A Parish at One of Anchorage's Busiest Corners
St. Mary's Episcopal Church sits on a wooded rise above the intersection of Lake Otis Parkway and Tudor Road in midtown Anchorage, a few hundred feet back from one of the busiest intersections in the city. The beige-brown buildings, with their large picture windows looking toward the Chugach Range, are in use from early morning until late at night, seven days a week, by worshippers, schoolchildren, gardeners, Scouts, Bible study groups, and yoga classes.
The parish lives, works, and gathers on the unceded lands of the K'enaht'ana Dena'ina people. Its welcome is wide and explicit: "We believe that God calls us to lives of radical love and inclusion, from infant to elder, within and without our community, inviting and supporting people of all races, genders, orientations, and abilities." The tagline that runs across the top of the parish's communications says it plainly: "All are welcome. Really."
From a Garage to a Sprawling Campus
St. Mary's began as a response to a postwar housing boom. The original Episcopal presence in Anchorage was All Saints'; when families began spreading south after World War II, some asked the Bishop of Alaska if they could start a new mission. On November 28, 1954, the first service of St. Mary's was held in a garage in the Anchor Homes subdivision on the northern end of what was then a narrow Lake Otis Street. The Reverend Philip Jerauld was the priest in charge.
The following summer, Marcie and Roger Waldron donated five and one-half acres of their homestead at the corner of Lake Otis and Tudor Road, where the view of the Chugach Range drew comment. A basement was finished in time for the first service there on October 2, 1955, and in May 1958 the church building itself was completed. The Reverend Sandy Zabriskie succeeded Jerauld, the congregation grew quickly, and by 1962 a rectory and a bell tower had been added. Sunday school outgrew its original Quonset hut in the parking lot, and in 1967 a Christian education wing was built into the hillside so every classroom could have full windows.
The parish gained full parish status in 1971, and Waldron Hall was completed a few years later. By 1991 the facilities were overcrowded, and 270 donors underwrote a major expansion. The 1993 addition connected the original church building to Waldron Hall and produced the modern sanctuary that exists today: a flexible space with movable chairs and tall windows facing the mountains, seating up to about 300 people at full capacity. The same project added a paneled library off the narthex, two small meeting rooms, an expanded commercial-grade kitchen, an elevator, and downstairs classrooms that house both Sunday School and St. Mary's Creative Playschool, which had been founded in 1967. In 1984, the vestry had also purchased three and one-half wooded acres next door to head off a city plan to widen the intersection, a plan that would have wiped the church out.
Four Sundays a Week, Three of Them Eucharist
St. Mary's gathers around the altar several times each week, all within the patterns set by the Book of Common Prayer. The rhythm is built around four Sunday services plus a Wednesday morning Eucharist.
- Sundays at 8:00 am, Holy Eucharist. A spoken-word service with no music, held in the A-frame chapel during the fall, winter, and spring, and in the main sanctuary during the summer. On-campus only, followed by coffee and donuts in Waldron Hall.
- Sundays at 10:00 am, Holy Eucharist. The principal Sunday liturgy, in the sanctuary and online via Zoom, Facebook Live, and Twitch. Music alternates between two ensembles (more on them below) on opposite Sundays. After the service, Fellowship Hour runs from 11:30 am to noon in Waldron Hall, with coffee, tea, espresso from the youth-run Jesus Java stand, and donuts.
- Second Sunday of the month at 1:00 pm, Eucaristía en español. A monthly Spanish-language Eucharist in the sanctuary, in person only, with a small gathering after.
- Sundays at 4:00 pm, Evening Prayer. A contemplative service of Scripture and prayer in the sanctuary. Communion is shared on the first Sunday of the month.
- Wednesdays at 7:00 am, Holy Eucharist. A brief weekday service in the sanctuary and online via Zoom, highlighting a saint of the day, followed by a potluck breakfast.
