Forum Archive

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023

The Pageant of the Nativity

SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2023

Plants & Earth with Gordon Miller

On the eve of the vernal equinox, Saint Mark’s parishioner and Emeritus Professor of Environmental Studies at Seattle University Gordon Miller shared ideas and images from two of his books: Wisdom of the Earth, which displays relatively unknown ecological riches of the Christian tradition, and The Metamorphosis of Plants, his photographic edition of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 18th-century botanical classic that encourages readers to look beyond the surface of the natural world to its nonmaterial depths.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2023

Planning Your Funeral as a Lenten Spiritual Practice

For several years we’ve invited every adult at Saint Mark’s, regardless of age, to engage in the Lenten spiritual practice of planning your funeral and to preparing (or reviewing) your will and estate plans. Making these plans now will be a priceless gift to your loved ones when the time comes. As Christians, we do not deny death as a reality of life, but we deal honestly with the stark truth that we all die. Lent is an especially appropriate time for this. Find more information and resources here.

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2022

Friends Talking: Rabbi Daniel Weiner

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2022

Stand with the Duwamish with Duwamish Tribal Chair The Hon. Cecile Hansen

For over 35 years, Cecile Hansen has been the elected chair of the Duwamish Tribe. She is the great-great grandniece of Chief Si’ahl’. Cecile Hansen spoke on the efforts of the Duwamish Tribe to gain federal recognition and how faith communities and citizens of Seattle can be allies with the Duwamish in support of their cause. She also shared about environmental and cultural projects that the Duwamish are engaged in while offering an historical perspective that invites us all to honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of the Duwamish Tribe. A complete video is posted here.

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2022

Friends Talking: The Rev. Dr. Bradley Hauff

The Rev. Dr. Bradley S. Hauff serves as Episcopal Church Missioner for Indigenous Ministries, a member of the Presiding Bishop’s staff. In his role, Hauff is responsible for enabling and empowering Indigenous peoples and their respective communities within the Episcopal Church while also guiding the broader Church in intercultural competencies. Rev. Hauff encouraged everyone to view this 30-minute video produced by the Office of Indigenous Ministries, titled Native Voices Speaking to the Church and the World. A video of the forum is available here.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022

Mutual Ministry Goals

Mutual Ministry Goals are designed to inform and guide our work as a community. This year the vestry unanimously approved to carry forward the mutual ministry goals first set in April 2021—Creation Care and Carbon Reduction, Innovative and Intergenerational Community, and Restorative Justice and Systematic Change. Vestry wardens hosted a conversation on the work of creation care, intergenerational and justice ministries in the year to come. Slides and a complete video of this forum are available on this page.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022

The Santa Marta Anglican Center: Supporting LGBTIQ+ youth in El Salvador

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2022

Friends Talking: Bp. Jennifer Baskerville Burrows

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Special Parish Meeting Exploring Potential Uses of the St. Nicholas Building

On September 2, Dean Thomason sent an email to the cathedral community announcing that the Vestry has recently engaged a development consultant to assist us in exploring potential uses of the St. Nicholas building with a goal of advancing the cathedral’s mission and ministries. A summary report is available here. John Hoerster and Dean Thomason shared details of the process, plans for parish input along the way, and addressed questions folks had at this early stage.

SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021

DEEPER DIVE: Jesus through the Centuries

Over time and across cultures, faithful people have understood Jesus the Christ in different, life-giving ways. Canon Daugherty discussed some of these traditions, then lead the group in exploring how our experience of pandemic has impacted our answer to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”

Canon Daugherty recommends:

"How Christians Interpret the Gospel" from Mythmakers: Gospel, Culture, and the Media by William F. Fore
"The Good, the True, and the Beautiful" from Jesus Through the Centuries by Jaroslav Pelikan

