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St. Mark’s Adult Forums

Sundays at 10:00 a.m. in Heritage Hall and via Zoom

Join us most Sunday mornings between services to enrich your understanding of today’s world and our engagement in it as people of faith. This program provides opportunities do go deep into scripture, unpack theology, think critically, ask questions, learn, and grow. Think Sunday School, for grown-ups.

Do you have an idea for an upcoming Adult Forum? Contact Pr. Dan (buringrud at stmarks-sf.org).

Upcoming Forums

2025

  • 1/12 - Episcopal Community Services
    Learn about Episcopal Community Services’ 25+ years of experience in addressing homelessness in San Francisco. Discover the wide range of support services they provide to unhoused individuals, including their leadership in operating the Interfaith Winter Shelter. We’ll also explore opportunities for St. Mark’s to collaborate with ECS in advancing the mission to end homelessness.

  • 1/19 - 2025 Budget & Annual Meeting Review (B. Burad & L. Martin)

  • 1/26 - Annual Meeting; no Adult Forum

Past Forums

2024

  • 12/15 - Sanctuary Team Update

  • 12/8 - Revitalizing Worship at St. Mark’s, Part 2 (Church Council)

  • 11/24 - Revitalizing Worship at St. Mark’s, Part 1 (Church Council)

  • 11/17 - Aztec Dancers (SMLC RET & SMS)

  • 11/3 - Living Life Backward: Planning for Life's Limits and Ending (Pr. Lyle Beckman, Liz Hanowsky, Esq., and Dr. Margaret McLean)

  • 10/13 - 175th Anniversary: Pr. Robert Brohm

  • 10/6 - 175th Anniversary: Pr. Ron Moe-Lobeda

  • 9/29 - Orange Shirt Day (Margaret McLean, Shannon Cheng and Liz Andress)

  • 9/8 - God's Work, Our Hands Sunday

  • 9/1 - Reflections on Interim Ministry (Pr. Lyle)

  • 8/25 - Ministry Fair: Ways to volunteer and Support the Mission and Ministry of St. Mark's (Trevor Reynolds and Tonry Hughes)

  • 8/18 - 175th Anniversary: Pr. Elizabeth Ekdale

  • 8/11 - 175th Anniversary: Pr. Bekah Davis

  • 8/4 - 175th Anniversary Update (Pr. Lyle)

  • 7/28 - Meet & Greet our Pastoral Candidate

  • 7/21 - 175th Anniversary: Christian Jennert

  • 7/14 - Call Committee Update

  • 6/30 - 175th Anniversary Update (Pr. Lyle)

  • 6/23 - The Healing Power of Telling Your Trauma Story (Pr. Lyle)

  • 6/16 - Estate Planning 101 (Liz Hanowsky)

  • 6/9 - Unveiling Untold Stories: Exploring the Legacy of the Western Addition and Japanese American Internment
    (SMLC Racial Equity Team & SMS Community Engagement Committee)

  • 5/26 - AAPINH month event: Filipino Folk Dancers (SMLC Racial Equity Team & SMS Community Engagement Committee)

  • 5/5 - Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day (Dr. Margaret McLean)

  • 4/28 - What does it mean to provide accompaniment? (Sanctuary Team)

  • 3/17 - Call Committee updates and conversation (Tom Benson, Kimberly Hamilton-Lam, and members of the Call Committee)

  • 3/10 - Is Advanced Care Planning Right for You? Part 2 (Dr. Margaret McLean and Pr. Lyle Beckman)

  • 3/3 - Bread for the World Offering of Letters

  • 2/25 - St. Mark's Square Community Update (Jeff Kohler, Shannon Cheng)

  • 2/11 - Empowering Health and Wellness in the Black Community (Wilma Batiste, Board Member, SF Interfaith Council)

  • 2/4 - Free to Sing – The Power and Gift of Song (Dr. Sheryl Davis, Executive Director, SF Human Rights Commission)

  • 1/21 - 2024 Annual Meeting Preview (Church Council)

  • 1/14 - Christmas in Bethlehem (Rev. Munther Isaac)
    Here is a link to the sermon we watched and discussed: “Christ in the Rubble: A Liturgy of Lament”