The Sunday 10:00 am and Wednesday 7:00 am services are streamed live, and recordings of full services live on a Vimeo showcase. A separate sermon archive combines video, audio, and often written text. Those attending via Zoom with their cameras on will be visible to the in-person congregation, especially during the Passing of the Peace. Seats on the far right of the sanctuary, near the southeast windows, sit outside the camera's view for anyone who would prefer to be present but not broadcast.
What to Expect on a Sunday Morning
The liturgy follows the Episcopal pattern set by the Book of Common Prayer. Each service includes readings from the Old and New Testaments, a Psalm, a sermon based on those scriptures, an affirmation of faith from one of the historic Creeds, congregational prayers, music, and a celebration of Holy Eucharist. "The congregational responses throughout the service make Episcopal worship participatory worship," the parish explains. "As a visitor, you are welcome to follow along and join in with us." Many, but not all, worshippers kneel or cross themselves at various points; both gestures are personal aids and entirely optional.
Children of all ages are welcome in the sanctuary, and the sounds of young voices are considered part of the offering. Activity boxes and coloring sheets are available in the narthex for anyone who wants them. A staffed nursery for infants and children up to age three is open in Waldron Hall on Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 11:30 am. Parents and children may also use the Wiggle Room at the rear of the sanctuary, a more relaxed space from which the service can still be seen and heard. Masks are available in the narthex for anyone who is ill, and the parish encourages those with coughs or other symptoms to join online.
Parking is on the campus lot, and the main sanctuary entrance is at ground level with a heated front walkway and push-button automatic doors. The lower floor is reachable by stairs or elevator. Free menstrual products are stocked in every adult restroom on the entrance level. Large-print bulletins are usually available, and assistive hearing devices sit in a basket at the rear of the sanctuary.
Two Music Programs That Take Turns
Music at the 10:00 am Eucharist rotates between two ensembles that have very different sounds. On one set of Sundays the St. Mary's Organ Choir, a core group of about a dozen singers with additional part-time members, sings traditional hymns and choral anthems. The choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 6:15 to 7:15 pm in the sanctuary between Labor Day and Memorial Day, and is conducted by Annie Nilsson with Rachel Morgan at the organ and piano.
On the alternating Sundays the St. Mary's Praise Singers lead the liturgy with roots and folk music, using piano, percussion, guitars and other strings. The group sings music from many sources, including original songs written specifically for it. Karl Wilhelmi leads the Praise Singers, and Wade Hampton Miller is the primary composer of their original music. Alex Cruver is among the regular musicians in the group.
Children at the Heart of the Parish
Children's ministry at St. Mary's is both structured and intergenerational. On Sundays at 9:00 am, between the 8:00 and 10:00 services and from Labor Day to Memorial Day, Christian formation classes are offered for every age. Preschoolers gather in the Young Disciples Room in Waldron Hall for stories and play. Elementary-age children are using a new three-year curriculum called Weaving God's Promises, designed to follow the seasons of the church year and approach Bible education from an Episcopal perspective through hands-on activities. Middle and high schoolers meet in the downstairs classrooms using the 622 curriculum from the Prayer Book Society of Canada, a four-year cycle that walks through Christian theology, history, and Anglican/Episcopal traditions of prayer and worship.
On the first Sunday of the month, the 9:00 am classes give way to a parish pancake breakfast in Waldron Hall, when the whole congregation gathers to eat together.
During the 10:00 am service, children and youth have their own liturgical options. Godly Play, for ages four through ten, is held in Room 1 downstairs from September through May and uses a Montessori-style approach of sacred storytelling and exploration. Youth Church, for grades four through twelve, meets in the chapel and digs into Episcopal worship traditions while planning youth-led services a few times a year. On alternate Sundays, youth in grades three through twelve rehearse as the Youth Choir in the chapel with Annie Nilsson. Children and youth return to the sanctuary in time for Communion.