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024

Stewardship as a Spiritual Practice

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024

Contours of the Christian Life: Saint Mark's Identity

What does it mean to be a Cathedral and a Parish? Saint Mark’s is part of the Episcopal Church, and as a cathedral, serves as the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia. What are the unique ways we are called to carry out our mission? Since Saint Mark’s founding in 1889, Saint Mark’s has been a gathering place for the Seattle community. We explored some of the key influences on the building and community, including discussion on Saint Mark’s history, Statement of Lament, and its Mission and Vision. Video and resources are available here.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2024

Contours of the Christian Life: Made in God's Image

A look at how we each see God and how that shapes our beliefs and values. What does it mean to be made in God’s image? Our faith affirms that we are indeed an “imago dei” and that we are made in original blessing (not sin). Where do these ideas come from and what do they say about our true selves and our relationship to God? We considered how the Episcopal tradition nurtures the faith and values of those on the spiritual journey. A video and resources are available here.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Contours of the Christian Life: Listening for God's Call in Scripture

A look at how we can read and interpret God’s word. Reading, exploring and interpreting stories in scripture can help us listen for how God may be speaking through these human authors even today. Participants engaged with an upcoming lectionary reading for discussion using different interpretations and lenses for reading scripture. A video and resources from this session are available here.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024

The Examen: What It Is and How to Practice It

Usually prayed in the evening, the Daily Examen is a way to help notice and attend to God’s presence throughout the day through prayer. We learned about the history of this practice, heard experiences from Molly Bosch and Bryan Pansing who learned the Examen in the Jesuit Service Corps, and practiced with a guided exercise from Ross Hays and Erin Anderson. Together we considered what’s bringing us closer to God and what may be creating distance for us? A complete video, handouts, and links other resources are available here.

TWO WEDNESDAYS, JANUARY 10 & 17, 2024

Paul’s Letters to the Early Church (and Us): What Are We to Make of Them?

Responding to broad interest expressed for a class on Paul’s letters following a sermon last summer, We explored major themes of Paul’s epistles, why they are so prominently esteemed in the Christian tradition, and why they are problematic for us in modernity. We unpacked some difficult passages, reveled in some exquisitely beautiful ones, and sought to better understand this titular figure whose legacy makes him one of the most impactful people in all of human history. Can his letters serve as catalyst to transformation on the Christian journey even today? Video and slides from Parts 1 & 2 are available here.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2023

Film Screening: The Philadelphia Eleven

In 1974, a group of 11 women and their supporters organized their ordination to become Episcopal priests in an act of civil disobedience. This story is told in a compelling new documentary The Philadelphia Eleven. This film tells a story that echoes today as women continue this fight for the pulpit. It explores the lives of these remarkable women who succeeded in transforming an age-old institution when they took a stand despite the threats to their personal safety and the risk of rejection by the church they loved. These women are an inspiration for a generation of women in the ministry, and a clarion call for the entire Christian Church.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2023

Sacred Stories of Place

TWO WEDNESDAYS, OCTOBER 11 & 18, 2023

Re-thinking Poverty: Faith, Place, and Relationality

Poverty is perhaps one of the most pressing issues of our time. Across two weeks, we explored impoverishment with Saint Mark's parishioner Sarah Elwood, one of the co-authors of Abolishing Poverty. Sarah shared from her own lived experience (both personal and scholarly), about the power of relationship and the impact of unidentified boundaries in the landscape of our understanding. What role does faith play in our response to impoverishment? How might our relationships, with God and with one another, transform our understanding of the complex causes of impoverishment, and shape our collective learning and actions across boundaries of many kinds? The second week included a panel discussion with The Rev. Christopher Cox of Operation Nightwatch Seattle, parishioner Molly Bosch, a public health nurse at Harborview Hospital, and The Rev. Kae Eaton of the Mental Health Chaplaincy. Video of parts 1 & 2 are now posted here.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2023

