Tour Scotland & England with the Choir from Grace, Traverse City
Calling all travelers to accompany the Grace Church [Traverse City] Choir on its tour to Scotland and England.

It is part of the British American Church Music Festival - June 13 through 21, 2007. We will be joining other church choirs to sing in a Festival Choir setting, under the direction of Gerre Hancock, former organ master at St. Thomas in New York City - and Michael Harris, Master of Music at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.

You need not be a singer to join us, yet your participation as a singer would be welcome. Highlights of the trip include visits to Stirling and Edinburgh Castles; the Church of the Holy Rude; Greyfriar's Kirk; presenting a concert at St. Giles Cathedral; a visit to Westminster Abbey; a visit to the Tower of London; an evening at the theatre; and presenting a concert at Westminster Methodist Central Hall with the Virtuosi of London Orchestra.

We are seeking a minimum of 42 travelers to secure a coach for our group alone. The trip is in the planning stages and a representative from BESTours will be here in Traverse City on Sunday, August 20th after church services, to do a presentation for us.

If you have any questions or would like to declare your intention to travel with us, please call Margie Hunter at 231-929-1722 as soon as possible.

--Information submitted by Steven Wade, Grace Episcopal Church, Traverse City (231) 947-2330

• THEME: How can we embrace change?
• Saturday, October 7
  8:30-12:00 North Presbyterian, Kalamazoo
  1:30-5:00 Zion Lutheran, Comstock ParkSunday
• Sunday, October 8
  2:00-5:30 St. Philip’s Episcopal, Beulah
  

• READ pages 9-80 and THINK ABOUT ways that your congregation embraces, and resists, change.

New Visions for the Long Pastorate
with Roy Oswald @ the Pyle Center-Madison, 702 Langdon Street, Madison, WI.
September 12-13, 2006

Most denominational leaders agree that longer pastorates make for healthier ministries. It is difficult for congregatios to achieve long-term goals without long-term pastorates. Much momentum is lost in pastoral change, yet the practical skills needed by clergy to continue in one ministry over the long haul are missing.

After years of research and experimentation, Roy Oswald developed ways to address the potential challenges of long pastorates, while at the same time capitalizing on the strengths of long-term fruitful ministries. Roy Oswald was for many years a senior consultant at the Alban Institute. He consults with churches and conducts training throughout the country on stress and burnout, pastoral transitions, lay leadership and incorporating new members. His books include: Running Through the Thistles: Terminating a Ministerial Relationship with a Parish, New Visions for the Long Pastorate and Personality Type and Religious Leadership.

For more information on this seminar, and to download a flyer with registration form, please visit the EDWM website at:
http://www.edwm.org/pdf/2006_09-12-NewVisions

Registration fee is $250.00 (Prog. #1076) - You can also call the Pyle Center directly at 608-262-7942 for more information.

The Missional Church and Denominations
Engaging the Challenge of the Denominational Church
November 3-4 , 2006 - Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN

Plenary papers by: Wyvetta Bullock, David Forney, Alan Roxburgh, Craig Van Gelder.
Also: Lois Barrett, worship leader; Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, special speaker.

Join theological scholars and denominational church leaders from around the US at Luther Seminary, Nov. 3-4. Be part of the conversation around cutting-edge research on the important issues facing the church today.

For information and to register, go to:

http://www.luthersem.edu/missional_church/