Pastor’s Professional Growth Event

Laura Leighton-Harris, TRiM Coordinator

Hello Everyone!

Just a reminder about our upcoming Pastors Event at Camp Pine Lake in April. The camp staff & I have gotten the registration form up and running.  Please click here to register.  One change with our schedule, Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, this year’s District Conference Moderator, has asked for some time of story sharing as a district so this will take place Monday from 4:15-5pm so we invite you to come and share stories. Also, there will not be any kitchen staff on duty yet and the plan is to have continental breakfast and the other meals catered in, so taking that into account it was realized we would need to raise the cost to cover catering in those meals. In year’s past, the registration cost was $55; this year the cost will be $65. Scholarships are available for those who do not have access to professional growth funds from their congregations. You may pay when you arrive.

I have 2 persons set to do opening worship so just need 2 persons for closing worship. If you would like to do this, please email me.

Starts: Sunday, April 10th 2016 at 5pm
Ends: Tuesday, April 12th at 11am

All Ministers (Ordained, Licensed, Lay, Cluster) in the Northern Plains District are invited to a time of retreat and refreshment April 10th-12th 2016 at Camp Pine Lake. This event, being planned by the Minister’s Professional Growth Committee, will include time for worship, study, rest, recreation, and fellowship.

Leadership will be provided by David Radcliffe: David Radcliff is director of the New Community Project, a faith-based nonprofit organization focused on care for creation, peace through justice and experiential learning. David is ordained in the Church of the Brethren and holds an MDiv and DMin (Peace Studies) from Bethany Seminary. He served as a pastor for 10 years, then as Director of Brethren Witness for the General Board for 15 years before joining with others to launch NCP in 2003. He leads Learning Tours to Africa, Asia, the Arctic and the Amazon; speaks in dozens of schools, colleges, and congregations every year; teaches classes for adult learners at Elizabethtown College and Bethany Seminary; and enjoys gardening, camping, photography, writing and cooking–and has given up his car for a bicycle. Born in Blue Ridge, VA, he now lives in Peoria, AZ.

David’s overall theme will be:
Tell me the stories of Jesus
Session foci:
Give me something I can feel (creative arts in worship and witness)
Full gospel preaching (how do we speak on controversial issues?)
If we build it… (the new community, that is)
The Bible Bridge (making Bible study relevant)
Banish Bashful Brethren (evangelism and revitalization)

Ministers in the Church of the Brethren are called to continual spiritual and professional growth. This event is designed to support that endeavor. Participants in the full event will receive .6 CEUS in Preaching and Worship.

A tentative schedule can be found below. Weather permitting we hope to have a campfire on Sunday and Monday evenings. If you play guitar, ukulele or banjo, bring your instrument along to help accompany some singing around the fire.

Please save the date and plan to join with your brothers and sisters in ministry for this time of Sabbath renewal.

TENTATIVE RETREAT SCHEDULE
Sunday 
5:00-6:00 – Arrive/Settle In/Light Supper
6:00-6:30 – Opening Worship
6:30-7:30 – Group Building (Laura Leighton Harris)
7:45-8:45 – Plenary w/ David Radcliffe
9:00-10:00 – Campfire and Conversation /Q & A with David
Monday
8:00-8:30 – Breakfast
8:45-9:15 – Q& A with David
9:30-11:00 – Plenary w/ David
11:15-12:00 – Free Time or Coaching/Listening Sessions or Discussion about Prof. Growth
12:00-1:00 – Lunch
1:00-2:30 – Free Time/Sabbath Rest
2:30-4:00 – Plenary w/ David
4:15-5:00 – Story sharing with Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, DC Moderator
5:00-6:00 – Dinner
6:00-7:00 – Plenary w/ David
7:00-7:15 – Q & A with David
7:30-8:30-  Ministry Sharing
8:45-9:45 – Campfire and Conversation
Tuesday 
8:00-8:30 – Breakfast
8:30-9:00 – Pack and Clean-up
9:00-10:00 – Plenary w/ David
10:00-11:00 – Closing Worship