Dementia and Spirituality: Hope on the Journey

TWO WEDNESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 20 & 27, 2023

The Wisdom School Opening Plenary: A Spirituality of Place

Place matters. It is the locus of spiritual purpose, whether at home, on the pilgrim’s way, or in the wilderness. It is the locus of belonging, of grounding, of meaning. The mystics remind us to “look deeply and discover God there.” The geography of the heart is shaped by the land and the ties that bind us to particular places, especially when we come to see it all as holy ground. This two-part series explored the spirituality of place, pilgrimage and finding home, with spiritual practices that serve as maps for the journey. Slides and videos of parts 1 & 2 are available here.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Affordable Housing

How might the campus of Saint Mark’s be used in new ways to serve our mission and purpose? Formed in September 2022 by the Vestry, the Affordable Housing Exploratory Committee has completed months of study and assessment focusing on the feasibility of affordable housing on the St. Nicholas site. Come hear from committee members and project leaders in a special forum about project learnings. No decisions have been made, and the Vestry seeks input from the parish in the process ahead. A complete video is available here.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023

Pauli Murray: Priest, Scholar, Activist, and Poet

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023

Sacred Listening as a Transformational Practice

Sacred listening is more than the hearing of words and sounds. Sacred listening is an invitation into relationship and an honoring of the ways in which the Divine presence is felt and responded to in our lives as a source of transformation. We learned about—and practiced—various ways to cultivate sacred listening, how to notice and recognize the resistances and avoidances that may hinder our transformation, and we created spaces together that honor the sharing of our stories and the fostering of transformative relationships as a way to enhance and expand our relationship with God. A complete video is posted here.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2023

Exploring Racial Justice in the Episcopal Church

In 2021, the Episcopal Church released its Racial Justice Audit documenting the experience of race, racism, and racial identity within church leadership. At the Diocese of Olympia's Diocesan Convention last fall, a task force presented its findings and proposed ways we in this diocese might engage in this important work. This was an opportunity to listen, learn, and engage in conversation with others as we seek to understand and seek racial justice in our communities, guided by five questions developed by the Task Force. A complete video is available here.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2023

Reflections on the Holy Land Pilgrimage

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus, in the land of the Holy One, is a transformative journey that thirty souls from the cathedral community recently made. As Christians, we are all called to make pilgrimage as a spiritual practice, drawing on sacred experiences, near and far. We shared a bit of the flavor, rhythms, challenges, and insights gleaned from the experience on the pilgrimage to the Holy Land. A complete video is available here.

TWO WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 8 & 15, 2023

Hymns as Spiritual Nourishment

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023

Gareth Higgins: How Not to Be Afraid

An evening of storytelling and conversation with Irish writer Gareth Higgins, author of How Not to Be Afraid. Brian McLaren says Gareth’s new book How Not to be Afraid is “a beautiful book,” Kathleen Norris says it’s “a necessary book,” and Micky ScottBey Jones says it’s “a much-needed resource for skill-building through our fear and trauma, so that we might create the belonging and communities we desire.” Nadia Bolz-Weber says “I totally trust Gareth Higgins when he writes about his own fear and how it’s actually possible to transform it into something powerful, something capable of healing us and the world.” Pádraig Ó Tuama says “Gareth Higgins is a friend. This book is too.” Find out more at hownottobeafraid.com A complete video is available here.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2023

The Hero’s Journey and the Liturgy

In fantasy games like Dungeons & Dragons, groups of players weave a story together about a fellowship of heroes. Those heroes vanquish horrors, experience unspeakable wonders, and transform the world. We explored what we can learn from such group storytelling and how it relates to the story we immerse ourselves in each time we participate in the divine liturgy. Presenter Jeremy Crawford is a Saint Mark’s parishioner who studied theology at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and is the lead rules designer of Dungeons & Dragons. A complete video is now available here.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2023

Candlemas Eve Candle-Making and Evening Prayer

We looked ahead to Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation (midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox) of the infant Jesus in the temple, when Simeon recognizes him as the Anointed One, “the Light to enlighten the Nations.” Traditionally, it is the day in which candles are blessed for use in the coming year, so we heard about the history of the day, made candles to take home, and ended with a simple service of Evening Prayer.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023

