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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. 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.


Resources & Recommendations

Becoming a Climate Activist - an newly-updated version of a flyer by ministry member Libby Carr

Prayer Practices to Nourish Primordial Hope - October 8, 2023

Ideas to Live Lightly and Nourish the Soul - September 27, 2023

Creation Care Ministry Fact Sheet - September 2023

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

The Buzz: Facts about Bees -  resource for the Beekeeper Ministry Forum, May 29, 2022


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. See the resources and recording from a Climate Conversation about the importance of reducing our household carbon footprints and ways to better use the Episcopal Church carbon tracker tool. 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.

We were delighted to learn recently that a group of elementary students from Alabama used our Creation Care Ministry webpage in their research to learn about steps they can take to become more eco-friendly at home. They also shared another site they found to help in this effort - “Guide to Going Green at Home" at https://couponfollow.com/research/home-green-guide. Check it out and know that people are connecting across the country to help care for our Earth.

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 co-leaders Marjorie Ringness or Kathy Minsch.


Creation Care Newsletter

The Creation Care Ministry sends out a special newsletter every two months. It is full of events, reflections, recommendations, and interesting information. Sign up to receive future issues using this form (select "Creation Care" from the list of options), or, if you already receive emails from the Saint Mark's, click the "update profile" link at the very bottom any cathedral mass email, and follow the instructions.

Current issue:

Recent issues:

For older newsletters please visit the Creation Care Ministry Meeting Archive Page.

Ministry Meetings

The Creation Care Ministry usually meets on the third Tuesday of each month, usually via Zoom only.

Please note that there will be no meeting in December 2023. Meetings in January, April, and October 2024 will be in person in Cathedral House Room 210. Other meeting will be online-only.

Starting in January 2024, the meeting time will move to 7–8:30 p.m.

Email creationcare@saintmarks.org for the link.

Creation Care Meeting Minutes


Reflections

Parishioner and literature professor Doug Thorpe and parishioner, writer, and environmental consultant Richard Hartung submit occasional reflections on the environment, faith, and current events:


Climate Conversations

SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, 6:30–7:30 P.M., online via Zoom

Looking for practical ways to reduce your impact on the environment? Saint Mark’s Creation Care Ministry is hosting Climate Conversations about everyday things in our lives. These monthly conversations are held on environmentally-friendly Zoom on the second Thursday evening of each month from 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Register to participate using this link. You can be part of any or all of these conversations with the same Zoom link each month. Learn more about upcoming conversations and find resources and video of past offerings here.

  • MARCH 7 14, 2024: Spring Cleaning | Note change of date! This conversation will occur on the first Thursday of March, rather than the second.

Spring cleaning is a ritual for many, whenever it happens. Along with cleaning, the ritual often includes sorting and disposing of unused or unwanted items. Simple as these activities may seem, practices that are less eco-friendly and replacing items that are given away may harm the planet. We’ll discuss the rituals of spring cleaning, how to clean more effectively, what to do with items that are no longer needed, and how to avoid having disposal of one item lead to purchases of more. We’ll also provide tips on how to make that cleaning enjoyable and reduce your stress.

  • APRIL 11, 2024: Plant Trees for Cleaner, Healthier, Cooler Air
  • MAY 9, 2024: Farms for a Sustainable Future and How to Support Farmers
  • JUNE 13, 2024: Solar, Wind and Geothermal Energy, and How to Tap Renewable Energy

Creation Care Story Sharing

The Creation Care Ministry Story Sharing Project allows parishioners to share actions they are taking related to Creation Care, as a way for parishioners to share their good work and to encourage others to help reduce climate change. Stories can be about any action you are taking, large or small, to care for creation and mitigate climate change. Stories can take the form of a brief written essay, a video, a photo album, an infographic, or a piece of podcast-style audio. Sharing these stories can help others to learn, lead to new ideas about what to do, and be an inspiration for others to take action too. Find more details about sharing your own story here.

In the fist installment, Elizabeth Clark-Stern reflects on choosing to eat vegan, Marjorie Ringness shares a strategy for saving water in the kitchen, and Richard Hartung writes about buying second-hand.

In volume 2, Judy Raunig-Graham tell the story of her climate-related actions, Carolyn White on clothes-drying, and a delightful video from Nicole Thomson about motor vehicle idling.

In the latest installment, Sue & Ed Tierney share changed they've made in their house both big and small, Alexandra Thompson talks about choosing an e-bike over a second car... and more stories to come!


