Children and Worship Workshop Tuesday - Thursday, June 17-19, 2008
Following Jesus Friday, June 20, 2008
Seminarian Seminar Saturday, June 21, 2008
Continuing the legacy of Sonja Stewart.
Presented by the Children and Worship Training Partnership of The Christian Reformed Church, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Reformed Church in America and Journey at Western Theological Seminary.
- To learn more about the workshop, click here...
- To learn more about the Workshop Worship Leader, click here...
- To see the schedule of events, click here...
- To download the Children and Worship Brochure, click here...
- For general information, click here...
- To Register...
About the Workshops
CHILDREN AND WORSHIP is an exciting workshop that presents a joyful way to worship God. It invites both children and adults to experience the wonder and mystery of God through a unique storytelling format and multi-sensory materials. Children and Worship is spiritually enriching for both children and adults. Through demonstrations and lectures, one learns to present biblical stories and parables using wooden figures and other materials to create an environment that cultivates the imagination and invites children to fall in love with God. Recommended for children's worship leaders, pastors, Christian educators, and those working with children in small or large congregations. The cost is $295 including lunch on each day. The workshop is 9 am to 5 pm each day.
Children and Worship is a prerequisite for taking the Following Jesus workshop.
FOLLOWING JESUS using Stewart’s sequel book, is a continuation of Young Children and Worship. This is an advanced opportunity to learn ways to invite children, ages six to eight, to focus on Jesus’ invitation to follow him and the way of the kingdom of God. The cost is $100 including lunch. The workshop is 9 am to 5 pm with registration at 8:30 am.
SEMINARIAN SEMINAR is designed to provide Christian Education credit to Ministerial Formation Certification Agency (MFCA) students. Contact Cor Kors regarding the credit: ckors@rca.org or (800) 435-5136. The cost is $100 including lunch. The workshop is 9 am to 5 pm with registration at 8:30 am.
Workshop Worship Leaders
CHILDREN AND WORSHIP WORKSHOP LEADERS
Alice Apol, a trainer for the Christian Reformed Church in North America, received training from Sonja Stewart at Western Theological Seminary. She currently serves as a Children and Worship leader at Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the last 20 years of leading Children and Worship, the children’s wonderings have become a big part of her story.
Karen Stabelfeldt, a Reformed Church in America trainer, received
training from Sonja Stewart at Western Theological Seminary in 1988, and additionally from Jerome Berryman in Houston, Texas, in 1994. Karen earned BA degrees in Theology and Parish Music from Concordia University, and has earned the Advanced Diploma of the Association Montessori Internationale. She currently serves as a Children and Worship leader at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Nina Zwart, the National Coordinator for Children and Worship for The Presbyterian Church in Canada, received her training by Sonja Stewart and has participated in workshops with both Sonja and Jerome Berryman. Nina currently serves as a Children and Worship Leader at New St. James Presbyterian Church in London, Ontario. Children and Worship has been a passion of hers since she first learned about it, and she is always humbled by how children respond to God’s stories.
FOLLOWING JESUS WORKSHOP LEADER
Marcia Floding has been a Christian Education Consultant for the Reformed Church in America in the Heartland Synod, and a Director of Children’s Ministry for three RCA churches. She received Children and Worship training from Sonja Stewart and currently serves as a trainer for the Reformed Church in America. Leading worship centers is a part of Marcia’s joyful journey with young children.
Schedule of Events
Children and Worship - Tuesday - Thursday, June 17- 19, 2008
Registration begins at 8:30 am - Workshop is 9 am to 5 pm each day
As participants worship with the stories and parables, topics include A Worship Approach to the Spiritual Formation of Children; Helping Children Get Ready to Be with God; Children and Worship through the Church Year; The Spiritual Formation of the Worship Leaders and Greeters; Response Time: Children’s Wondering and Art; and The Worship Center Environment and Scheduling. The workshop ends with the Lord’s Supper. The worship center will be open Tuesday and Wednesday evenings to practice and connect with others. A detailed schedule will be sent with the confirmation letter. Spiral-bound copies of Young Children and Worship will be available for purchase. Lunch is provided each day.
Children and Worship is a prerequisite before taking the Following Jesus Workshop.
Following Jesus - Friday, June 20, 2008
Registration begins at 8:30 am - Workshop is 9 am to 5 pm
These stories and parables, based on the Gospel of Mark, are specially sequenced so that children (and participants) follow Jesus through his life and stories, experience the way of the kingdom of God, and grow in Christian discipleship. Copies of the book Following Jesus will be available for purchase. Lunch is provided.
Seminarian Seminar - Saturday, June 21, 2008
Registration begins at 8:30 am - Workshop is 9 am to 5 pm
This spiritually enriching event provides demonstrations and lectures so that MFCA students learn to present biblical stories and parables using wooden figures and other materials to create a worship environment that cultivates the imagination and invites children (and adults) to fall in love with God. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Lunch is provided.
General Information
Travel to Holland is available by flying into Grand Rapids, Michigan airport (GRR). For directions for travel to Western Seminary, go to http://www.westernsem.edu/visit/direction.
Limited lodging is available at the Haworth Center Inn on the campus of Hope College, adjacent to Western Seminary. Western Seminary has arranged for a block of rooms at a reduced rate ($95.00 per room). Call the Inn directly at 1-800-903-9142 by May 18 to make arrangements. Mention this workshop for the special pricing. Or go online to http://www.hollandchamber.org for local hotel listing.
For more information, contact Carol Ann Bailiey at 1-800-392-8554 x 167 or email carolann.bailey@westernsem.edu.
