More Than Bouncing Back: Resilience in Spiritual Communities—Rev. Debbie Clark.

Ten years ago, Edwards Church founded Open Spirit, a multifaith community, which shares campus and some staff. During the pandemic, we were moved by how members of both communities found purpose, healing, and growth. We wondered what we could learn from this intersection of two communities about the role of spiritual community in enabling resilience. We conducted interviews with 35 members of the two communities and will do follow-up. In this workshop, I will share what we have learned and invite conversation and your insights.

Growing in Grace: Walking in Faith (Labyrinth)—Rev. Dr. Deborah Roof.

The labyrinth predates Christianity. There are examples of labyrinths on every continent, dating back hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. It is an archetype. In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church in Europe, primarily France, assimilated this icon and made it into a Christian symbol, in lieu of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Actually, they would walk it on the knees! Come, learn about and experience the mystery of this sacred mindfulness practice.

God’s Grace Is Also Revealed in Our Dreams—Dr. Kit DeVries.

The purpose of this workshop is to help our understanding of the importance of dreams, and the many roles they play in our life. They truly reveal our "Growing Edges." This will be an experiential workshop—some theory, and theory presented in the context of working with our own dreams. Bring questions and dreams.

Even Jesus Had Non-Traditional Family: How People of Faith Can Support the Whole Family System—Rev. Sara Bartlett and Rev. Char Corbett.

When families are created in "non-traditional" ways (adoption, fertility treatments, etc.), offspring often experience grief and loss, even if they grew up in healthy, child-centered families. This workshop will include a panel of donor conceived people, and adoption families who will share their too often overlooked experiences. We will also discuss how people of faith can support legislation, and a shift in cultural understanding of these issues.

IPM’s Work for Justice, Peace, and Hope with Women Around the World—Adela Zayas.

International Partners in Mission (IPM) offers an overview of their life-affirming work with women and girls across all borders of caste, culture, faith, and economic circumstance to nurture justice, peace, and hope in our world. We will highlight IPM's unique history, mission, vision, and philosophy and how UCC women can directly engage with our Project Partners in Latin America, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa through advocacy, prayer, support, and transformational learning opportunities.

Helping Your Green Church Become a Creation Justice Church—Robert Grabill and Marge Shepherdson.

Many congregations of all faiths are becoming green, working to adapt behaviors to meet the demands of the climate crisis. Church communities, and particularly UCC congregations, are uniquely well positioned to become powerful agents of change for social justice. Caring for creation and seeking climate justice promotes justices for all. Come hear about the UCC Climate Justice Church Program.

Meet & Greet Our Keynote Speakers

An informal time with our keynote speakers: Rev. Marcia McFee, Rev. Karoline Lewis, and Rev. Velda Love.

Psalms, in Our Own Voices—Joyce Ray.

Some days we want to cry out to God. Other days, we bubble over with thanksgiving. Sharpen your pencils and give voice to your deepest feelings using the Psalms as a springboard. We will unpack examples to discover the elements and the literary devices that lend power to this biblical poetry. As we explore Psalms of lament and praise, guided writing exercises will help us compose our own psalms.

Healing Through Sacred Storytelling—Rev. AbbyLynn Haskell.

You are invited to explore storytelling as a spiritual practice and healing art. Participants will gain insight into identifying, diagnosing, and prescribing the healing stories necessary to help combat the harmful effects of the many weaponized storytelling practices of our current culture. This experiential workshop will include engaging storied lecture as well as interactive small group discovery.

Contemplative Photography as Spiritual Practice—Dalene Fuller Rogers.

Taking photos has become a common practice thanks to our smartphones. This workshop is designed to introduce the participant to a different way of seeing the world that will allow the Spirit of God to show us beauty and peace in the most mundane-appearing places.

No experience in photography needed, and any digital photographic device is acceptable. You will be encouraged to explore both indoor and outdoor locations.

Yoga—Adela Zayas.

This yoga workshop will center in breathing exercises and amateur fun yoga flows that help relax the body and mind. Through this workshop, you will learn how to use yoga as an instrument for introspection, reflection, and a way to take care of yourself.

Extending Grace Through Accompaniment to End of Life—Rebecca Herr.

John 1:14–16: "From the fullness of grace we have all received one blessing after another."

By Jesus' example, we are asked to show grace to one another, as God showers each of us with grace. A church can actively do this by training individuals to be present with members at the end of life. This workshop will help prepare individuals for visitation, discussing concepts such as listening, being fully present, companioning, and near-death awareness. We will discuss what you should have in your "toolbox" as you visit.

Soul Collage®: Grace in the Making—Elizabeth Greenberg.

Soul Collage® is a simple process with simple materials: glue, scissors, images from magazines, and some creativity. We will use 5 x 7” cards using collage and then explore our created cards for their message and meaning. Creativity and play are grace-filled processes. Come play, create, and explore!

Re-Imagining Faith Formation: A Holistic Approach—Patricia Berry and Kathie Jackson.