Religion in the Public Square: A Year at Newsweek

Julia Duin, Newsweek’s contributing editor for religion as well as the daughter of long-time Saint Mark’s parishioners Robert and Phyllis Duin, shared what were the top religion stories for 2022 and how she covered them. Ranging from the Trump prophets and a praying football coach in Bremerton to Mormons’ increasing embrace of “Heavenly Mother” God, the reparations movement in churches, evangelical adoptions and of course the demise of Roe v. Wade, not to mention the death of a pope. 2022 was a big year for religion news! We discussed the role of religion in the public square and how it impacts our daily lives and relationships. A complete recording is available here.

TWO WEDNESDAYS, DECEMBER 7 & 14, 2022

Becoming and Belonging: Embodied Spirituality in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

We are in a paradigm shift of seismic proportions. Drawing on the evolutionary theology of Teilhard de Chardin and the ground-breaking postulations by Ilia Delio, we explored what embodied spirituality means in a post-human world where climate change, artificial intelligence, and modern medicine converge to create an altered dynamic in which humans exist and evolve. What is the role of spirituality in this increasingly complex and complicated world? A complete video, slides, and materials are posted here.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

2022 Report from El Salvador by Elizabeth Hawkins

Saint Mark's parishioner Elizabeth Hawkins has been living and working in San Salvador since 2019. A former immigration attorney, she travelled to El Salvador to research the complex factors that lead people to attempt to emigrate to the United States. She gave us an update about the current situation in El Salvador. Elizabeth will share how liberation theology has informed her decision to stay in El Salvador and the work she is currently doing as the Program Director of Programa Velasco, an NGO dedicated to educating and empowering women, children, and families. A complete video is available here.

TWO WEDNESDAYS, OCTOBER 19 & 26, 2022

The Paradoxical Friendship of Grief and Joy

Grief and joy can seem like opposites—experiences of sadness and loss are profoundly different from those of happiness and delight. Yet, both grief and joy reveal our vulnerability and capacity to love; they both soften our hearts and make us aware of our dependence on God. Canon Jennifer King Daugherty explored the paradoxical kinship of grief and joy and how the wisdom and grace we gain from either experience deepens our understanding of the other—and our relationship with God. Video, slides, and resources are available here.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

Jerusalem’s Old City—A Holy Story

In Jerusalem, what you see and what is true are two different things. The Old City has never had “four quarters” as its maps proclaim. And beyond the crush and frenzy of its major religious sites, many of its quarters are little known to visitors, its people ignored and their stories untold. Nine Quarters of Jerusalem lets the communities of the Old City speak for themselves. Ranging from ancient past to political present, it evokes the city’s depth and cultural diversity. Matthew Teller’s highly original “biography” features the Old City’s Palestinian and Jewish communities, but also spotlights its Indian and African populations, its Greek and Armenian and Syriac cultures, its downtrodden Dom Gypsy families, and its Sufi mystics. It discusses the sources of Jerusalem’s holiness and the ideas—often startlingly secular—that have shaped lives within its walls. It is an evocation of place through story, led by the voices of Jerusalemites. A complete video is now available here.

TWO WEDNESDAYS, OCTOBER 5 & 12, 2022

Listening as an Act of Solidarity

As Christians, we are called to strive for justice and peace among all people and to respect the dignity of every human being. A foundational practice for this work is the ability to listen to the lives and experiences of our neighbors. We explored how culture shapes our ability to listen and impacts our work of justice. We learned and practiced various ways to cultivate listening as an act of solidarity and how to create spaces that honor complex stories and foster transformative relationships. Video and materials are available here.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

The Queen, Colonialism, and the Anglican Communion: Connections, Heritage, and Hope in a New Era

A reflection and conversation on our experience of Queen Elizabeth’s recent death and funeral, the connections we share as Anglican Christians, the challenges of colonial realities of the British Empire, and what we see unfolding in the global arena of 21st Century geopolitical landscapes. Dean Thomason wrote a reflection on the meaning of Queen Elizabeth's legacy. A complete video is now available here.

