The 2025 Parish Retreat
The 2025 Parish Retreat at Bishop’s Ranch was a roaring success! Based on the theme “Tell Out My Soul,” we sang in harmony to a beautiful song written by our Music Director, Matthew Burt, and enjoyed a program focused on sharing our own spiritual stories led by our new rector, Rev. Kirsten Spalding. Together, we created a quilt representing our shared stories at St. Mark’s. Led by parishioners Mary Esther Schnaubelt and Brie Linkenhoker, we enjoyed a delicious happy hour complete with snacks, beverages, and custom crafted “mocktails.”
Our children baked chocolate cookies to share, played Ga-Ga ball, and ensured that Mango the ranch cat received plenty of love. Carla Bliss led a watercolor workshop for all ages. The Saturday night variety show, emceed by Debbie and Randy, was a delight, featuring everything from gymnastics talents to knot-tying demonstrations to Rev. Kirsten theatrically proving that she is “ready for anything” and Rev. Nancy using her musical talents to invite us to build a “Beautiful City” of love.
Huge thanks to everyone whose efforts helped create this wonderful program, from potluck contributions to ride coordination to conversation and fellowship.
Bishop’s Ranch is true to its name – the ranch location allows us to enjoy the beauty of Creation in natural surroundings. Animal sightings this year included a gray fox, hummingbirds, lizards, and cows! Owls and coyotes could be heard at night.
Each year, Parishioner Carla Bliss hosts a watercolor workshop where everyone is welcome. From seasoned artists to those who may be stepping out of their comfort zone creatively, Parish Retreat always offers a cozy, inspiring opportunity to share the joys of art and community.
Rev. Kirsten led a program focused on spiritual storytelling, with videos from the Episcopal church and group activities encouraging us to connect with and share our own “God stories.” Youth Minister Lily Dodge led an intergenerational activity to create a quilt representing our story as a St. Mark’s community, and Music Director Matthew Burt led us through the dramatic interpretation of four Biblical stories.
Music is a long standing Parish Retreat tradition, from conga lines to our variety show. Our Music Director, Matthew Burt, wrote a special song just for this weekend, and during our Sunday morning liturgy, led us in a diverse selection of music to engage our voices, bodies, and spirits. This included a handbell choir, a Peruvian drum song, and a klezmer song with a dance that gets faster and faster!
It is tradition at Parish Retreat for the teens and children to prepare the Gospel presentation and homily. Typically, this involves a dramatic presentation of the story along with a short reflection of the story’s “big ideas.” Here, our young people work through Luke 17:11-19, a story about Jesus including all people and the importance of gratitude. Note the brightly colored stickers, used here to represent the condition of “lepers” when stuck to faces!
Our Saturday night Variety Show, emceed by Debbie and Randy, is another Parish Retreat tradition beloved by all. This year, it included gymnastics, knot-tying, slam poetry, music, and more! We always conclude with a group dance and conga line.
This year, eight children attended Parish Retreat, ranging in age from 7 to 14. They enjoyed the ranch’s Ga-Ga Ball pit, showered the ranch cat Mango with affection, swam in the pool, wove friendship bracelets, baked chocolate fudge cookies to share at happy hour, and contributed their unique talents, questions, and stories to our programming, variety show, and community.
On Saturday afternoon, we always enjoy a potluck happy hour on the Swing Pavilion Patio. This year, Mary Esther Schnaubelt and Brie Linkenhoker mixed custom mocktails (also known as EANABs) for all ages. Stacy and Lee brought homemade quince paste, and plenty of parishioners contributed cheese, wine, crackers, and other treats to share!
Even registration and room assignments were special, thanks to new name tags & gift bags organized by Rev. Nancy!
Thanks to everyone for an amazing year at Parish Retreat 2025! Be sure to join us next year – and if you need more time at Bishop’s Ranch in the meantime, check out their other programs here.