Youth Group, Yukon Island, and Trips Beyond Alaska
The middle and high school youth group gathers for social, spiritual, and service activities throughout the year, in addition to its Sunday morning class. Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in Waldron Hall are set aside for game nights, where youth in grades six through twelve (and their grown-ups) share a light supper and play board games, video games, or tabletop RPG one-shots. Each summer the group travels to Yukon Island, a trip of about 200 road miles south to Homer and another six miles by boat across Kachemak Bay, for a weekend of leading Morning Prayer and Compline, building labyrinths and altars on the beach, and sharing the Eucharist outdoors. The Bersch family has hosted these retreats for years.
About every three years the youth raise funds for an international service trip. They have visited Anglican sister churches in Malawi on multiple occasions and, most recently, traveled to the Episcopal Diocese of Colombia. They are scheduled to return to Colombia in the summer of 2027. The Rev. Israel Portilla-Gómez oversees the youth ministries.
Adult Formation, Bible Study, and a Lot of Pasta
Adults at St. Mary's have a long menu of weekly gatherings to choose from. On Sundays at 9:00 am, between Labor Day and Memorial Day, adult Christian formation classes meet during the school year (except on first Sundays, when the parish breakfast takes its place). Seasonal offerings like Lenten Soup Suppers add another layer, and individual short-term classes are proposed by members of the congregation.
Weekday Bible study is robust. Bible Explorers meets on Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm over Zoom, exploring one of the readings from the upcoming Sunday. Friday Afternoon Bible Study gathers at 1:00 pm at the Thomas Center and digs into a section of Scripture over several weeks at a time. The Fierce Women Book Study meets Mondays at 6:00 pm in Waldron Hall (Cay's Room on the first Monday of the month) and engages with Scripture and spiritually engaging books from a feminine perspective. The Women's Book Club meets Wednesday evenings monthly, usually on the fourth Wednesday, over Zoom. The Men's Group gathers Thursdays at 7:00 am in Waldron Hall for coffee, a light breakfast, fellowship, and Bible conversation. Gentlemen's Bible Study meets once a month on Friday evenings. A dream interpretation group called St. Mary's Dreamers meets online one Saturday a month and welcomes newcomers after a one-on-one orientation.
Yoga has become part of the rhythm, too. Yoga for Relaxation with Rashmika meets Mondays at 5:00 pm and Tuesdays at noon in Room 1 downstairs. The classes are open to all ages and experience levels, drop-ins are welcome, and fees are by donation, with half going to St. Mary's.
Young adults (ages 18 to 35) gather once a month on the first Thursday at 6:00 pm in Cay's Room for what the parish calls "Thursday Night Meatballs: How to Share Your Young Adult Life with Pasta," with vegetarian and gluten-free options on request.
Elders and the Thomas Center
The parish refers to its older members as elders, "keepers of wisdom and of our history," and says they are among the most active participants in worship and ministry. In 2015, the parish founded the Thomas Center for Senior Leadership, a 14-unit apartment building on campus with efficiency, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units available to Alaskans age 60 and over. While not a care facility, the Thomas Center was designed for accessibility, aging in place, and active participation in all aspects of parish life. Its general manager can be reached at 907-538-9995.
St. Mary's Creative Playschool
St. Mary's Creative Playschool has been part of the campus since 1967. Designed for children ages three through five, the playschool focuses on self-confidence, a positive self-image, social skills, fine and gross motor development, and becoming comfortable in a classroom setting away from home. Parents play a significant role in the classroom and in the life of the school. Applications are available on the playschool's own website.
The Ann Spohnholz Community Garden
On the campus, 24 raised garden plots make up the Ann Spohnholz Community Garden. Gardeners of all experience levels are invited to sign up for a plot over the summer. The motto is "90% community, 10% garden," and the gardeners are asked to donate about half of what they grow to a local food bank or similar organization.
Outreach Near and Far
St. Mary's mission statement reads "To Know Christ and to Make Christ Known," and the parish takes that mandate seriously on several fronts.