THREE WEDNESDAYS: JUNE 22, JULY 27, and AUGUST 24, 2022

The Return of Eat, Play, Love!: The Water of Life

First offered in the summer of 2019, Eat, Play Love (Not Your Average Bible Study) is an opportunity for all ages to share a meal, learn, explore, and have fun together at the cathedral. Now this offering returns for 2022! This year, we explored the theme "Water of Life" through three scripture stories (Creation, the Baptism of Christ, and The Woman at the Well) and responded to them creatively through activities such as music, art, and science. We'll also dive into justice-seeking as it relates to clean water and water access, both locally and globally.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022

EfM Informational Session

Do you want to go deeper into your faith in an intense, ongoing way? Do you want to form lasting connections with others who also seek that connection? Consider registering for Education for Ministry (EfM). EfM is a four-year program for lay people to study scripture, church history, and modern theology. It is a four-year program, but students commit to one year at a time. Each class is limited to 12 people. A complete video is now available here.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022

Starting Over in Prayer with Fr. Martin L. Smith

These difficult COVID years have left many of us in need of a “reboot” in our prayer. We enjoyed a time of reflection, prayer, and discussion, about being emotionally honest with God just now, and open again to more real intimacy with God. Fr. Martin L. Smith is well known throughout the Episcopal Church and beyond for his roving ministry of spiritual formation in retreats and workshops, and as the author of widely read books exploring contemporary spirituality, including The Word is Very Near You, A Season for the Spirit, Reconciliation, Compass and Stars, and Love Set Free. He is based in Washington DC. A complete video is now available here.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022

Spiritual Practices as Balm for the Soul

We are living in a moment of great cultural and spiritual change. At times it can feel like countless factors are working against us to add stress to our lives. Yet, in our spiritual traditions, we have a great wellspring of practices that can ground us in the Holy Spirit if we turn to them. In this presentation, The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining, Saint Mark’s 2022 Theologian in Residence, invited us to explore some of these practices—new and old—that can bring wisdom and joy to our souls. A complete video may now be seen here.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2022

The Psalms

Learning and conversation about the psalms—how and why we read, chant, and sing them. After an outline of the history and structure of the Book of Psalms itself, Canon Barrie explored why we read these ancient Jewish poems and how we understand and pray them in our Christian context today. Then Canon Kleinschmidt presented the various different ways that psalms are given breath and life in our worship tradition. Where does our tradition of "plainchant" come from? How does "Anglican chant" work? What exactly is a "metrical paraphrase"? What's special about the Peter Hallock psalm settings we sing so often? A complete video is available here.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022

Middle East Children's Alliance: The Maia Project

Zeiad Shamrouch, Executive Director of the Middle East Children’s Alliance, discussed MECA’s Maia project, which is supported by Bishop Rickel and the Diocese of Olympia. The Maia Project began in 2007 when the Student Parliament at the UN Boys’ School in Bureij Refugee Camp, Gaza were given the opportunity to choose one thing they most wanted for their school: They chose to have clean drinking water. The reason: 95% of Gaza’s water is unfit for human consumption. Since then The Maia Project has completed 73 water purification and desalinization projects, bringing clean water to 90,000 children in Gaza. The Middle East Children’s Alliance is a nonprofit organization working for the rights and the well-being of children in the Middle East. A complete video is available here.

TWO WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 23 & 30, 2022

Knowing God Through the Body: Justice, Liberation, and Fullness of Life

Rev. Linzi explored embodiment as a way to come to know and love ourselves, each other, and God more fully; discussing together why this is essential for the mission of the Church. Drawing from interdisciplinary thinkers, Scripture, and spiritual practice, Rev. Linzi framed this series in her own life experience, participants are encouraged to notice parallels and differences from their own social location and life story. Video and slides are available here.