2023

  • CANCELED: 12/17 - Christmas in Bethlehem in 2023 (Claire Anastas)

  • 12/10 - My Body is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church (Pr. Jim Fruehling)

  • 12/3 - STARS (Pr. Bekah Davis)

  • 11/12 - Is Advance Care Planning (ACP) right for you? (Dr. Margaret McLean, Pr. Lyle)

  • 11/5 - Climate Justice and Community Engagement on the Square (Shannon Cheng, Tonry Hughes, Margaret McLean)

  • 10/29 - Connecting with our ministry partners in Rwanda (Pr. John Rutsindintwarane)

  • 10/15 - Stories from our Synod Assembly (Marisa Lee, Becky Burad and others)

  • 10/8 - Front Porch / Home Match (Luke Barnesmoor)

  • 10/1 - Orange Shirt Day 2023 (Margaret McLean & Shannon Cheng)

  • 9/17 - Martin Luther Tower, Inc. Updates (Jeff Kohler)

  • 9/10 - “God's Work. Our Hands.” Sunday Activities (Pr. Lyle)

  • 9/3 - We're Electing a Bishop (Pr. Lyle)

  • 8/13 - Read the Truth in August (Margaret McLean)

  • 7/2 - Welcoming a New Pastor (Pr. Lyle)

  • 6/25 - Observing Pride (Pr. Lyle)

  • 6/18 - What is a Prophet? Looking at the Prophet Joel (Megan MacIver)

  • 6/11 - Funeral Planning 101 (Pr. Lyle)

  • 5/7 - Capital Campaign (Jeremy McClain)

  • 4/30 - Creation Day Celebration (Racial Equity Team)

  • 4/23 - Bread For the World “Offering of Letters”

  • 4/2 - The Circus is Coming to Town! (Tonry Hughes & Abigail Munn)

  • 3/19 - Getting the History of African American Lutherans Out (Margaret McLean and Mary Ritter)

  • 3/12 - Street Art comes to Heritage Hall (John Brett)

  • 3/5 - The Role of a Pastor in a Congregation (Pr. Lyle)

  • 2/19 - African American History Month Presentation (Racial Equity Team)

  • 2/12 - A look at the origins and history of Lent (Pr. Lyle)

  • 2/5 - Responding to Those in Need (Pr. Lyle)

  • 1/22 - Annual Meeting Preview (Church Council)

  • 1/15 - State of the Congregation Address (Pr. Lyle Beckman)

  • 1/8 - What's New in Bethlehem? (Claire Anastas)

2022

  • 12/11 - Disabilities and Life in the Church (The Rev. Dr. James K. Fruehling)

  • 12/4 - St. Mark’s Square Updates (Catherine Etzel & Jeff Kohler)

  • 11/27 - Safe Congregation Policy Review (Margaret McLean & Mary Ritter)

  • 11/20 - The Stewardship of Money and Wealth within God's Economy (Lyle Beckman)

  • 11/13 - A Conversation with Jonathan Cordero of the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone

  • 11/6 - Mural Celebration (Martin Luther Tower Board, Racial Equity Team)

  • 10/16 - Megan MacIver, Part Two

  • 10/9 - Bread for the World Updates (David Gist)

  • 10/2 - Land Acknowledgement Statement (Racial Equity Team)

  • 9/11 - Bayview Hunters Point Superfund Site (Arieann Harrison & Tonia Randell of the Marie Harrison Community Foundation)

  • 8/28 - Revisiting “Fling Wide the Doors”

  • 7/31 - Ella Rohlffs Place at St. Mark's Square (Jeff Kohler, Catherine Etzel)

  • 7/24 - Ukraine relief efforts (Irina Klay of JFCS)

  • 7/10- Mural Project (MLTI Board)

  • 6/12 - Act On Your Prayers, Part 2: Prayerful Educated Immigration Advocacy (Mary Ritter & the Sanctuary Team)

  • 5/8 - Act On Your Prayers (Margaret McLean and Mary Ritter)

  • 5/1 - The Rukundo Foundation (Amani Simbayobwe)

