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July 10 - 13, 2023

Monday, July 10

9:00 a.m. – Pre-event Intensive Seminars Begin

  • Choral intensive with Dr. Allen Hightower (participants will sing in Monday evening worship)

  • Dance intensive with Dr. Jacqueline Thompson (participants will help in evening worship during the week)

  • Handbell techniques intensive with Dr. Shawn Gingrich (participants will help in evening worship during the week)

12:00 p.m. – Lunch Break (on your own)

1:30 p.m. – Choral Reading Session Extravaganza

3:30 p.m. – Break/Vendors

4:00 p.m. – Seminars

5:00 p.m. – Break / Vendors

5:30 p.m. – Opening Dinner Banquet

7:00 p.m. – Evening Worship 

8:30 p.m. – Reception at the Lumen Hotel

Tuesday, July 11
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9:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer

9:45 a.m. – Break

10:00 a.m. – Plenary Session with Debra Band

11:30 a.m. – Lunch Break (on your own)

1:00 p.m. – Vendors

1:30 p.m. – Choral Reading Session

2:30 p.m. – Plenary Session with Rev. Dr. O Wesley Allen

4:00 p.m. – Seminars

5:00 p.m. – Break / Vendors

5:30 p.m. – Dinner

7:00 p.m. – Evening Worship

8:30 p.m. – Travel

9:00 p.m. – Reception at Bridwell Library

Wednesday, July 12

9:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer

9:45 a.m. – Break

10:00 a.m. – Plenary Session with Rev. Dr. Maria Dixon Hall

11:30 a.m. – Lunch Break (on your own)

1:00 p.m. – Vendors

1:30 p.m. – Choral Reading Session

2:30 p.m. – Plenary Session with Rev. Dr. Theresa Thames

4:00 p.m. – Seminars

5:00 p.m. – Break / Vendors

5:30 p.m. – Dinner

6:30 p.m. – Travel

7:00 p.m. – Evening Worship

8:30 p.m. – Travel

9:00 p.m. – Beer and Hymns @ White Rock Ale House

Thursday, July 13

9:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer

9:45 a.m. – Break

10:00 a.m. – Plenary Session with Bishop LaTrelle Easterling

11:30 a.m. – Lunch Break (on your own)

1:00 p.m. – Vendors

1:30 p.m. – Choral Reading Session

2:30 p.m. – Plenary Session with Dr. Marcell Steuernagel

4:00 p.m. – Seminars

5:00 p.m. – Break / Vendors

5:30 p.m. – Closing Dinner Banquet / Business Meeting

7:00 p.m. – Evening Worship

8:30 p.m. – Closing Reception at Meadows Museum

Seminar Descriptions

How Art
How Art Illuminates My Faith - Debra Band

Hebrew manuscript artist, Debra Band, shares her life-long passion for illuminated manuscripts of many faith traditions, and brings attendees along on the path of her 35-year career creating artwork – Jewish marriage documents, six Hebrew-English illuminated books and other works – that explore and share her Jewish spirituality, thought and learning. Break-out sessions will follow the 1-hour presentation, offering participants a chance to consider the ways that their own art and faith intertwine.

Handbells
4 – 5 Octave Handbell Reading Session - Dr. Shawn Gingrich

Dr. Shawn Gingrich will lead participants through a reading session of 4-5 octave handbell music.

FromThis Time
From This Time Forward I Make You Hear New Things
- Dr. Christopher Anderson

In this seminar, Dr. Christopher Anderson will take a broad overview of liturgically suitable organ composition from about the 1920s until the present day, in its several stylistic directions. Our survey will be guided by some fundamental musical and theological questions: What defines "liturgical suitability" in the first place? What is the organist's with regard to the playing of free-standing organ music? By what yardstick do we find a useful balance between tradition and innovation in organ composition? 

Tell It
Tell It Slant! Art and the Art of Preaching – Rev. Dr. John C. Holbert

In this discussion, Dr. John C. Holbert will use some paintings from JMW Turner, some poetry from Phillip Larkin, and maybe some music from Felix Mendelssohn to demonstrate how the use of artistic representations can enliven and empower the spoken word in fresh ways. He steals his title from Emily Dickinson who in one of her elusive poems said, “Tell all the truth, but tell it slant.” Indeed! A more slanted telling could break through to a people weary of direct admonition and hoary pulpit demands.