TWO WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 9 & 16, 2022

Forum with The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining: Blood Memory and Spiritual Inheritance

In the last few years, scientists have discovered what indigenous communities have known for countless generations: that the emotional and physical lives of our ancestors will fundamentally affect our emotional and physical lives as well. Yet, this concept of generational spirituality is under-explored in our faith communities. The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining, Saint Mark’s 2022 Theologian in Residence, explored the role of our ancestors in shaping our lives as well as how we might help heal ourselves and others. Videos of both sessions can now be found here, along with slides and additional materials.

TWO WEDNESDAYS, JANUARY 19 & 26, 2022

Following the Magi: Exploring and Celebrating Dimensions of Culture

The season of Epiphany is a time of unveiling, light, and revelation. We gathered in the spirit of the Magi following the bright star, exploring and celebrating 9 dimensions of culture. We explored the following dimensions of culture: power distance, uncertainty avoidance, in-group collectivism, institutional collectivism, gender egalitarianism, assertiveness, performance orientation, future orientation, and humane orientation. A video of part 2 of this offering is now available here. (Part 1 was inadvertently not recorded.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2022

Twelfth Night Celebration and Burning of the Greens

In our tradition, the celebration of the Feast of Christmas lasts twelve days, beginning December 25 and ending on January 5 (that is, the day before the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6). The evening of the last day of Christmas is known as “Twelfth Night,” and is an opportunity for festivity and reflection. We came together in the cathedral nave for a brief rite to bid farewell to Christmastide and to usher in the Season of Epiphany. Then, we had a bonfire of the Christmas greens in the lower parking lot, followed by hot drinks and festive snacks for all. See a glimpse of the outdoor bonfire here.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021

A Conversation about Intersectionality

“We will work to adopt an intersectional approach in all aspects of our common life, remembering that all forms of oppression are connected. We look to educate ourselves, and share with others, the many places where our privilege blinds us from being compassionate to others.” —from Saint Mark's Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action

“Intersectionality is a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it interlocks and intersects. It’s not simply that there’s a race problem here, a gender problem here, and a class or LBGTQ problem there. Many times that framework erases what happens to people who are subject to all of these things.” —Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw

Video and materials are available here.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

The COP26 Experience: Heathy Skepticism and Abiding Faith

For two weeks in November many of us sat on edge of chairs following updates from the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties (COP26), more commonly known as simply the climate summit. As it ended, many felt disappointed that our high hopes for an ambitious global plan of action were not fully realized. What happened? Where do we go from here? Lisa Graumlich reflected on her long-time engagement with climate change as well as her recent experience as a COP26 delegate on behalf of the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, participating virtually St. Mark’s parishioner Dave Menz and Grace Episcopal parishioner John Kydd also shared a few insights and photos about their experiences of being in Glasgow among the crowds. Video and materials are available here.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021

A Statement of Lament & Commitment to Action

Earlier this year the Vestry unanimously adopted the Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action as a guide for our important work as individuals and community as we strive for justice and peace and respect for every human being. It is a substantial document with a broad range of statements leading to actionable ways we are called to live and act in the world. We reflected together, unpacked the document, and broke into groups that focused on specific areas of work. The video is available here.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

Reflections on the IPCC Report 6th Assessment Report on Climate Change

The recent IPCC report shows that heating from humans has caused irreparable damage to Earth that could worsen in the years to come. We learned about causes, potential impacts, and response options while reflecting on how we may find hope in our collective efforts for change. Saint Mark’s parishioner and American Geophysical Union president-elect Lisa Graumlich led us in making sense of these findings and explored how we may move forward with this information. A complete video recording and resources are available here.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Community Conversation on the Formation Consultant’s Report

