FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 5:30-8 P.M. & SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 10 A.M.–3 P.M., in Bloedel Hall and throughout the cathedral grounds. Register here.

In this special weekend of community, connection, and creativity, all ages come together to actively explore the Kingdom or Reign of God—what it is, how to recognize it, and how we help to bring it about right here, right now.

Through story, conversation, justice-seeking, art, music, gardening, bread-baking, and more, we'll delve into three of the kingdom parables in our summer lectionary: The Parable of the Mustard Seed, the Parable of the Leaven, and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. Previous iterations of this offering have occurred as a series of weekly or monthly meetings, but for 2023, participants will gather Friday evening—including dinner and Compline—and Saturday morning and afternoon—including lunch, snacks, and an outdoor Eucharist. There will then be an the opportunity to help with the Tent City 3 community supper on Sunday evening.

On Friday: We'll gather in Bloedel Hall for a meal and hear from Dean Steve about The Kingdom of God. Then we'll move to the cathedral and outside for a variety of opt-in activities. The evening concludes with Compline, and we'll be finished no later than 8 p.m.

On Saturday: We'll gather in the cathedral and begin our day together, then participate in a variety of opt-in activities as we explore the Kingdom parables and how we create community that helps build up God's realm of peace, justice, and love. Lunch will be at 12:30 p.m. in Bloedel Hall, and we'll end our time together by gathering on the outdoor labyrinth for a simple Eucharist at 2:30 p.m.

Can’t commit to the full experience? You are more than welcome to come for Friday evening only, or for a half-day on Saturday (morning or afternoon). Simply indicate which meals you will be present for on the registration form.

Fee: $30 for both days, with a maximum of $75 per family. Please register using the form here or below. (If you can only attend one of the meals, please pay $15 per meal.) The ability to pay should not be a barrier to participation. Email Canon Barrie with any concerns: wbarrie@saintmarks.org

Activities will include:

• Baking bread!
• Music-making, including a drum circle!
• Harvesting honey from the cathedral hives!
• Making seed balls for planting!
• Collaborative art with recycled objects!
• Godly Play tellings of the parables of the Mustard Seed, the Leaven, and the Pearl of Great Price
• Theological reflection

A Request:

For our collaborative 3-D art project ("Building the kingdom we dream of") we will need all kinds of cardboard boxes/containers and other items ranging in size from 4 to 18 inches: paper towel and tp tissue rolls, egg cartons, oatmeal canisters, cereal boxes, shoe boxes… and other odds and ends! Please bring to church this Sunday, August 20, and place in the basket in the cookie corner.

Check out some photos from previous years' iterations of Eat! Play! Love! below (click to enlarge).