Workshops – PRC – Practical Resources for Churches

Worship Workshop
Saturday September 30, 2017
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Bethany Presbyterian Church, 425 Maplewood Rd. Huntington Station NY
Leader Dr. Marcia McFee

Session 1: Creating Worship with Deep Soul In this session Marcia will introduce what she means by "M-M-Good" Worship and why this is the most exciting time in worship history to be planning worship - no matter the "style!"
Session 2: Think Like a Filmmaker What can we learn from filmmakers that can inform our work in offering the greatest Story ever told in sensory-rich ways? Why do we need sensory-rich worship and how can we do it in large and small churches with small budgets and volunteers?
Session 3: The Rhythms of Liturgy and Life & The Politics of Change. With lots of interactive music we will explore the various rhythms of worship vocabularies and why we benefit from utilizing a diversity of rhythms (AND why we get into "worship wars" and how to avoid it).
Session 4: "O Lord, Is it Sunday Already?!" Worship planning can be relentless with Sunday coming EVERY week! We'll talk about planning substantive and vital worship without getting burned out, drawing on the model offered in Marcia's Worship Design Studio.

Dr. Marcia McFee is a professor, worship designer, author, preacher and ritual artist. Drawing on a first career in professional dance and musical theater and equipped with a Master's in Theology and a PhD in Liturgical Studies, she understands the role of any worship artist in the church as that of creating extraordinary portals through which communities journey with the Spirit. The task is at once deeply theological and wonderfully artistic. Connecting worship professionals and volunteers to their passion and depth of spiritual leadership is her aim in teaching and consulting as well as equipping them with skills to carry this out. Dr. McFee has designed and led worship for regional, national and international gatherings of several denominations for the last 20 years. She is the creator and visionary of the Worship Design Studio an online experience of coaching, education, inspiration and a design application.

Discount pricing for members of the Presbytery of Long Island, New York Conference of The United Methodist Church, is:
$10 for preregistration or $20 at the door
The pricing for all others is:
$20 for preregistration or $25 at the door
To register call 631-486-4350 or 631-821-2255 or email us.
Click here to Register and pay on line

Card Ministry Stamp-a-Stack
Saturday June 3, 2017
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
PRC Patchogue, 95 East Main Street, Patchogue NY – In the Congregational Church of Patchogue Parking lot off Oak Street behind the church
Leader: Karen Smith
Materials fee: $20 per person

Join other crafters here at the Patchogue PRC on the first Saturday of every month to create a “stack” of homemade cards to use in your church’s or your own card ministry. During each session, we will make nine cards (three each of three different designs; envelopes included). No experience is necessary…beginners as well as seasoned cardmakers are all welcome. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED so that adequate supplies can be prepared. Please bring your own double-sided tape and scissors.

To register call 631-821-2255 or 631-486-4350 or email us.
Go to online registration.

Scripture Scrapbooking
Saturday, October 14, 2017
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Eastern
PRC Patchogue, 95 East Main Street, Patchogue NY – In the Congregational Church of Patchogue Parking lot off Oak Street behind the church
Leader: Karen Smith
Materials Fee: $20 per person

Everyone has favorite scripture that “speaks” to them and some verses are the encouragement to which you return again and again. Join us for a workshop on Scripture Scrapbooking where we will surround your favorite scripture verses with your own artistic expression. Please come equipped with four of your favorite verses and create a page for each. Please also bring a 6” x 6” scrapbook, double sided tape, and scissors. The rest of the materials will be supplied

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED so that adequate supplies can be prepared.
To register call 631-821-2255 or 631-486-4350 or email us.
Go to online registration.

Online Courses

The Changing 21st Century Sunday School Online Course
Monday July 24, 2017 through Monday, August 14, 2017
Cost: $45
This course is eligible for 1.0 CEU.
To register, click here.
Leader: Debbie Kolacki

If you’re involved with Sunday school, either as a superintendent, CE director, teacher, or another capacity, then you’ve no doubt heard the lament that things have changed. Crowded classrooms and regular attendance are no longer the norm. Instead you’re struggling with things like whether to go to a one room Sunday school or how to reach biblically illiterate kids who only attend your program every few weeks.

Join us for this three week BeADisciple.com course as we explore ways to handle the challenges of the 21^st century Sunday school such as declining enrollment, erratic attendance, competition with other activities, lack of volunteers, and budget cuts. We’ll also talk about the possibility of doing Sunday school a different way or at a different time.

We’ll look at intergenerational ministry and worship along with ways to introduce them in your church, using the experiences of churches who are doing them successfully. Partnering with families will be discussed with specific steps you can take to help families become the primary faith formation leaders for their children.

We’ll also look at the movement to get rid of Sunday school and what this means for you and your ministry. Together we’ll come up with an action plan and innovations to your Sunday school program that will fit your unique situation.

You will be able to access this course at your own convenience; a minimum of four to five hours per week is necessary to benefit from the course content.

Debbie Kolacki is a Certified Christian Educator and Certified Lay Servant in the United Methodist Church. Her blogs include FaithGeeks and Practical Resources for Churches. She is also an online instructor for BeADisciple.com. Debbie is the senior consultant for PRC - Practical Resources for Churches where she works with people in all areas of ministry and leads webinars, workshops, and retreats.

Called to Teach Online Course
Monday September 18, 2017 through Monday, October 9, 2017
Leader: Debbie Kolacki
Cost: $45
This course is eligible for 1.0 CEU.
Leader: Debbie Kolacki
To register, click here.

If you are a new Sunday school teacher or an experienced teacher who wants to grow, this three-week course on BeADisciple.com is for you. Sunday school superintendents and CE directors may also find the course useful for teacher training. We will be looking at teaching children from preschool through 6th grade as a calling and ministry. You will be able to access this course at your own convenience; a minimum of four to five hours per week is necessary to benefit from the course content.

Week one will cover faith development as well as children’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual age level characteristics. We’ll also explore ways of using prayer and spiritual practices with children. An overview of the Bible and Church History will be covered during week two. We will also look at the different types of curriculum available and the advantages and disadvantages of the different types. During the third week, we will cover lesson planning and the teaching environment including physical, spiritual, and social space. Finally, we’ll look at ways to partner with our students’ families and the rest of the congregation in their faith formation.

Take this opportunity to grow as a teacher, as you meet and interact with others sharing the blessings and challenges of children’s ministry!