Tentative schedule
7:30 registration opens/continental breakfast
8:30 gathering
9:00 workshop 1
10:15 workshop 2
11:15 Lunch 1
11:45 Lunch 2
12:30 workshop 3
1:30 snack/dessert
1:45 keynote and worship
3:30 Take hope back to your church!
Registration $35 per person, includes lunch. If your church brings five paid registrations, a sixth person can come for free.
Carpooling is appreciated.
Child care is available for $20. Must pre-register by January 15.
Embracing Hope 2016
We want you to come! You will have to write your own name tag, because the office already printed them. If this is too much, we'll write it for you!
Register below.
Enriching the ministry of your congregation.
Embracing Hope is glad to welcome Barbara Essex. She grew up in Chicago, IL, and has lived in a number of cities throughout the US. Her interest in storytelling and the Bible has led to a study series focusing on biblical characters we love...and love to hate. Her third book, "Bad Boys of the Bible: Exploring Men of Ques- tionable Virtue," won The Pilgrim Press May- flower Award for Spirituality in 2003. Essex is a sought-after speaker and known for her wit and down-to-earth style. She connects the biblical story with contemporary life, drawing on her vast personal experiences. She currently lives in Cleveland, OH.
1B The New Facts of Life (and Dying) Medical advances sustain life now in ways we never imagined. Often this truth creates difficult challenges when patients are unable to respond when the question arises, "Do we proceed with life support?" How can we be prepared to make these choices (for ourselves and family members)? Begin by learning "the new facts of life and dying." Ann Ditty is a hospice chaplain in the Kansas City area. She has worked in a hospital setting as well as for a local hospice agency. Ann is a ruling elder with a Certificate in Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and has completed one unit of CPE at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.
1C Singing the Faith - Enlivening the People's Song We will share strategies for enlivening and enhancing the singing of congregations. Hymns and songs, both new and old, will be models for teaching, inspiring, and empowering lay people to sing with passion and purpose! Mark Ball is in his fifteenth year serving as director of music ministry at Village Presbyterian Church. He loves helping people find their voice so that they can experience the joy of congregational singing.
1D Effective Digital Communications for Churches As Christians, we are called to share the Gospel in a social manner as we strive to meet people where they are. Increasingly that place is online. In this workshop we will examine effective strategies for enhancing your church's online presence. From websites to social media, you will hear practical ideas for projecting a culture of invitation. Alex Treaster is the Director of Communications at Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Mo.
1E Orientation for NEW Clerks of Session The focus is to assist NEW clerks of session on their role and responsibilities. Sally Hinchman is a ruling elder and is the stated clerk for Heartland Presbytery.
1F Children’s Ministry Together! We will tap into the best resource we have--each other! Please bring three or four of your favorites in Sunday School, curriculum, Children's sermons, Holiday Events, and general best practices. We'll learn what's worked best in different sized churches and get some new ideas for our own! If you're new to children's ministry, this will be a great place to learn! If you're feeling stagnant, this will be a great place to get reenergized! If you're trucking along, loving life--come share and inspire and you'll leave inspired! You will receive a resource, games, and idea list--but what you'll learn from the folks in the room will be invaluable! Emily Nelson Dixon is the Director of Children's Ministries and Engagement at Second Church, Kansas City.
1G Funding the Work of Your Church Learn more about this spiritual discipline as it may be expressed in your local setting. Charles Spencer is the executive presbyter for Heartland Presbytery.
Block 2 2A Faith and Politics Many say that faith and politics don’t mix. How does our faith inform our political and world views? How do we live as faithful Christians in a highly politicized world? Jeff Clayton is pastor at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, KS
2B Alternative Summer Programs Many churches struggle with shrinking budgets and volunteer pools and lack of time, this workshop will allow participants to explore alternative ideas to traditional Vacation Bible School. Michael MeGraw is the associate director at Heartland Camps in Parkville, MO. He is passionate about young people building relationships and having their lives impacted by Jesus Christ. He believes you "learn what you live" and places for young people to engage with Jesus are crucial to living a life with Christ. He firmly believes this happens at camps. Cheryl Couch-Thomas is the Director of Children’s Ministry at Village Presbyterian Church.
2C Drumming on a Dime Want to add some world drumming rhythms to enhance your worship experience? No budget? No problem! This is the music experience for YOU! Come get in the GROOVE with us! Marilyn Lake, music educator in the Shawnee Mission school district, handbell director for Southminster Presbyterian as well as the Heartland Community Handbell Choir, is certified in World Drumming.
