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Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday

This page was last updated on February 17, 2012.

Palms in Basket

Bring your palms to church

Sunday, February 5 through Tuesday, Febuary 21
baskets available in Cathedral Nave and Thomsen Chapel

Ashes for Ash Wednesday liturgies are made by burning the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday, a kind of “coming full circle.” The palms will be burned on Shrove Tuesday (March 9) at our community Mardi Gras celebration.


Purple Sequinned Mask

Mardi Gras! a community celebration

Tuesday, February 21, 6 - 8 p.m.
Bloedel Hall

This is a fabulous party for all ages with great food, mask making, the burning of the palms to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday, dancing, live music, desserts, and the making and burying of the alleluia scroll.

Set up and clean up help is always welcome for this large event. For more information and to volunteer, contact Cindy Spencer, Children and Youth Coordinator, at cspencer@saintmarks.org or 206.323.0300, ext. 225.


Ash Cross

Ash Wednesday
The Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

Wednesday, February 22
7:30 am in Thomsen Chapel
Noon in the Cathedral Nave
7 pm in the Cathedral Nave

The Ash Wednesday Liturgy is the doorway to Lent. The liturgy is one of contrasts, beginning with sobering reflection on our mortality and our sin through the readings, homily, Litany of Penitence and imposition of ashes. But the liturgy then carries us into the abiding joy of the Eucharist, the Holy meal that celebrates and makes present anew God's forgiveness and love.

Bishop Rickel will be at Saint Mark's to preside and preach at the 7 pm service.

Saint Mark's Cathedral
1245 Tenth Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98102
206.323.0300