Locally, the parish supports FISH (Friends in Serving Humanity), a volunteer-run organization of about 70 Anchorage residents who provide and deliver emergency food to people and families in need. St. Mary's encourages members to pack or deliver food for the FISH food pantry and works alongside FISH, the Interfaith Council of Anchorage, the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, and Christians for Equality. In-house ministries focus on homeless outreach, mental health and well-being, food assistance, and school supplies.
The parish also sponsors Cub Scouts Pack 8, one of the oldest Scout groups in Anchorage. The co-ed pack is open to elementary-age children from kindergarten through fifth grade and meets Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm in Waldron Hall.
Internationally, the parish has had a decades-long relationship with Malawi Children's Village, a community-based program supporting more than 2,000 HIV/AIDS orphans living with members of their extended families in 37 villages in Mangochi, Malawi. St. Mary's supports the broader work of Episcopal Relief & Development, the United Thank Offering, the Episcopal Public Policy Network, and organizations including Heifer International, International Justice Mission, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and World Vision.
Beliefs and the Episcopal Way
St. Mary's describes its faith in the language of the wider Episcopal Church. "The Episcopal Church recognizes that each person's relationship with God is unique and personal," the parish says, "and we honor and celebrate that uniqueness. Episcopalians also hold certain basic beliefs about God and the nature of creation in common with other Christians throughout the world. These beliefs are summarized in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed."
The Bible is at the center. "We believe that the Bible is God's Word to us. The Bible is vital and relevant to our daily life today because God still speaks to us through scripture with the guidance of the Holy Spirit." Each Sunday, the congregation gathers around the Lord's Table for Holy Eucharist, also known as Communion or the Lord's Supper. "In the longstanding tradition of St. Mary's, all are welcome at the Lord's table." Baptism, whether of a child or an adult, is described as "rebirth, renewal, and spiritual reawakening," an initiation into a community centered in Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
St. Mary's mission statement names what it believes God is calling the parish to do: to grow and deepen its relationship with God in Christ Jesus; to be an active, inviting, inclusive, and multicultural community of faith; to support, care for, and learn from each other at all stages of life, from infant to elder; to reach out to those within and outside the church community; and to come together in fellowship in large and small groups to share and live its faith.
Clergy, Staff, and Leadership
The Rev. Michael Burke serves as Rector, with the Rev. Israel Portilla-Gómez as Associate Rector and the Rev. Hannah Moderow as Priest. The Rev. Ross McKay serves as Deacon. The Director of Operations is Sonya Levin; the Communications Manager is Jennifer Powers; Christina Talbott-Clark edits the newsletter and website. Music leadership is shared between Annie Nilsson (Organ Choir Director), Karl Wilhelmi (Praise Singers Director), and Alex Cruver (Praise Singers).
The Vestry, the parish's elected lay governing board, includes twelve members organized by ministry area. Sandra DeHart-Mayor serves as Senior Warden and Thad Hunter as Junior Warden. The rest of the vestry covers adult Christian formation, caring ministries, children's Christian formation, community building, early childhood ministries, growth and communications, outreach ministries, stewardship development, worship, and youth ministries.
Giving, Pledging, and Legacy Gifts
The parish describes giving as "a powerful spiritual practice," a statement of gratitude and trust in God. Members are invited to make an annual pledge, give one-time gifts, or arrange legacy gifts and estate plans, all through an online giving portal. A dedicated page walks members through creating a will or trust through a free online service.
Visiting and Staying Connected
The parish keeps a full calendar at its central worship hub, with a weekly e-newsletter, an extensive sermon archive on the website and on podcast platforms, and active social media presences. Sunday bulletins, coloring pages, and sermon texts are uploaded in advance, and recordings of services remain available on a Vimeo showcase.
From the first garage service on a quiet gravel street in 1954 to a campus that now houses worship, education, senior housing, a Scout pack, a preschool, a community garden, a food pantry, and more, St. Mary's has grown into a sprawling ministry hub. At the corner of Lake Otis and Tudor, where locals once questioned whether a church belonged, the parish now opens its doors every day of the week to anyone who walks through them.