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Class Descriptions

CEU indicates that a course or session can be counted for Continuing Education Units.

PAM Cert indicates that a course or session counts toward specific requirements of PAM Certification.

IG indicates that a course or session is an intergenerational offering.

Adult Classes

Adult Bible Study  -  William P. Brown

Like an ancient meandering river, God’s living waters flow throughout the biblical landscape of story and song. From gently flowing streams to thunderous cascades and inundations, water in Scripture has a voice that speaks in a multitude of ways, particularly now in a time of water scarcity, commodification, and pollution. We will explore the various ways water is “channeled” in Scripture for the flourishing of life. CEU PAM Cert I.3

Adult Chamber Choir - Jason Max Ferdinand

This auditioned ensemble rehearses twice daily, Monday through Thursday, and sings several times during the week, including the Thursday evening Chamber Choir Concert. Auditions take place during Sunday check-in hours. Those selected must purchase a music packet from the on-site store prior to the first rehearsal. PAM Cert IV.1

Adult Choir - Jason Max Ferdinand

Rehearses twice daily to prepare for singing in worship and the Friday evening concert. PAM Cert IV.1

Art Workshop - Steve Prince

In this hands-on workshop participants will create original works of art from discarded materials by re-imbuing them with new life and meaning through the creative process. Our stories, family history, past and current events, and the imagined future will inspire our artwork and help the participants to break down superficial and real walls historically built between us, to draw us closer together in the creation of a more peaceable kingdom. CEU PAM Cert I.1 IG

Beginning Hymn Writing Lab - David Bjorlin

In this class participants will learn the basics of hymn writing—feet, meter, rhyme, form—and experiment with writing our own hymn texts. This will be an interactive and low-stress class with no previous knowledge required!

PAM Cert IV.1 IG

Children's Choir Seminar - Mark Burrows

Children Belong. As children’s music ministers, we are uniquely equipped to utilize God’s great gift of the arts to advocate for the inclusion of children in the worship life of the community. PAM Cert IV.1

 

Our Story: Children Belong 1

The last words in the Bible are not “The End.” God’s great story keeps going and we are part of it. We will use singing, body percussion, movement, drama, and creative play―some of the amazing gifts God gave us―to help bring the spoken word―Bible stories, memory verses, prayers, affirmations―to life in amazing ways for our children.

Our Song: Children Belong 2

The hymns we choose, the songs we sing, the ways we encourage the congregation to interact with one another―rather than expect them to behave like an audience “consuming a product”―all of these can help our dear ones feel more connected to the place where Jesus has already said they belong.

Our Experience: Children Belong 3

Explain less, experience more. The word liturgy means the “work of the people,” not just the people wearing robes and standing up at the front. In this session we will explore little wonders of the natural world, traditional sacred symbols, curated prayer walks, and even classic (nonelectronic) toys as opportunities to connect with the sacred.

Light Moments and Moments of Light: Children Belong 4

In between all the notes and rhythms are often where our greatest opportunities for music ministry take place. We will explore some ways to lighten the mood to keep children engaged. And we will go deep to discover those beautiful Moments of Light when we truly feel the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

Together Time: Children Belong 5

Let’s put it all together! In this session, we will utilize what we’ve explored over the past four days to create a worship service from scratch. This is an all-hands-in session. Mark will facilitate and, with any grace, the Holy Spirit will lead!

Dialogue, Dissonance, & Debate in the Bible - William P. Brown

If the Bible were an anthem, it would be filled with soaring harmonies, lilting melodies, and jarring dissonances. Not every voice in the Bible is pitch perfect. For such a time as this, a time in which dialogue is displaced by polarizing discourse, the Bible speaks profoundly on how to hold together diverse perspectives and convictions in the common cause of love and justice. In this class, we will explore how Scripture is its own e pluribus unum. CEU PAM Cert I.3

Global Drumming - Josh Dekaney and James Wells

Students will participate in a drum circle playing either conga, djembe, cajón, tubano, or bucket drum with rhythms from across the globe including call & response, timeline patterns, and improvisation. CEU PAM Cert IV.1 IG

Adult Bible Study
Adult Chamber Choir

Handbells - Sandra Eithun & Brian Childers

Beginning: For those relatively new to ringing with limited handbell experience (Music level 1, 2). The 4:30 Beginning Handbell class will not meet on Friday.  PAM Cert IV.1 IG

Intermediate: For those who have rung in bell choirs before and feel moderately proficient in reading music and most handbell techniques (Music level 2+, 3+). The Intermediate Handbell classes perform in the Closing Concert Friday night.  PAM Cert IV.1  IG

Advanced: For those who ring regularly and feel confident in all handbell techniques and upper-level performance (Music level 3+, 4+). The Advanced Handbell class performs in the Closing Concert Friday night. PAM Cert IV.1 IG

