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Environmental Justice at Saint Mark's

About the Creation Care Ministry

The Creation Care Ministry of Saint Mark’s Cathedral strives to faithfully address the crisis of climate change. As stewards of the life-giving goodness of God’s creation, we will work with the Saint Mark’s and broader world communities to educate ourselves and take action together to preserve our shared planet and sustain life for the generations to come.

Carbon Emissions Reduction

The Vestry has adopted the goal for the entire Saint Mark’s campus and community to have a net zero carbon footprint by the year 2030. We encourage parishioners at Saint Mark’s to sign up with the Episcopal Church Carbon Tracker at www.sustainislandhome.org, a tool to help our community measure its collective carbon footprint and take action to reduce that footprint.

Click here for more detailed instructions about how to use this resource, or see the video of the training event here. Why is measuring your carbon footprint is important? Listen to this excellent podcast about why our collective actions really do make a difference!

The Creation Care ministry has researched several carbon offset programs and suggests that parishioners donate to the Carbon Offset Fund here at St. Mark’s when making offset contributions. These funds will then be directly passed through to either the Carbon Offset Cooperative Mission | The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia (ecww.org) or to COTAP.org.

For an update and more information about the Carbon Offset Cooperative Mission partnership between the Olympia Diocese and the Diocese of the Southern Philippines, view this short webinar here.

Environmental Justice

We recognize our commitment as a unique opportunity and responsibility in our time to address the many social justice issues tied to the climate crisis. And through engaging in collective action that makes an effective impact, we will grow into the joy of transcending our fears and sense of powerlessness around the issue of climate change. Saint Mark’s is a member of Earth Ministry (earthministry.org) and Earth Day NW 2020 (earthdaynw2020.org) If you are interested in being a part of this work at Saint Mark’s, please contact ministry leader Marjorie Ringness.

PAST FORUMS

Autumnal Poetry Reading, hosted by Creation Care

Click here to view a PDF of poetry read at the event.

Code Red for Humanity: Reflections on the IPCC Report 6th Assessment Report on Climate Change

Click here to download the slides from the presentation.

Click here to download a list of references and resources.

Sacred Ground: Cultivating Connections Between Our Food, Faith and Climate

Click here to download a list of references and resources.

Click here to download a collection of recipes.

Carbon Tracker Training

For help navigating the video, please refer to this video timeline, or click "view on youtube" and refer to the chapters in the video description.

Joint Message for the Protection of Creation

On September 7, three of the world's top Christian leaders—Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby—issued a press release and joint statement warning of the urgency of environmental sustainability, its impact on poverty, and the importance of global cooperation. Read the full statement here.

Reflections

Be sure to check out these thoughts from parishioner Doug Thorpe and consider how so many issues facing the world today are interrelated. Doug includes this from Tom Friedman - ‘Afghanistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, and one of the least equipped to handle what’s to come.’

The Intergenerational Hike to Twin Falls on September 12, 2021, featured an outdoor, Creation-focused prayer liturgy. Check out the Order of Service here.

Resources and Recommendations

CLICK HERE for a list of resources and recommendations commended to you by the Creation Care ministry team.

During Lent 2021, the Creation Care Ministry posted virtual prayer cards once a week to the cathedral's Instagram account. Check out the complete set here (click to enlarge):

NEW: Creation Care Ministry meetings have now been rescheduled for the third Tuesday of each month. Upcoming meetings in 2021 will occur on, August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16, and December 21.

Click images to enlarge.
Convention on Climate Change Events
Convention on Climate Change Events
by on October 13, 2021 with 2 Comments

Attend Virtual COP26 Public Events From October 31 through November 12, 2021, 120 political leaders will gather in Glasgow, Scotland, for the United Nations 26th Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), which feels to many like the last chance for coordinated global action to prevent the most catastrophic consequences of human-caused climate change. Saint Mark’s Parishioner and American Geophysical Union president-elect Dr. Lisa Graumlich has been invited to be part of The Episcopal Church … Read More

2021 St. Francis Day Outdoor Liturgy with Blessing of the Animals
2021 St. Francis Day Outdoor Liturgy with Blessing of the Animals
by on September 25, 2021 with No Comments