In May and early June of this year, we held several Listening Groups with our Formation Consultant, Jamie Martin Currie, who captured a great deal of information and insights from these groups and the parish survey (which had more than 200 providing input). Thanks to all who participated. The report delivered in late June has a great deal of information and several recommendations which we have embraced, and all in the Saint Mark’s community are invited to participate in a follow-up conversation about the report. Read the full consultant’s report here.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

The Doctrine of Discovery: The Episcopal Church, Indigenous Peoples, and the Necessity of Decolonizing Christianity

Saint Mark’s welcomes The Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton, who is Shackan First Nation, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Everett, and Coordinator of Ethnic Ministries Circles of Color. The Doctrine of Discovery historically informed the legal premise for justifying the forces of colonialism, including the enslavement of African and Asian peoples as well as the oppression and genocide of indigenous peoples. Rev. Taber-Hamilton shared the historical development of the Doctrine of Discovery, the historical role of the Church, and real-world contemporary examples of its continuing impact. The Doctrine of Discovery remains embedded in the legal policies of the U.S. and colonized nations throughout the world, policies that maintain the theological, political, and legal justification for continued neo-colonialism, including the seizure of land, genocide, oppression, and racism. The Episcopal Church National Convention in 2009 formally renounced the doctrine and urged dioceses’ reflection and action. Come learn how allies can help deconstruct the effects of the Doctrine of Discovery as a social force in our Church, in our nation, and in our world.

RECENT SUNDAY FORUMS

Friends Talking: The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson

Spotlight on Spiritual Practices

Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality

2023

Poetry of the Season with Prof. Doug Thorpe

Friends Talking: Life in Palestine in This Time of War

Alternative Gift Market

St Martin and St. Nicholas—Giving Generously

It’s Complicated—War (and Peace) in the Holy Land

Behind the Scenes with the Flower Ministry

A Conversation with the Affordable Housing Exploratory Committee

Sabbatical Report

Highlights from Eat! Play! Love! 2024

2024 Ireland Pilgrimage

Friends Talking: The Rev. Fadi Diab

Beekeeper Forum and Blessing of the Hives

Friends Talking: The Rev. Canon Britt Olson

The Radix Project: Gratitude

Intergenerational Creation Care

Planning Your Funeral as a Lenten Spiritual Practice

New Ministry Launch: Queer in Christ

Valentine's Day Crafts for All Ages

Friends Talking: Phil Cousineau

Friends Talking: The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson

2022

Intergenerational Cookie Swap and Holiday Fun

An Update from Jaime & Keiko

Friends Talking: The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining

How to Use and Love the Carbon Tracker

Stewardship Forum

Introduction to Godly Play

Intergenerational Taizé Experience

Meet the Seattle Service Corps!

Friends Talking: The Rev. Canon Mary Crist, Ed.D.

Friends Talking: The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining

Beekeeper Forum and Blessing of the Hives

Intergenerational Labyrinth Walk and Talk

Singing Bowls & Silence

Meet the Curate!

Intergenerational Lent

Clergy Collaborations

Vestry Candidate Introductions

Friends Talking: Bp. Jennifer Baskerville Burrows

2021

Canon Daugherty's Sabbatical Report

Intergenerational Creche Sharing Event

Stewardship Forum

Meet the Seattle Service Corps!

Connections—American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

Special Parish Meeting Exploring Potential Uses of the St. Nicholas Building

Friends Talking: Tan Nisabho

Jesus and the Disinherited

2021 Annual Parish Meeting, Parts 2 & 3

Radix 4—What is God Up To in “All This”?

2021 Annual Parish Meeting, Part 1

2020

Women Clergy at Saint Mark's

RECENT WEDNESDAY FORUMS

Contours of the Christian Life: Doing Justice, Loving Mercy

Contours of the Christian Life: Body, Mind, and Spirit

Contours of the Christian Life: Saint Mark's Identity

Contours of the Christian Life: Episcopal Identity

Contours of the Christian Life: Celebrate with Reverence