  • 4/24 - MSP Survey (Transition Team)

  • 4/3 - Meet and learn more about Megan MacIver

  • 3/27 - Characteristics in Community, Part 2: Goals, Energy, Partnership (Transition Team)

  • 3/20 - Characteristics in Community, Part 1: Trends, Context, Programs (Transition Team)

  • 3/13 - Making A Difference (Thrivent representatives Chris Benson and Deborah Freeman)

  • 3/6 - What’s New at Lutheran Social Services? (Jerry Metzger and John Paul Soto)

  • 2/27 - The Post-Quarantine Church (Pr. Lyle)

  • 2/13 - Westar Institute (Carl Jech)

  • 2/6 - The Land on Which We Worship (Jonathan Cordero)

  • 1/23 - Informational Forum: Annual Meeting Preparation (Church Council)

  • 1/16 - Farming Hope (Jamie Stark)

  • 1/2 - Third Parent Family and Youth Services (Whitney White)

2021

  • 12/12 - Third Parent Family and Youth Services (Whitney White)

  • 11/28 - Stewardship for Children (Pr. Lyle Beckman)

  • 11/7 - Martin Luther Towers Board Updates (Jerry Lundblad)

  • 10/31 - Interim Ministry - What does this mean for us? (Pr. Lyle Beckman)

  • 10/17 - San Francisco Night Ministry (Trent Thornley)

  • 10/10 - Oktoberfest!

  • 10/3 - Janet Katari and her work with St. Paulus

  • 9/19 - Open Question engagement between the council and congregation (Kate Rabbe and team)

  • 9/12 - Meet our Intentional Interim Pastor, Lyle J Beckman

  • 8/29 - Vaccine Verification for Coffee Hour (with the Covid Recovery Team)

  • 8/15 - Pr. Elizabeth reflects on her ministry at St. Mark’s (facilitated by Margaret McLean)

  • 7/18 - The Future of St. Mark’s Square (Jeff Kohler, Executive Director of Martin Luther Tower, Inc.)

  • 7/11 - The History of St. Mark’s Square (Pr. Elizabeth)

  • 6/13 - Three Open Questions for 2021 (St. Mark’s Church Council)

  • 6/6 - Report on the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly (Jeremy, Nadine, Mary, Margaret, Grace, Pr. Elizabeth)

  • Horror and Hope: Lessons for Today from James Cone's The Cross and the Lynching Tree (with Drs. Margaret McLean and Mary Ritter)

    • 6/20: The Lynching Tree: Our American Cross

    • 6/24: The Cross: “Grace Upstages Disgrace”

  • 5/2 - Through the Church the Song Goes On, Part 1: Music and Scripture (all Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero)

  • 5/9 - Through the Church the Song Goes On, Part 2: Early, Medieval and Reformation Music

  • 5/16 - Through the Church the Song Goes On, Part 3: Church Music in America

  • 5/23 - Through the Church the Song Goes On, Part 4: Lutherans and their Hymnals

  • 4/18 - Climate Justice as Faith Active in Love (Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda)

  • 4/25 - What we have cherished about Team Ministry at St. Mark's (Pr. Elizabeth and Pr. Ron)

  • 3/7 - How the Pandemic Has Exposed Our Myth of Self-Reliance (Pr. Ron)

  • 3/14 - Pandemic as a Path for Chang (Pr. Elizabeth)

  • 3/21 - Agreeing to Talk When We Disagree, Part 1 (Pr. Ron)

  • 3/28 - Agreeing to Talk When We Disagree, Part 2 (Pr. Elizabeth)

  • 2/7 - “Binding the Strong Man” by Ched Myers, Part 1 (Pr. Ron Moe-Lobeda)

  • 2/14 - “Binding the Strong Man” by Ched Myers, Part 2 (Pr. Ron Moe-Lobeda)

  • 2/21 - Sanctuary Team Update; The Cross and the Lynching Tree, Part 1 (Mary Ritter and Margaret McLean)

  • 2/28 - Sanctuary Team Update; The Cross and the Lynching Tree, Part 2 (Mary Ritter and Margaret McLean)