Advanced (auditioned): For experienced and proficient ringers (Music level 4, 5). The Auditioned Advanced Handbell class performs in the Closing Concert Friday night.  PAM Cert IV.1

Handbell Technique Seminar -  Brian Childers

This seminar-style class offers techniques to improve your ringing and is geared to directors as well as intermediate and advanced ringers. This class will meet Monday-Thursday. PAM Cert IV.1

Instrumental Ensembles - Mark Britt and Phil Kent

These ensembles provide opportunities for instrumentalists to rehearse and perform during the conference. An on-site interview for ensemble placement is required during Sunday check-in.  PAM Cert IV.1 IG

PAM Members submitted proposals for 50 minute classes on a variety of topics. Each week of the conference, eight of these submitted sessions will be presented in a one time, 50 minute class. Descriptions of the classes can be found below.

The Lectionary: Sources & Secrets - David Gambrell

The 1983 Common Lectionary (precursor to the RCL) is forty years old but flows from ancient streams. This seminar focuses on its history, structure, common questions, and creative use in worship. CEU PAM Cert I.1

Liturgy Seminar - Kendra Buckwalter Smith

As we encounter the triune God in worship, we carry with us a host of experiences and emotions, needs to be met and gifts to offer. Christ promises to meet us in all these things, not only in the moment of worship, but throughout everyday life. In this workshop, we’ll explore why and how we approach the well of life-giving water time and again―from acts of praise and adoration, to acts of confession and lament, and finally in reception of healing and wholeness. Drinking deeply from the well of existing liturgical resources and crafting our own words for worship, we will consider ways we might engage the breadth of these needs in services of the Lord’s Day, as well as other opportunities to approach God through the rhythm of the liturgical year and the life of our communities. 

CEU PAM Cert I.1

Morning & Evening Prayer 

Morning prayer will begin at 7:30 am, Monday – Friday, and evening prayer will begin 15 minutes after the end of the evening event, Monday - Thursday.  We invite you to begin and end each day with prayer, scripture, and song in services intentionally designed to mirror the practices of smaller worshipping communities.

Organ Master Class - Nathaniel Gumbs

Each day, Monday through Thursday, participants will have the opportunity to perform and be coached in various aspects of organ playing by the conference Organ Recitalist in a public master class setting. CEU PAM Cert IV.1 IG

Organ Service Playing Seminar- Eric Wall

Singing and the Organist. How can fingers and feet sing at the organ so that the congregation sings also? In this class, we’ll consider the organist’s primary work of participating in the people’s song. We’ll explore practical matters like registration, voicing, introductions, and more, as well as the theological and pastoral foundations that undergird our work. CEU PAM Cert IV.1 IG

Adult Classes
Adult Choir
Art Workshop
Children's Choir Seminar
Dialogue, Dissonance...
A Global Drumming
A Handbells
A Handbell Techniques
A Hymn Writing
A Instrumental Ensembles
Lectionary Sources
Liturgy Seminar
A Morning Prayer
A Organ Master Class
A Organ Service Playing

Photography as Worship- Aaron Doll

Photography as Worship: Claiming Visual Culture as a Medium of Devotion

The visual image is a familiar and expected path of communication for us today. Often, we are encouraged by a spiritual meme in our inbox or on social media. We are soothed by a video of a bubbling brook almost as if we were present with it in person. When used in worship or devotion, pictures illicit responses within us of eternal archetypes: a path disappearing into the horizon, a baby held peacefully in a parent’s arms, the crash of surf against a shore. Together we will look through the lens with theological eyes and capture moments of Scripture and divine inspiration. Participants will use their smartphones or a camera to capture images from the abundant visual resources of Montreat. Digital images may be shared during the week with the conference visual presentations.   

CEU PAM Cert I.1 IG

Preaching Seminar -  Larissa Kwong Abazia

Power, Voice, and Story. The biblical narrative is full of stories highlighting the complexity of life together. It’s never easy (and they/we certainly don’t always get it right), but it is the work to which we are called! Deep exploration of a given narrative from a variety of perspectives alongside our own biases, assumptions, and familiarity allows the preacher to provide a message relevant to a life of faith today. Together, we will uncover ways to broaden our understanding and expand the possibilities so that our preaching provides a fresh perspective to familiar texts.

Professional Development Seminar - Mark Kemp

I Can't Hear the Music Anymore!

So many things happen in a Music Ministry that aren't a part of rehearsal or worship, and if those things aren't going well, they can drown out the work of the church. How do communication, logistics, and relationships help your congregation sing better? What resources can make your daily rhythms more predictable and productive? What if no one else can hear the music either? We will discuss these and other current challenges for the church. 

