A place of welcome and community

Church of Mary Magdalene’s Saturday morning Breakfast Service is centered on the needs of women who are currently homeless in Seattle. We call the whole morning a Breakfast Service because the Spirit is present in our table conversations as well as the singing and prayers of the worship service.

We welcome any sort of Christian, those of other faith traditions, and any woman who comes in peace. We aim to be a place of safety, community, and encouragement.

Our history

1991 – March 2025

Founded in 1991 by Rev. Jean Kim to meet homeless women’s need for community and spiritual support, Church of Mary Magdalene became known for offering a warm welcome and feeding both body and spirit on Saturday mornings. A women’s day center called Mary’s Place was added in 2000. As Mary’s Place grew and pivoted to serve homeless families it continued the day center and Saturday worship service — until closing both in March of 2025. The women of the congregation wanted church to continue, so a small team of volunteers stepped forward to provide leadership.

April 2025 – Present

By their growing attendance, outreach and commitment the women of the congregation have proved the ongoing need for this ministry. They are the heart of our hospitality, welcoming new participants and strengthening their community week by week.

Affirmation of faith

This Affirmation of Faith from the early years of the church embodies our purpose, practice and beliefs. It was created by Rev. Jean Kim in collaboration with the women of the congregation, and is still part of our worship service each week:

We, who are homeless or suffering from multiple difficulties,
believe in God who created and blessed women, men, and children equally in God’s own image.
We affirm God as a loving and forgiving God, not a condemning God.
Therefore, we refuse to be treated as inferior and less worthy human beings.
We loudly affirm that we deserve to dream a vision, hope, and future.
We re-image Jesus Christ as a forgiving and healing mother, father, sister, brother, friend, and Savior,
who himself was homeless, abused and killed on a cross.
We affirm Jesus’ resurrection as a mirror of our own healing
from our poverty, homelessness, brokenness, bondage
and destructive thoughts and actions.
We affirm the Holy Spirit as our source of strength and inspiration
who empowers us to get up after every fall.
The Spirit constantly leads us back home to God.
We affirm our gatherings as a worshiping community
that must practice love, joy, peace, forgiveness, security,
and support for one another. Amen.

Our leadership

Rev Dr Linda Smith brings a weekly sermon in the vibrant cadences of the Black church. She is ordained in the American Baptist Church, and served the women as Mary’s Place Chaplain for many years. Her other ministries include Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Baptist Church in Renton, and SKY Urban Institute. (Doctorate in Transformative Leadership, Master of Divinity, Post Graduate Certificate in Transforming Spirituality)

Pastor Susan Wanwig leads the Saturday service, encouraging participation from the women. Sue is ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and served as a chaplain for Compass Housing Alliance. She also serves as associate pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Mercer Island. (M.A. Fuller Theological Seminary, M.Div. Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary)

Rev Pat Simpson does shelter outreach, supports our cooking teams, and is our lead organizer. A retired ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, she was pastor of Church of Mary Magdalene from 1998 to 2006. She is part of Women in Black, a member of Homeless Remembrance Project, and a friend of WHEEL. (M.Div, Pacific School of Religion)

Sari Breznau brings soul-stirring music and singing to our worship. She is our longest serving team member, leading the women in song since she joined Church of Magdalene in 2000. A versatile musician, her other work includes Columbia City Church of Hope, Singing in the Rain Choir, Song Church, Flotsam River Circus and Up Up Up Crane Truck Circus. (Master of Music in Choral Conducting, California State University, LA)