FREE TO YOU - The Gift of Revitalization:
6-week interactive online worship learning with Dr. Marcia McFee
As your Conference Minister, I have been in awe at the ways you, our pastors, musicians, and worship leaders, have adapted to the many challenges of worshiping in the ever-changing world of COVID. You have been on my heart and in prayers, as I know many of you have expressed your weariness and a bit of trepidation, knowing this Advent/Christmas season will be like no other you or your congregations have experienced. It is my deepest desire to support you and your churches as you continue to boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
Years ago, I attended a week-long retreat with Dr. Marcia McFee, which was deeply transformative. The retreat offered new resources, ideas, and techniques to share with my music staff, worship leaders, and worship committees. Recently I reached out to Dr. McFee to talk to her about offering some webinars for our Conference. She shared that she had recently adapted her "Reboot Your Worship" series in light of the realities of worshiping in a pandemic and, if we would be interested, the Illinois South Conference could purchase this opportunity for all of the churches in our Conference. When I approached the Conference Council about this idea, they wholeheartedly supported offering this as a gift to all of you.
Thanks to monies from our Strengthen the Church fund, we are pleased to offer you and anyone in your church who would like to participate the opportunity to be a part Dr. Marcia McFee's "Reboot Your Worship" training at no cost to you starting on September 20th, 2020.
Now let me first say I know we are all ZOOM'ed out at this point. So perhaps the idea of participating in yet another online session makes you want to groan and quickly delete this email. But, please hear me out.
I am confident this will be a wonderful experience for those who choose to participate. Usually registration fees for one of Dr. McFee's workshops or retreats are at least $250 on up. However, because we are gifting this to all of our churches, this experience will be at no cost to you.
I know not all of her suggestions, ideas or resources will work in your local context. I also know some of you will not be able to attend all of the sessions and that is ok. Even if there is one idea that offers you excitement and inspiration for your worship preparation, I believe it will have been worth being a part of this experience. So, I would encourage you to make time for participating and encourage others in your churches to do likewise.
The registration fees have been paid through our Strengthen the Church fund in order for all of our churches to participate. This gives you access to 6 weeks of downloadable resources (articles and videos) and 6 live webinars (also recorded for your archives) with Dr. McFee, a renowned worship designer, consultant, and educator. Read more about her at her website.
She will be training churches in five basic ways to improve their worship immediately, no matter the size or style of worship and without a big budget or drastic change. Just as we have an occasional need to reboot our computers, "rebooting" your worship is simply a way to look through fresh eyes and get some fresh skills.
This course is also tailored to approach worship practices during the pandemic and will explore the basics of sensory-rich worship design while emphasizing safety protocols and getting creative for online expressions without burning out.
AND Dr. McFee has shared with me that part of the series will be dedicated to getting you ready for your best Advent season ever all along the way! All you need to do is register (at no charge) to receive the emails. You can invite unlimited members of your worship team (or potential worship team members) to receive these communications as well. We encourage you to take advantage of this free offer (usually $99 per church) made possible through our registration.
Click here for our registration link.
Feel free to share this information and the registration link with others in your church who assist in worship planning.
Blessings, Rev. Shana Johnson, ISC Conference Minister