CEU PAM Cert II.1

Reading Sessions

Monday - Children’s Choir - Mark Burrows - 3:30 pm

Tuesday - Senior High Choir - Elisa Macedo Dekaney - 3:30 pm

Tuesday - Handbells - Brian Childers and Sandra Eithun - 6:30 pm

Wednesday - Adult Choir - Jason Max Ferdinand - 3:30 pm

Thursday - Middler Choir - Victor Johnson - 3:30 pm   

Retirement Seminar - Clark Simmons

Join Clark Simmons from the PCUSA Board of Pensions for this session on retirement. 

Routley Lecture - David Bjorlin

The Theological Implications of Form and Context in Congregational Song

In many of our current debates over the theologies of congregational songs, much of our energy is spent examining the text itself. While this is one essential component, this year’s Routley Lectures will focus on the way both form―rhyme, meter, line length―and context―where, when, and how the hymn is sung―are just as important when considering the sung theology of congregational song. CEU PAM Cert I.1

Service Playing Seminar - Tony McNeill

On and Off the Keyboard, On and Off the Page: Accompanying Worship

This class will explore the different ways service musicians lead and accompany singing. We’ll talk about ways songs can be brought to life beyond what is written on the page (including specific, practical resources) and how we can do justice to different kinds of songs. We’ll also look at other ways that we can accompany and support the liturgy. This is not just a keyboardist’s class―it is for anyone interested in the life of singing in worship. CEU PAM Cert IV.1 IG

Worship Reflections - Worship Team

Worship Reflections gives conferees a behind-the-scenes look at how our worship services are planned and implemented so that conferees can take ideas, approaches, and understanding “back home.” The moderator leads discussion and fields questions for our preacher, liturgist, visual artist, and service musicians. CEU PAM Cert I.1

Youth Choir Seminar - Victor Johnson

It’s All in a Year’s Work: Practical and Purposeful Strategies for Working with Young Singers

Effective teaching and ministry occurs when you have done extensive, yet practical planning and purposeful preparation. In these sessions, we will discuss methods that will help keep you and your middle school singers motivated and engaged throughout the church year. Topics discussed will include strategies for building community within your choir, creative methods for building spirituality, score preparation, practical rehearsal techniques, and innovative and fun “quick fixes” for building  tone and musicality. PAM Cert IV.1

A Photography as worship
Preaching Seminar
Professional Development
Reading sessions
Retirment Seminar
Routley Lecture
Service Playing Seminar
Worship Reflections
Youth Choir Seminar

Interest Sessions

Songs from Asian Hymnody - Chi Yi Chen Wolbrink

10:00 am, Monday

Congregational songs from Taiwan to the world! PAM Cert I.1

Guest Musicians: Success is No Accident! -  Mark Britt

4:30 pm, Monday

This session will present ideas on how to prepare effectively for guest musicians in the church setting.  Designed for choir directors with limited instrumental background, the session addresses concerns for preparing individual parts (notation software), technique expectations for younger players, instrumentation substitutions, transposition pitfalls, use of proper terminology, understanding bowings, ensemble balance, instrumental conducting gestures, orchestration concerns when playing from a hymnal, inclusion of percussion instruments, and physical placement of instrumentalists in the choir loft. 

Singing and Stewardship -  Bill Davis and Wil Smith

4:30 pm, Monday

Have you been struggling with how to reinforce your annual stewardship campaign with good congregational songs? This is the workshop for you! Wil and Bill will present an overview of the current hymnody related to stewardship and then invite workshop participants to co-write a new hymn that can be used in their own ministry contexts.

PAM Cert I.1

Music of Mister Rogers - Jeremy Roberts

10:00 am, Tuesday

For decades children grew up learning and growing with the TV program, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. But Fred Rogers was more than just a TV personality. He was a person of deep and abiding faith. Join FPCA music director, Jeremy Roberts, for a look at the songs of Mister Rogers and the spiritual wisdom found in them. PAM Cert IV.1

What values and practices are emerging in the worship rhythms of our newest worshiping communities? - Grace Kim, Martin Osae, Nikki Collins, Jon Mathieu, and Gad Mpoyo 

4:30 pm, Tuesday

Meet leaders from the 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement who lead communities ranging from the hills of Appalachia to the suburbs of Dallas and are made up of curious skeptics, recent immigrants, and people who never imagined themselves in a Presbyterian church. How do the new worshiping communities work? What do they look like? What can we learn from them that will bring new life to our established congregations? Join us for a lively conversation! PAM Cert I.1

Touch the Earth - David VanderMeer and Anne Wilson

10:00 am, Wednesday

Under the guidance of a church musician and educator, we will experience and cocreate a cross-generational, multisensory learning unit on creation care. Leave with resources to offer a post-Easter encounter, a VBS extravaganza, or a mid-week series that will incorporate prayer, music, Scripture, upcycled art, and mission for the whole body of Christ to make a difference to our hurting planet.

