Speaking Events

Public Speaking Events

When time permits:

• Mark is available to offer 30 minute talks on the role and history of pottery under the title “Why Make Pottery in the 21st Century?” while throwing clay on his electric wheel. He has done such talks at Rotary, Kiwanis and other service organization’s luncheon throughout the North California area.
• Mark has an exciting 50 minute lecture entitled “The Influence of Existentialism on Post-Modern Ceramic Art” with digital slide presentation, done while creating a piece of pottery in front of the audience.
• Mark preaches a variety of sermons from his potter’s wheel depending on the season.

Mark’s honorarium is $225 per hour plus mileage. Fees are negotiable with non-profit agencies. Permission to offer his business card to the audience and mention his website address is expected.

Retreat Leadership

When time permits, Mark is available to lead a two day spiritual reflection retreat:

The Cup of Our Lives: Pottery Retreat

Although participants will experience clay as an art making medium during the retreat, the focus of our experience will be spiritual formation. This is not a craft class but a chance to creatively assess our spiritual condition, hopes and needs. We will be focusing on the cup as a symbol of our receptivity to the spirit and how we nurture ourselves along the journey of life.

Joyce Rupp’s book, The Cup of Our Life: A Guide for Spiritual Growth, is not required reading for the retreat but is Pastor Mark’s inspiration for the content of our experience. You can find a copy in most bookstores or outlets.

Each session begins and ends with a meditation. For the first session participants are asked to bring their favorite coffee/tea cup/mug from home; we’ll be talking about them in small group settings. Participants should wear comfortable clothes on which they would not feel concerned about contact with clay as they will be making their own pottery on the first day, under Mark’s direction.

Mark’s honorarium for such leadership is $1,000 plus expenses (material, mileage, lodging and travel expenses).