Are you spinning your wheels in your faith formation efforts? Feeling stuck or tired? Wonder about next steps? Come and hear how one church overcame roadblocks, embraced the opportunities presented by the pandemic, and re-imagined holistic vision for faith formation. This workshop will discuss practical tools such as deep listening, identifying gifts and graces in the congregation, and alternative metrics. You'll gain insights for building intergenerational relationships and re-visioning a faith formation ministry that is led by the Holy Spirit.

Raising Naturally Anti-Racist Children—Tivvi (Olivia) Pare.

In this interactive and informative workshop, women of European descent will work to de-center their whiteness as they embark or continue on the vital journey of raising children to be naturally not-racist. Participants will engage in a facilitated discussion of strategies towards dismantling misunderstandings of race, within themselves and their children.

Grace in Our Midst—Karoline Lewis.

We know that God showers us with abundant grace, yet sometimes that grace is difficult to identify. This has been especially true in the last few years as we have lived a collective trauma. In trauma's middle space exists disruption and disorientation, making God's presence hard to recognize. We will look at several characters in the Gospel of John to learn how they identify grace in their midst so that we might be able to do the same.

People of Faith Build a Just World for All (Workshop #1)—Rev. Velda Love.

We will engage and discuss the following: ‘Exploring our beginnings through historical awareness’ and ‘Listening to cultures before colonialism.’ 

Please complete the prework, prereading and viewing resources to make this a full and enriching time together. Click here to obtain prework resources.

Missions Possible

CWS (Church World Service) https://cwsglobal.org

Dress-a-Girl (a program of HOPE 4 Women International) www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com 

We will have the opportunity to contribute our time, talent, and treasures to either or both of these worthy programs during Celebration XI. CWS will be assembling kits as well as accepting your full CWS kits. Dress-a-Girl will be assembling kits to make dresses.

Aging Gracefully: the Butterfly Died with Open Wings—Linda Fraser.

When we were young, we were filled with awe. Then we were told to “settle down and get serious.” What if the opportunity in aging is to return to awe and to do so gracefully?

Needle Felting for Fun—Susan Rock.

Participants will leave the workshop having hand-felted a pin for a hat or coat (3"X3").

The Heroine’s Journey—Rev. Lee Ireland.

Where are you on the Heroines Journey? The empowering resource of “Transformative Experience” by Maureen Murdock helps us discern where we are on life’s path and what challenges invite us to let go of certain understanding to be freer for what is available today. We will discern where to make changes and bold steps to bring more peace and joy within our hearts and souls. Bring a journal and your creative spirit.

Incorporating Safe Space Curriculum into Your Faith Formation Programs—Dawn Sorenson.

This workshop will give how-to practical tools to incorporate a Safe Spaces mindset into your existing faith formation curriculum. Attendees will hear about strategies that have worked in diverse settings and will share insight on why some ideas may be unsuccessful.

Talking to Children About Death and Dying—Rev. Marie Lucca.

End-of-life issues are not part of the curriculum in most schools today, but at some point in every child’s life, they will experience a loss, and it is crucial to a youngster’s emotional well-being that such an event be treated in an age-appropriate, caring manner. In many situations, a child will approach a trusted adult other than a parent to ask questions or share their feelings about mortality making it extremely important for grandparents, Sunday School teachers, and others to be ready and willing to discuss this meaningful topic.

Opening Doors: Creatively Using Church Space, Soul Café—Beth Alletto and Frances Graveson.

A story of discernment and creative ministry, how can churches reconsider serving their community by opening their doors in new ways? The Soul Fuel Café is a welcoming, inviting, and deliciously different way to engage the community. Let’s talk about local, simple, shared space created in God’s time through grace and love.

Praying In Color with Prayer Beads—Kristin Putney. $12 per person for supplies.

Create a prayer bead chain, using specific colors for healing, serenity, strength, forgiveness, and other meanings. 

A large variety of beads will be available to make a colorful prayer chain for $12—payable to the presenter during workshop time.

Loose Your Inner Drummer: Jamming with the Heart—Leslie Ann Chatfield.

Let’s get together to share drumming—we can build community! Let’s use drumming to express or release our emotions and transform them—the drum can give voice to what we cannot. Let’s release stress and boost immunities—drumming decreases stress hormones. Who can’t benefit from that? Drumming releases endorphins—the feel-good chemical. Let’s feel that great sense of well-being and joy after the drum sessions.

Creating Peace Within Our Bodies, Minds, and Spirits—Susan Savell.

Creating a more peaceful world includes creating harmony, calm, and compassion within our own bodies, minds, and spirits. There are many paths to inner peace, including prayer, meditation, and eating in ways that genuinely nourish our bodies. We will explore each of these paths, including Susan's experience with "Bright Line Eating," a transformative way of healing addiction to foods that endanger our health. All these paths help us discover and enjoy our authentic selves.

You Are a Ritual Artist—Marcia McFee.

