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Are you an Organist, Volunteer or Professional Musician, Worship Planner, Pastor, Visual Artist, Children/Youth Leader, or Worshiper? 

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions and live within driving distance to Toronto, Ontario, then we have a conference that is designed for you. 

Worship as Journey: A Day of Renewal and Learning with Steve Bell and Ken Medema is an event co-sponsored by Worship Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, and the Presbyterian Church of Canada. The event is being held on Saturday April 28, 2018 at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Ave. Toronto.  

Here are some workshops designed especially with YOU in mind. 

  • Organists: consider attending Workshop #9 led by Christopher Dawes, one of Canada's leading organists, church musicians and thinkers, who will be speaking about and demonstrating the art of using the organ in our contemporary worship settings. 
  • Professional Musicians: spend two hours with Steve Bell (Workshop A) who will be speaking on the role of the professional Christian Musician and Music Arts in God's Scheme of Redemption.  Interested in increasing your skill with working with a worship team? Join Ruth Ann Schuringa as she shares her tips on team-work, music-making and communication when preparing for worship in a team/band setting (Workshop 5). 
  • Volunteer Musicians: spend two hours with Ken Medema (Workshop B) who will be addressing the challenges facing the non-professional musician who is asked to lead congregational worship. Ken will lead this conversation and share examples and resources. Interested in adding some percussion in worship but not sure how? Andrew Donaldson will be offering a hands on workshop about just that (Workshop 6). Wonder how to introduce new music to congregations? Join Hugh Donnelly as he shares from his experience (Workshop 12).  
  • Worship Planners or Committee Members: join Joan DeVries as she speaks about crafting prayers and litanies for worship (Workshop 4), Elly Boersma on "Balancing Structure and Innovation" (Conversation Table #2), and workshops on so many other topics.
  • Pastors: Ever wonder how you might improve your working relationship with your musicians? Join Chrstopher Fischer as he speaks about clergy-musician relationships (Workshop C). Desiring to connect worship with the mission of the church? Spend time in conversation with Chris Schoon who will be speaking on missional worship (workshop 1 and 8). 
  • Visual Artists: "Art as Worship" (Workshop 2) led by artist, musician, and worship director, Nicole Ensing, is designed for you and all those who desire to strengthen the connection between beauty and worship. 
  • Children/Youth Leaders: There are several workshops for those who care about children/youth or intergenerational worship.  Join David and Nancy Moody as they share what they've learned about "Family-Minded Worship" (Workshop 3), share in conversation about best practices for mentoring (Conversation Table #3), learn about the "Children and Worship" program from Laura Alary (Workshop 7), or how to design a congregational faith formation and worship framework from Lesli van Milligan (Workshop 11). 
  • Worshipers: of all ages and backgrounds are sure to find something to enlighten and renew at this one day, not-to-be-missed event. Other areas of conversation not yet mentioned include, "Understanding the Complex History of Contemporary Christian Music and Its Impact on the Church's Worship" (Lim Swee Hong, Workshop 10), "Multiple Ways of Engaging with God" (Joan DeVries, Workshop 13), and a conversation with Ken Medema around making worship accessible to persons with disabilities (Conversation Talbe #1).
  • Conference Choir: join the conference choir for a rehearsal with Steve Bell and Ken Medema and join them in the leadership of a few songs during the evening concert. 

Evening Concert with Steve Bell and Ken Medema begins at 7pm and is open to the public. 

Register below! 

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