Adult Formation

What is Formation?

Formation is our primary vehicle for growing in the knowledge and love of God. 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.

Fall Sunday Series: Cranky Beautiful Faith
(September 22-November 17, 2024, 9 sessions)

Cranky, Beautiful Faith: For Irregular (and Regular) People by Nadia Bolz-Weber 

Nadia Bolz-Weber weaves personal narrative, hilarious rants and powerful spiritual insight as she relates her unusual journey of faith, offering a fresh and uncompromising look at the transformative power of grace. As one of today's most provocative Christian leaders, she blends sardonic irreverence and brilliant theology to offer a portrait of faith that is edgy, outrageous and, above all, real. Smart-mouthed and heavily tattooed, Nadia Bolz-Weber didn't consider herself ‘religious leader material’ and didn't expect to find her vocation leading a funeral in a smoky, downtown comedy club. But surrounded by recovering alcoholics, depressives, and comedians, she realized these were her people and maybe she was meant to be their pastor. Bringing together the bracing and beautiful, this revised updated edition reminds us that we need the grace of a loving, forgiving God now more than ever.

Advent Sunday Series
(November 24-December 22, 2024)

Watching and Waiting with Poets and Saints

Anglicans often turn to poetry and art to reflect upon who and how this wondrous God of ours reveals Godself to us. In this short Advent series, we will sit with and prayerfully ponder poems and paintings to open a little space to receive the love that God is constantly showering upon us. Emphasis will be placed on connecting what we see/hear/experience in the artworks to the joyful work of daily discipleship and living a life that is truly life: awake, alert, en-joyed, available and responsive to those in need. Please note, this series will take place in the regularly scheduled Adult Formation slot (Sundays 9:15–10:15 a.m. in the Bates Room). 

Epiphany Sunday Series
(February 2-March 2, 5 Sessions)

Selected Gospel Texts in Context:  How Archaeology, Geography, and Culture Can Illuminate Familiar Stories

The Reverend Canon Mary June Nestler will teach Epiphany season adult education classes on Sundays at 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. from February 2nd through March 2nd.  Using her extensive experience in archaeological excavation and as a Roman-period historian and pilgrimage guide in Israel, Canon Nestler will comment on aspects of Gospel texts with an eye toward expanding our understanding of their meaning.  The classes will be richly illustrated with images and will reference some very newly-discovered finds.  We will explore such questions as:

                     Why is it so surprising that Jesus ever visited the Pools of Bethesda?

                     What's up with Capernaum, Jericho, and tax collectors?  

                     Why was John the Baptist such a terrible disappointment to his father?

                     Why couldn't the blind man be sent to wash off the mud somewhere closer?

                     What kind of Jew was Jesus?

A different text will be studied each week.  No preparation is necessary, but you may wish to read and ponder the passages before the class.  Questions and insights are most welcome!

                     February 2:    Luke 1                                           The narratives of Elizabeth and Zechariah

                     February 9:    John 5:1-18                                   Jesus heals at the Pools of Bethesda

                     February 16:  Luke 5:27-32;  Luke 19:1-10         Jesus consorts with tax collectors and sinners

                     February 23:  Mark 2:1-16                                   Through the roof.  Really?

                     March 2:         John 9                                           The blind man, the Temple, and Siloam

Wednesday Nights in Lent
(March 12-April 9, 2025)

Lent With the The Passion Narratives: Jesus' Last Week
in Scripture, Liturgy, and Tradition

The story of the final week of the earthly life of Jesus occupies one-third of the Gospel of Mark and a significant portion of the remaining three gospels.  The four gospels show a remarkable similarity in the arc of the narrative, from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday through the evening of Resurrection Day.  But there are critically important differences that surface questions of history and theology and that spur us to examine how we observe Holy Week in our Episcopal tradition.

The Rev. Cn. Mary June Nestler will teach the sessions, which are appropriate for high schoolers and adults.  Bringing to this study her extensive experience in the archaeology of the Holy Land and her work as a Roman historian and pilgrimage leader, Canon Nestler will address specific questions in the texts, suggest variant interpretations of events, and explore how recent archaeology can illuminate the stories of Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection.  Classes will be richly illustrated with images and texts will be supplied.

The sessions will be framed by a simple meal and prayers, allowing the Cathedral community to gather on Wednesday evenings to deepen our common life.

Wednesdays, March 12, 19, 26 and April 2, 9:  

     (All are welcome to any or all components)

     5:30 p.m.  Walking the Way of the Cross (in the cathedral)

     6:00 p.m.   Simple supper in the Deans' Hall

     6:30 p.m.   Class session in the Deans' Hall

     7:30 p.m.   Compline (Night Prayer) in the Deans' Hall and dismissal

Spring Sunday Series
(May 4-June 15, 2025, 6 Sessions)

To be determined

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER GROUPS

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

Join Fr. Tyler, Mtr. Holly, and Michelle Doherty LCSW, for a time of contemplative prayer. Newcomers & beginners are welcome, and instruction in silent prayer is given at each session. 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.

Contacts: Fr. Tyler: tyler@stmarksutah.org, Mtr. Holly: holly@stmarksutah.org, Michelle Doherty: michelledoherty01@gmail.com

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION THROUGH SHORT FICTION

Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom

Join Canon Judy Atherton and Father Tyler Doherty 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

PSINGING The Psalms

This small group meets in the Cathedral at 2:00 p.m. on Fridays to chant the psalms. Beginners are most welcome and the ability to sight read music is not required. Chanting the psalms is prayer, not performance — so come make a joyful noise!

Contact: Anne-Marie Eastman, althea7h@gmail.com

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.