also walk with our neighbors
whose lives and paths are perilous, yet redemptive. The books
consistently address themes such as love, courage, persistence, and
memory, which are interwoven throughout the narratives. New titles
include Migrant God: A Christian Vision for Immigrant Justice, We
Are Not From Here, and When Home Won’t Let You Stay: Migration
Through Contemporary Art. All the books are available for you to
check out. Pay us a visit!}

^{As always, as you check out new books, please check
your bookshelves (cars, under the beds…) for library books you’ve had
for longer than 4 weeks, and return them. No questions asked. Your
library thanks you.}

Pastoral Care in Uncertain Times

At this incredibly challenging time, we are all struggling with questions and distress. We are challenged spiritually, emotionally, socially, and communally. We seek safe places where we can express our concerns and be heard. Each of us longs to find a way to support ourselves and others engaged in varied forms of activism. If you are in need of any support, the Pastoral Care Team at Saint Mark's is here for you.

This might also be a perfect time for you to consider participating in the pastoral care ministry by joining the Pastoral Care Team. We provide training and mentoring for all our ministries. There are no prerequisites, just a curious and willing heart. Current needs include Eucharistic Visiting; the Prayer Station; the Card Ministry; reaching out to selected parishioners with phone calls; and joining in pastoral care support activities.

For more information, click Pastoral Care | Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral

First Nations Kitchen

Upcoming Opportunities to Serve

First Nations Kitchen is an outreach program of All Saints Indian Mission which hosts a Produce and To-Go Meal Giveaway every Sunday of the year from 4-5 pm. Saint Mark’s Cathedral has a scheduled opportunity to serve on these dates:

· Sunday, April 19th

· Sunday, June 21st

· Sunday, November 15th

To fully host and complete the tasks, at least 20 people are needed.

For more information and to sign up to serve, click here.

WELLS FOUNDATION GRANT SPOTLIGHT

180 Degrees

The Wells Foundation is an independent non-profit charitable foundation managed by Saint Markans, granting funds to organizations serving the needs of our communities.

Here is one of the organizations receiving funds in 2025:

Founded in 1971, 180 Degrees has two program areas. The first focuses on men rebuilding their lives following incarceration by offering housing, job placement and consistent support throughout transition in two Minneapolis locations: Clifton Place and Great River Landing. Over 300 men secured jobs, enrolled in career training, and moved into safe, stable housing last year through this work. In addition to the financial support of Wells Foundation, Saint Mark’s has a dedicated team of volunteers led by John Ramsbottom and Linda Brandt who have committed to serving these locations in a variety of ways.

The second program offers both emergency and transitional housing for youth at risk of homelessness and sexual exploitation. The Youth Services program served over 2,500 young people last year through mental health counseling, skills training, LGBTQ+ affirming care, drop-in assistance and family services in four locations: East St. Paul, Chanhassen, St. Cloud and Rochester.

For more information on 180 Degrees, visit https://www.180degrees.org/. To learn more about the Wells Foundation, visit www.wellsfound.org.

Dean Search Update

We are pleased to announce that Dean position at Saint Mark’s has been posted! You can visit our profile page here to see part of the package we’ve prepared: https://saintmarksmplsdeansearch.org/ We will start interviewing candidates shortly.

The committee now turns to Getting Organized. (For a refresher of the stages, please refer to the Dean Search page: https://ourcathedral.org/dean-search/) This involves putting together the interview process, including the questions, how each candidate will be evaluated, and how we will make decisions. Thank you for your continuing support!