UPDATED WITH VIDEO
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 10:10–10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall
The Creation Care Ministry will host a Sunday morning forum that asks the question: How do we cultivate a deepening, evolving relationship with God that gives us the strength, vision, and courage to face climate changes in our world? Presenters will explore practices of the Spirit, and actions we can all take to nourish the planet. Be prepared to touch the roots of hope, community, and joy.
UPDATE: Download Prayer Practices to Nourish Primordial Hope shared at the forum.
A complete video of this event is now available below:
Pilgrimage is about seeking out sacred space. But sacred space can also be found close at hand. Week by week, as I worship and engage in ministry at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, I enter into a sacred space—a space where I encounter God in prayer and worship, in music, in the preaching of the Word, in the sacraments, and especially in the lives of those with whom I share this space. Yet the point of sacred space is not to hoard it for ourselves but to invite others in, and to take it with us as we are sent out: "Let us go forth in the name of Christ." This rhythm of gathering and sending is a pilgrimage in its own right that nourishes my soul.
Pilgrimage can occur by walking, flying, climbing... and sometimes just by reading, thinking, and discussing. I have been grateful for the pilgrimages I have been able to take over the past six years through the Education for Ministry and 
This small group's weekly journey has been supplemented with the varied and engaging offerings from the Wisdom School, including Richard Rohr’s remote broadcasts of his CONSPIRE conferences from New Mexico, as well as Belden Lane’s lectures on the natural world and Mary Crist’s workshop on the Doctrine of Discovery in our own Bloedel Hall. These offerings have helped me deepen my faith and broaden my understanding of Christian faith and its history. They have helped shape my perspective on Christianity and how I reflect these values in my life. I’m grateful for these opportunities, and grateful too for the opportunity to support these faith formation programs through my annual financial commitment to Saint Mark’s.
Our family’s annual pledge or financial commitment to Saint Mark’s comes directly from our bank account. That electronic transfer is very efficient, but it feels a little too impersonal. So my practice has been to make a plate offering of $5 or $10 cash each Sunday. During our pandemic virtual worship, my weekly plate offering also went virtual. As we watched the livestream from our living room, I made a virtual plate offering by Venmo. My pandemic-induced cashless habit has stuck with me, and the cash in my wallet is still left over from 2019. We’ve returned to in-person worship, and now I make my virtual plate offering using Venmo from my pew. A few months ago, a new Venmo feature started asking me if I wanted to “add extra protection to my purchase.” The app tells me that I can “get a full refund if something goes wrong.” I smile and decline. Many things are going right at Saint Mark’s, and I have much to be grateful for here. This community is one place where I don’t need any extra protection.
For what am I grateful at our beloved Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral? How do I begin, with humility, to become a pilgrim of thankfulness?
The topic of this special joint meeting of the 20s/30s and the 
Our Bishop leads a discussion of the theology of "self-emptying."
What roles should confession and forgiveness play in the messiness of our lives? What is self-denial meant to teach us? How can giving up something or adding a spiritual practice during Lent shape us as people? Gather on Sunday evening, March 9, in Leffler House for Questioning Together as the Rev. Canon Emily Griffin leads an exploration of this vital season in our spiritual lives. At 9:15, there is an option to head over to Compline together. Questions? Email 
Please join Saint Mark's 20s/30s Group on February 9 at 7:30 in Leffler house for February's installment of Questioning Together. This month's gathering will be a discussion on Discernment and Vocation led by former Jesuit Volunteer and Saint Mark's member Molly Bosch, who will be hosting and facilitating Erin Beary-Andersen and Ross Hays, who both have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of Jesuit Ignatian Spirituality and theology. We will be overviewing Ignatian spirituality and the ways that it supports moments of discernment and calls to vocation in our daily lives. Following the discussion, there is the option to attend Compline together. For questions, please email Molly at 
Saint Mark's parishioner Prof. Doug Thorpe led a discussion about unfolding events in Israel and Gaza. Doug is a member of the 
Come explore this question with Bishop Melissa Skelton as we discuss ways evangelism can be reclaimed and used as a spiritual practice that is lifegiving and welcoming. We’ll consider how Episcopal/Anglican identity informs this approach in seeking, naming and sharing Christ’s presence in all persons. Questions? Email Emily Meeks (
We will look back on a brief history of the movement and how it translates to our contemporary context. Theological themes and questions will include a focus on the sacraments, the importance of beauty, and a legacy of social justice. Questions? Email Fraser (
Join in for discussion on the relationship between money and Christian life. Living in a world that spans a spectrum of extreme need and great excess, this gathering is a time to ponder "how much is enough" in our own lives. This session will seek to offer insight and discussion on money in our context, and explore how we can improve the stewardship of our resources in our lives, church, and community. At 9:15, there is an option to head over to Compline together. Questions? Email Fraser Reach: 
In the weeks approaching All Saints' Day and a season of reflection and gratitude, join in for a conversation about the significance of the saints in the Episcopal tradition and how our relationship with the saints fosters gratitude. How can the values of these venerated saints inform our attitude about gratitude in contemporary life? The Rev. Danae Ashley, a priest in the Diocese of Olympia and licensed marriage and family therapist, will facilitate this spirited discussion.
What does it look like to deconstruct the meaning of “church” and apply it to a context that exists outside a physical building? Join us for a conversation about the power of connection when our faith is brought outside the church walls and onto the streets. We will be welcoming 
