OPENING PLENARY
A Spirituality of Place: The Pilgrim’s Journey and Finding Home
TWO WEDNESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 20 & 27, 2023, 6:45–8:15 P.M. PDT, in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom
led by the Very Rev. Steven L. Thomason
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 will explore the spirituality of place, pilgrimage and finding home, with spiritual practices that serve as maps for the journey.
Spirituality of the Meal: Our Daily Bread
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023, 9:30 A.M.–1 P.M.
led by Marc Aubertin & Deborah Person
The act of feeding ourselves and sharing food with others is a daily necessity. It can also provide opportunities to deepen our spiritual paths and practices. In this morning session, we will explore how, in practice, we connect our faith to the daily work of providing “daily bread”. How does our theology of abundance play out in the grocery store? How do we model God’s love for us, nurturing others and ourselves, while caring for creation through supporting a just food system? The day will also include putting our ideas of abundance and stewardship into action by preparing a meal together with food that participants bring from home—either from their gardens or their pantry shelves.
Fee: $10. In-person only, pre-registration required. Limit 12 participants.
Sacred Stories of Place
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2023, 6:45–8:15 P.M. PDT, in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom
led by the Rev. Canon Jennifer King Daugherty
Why do the sights, smells, and sounds of certain places and landscapes evoke deep spiritual resonance? How do our own stories and spirituality connect to the places of our ancestors? Canon Daugherty will explore these questions and how our experiences of place provide grounding for our identity and relationships with God. She will also share spiritual practices that consider place as the ongoing revelation of divine movement across generations.
Program is free. Register to attend via Zoom. (No advance registration needed for in-person participation.) Optional community dinner at 6 p.m. ($8/adult; $25/family max.)
Killian Noe—Discovering Call
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023, 6:45–8:15 P.M. PST, in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom
All of us know that it is in giving our lives that we find life, full of joy and meaning. But there are so many ways to give our lives. How do we discover the specific way we are to offer our lives, the place our gifts connect with some need in the world? This evening in both the presentation and small group discussions we will work with the “hallmarks of call” and listen for any new call within our long-time call or any new, emerging call on our lives
Program is free. Register to attend via Zoom. (No advance registration needed for in-person participation.) Optional community dinner at 6 p.m. ($8/adult; $25/family max.)
The Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D.—Womanist Midrash & Biblical Interpretation
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2023, 9 A.M.–12 P.M. PST, in person in Bloedel Hall and online via Zoom. Registration required for either option.
Womanist Biblical scholar and renowned author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, The Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D. will lead a seminar on Womanist Midrash, exploring the complexity of scripture and importance of translation as she interprets the Hebrew Biblical tradition of women prophets and leaders.
Fee: $65 (for both online and in-person participants). Partial scholarships available. Includes a light lunch and snacks for those participating in person. Register by submitting the form here.
Note: Dr. Gafney will also preach at Saint Mark’s Cathedral on Sunday, December 3, at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and participate in an informal forum between these services. All are welcome. (The 11 a.m. Eucharist service will be livestreamed.)
The Rev. Hillary Raining, Ph.D.—Forest Therapy: Sitting Under the Tree of Life
SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2024, 9 A.M.–2:30 P.M. PDT, in person only
We live in a world that’s often disconnected from the natural world, and yet instinctively most of us feel the greatest connection to God when we’re outside in creation… and no wonder! Research shows that mindfully spending time in nature is powerful medicine for the body, mind, and soul. Benefits include reduced stress, heart rate and blood pressure, and improved concentration, creativity, and mood. This class will get you outside and into the presence of God. The Rev. Hillary Raining, Ph.D. is a certified Forest Therapy Guide and served as the Saint Mark’s Theologian-in-Residence in 2022. She will also preach at morning services on Sunday, March 17.
Information about registration and fees will be posted here when it is available.
Pádraig Ó Tuama—Poetry & Place
THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024, 7–8:30 P.M. PST, in the Saint Mark’s Cathedral nave
“It is in the shelter of each other that people live.” Join poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama for an evening of exploration around poetry and place—how shelter presents amidst the storms of life’s journey. Drawing on inspiration from his work with language and religion, conflict and Celtic spirituality, this truth-teller of our time will draw us into an orbit of soulful wisdom and grace. This will serve as a plenary for the multiple pilgrimage opportunities offered in Summer 2024.
Information about registration and fees will be posted here when it is available.
RETREATS
MEN'S RETREAT AT CAMP HUSTON
Speaking the Truth in Love: Finding the True Self’s Home Once More
Led by Dean Steve Thomason
FRIDAY–SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10–12, 2023, at Camp Huston Retreat Center in Gold Bar, WA, registration required
We hear a lot these days about patriarchy and the ways men are raised to behave in culturally-expected ways that are not life-giving. We are taught that communication forms along a binary of aggression or weakness, but there are healthier ways to speak our truth assertively. God is calling us to something else, to be someone else—to be our true selves while respecting the dignity of others. How we communicate matters.
This weekend retreat is designed to create the space for quiet reflection, time away from the burdens of daily life, spacious time in nature, conversations with other men of faith, and worship. It will be a time of spiritual reflection and renewal. Steve Thomason, Dean of Saint Mark’s Cathedral, will facilitate the weekend to which men of all ages are welcome.
Fee: $230 double occupancy, $275 single; includes two nights lodging and all meals. Partial scholarships are available. Space is limited to 30, available first-come, first-serve. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space. Payment in full is due October 1, 2023. Reserve your space by submitting this form and paying the deposit. Contact Dean Thomason (sthomason@saintmarks.org) with any questions.
WOMEN'S RETREAT ON HOOD CANAL
Contemplation & Community
Led by The Rev. Canon Jennifer King Daugherty & the Rev. Linzi Stahlecker
FRIDAY–SUNDAY, APRIL 19–21, 2024, at St. Andrew’s House Retreat Center in Union, WA
Saint Mark’s women will gather at St. Andrew’s House on the Hood Canal for a weekend of play, rest, and spiritual reflection. There will be plenty of time for connecting with new people and deepening existing friendships, as well as exploring the beautiful setting through walks and/or a cold plunge in the canal. Participants will have the opportunity to create art, try out new spiritual practices, and share their stories with one another. Registration will open in the Fall of 2023; women who were not on the women’s retreat in 2022 or 2023 will have an early registration option. Contact Canon Jennifer or Rev. Linzi with any questions.
Capacity is limited—information about registration and fees will be posted here when it is available.