  • 1/3 - No Adult Forum

  • 1/10 - Discussing Future Topics for Adult Forum

  • 1/17 - “Mock Annual Meeting”

  • 1/24 - Pre-meeting Presentations

  • 1/31 - No Adult Forum

2020

  • December 6 - Looking Toward Bethlehem for Peace (Susan Brooksbank)

  • December 13 - ELCA ministries during the COVID-19 pandemic (Gabe Brannan)

  • December 20 - Christmas hymn sing-along with Pastor Elizabeth and Timothy Zerlang

  • December 27 - No Adult Forum

  • November 1 & 8 - Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times (book by Bishop Michael Curry, led by Pr. Ron Moe-Lobeda)

  • November 15 - Preparing for Returning to In-Person Worship (the COVID Task Force)

  • November 22 - 500th Anniversary of Luther's On The Freedom of a Christian (Prof. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero)

  • November 29 - Introduction to the St. Mark's Racial Equity Team
    Come and learn about this new team at St. Mark's, its mission, and their preliminary suggestions for congregational involvement.

  • October 4 - Christ and Culture (book by H. Richard Niebuhr, led by Pr. Ron)

We are Church, We are Called: 50•40•10 Proclaiming, Reforming, Celebrating (Pr. Elizabeth)

  • October 11 - The History of Women's Ordination in the Lutheran Church

  • October 18 - Struggles of Women in Ministry: From racism to sexism

  • October 25 - An ongoing Reformation: Envisioning the whole people of God through women's leadership in the church

  • September 6 - A Challenging Text: Romans 13:1-7

  • September 13 - An important conversation about our Open Questions for 2020

  • September 20, 27 - American Civil Religion

  • August 16, 23, & 30 - Virus as a Summons to Faith: Biblical Reflections in a Time of Loss, Grief, and Uncertainty.”

For several Sundays in July and August, people had an opportunity at our Adult Forum to delve into the material presented in Robin DiAngelo's book, "White Fragility" via Zoom. Pastor Ron used the substance of this book to facilitate conversation around the following topics:

  • July 12 - The Challenges of Talking about Racism with White People.

  • July 19 - The Good/Bad Binary.

  • July 26 - More on the Good/Bad Binary and Anti-blackness.

  • August 2 - White Fragility and the Rules of Engagement.

  • August 9 - Next Steps for You and for St. Mark’s.

  • July 5 - Dr. Margaret McLean on “Loving the Neighbor in a Time of Pandemic”

  • June 7 - The Holy Trinity with Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero

  • June 14 - Donna Baranski-Walker, Founder and Executive Director of the Rebuilding Alliance, on their work in Palestine

  • June 21 - Discussion on Gathering for Worship

  • June 28 - Share your LGBT Pride

  • May 17 - Meet Matt Wilkerson, PLTS Teaching Parish Student

  • May 24 - Cora Rose on ELCA draft social statement, “Government and Civic Engagement”

  • May 31 - Dr. Margaret McLean on "Sheltering in Grace"

(Canceled due to COVID-19) Easter Adult Forum Series - We Are Church, We Are Called: 50•40•10

Lenten Adult Forum Series - Unpacking white privilege: The important work of making the church less harmful and more inclusive. A study guide will be available to assist us in our reflections and conversations.

  • March 1 - White privilege and me (and us)

  • March 20 - Unpacking white privilege

  • March 15 - Wide disparities

  • (Canceled due to COVID-19) March 22 - Take the white privilege test

  • (Canceled due to COVID-19) March 29 - Responding to racism and listening to others

  • February 2 - Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero: “Living the Liturgical Year”

  • February 9 - Mt. Cross Ministries with Adam Erickson, Executive Director of Mt. Cross Lutheran Camp

  • February 16 - Jamie Stark: Farming Hope

  • February 23 - Pastor Elizabeth Ekdale: An Introduction to the Book of Job

  • January 12 - Baptism

  • January 19 - Preparing for the Annual Meeting

2019

  • December 8 - Report from El Salvador delegation

  • December 15 - The “little town” of Bethlehem with Pr. Elizabeth and Linda Krauskopf will facilitate this forum.

  • December 22 - Advent and Christmas carol sing-along!

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