Without meaningful markers in our lives, we lose touch with the rhythms of time, identity, and relationship. In this workshop, we will explore what ritual is, how we can make it not only more meaningful in our traditional worship spaces, but how we each can create simple yet rich moments that help us, and other people, navigate the passages of our lives.

Missions Possible

CWS (Church World Service) https://cwsglobal.org

Dress-a-Girl (a program of HOPE 4 Women International) www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com 

We will have the opportunity to contribute our time, talent, and treasures to either or both of these worthy programs during Celebration XI. CWS will be assembling kits as well as accepting your full CWS kits. Dress-a-Girl will be assembling kits to make dresses.

Mindfulness Meditation Loving Kindness Practice—Cheryl Anderson.

"Growing in Grace" describes the "Metta" or "Loving Kindness" practice. The practice comes from the mindfulness meditation tradition and was originally taught as an antidote to fear. The practice increases our self-compassion, increases our capacity to love, and helps us to open our hearts to those who are difficult to love. Although the practice comes from the Buddhist tradition, it helps us live out Jesus' call to love our neighbor and even our enemy.

Women of the Greatest Generation: Stories of Faith, Hope, Love, and Courage—Just Peace Players: Fran Bogle, Nancy Reed, Matia Angelou.

Nurses in combat, teenage plane spotters, rat tamers, black marketeers, USO dancers, kids who waved to blimp pilots, refugees, war brides, children in Nazi Germany and Japan, and the women and girls who kept the home fires burning. This play uses the original words of women who lived through the time of World War II to tell their stories of faith, hope, love, and courage. Stay afterward and share your stories with us.

Healing Qi Gong for Every Body—Rev. Joanna Hattendorf.

Qi Gong is healing balm for worn out, soul-weary, bodies. The ancient practice of Primordial Qi Gong, reconnects us to the "Isness" of all things—the "ground of our being," the Universal Qi/Life Force/energy that existed "In the beginning." These simple, easy-on-the-body movements can be done sitting or standing. So, Come! Gather the Universal/Primordial Qi; Draw it into your body; and Discover healing, peace, and joy.

Moving Through Grief and Spiritual Distress Gracefully—Linda Fraser.

It began in 2019. I stood in my living room weeping. I thought it might be an anxiety attack. I lit every candle I had, then stood in front of my bookcase and pulled out a book entitled “Boundless Compassion” by Joyce Rupp. I opened it and so began my journey with Compassion.

Holy Clue! Mystery Novels and Faith-Based Detectives—Rev. Maren Tirabassi.

From Brother Cadfael, Father Brown, and Rabbi Small to Rev. Clare Fergusson, Sister Boniface, and Grantchester, mystery literature features sleuthing by those connected to faith communities. To scholarship on the emergence of mystery in genre literature and its connection to religion (not only Christian religion) and the exploration of serious issues through popular fiction, will be added trivia fun and an opportunity for everyone to share their favorite ''recent read."

From Generation to Generation: Honoring Tradition and Embracing Change in Our Congregations—Rev. Marie Lucca.

This fun, engaging, and informative workshop for women of all ages will compare the religious beliefs, worship preferences, and communication styles of each generation, and offer suggestions on how our congregations can be more welcoming to younger demographics.

The Power of Professional Coaching—Rev. Heather Ramsey Mabrouk.

Come learn about coaching and how it can help you or your small group to put plans into action. Free yourself from those stuck places, and move forward with confidence.

Experiencing Grace Outside the Church: Carrying God’s Grace to the Spiritual But Not Religious—Gayle Murphy.

We know that God’s grace is real and sustaining. But we also now know less than 3 in 10 people have anything to do with any faith tradition. It is not God who is limited, but our faith communities are sometimes the barrier. So, how do we understand this world? How do we bring experiences of God outside our church walls? How do we meet those who are “spiritually hungry, not religious”?

Grace in Our Midst—Rev. Karoline Lewis.

We know that God showers us with abundant grace, yet sometimes that grace is difficult to identify. This has been especially true in the last few years as we have lived a collective trauma. In trauma's middle space exists disruption and disorientation, making God's presence hard to recognize. We will look at several characters in the Gospel of John to learn how they identify grace in their midst so that we might be able to do the same.

People of Faith Build a Just World for All (Workshop #2)—Rev. Velda Love.

We will engage and discuss the following: ‘Reframing Christian Narratives: Truth-telling in the 21st Century,’ ‘Healing: Restoration, Equity, and Inclusion,’ and ‘Christian Church, Where do we go from here?’ 

Please complete the prework, prereading, and previewing resources to make this a full and enriching time together. Click here to obtain prework resources.

Missions Possible

CWS (Church World Service) https://cwsglobal.org

Dress-a-Girl (a program of HOPE 4 Women International) www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com

We will have the opportunity to contribute our time, talent, and treasures to either or both of these worthy programs during Celebration XI. CWS will be assembling kits as well as accepting your full CWS kits. Dress-a-Girl will be assembling kits to make dresses.