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021, 4:30 P.M., on the outdoor labyrinth and front lawn On Saturday, October 2, Saint Mark’s will once again offer its beloved Saint Francis Day tradition. A few years ago this offering was moved from Sunday morning to Saturday afternoon, and the outdoor celebration has a truly festive community atmosphere. Dogs, cats, bird, bunnies, ponies, chickens, and all creatures great and small are welcome! The event will again feature contributions from acclaimed Seattle musician James Falzone, and … Read More

Code Red For Humanity: Reflections on the IPCC Report 6th Assessment Report on Climate Change
Code Red For Humanity: Reflections on the IPCC Report 6th Assessment Report on Climate Change
by on September 25, 2021 with No Comments

UPDATED WITH VIDEO OF THE EVENT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 7 P.M. via Zoom The recent IPCC report shows that heating from humans has caused irreparable damage to Earth that could worsen in the years to come. Come learn about causes, potential impacts and response options while reflecting how we may find hope in our collective efforts for change. Saint Mark’s parishioner and American Geophysical Union president-elect Lisa Graumlich will lead us in making sense of these findings and explore how … Read More

Autumnal Poetry Reading, hosted by Creation Care
Autumnal Poetry Reading, hosted by Creation Care
by on September 15, 2021 with No Comments

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 10:10-10:50 A.M., Bloedel Hall Fall is upon us with leaves changing, crisper nights, and fruits for foraging. Drawing from a selection of autumnal poems, parishioner and English professor Doug Thorpe will guide us in a time of reading and reflection to discover creation themes and connections. View a PDF of the poetry read at the event here.                      

Intergenerational Hike to Twin Falls
Intergenerational Hike to Twin Falls
by on September 2, 2021 with 3 Comments

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2021,  2 –5:30 P.M. Let’s hike together! All ages are welcome on this 3 mile roundtrip hike to Twin Falls as we take time to connect, move and pray in nature after church. We’ll meet at the trailhead at 2 p.m. and finish by 5:30 p.m. Bring your water, snacks and appropriate gear – we recommend good hiking shoes, layers, sunscreen and a hat. Register to attend here! Questions? Contact Emily Meeks (emcmeeks@gmail.com).    About Twin Falls: … Read More

Special Parish Forum on the Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action
Special Parish Forum on the Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action
by on August 28, 2021 with No Comments

UPDATE: This event has been postponed, and will be offered later in the Fall on a date TBA. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021, 6:30–8 p.m. Hybrid gathering: in Bloedel Hall and via Zoom (registration requested for either option so we can plan accordingly) 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 … Read More

Holy Honey: A Cathedral Bees Update
Holy Honey: A Cathedral Bees Update
by on August 4, 2021 with 1 Comment

Honey from the cathedral beehives has been harvested! Thanks to beekeepers Rob and Penny Reid, with help from Jaime, Yoshi, and Keiko, who collected honey from the hives in the cathedral kitchen at the end of July 2021. The honey is separated from the wax using a hand-cranked machine that spins the frames at high speeds. The Cathedral Breadbakers Guild are now using our bees’ honey in their loaves prepared for communion every Sunday. “Bee prepared” for honey to be … Read More

Clean Cars 2030 Coalition Rally
Clean Cars 2030 Coalition Rally
by on August 1, 2021 with No Comments

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 12 P.M. Co-hosted by Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light Saint Mark’s is honored to host a Clean Cars 2030 Coalition rally sponsored by Coltura on Saturday, August 14 at 12 p.m. There will be music, art, food, speakers, and an EV parade and car show at this family-friendly outdoor event. Anyone who has an electric car is welcome to hop in the parade and you can meet in the parking lot at 10:30 a.m. to decorate. … Read More

A Creation Care Reflection by Doug Thorpe
A Creation Care Reflection by Doug Thorpe
by on June 25, 2021 with No Comments

by Doug Thorpe June 21, 2021 In late May, an article in The  New York Review of Books tells me that “a national poll showed that 28 percent of Republicans agreed that ‘things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.”  And what’s driving this fear and anger?  According to political scientist Robert A. Pape, the answer is “fear of the Great Replacement”—meaning, of course, that “minorities … Read More

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