"Collective Impact" with Andrew Himes

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 7–8:30 P.M., in person in Cathedral House Room 210 or online via Zoom

The monthly meeting of the Creation Care Ministry in February will include a presentation from Andrew Himes, Director of Collective Impact for the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) at the University of Washington. Andrew was previously a long-time Saint Mark’s parishioner and former member of the Vestry. Andrew will share the CLF’s work building a global movement to decarbonize the building industry — the largest industry on the planet — and the impact of building materials and construction on climate change. Andrew asserts that, rooted in justice and compassion, working together to solve the climate crisis gives us the opportunity “to regain a sense of our shared humanity.” Please plan to participate in this informative and inspiring presentation, with time for Q&A afterwards.

A video and other resources from this presentation will be posted here when they are available. 


Greenbelt Update

Guy Oram, the Saint Mark’s Greenbelt Work Party Volunteer Coordinator, had written a summing-up of the work that was done on the Greenbelt in the recent series of work parties. Check out his update here!

 


A Creation Care Message from Dean Thomason


Click images to enlarge.

Creation Care Updates and Events

Made in Faith: Forum on Clothing and Sustainability
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UPDATED WITH VIDEO AND SLIDES WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 6:45-8:15 P.M., online via Zoom only Join Creation Care for a special forum featuring parishioner Clara Berg, fashion historian and curator, and Richard Hartung, sustainable writer/blogger to discuss connections between clothing, the environment and our faith. We’ll share ways to buy less, choose well and make clothes last. UPDATE: The slides form this presentation may now be seen here. A video can be seen below:

Beekeeper Forum & Blessing of the Hives
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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 10:10–10:50 a.m., Bloedel Hall  The cathedral beekeepers will share about their ministry and the current state of the bees who live on the roof above Bloedel, and we’ll conclude with a blessing of the hives. Note: Doreen Tudor’s birthday celebration, previously announced for this time, will be rescheduled for a later date. See a video introduction to the beekeeping ministry from Fall 2020 below:

A Rogation Day Liturgy
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person only, outdoors on the cathedral grounds Rev. Stahlecker, Canon Rosario-Cruz, and Canon Barrie will lead this intergenerational, prayerful exploration of the tradition of Rogation days, an ancient practice, dating from the 5th century, of blessing and giving thanks for the earth which sustains us. The service begins with a blessing of Leffler House gardens, followed by a procession with stations, and concludes with the Great Litany (including the Supplication for use “in times … Read More

Group Viewing of “Our Blue Planet: Global Visions of Water” at SAM
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SATURDAY, MAY 21, 10 A.M. TO NOON, Seattle Art Museum Come explore the vast connections of water in the context of artwork at a new exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. A group from Saint Mark’s is planning to attend on Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. and then discuss the art afterward at SAM’s cafe, MARKET. Interested in meeting up? Email Wayne Duncan (duncan.sw@gmail.com) or Emily Meeks (emcmeeks@gmail.com). This exhibit closes May 30, and It’s what SAM calls “an experiment in artistic … Read More

A Creation Care Message from Dean Thomason
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Dean Thomason has shared the following massage with the cathedral community:

Art by Coast Salish Artist Peter Boome on Exhibit in the Cathedral Nave
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ON EXHIBIT APRIL 24–JUNE 5, in the cathedral nave UPDATE: Now extended through JULY 10 SUNDAY MORNING FORUM WITH THE ARTIST: APRIL 24, 10:10 A.M., in Bloedel Hall UPDATE: A complete video of the forum may be seen below. OPENING RECEPTION: SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 12:30 P.M., cathedral nave The Visual Arts Ministry of Saint Mark’s Cathedral and Saint Mark’s Creation Care Ministry are delighted to co-sponsor an exhibition of works by Peter Boome, Coast Salish Artist and member of the … Read More

Cathedral Commons—Middle East Children’s Alliance: The Maia Project
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UPDATE WITH VIDEO WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 6:45 p.m.–8:15 P.M., in Bloedel Hall and via Zoom Join Zeiad Shamrouch, Executive Director of the Middle East Children’s Alliance, as he discusses 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 … Read More

“Easter Uprising” by Doug Thorpe
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April 14, 2022 We will go into the future as a single sacred community or we will perish in the desert. —Thomas Berry People in Gaza rely on water from public filling stations. —Pollution on tap in Gaza It’s Shrove Tuesday, aka Mardi Gras—the night before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. As I’m waiting for a friend, a message on my phone alerts me to the information that it’s World Water Day. Water scarcity in the West Bank … Read More

Belden Lane at Saint Mark’s: Ravished by Nature’s Beauty
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UPDATED WITH VIDEO FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022, 6:30–8:30 P.M. and SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 9:30 A.M.–3 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom. Registration required. An offering from The Wisdom School at Saint Mark’s Ravished by Nature’s Beauty—Longing for God A two-part workshop led by Belden C. Lane The Christian mystical tradition can be deeply earthy and sensual in its yearning for union with the Divine. Hildegard of Bingen and Teresa of Avila found a wondrous God in trees and … Read More

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