Adult Formation

What is Formation?

Formation is a means of drawing ever closer to the God who loved us first. Formation classes meet every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. upstairs for a time of discussion, reflection on scripture. and prayer. Formation is led by a priest or other qualified instructor, and is broken up into a number of series throughout the year.

Along with our Sunday morning offerings, St. Mark’s hosts a number of other formation groups throughout the week.

Adult Formation

Sundays at 9:15 a.m.

The Adult Spiritual Formation class meets each week to engage scripture, contemporary theological writing and each other as we go deeper on our journey as disciples of Christ. This year we will continue walking with the Pilgrim curriculum from the Episcopal Church to go deeper on our journey as disciples of Christ. We will also explore special, seasonally appropriate topics in November and Advent.

Newcomers and old hands alike are invited to gather in the Bates Room on the second floor at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings. 

2025-2026 Adult Formation Schedule

• Pilgrim - Turning to Christ: September 14 – October 26, 2025

• November Series (Topic TBA): November 2 – 23, 2025

• No Formation: November 30, 2025

• Advent Series (Topic TBA): December 7– 21, 2025

• No Formation (Christmas Break): December 28, 2025 and January 4, 2026

• Pilgrim - The Lord’s Prayer: January 11 – February 15, 2026

• Pilgrim - The Commandments: February 22 – March 22, 2026

• No Formation (Easter Break): March 29 – April 12, 2026

• Pilgrim - The Beatitudes: April 19 – May 17, 2026

Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey

A pilgrim is a person on a journey. The Bible is a book full of journeys, and God’s people are always traveling. God’s call to Abraham was to leave his own land for a great journey of faith. God’s call to Moses was to lead God’s people on a journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land. Jesus took his first disciples on a journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. One of the earliest names for the people called Christians was followers of the Way.

Each session of each course is rooted in shared prayer and begins with the group exploring the Scriptures together. We continue with a more sustained reflection on the theme and opportunity for questions and discussion. Short readings containing a simple prayer, reflection on a biblical selection using lectio divina, an article by a modern writer, and reflection questions will be sent out beforehand in the weekly email newsletter.

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER GROUPS

Wednesdays at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., upstairs in the Colton Library

Contemplation is a receptive method of Christian silent prayer which deepens our relationship with God, the Indwelling Presence … a prayer in which we can experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. Newcomers and beginners are welcome, and instruction in the way of silent prayer is provided at each session.

Contacts: Mtr. Holly: holly@stmarksutah.org, Christina Gringeri: christina.gringeri@socwk.utah.edu

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION THROUGH SHORT FICTION

Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom

Join Canon Judy Atherton on Zoom for a fun hour of discussion and theological reflection using short fiction as our launching pad. We’ll discuss a piece of fiction each week and reflect theologically on how the story can illuminate aspects of our relationship with God, ourselves, each other, and creation.

Contact: Canon Judy Atherton: atherton540@gmail.com

BIBLE STUDY: BIBLE & BAGELS

Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Parlor

Come nurture your faith by dwelling with the living Word revealed in scripture in this time of warm fellowship. We meet in the Parlor over bagels, juice, and coffee. Bring your Bibles! Having explored, reflected, and wondered our way through the Gospels of Matthew and Mark this past year, the group will be studying the book of Genesis this fall. The group requires no previous knowledge of scripture and includes dashes of informative commentary, thought-provoking study questions and experiential group activities that encourage a deeper understanding of scripture.

Contact: Carolyn Ershler: cershler@icloud.com

The Sung Office

Fridays at 6 p.m. in the nave - TEMPORARILY ON Hiatus

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury; but be ye filled with the holy Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord;” -Ephesians 5:18-19

The Daily Office is the bedrock of the Christian life in the Anglican churches. Its steady rhythms, distilled from the ancient liturgies of the monastic communities, accompany us through our lives, reminding us that faith is more than a Sunday diversion. In time, the prayers of the Church seep into our very bones, slowly and gently patterning us into Christ. From the earliest days of the Church, the various monastic communities have sung and chanted the Psalms and daily prayers, but this practice has been largely lost to the laity. 

St. Augustine said that “he who sings prays twice.” In this casual weekly gathering, we will learn to pray (sing) the psalms and offices anew, enlivening our daily spiritual practices with high beauty. We meet on Fridays at 6 p.m. in the church nave to pray and sing together. No experience with singing either the psalms or offices is required. Newcomers and beginners are always welcome, and instruction in the way of sung and chanted prayer is provided at each meeting.

Contact: Sofia Dunstan: communications@stmarksutah.org.

Newcomers

If you are new to St. Mark’s, the Episcopal Church, or Christianity more broadly—welcome! These formation offerings for newcomers are designed to get you oriented in this strange new land. Feel free also to get in touch with Cathedral clergy; we are happy to answer questions, learn more about you, and accompany you on your spiritual path. Click below for more information.