T&W&S
Trumpets and Woodwinds and Strings OH MY!!! – Michael Link

This seminar's goal is to minimize the scare of implementing instruments in worship.  Michael Link will cover instrument basics, set-ups, how to speak the instrumentalist's language,  how to work with amateur musicians from within your congregation as well as professional musicians. 

Children's Reading
Children's Choir Reading Session - Choristers' Guild Staff

Join members of the Chorister’s Guild staff as they lead us through a reading session of the latest music for children’s choir!

Technology in Worship
Technology in Worship – Patrick Shownes

More information about this seminar will be available soon.

Listening for God
Listening for God (Self-care for the Worship Artist)
– Laurie Hanson Roberts

Science has proven that regular meditation can have powerful, long-lasting effects on our health and well-being. Through meditation you will begin to notice that the body naturally will let go of stressors leaving a sense of calm. You will deepen your relationship with God, become more productive, tap in to your creativity, and develop and sense of clarity and inner peace.

 

Laurie Hanson Roberts will teach you how to cultivate your own meditation practice through the use of your breath and stillness. In meditation, we turn off the chaos of our lives to return to the truest sense of who we are as God’s children.

Global Worship Music
From 'Siyahamba' to 'Water in the Snow': Global Song in Christian Worship Yesterday and Today – Dr. Marcell Steuernagel

Most North Americans involved in church music during the last several decades have sung, at some point, songs from the repertoire known as “global song.” This seminar will focus on how notions of “global songs” have changed in North American Christian worship during this time. From early ecumenical efforts to include the voices of under-represented bodies of Christians to current conversations and repertoire, the seminar with Dr. Marcell Stuernagel will introduce worshipers to current repertoire, and illuminate several key considerations when introducing these repertoires in congregational worship.

Woship Visuals
Worship Visuals on a Shoestring Budget – Grace Cox-Johnson

Grace Cox-Johnson will lead us as we look at ways to create visuals for worship using the least amount of money in the most effective ways possible.  Discovering avenues for utilizing found objects, thrift stores, forgotten closets, as well as refuse and waste in creating new and exciting expressions of faith through the Christian Year.

Lift Every Voice and Sing
Lift Every Voice and Sing (Conducting Tune-up)
– Maestro Kevin McBeth

More information about this seminar will be available soon.

2-3 Octave
2 - 3 Octave Handbell Reading Session – Dr. Shawn Gingrich

Dr. Shawn Gingrich will lead participants through a reading session of 4-5 octave handbell music.

Drumming
World Drumming: Developing Musicianship Through Participatory Music Activities

 In this session, Dr. Michael Crawford will discuss and demonstrate participatory drum circle activities inspired by musical cultures from around the world. In this collaborative experience, participants will explore strategies to strengthen musical skills such as call-and-response, improvisation, ensemble listening, phrasing, composition, and sequencing. Additionally, each activity will be discussed in a framework for younger and more experienced musicians. Attendees are encouraged to jump in and drum as Dr. Crawford leads activities and shares tips for ensemble management.

The Psalms
The Psalms in Worship – Dr. Martin Tel

The psalms comprise the largest collection of prayers in holy Scripture. They are an exhaustive response to humanity’s imperative: “Lord, teach us to pray.” If, through liturgy, we mean to form God’s people in prayer, we ignore the lament psalms at our peril. But, as pastorally essential as lament is for the people of God, the mishandling of lament psalms in the liturgy can also be pastorally confusing or, worse, damaging. In this seminar with Dr. Martin Tel, we will look at the liturgy and consider natural entry points for the psalm of lament. We will also experience some fresh and accessible ways for the congregation to musically engage these psalms.  

Children's Sermons
Children's Sermons that Dance and Move

With Jackie Thompson, learn one way to get the children in your congregation out of their seats and on their feet!  We’ll craft worshipful times with young disciples that require little or no rehearsal, that use dancing and movement, and can include music.  No dance experience required. (This seminar was formerly titled Dance with Children and Youth.)

Re-energizing
Starting and Re-energizing Children's Choirs

Join Chorister’s Guild staff as they guide you through their newest curriculum to help begin and bring new life to children’s choirs in your church.  Come and be a part of the national rollout of this new material!

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