2D Engaging Hands and Hearts, Eyes and Minds We will glance at a wide variety of visual expressions for worship spaces as well as explore in depth a few examples of how we can enhance worship services using hands-on visual creation experiences. We will also create a banner using a new fabric "mosaic" technique for use in worship which will go home to one lucky attendee. Grace Cox-Johnson has served the greater church for over 25 years as a liturgical fabric artist with Color4theJourney.net, (formerly Gospel Colors). She is currently a member at Linwood United Church, has two wonderful grown children, a loving partner and two devoted chihuahuas. NOTE: Also choose workshop 3D.
2E Financial Officer Training This workshop will provide an overview of major areas and responsibilities of church accounting activities, as well as cloud-based technologies to manage those systems. Brian Hathhorn is the financial administrator for Heartland Presbytery.
2F Creative CE Churches come in all shapes and sizes so does ministry with youth. Join us to talk about the creative ways we have approached youth ministry in our distinct settings and collaborate with others to create ideas to take back to your church. Rev. Jason Carle, Overland Park Presbyterian Church; Rev. Steven Andrews, Parkville Presbyterian Church; Michelle Phillips, Village Presbyterian Church
2G Elder Training 101 So, you're a new ruling elder. What are your responsibilities? What do you need to know to be an effective leader in your congregation? This workshop will give you an overview of what it means to be a ruling elder (for life!) in the PC(USA). Kathy Lueckert is a ruling elder (ordained in 1989) at Village Presbyterian Church, where she is on staff. Kathy has been a clerk of session and a presbytery stated clerk. She also serves at the General Assembly level.
Block 3 3A Ministry In the Neighborhood Each of our congregations are here to serve our neighborhood. Connecting with our neighbors is what we are called to do. How we connect as a church is a crucial aspect of our ministry. We'll talk about ways to make sure that each of our congregations are ministering well with and to our neighbors in the name of Jesus Christ. Kirk Perucca serves as the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, an urban congregation in Kansas City.
3B So That a Runner May Read It will cover basic newsletter practices, with a focus on transitioning to electronic communications. Samples of print and digital church newsletters will be available. Use of survey tools and event registration will be introduced, with examples of their usefulness in the life of the church. Malinda Spencer, Church Resource Center of Heartland Presbytery, regularly uses electronic communication tools.
3C Conversations with Jesus and Pope Francis Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has made a huge splash among both Catholics and Protestants. Using the new book, Jesus, Pope Francis and a Protestant Walk into a Bar: Lessons for the Christian Church, by Bill Tammeus and the Rev. Paul Rock, the class will explore Catholic-Protestant relations as well as interfaith relations. Bill Tammeus, former Kansas City Star columnist, today writes the daily "Faith Matters" blog on The Star's website as well as columns for The Presbyterian Outlook and The National Catholic Reporter. An elder at Second Presbyterian Church of Kansas City, he's written five books, with a sixth one due out next summer.
3D Engaging Hands and Hearts, Eyes and Minds A continuation of workshop 2D with Grace Cox-Johnson
3E Adult Education Ideas from two adult education experts will give you many ideas and strategies. Buzzy LeCluyse, associate pastor at Pine Ridge, and Kristin Riegel, associate pastor at Second, in Kansas City, work with adult education in their settings.
3F Alex, Wink & Regis Turn Sunday School into a game. Turn that occasional SS class into a game show by using the formats of Jeopardy and Who Wants to be a Millionaire creating a learning yet fun atmosphere for classes 6th-12th. Other options include "Who's the Hashtag” and Biblical license plates. Curt Likins has been teaching Sunday School at First Presbyterian in Lee's Summit for 15 years, has been the junior high LOGOS teacher and an assistant to youth ministry.
3G Elder Training 201 Are You Smarter than the Average Ruling Elder? Come join us for some fun as we learn more about what it means to be a Ruling Elder. Beverly Barr, Ruling Elder First Presbyterian Church, St. Joseph, MO, was the 2012 Heartland Council Moderator, 2011 Heartland Presbytery Moderator, Committee on Ministry for two terms serving as Moderator in 2008 and 2009, as well as serving in other capacities within the Presbytery. Bob Stikeleather, Ruling Elder First Presbyterian Church, Independence, MO, served as Moderator of Heartland Presbytery, in 2013 and Moderator of Council in 2014. Bob was a Commissioner to General Assembly in 2012. He served two terms on Committee on Ministry, as well as serving on other committees/task forces within the Presbytery and the local church.