Justice (Honoring Darkness) - Ray Landis

4:30 pm, Wednesday

Have you noticed how often darkness is equated with evil and light with goodness? How can we broaden the language we use in our songs and liturgies to honor the complex interconnectedness between light and darkness? PAM Cert I.1

Piano Accompaniment - David Brinson

10:00 am, Thursday

Do you see lead sheets and not know what to do? Wondered how to play more than root position or fill in gaps with variety? This class will give notated licks, including fully realized accompaniments for contemporary worship songs. PAM Cert IV.1

Engaging Worship and Word - Claudia Gatewood

4:30 pm, Thursday

A worship planning seminar focused on specific ways worship can become engaging for all ages. Ideas for creative changes for liturgical seasons will also be considered, with specific emphasis on the Advent and Lenten seasons.

PAM Cert I.1

Week 1

Interest Sessions

Interest Sessions

Practices of Psalmody - Eric Sarwar

10:00 am, Monday

Though the Psalms are a part of the Judeo-Christian liturgical heritage of the past three millennia, one of their truly striking elements--in addition to their poetic beauty and liturgical and theological depth--is the all-encompassing diversity with which the Divine approaches and invites all the nations, all the people in the world. Because the Psalms has a status of divine revelation in Islam and Christianity (albeit in very different linguistic, liturgical, and theological guises), we need an interfaith exploration that involves both practical and performative dimensions. PAM Cert I.1

Adapting Hymn and Anthem Text -  Mitchell Crawford

4:30 pm, Monday

At times, our desire to create inclusive communities where all feel welcome can be at odds with texts which seem to exclude. In this session, we’ll explore methods and rationales for adapting hymn and anthem texts for modern use. PAM Cert I.1

Guest Musicians: Success Is No Accident -  Mark Britt

4:30 pm, Monday

This session will present ideas on how to prepare effectively for guest musicians in the church setting.  Designed for choir directors with limited instrumental background, the session addresses concerns for preparing individual parts (notation software), technique expectations for younger players, instrumentation substitutions, transposition pitfalls, use of proper terminology, understanding bowings, ensemble balance, instrumental conducting gestures, orchestration concerns when playing from a hymnal, inclusion of percussion instruments, and physical placement of instrumentalists in the choir loft. 

Rebuilding Music Ministry- Sarah Allred

10:00 am, Tuesday

Are you struggling for ideas to rebuild your music program after years of adapting and pivoting again and again? Come to lament, learn, share, and hope for your music ministry. Get ideas to grow all your programs from children through adults and handbells through praise teams. PAM Cert IV.1

Worship and Children - Karen Hahn

4:30 pm, Tuesday

Worship is a time to come together as community, but often we as a church are not quite sure how to fully include our youngest members. This session will look at the importance of changing up our approaches so that all can celebrate what God has done together. PAM Cert I.1

Kodaly - Kirsten Foyles and Terri Sinclair

10:00 am, Wednesday

The Glory to God hymnal is an ideal tool to teach rhythmic and melodic elements in a Kodály-inspired choir rehearsal. PAM Cert IV.1

Flexible Anthems - Peter Haley

4:30 pm, Wednesday

This session will offer musicians the opportunity to learn accessible anthems that can be sung well by choirs large and small and discover how they can be used to introduce various musical techniques. PAM Cert IV.1

Children's Choir - Kaitlyn Davros

10:00 am, Thursday

Children’s choir rehearsals can go haywire within seconds, and directors/volunteers may find themselves reacting, trying to bring them back to attention, and afterwards trying to replay where they may have lost control. Transitions can be the most important part of keeping a rehearsal on track, but how?! Let’s add many more fun and educational tools to our tool box for leading children’s music programs. PAM Cert IV.1

Music for All Generations - Margaret Downs and Hope Murphy

4:30 pm, Thursday

This session will provide strategies, programming, and ministry ideas and examples of ways to incorporate a love of music into church programming for children, youth, and adults that fosters a life-long participation in music ministry and worship. PAM Cert IV.1

Week 2

Senior Highs

Art Workshop - Steve Prince

In this hands-on workshop participants will create original works of art from discarded materials by re-imbuing them with new life and meaning through the creative process. Our stories, family history, past and current events, and the imagined future will inspire our artwork and help the participants to break down superficial and real walls historically built between us, to draw us closer together in the creation of a more peaceable kingdom. IG

Beginning Hymn Writing Lab - David Bjorlin

In this class participants will learn the basics of hymn writing—feet, meter, rhyme, form—and experiment with writing our own hymn texts. This will be an interactive and low-stress class with no previous knowledge required!  IG

Global Drumming -  Josh Dekaney

Students will participate in a drum circle playing either conga, djembe, cajón, tubano, or bucket drum with rhythms from across the globe including call & response, timeline patterns, and improvisation. IG

Handbells - Sandra Eithun & Brian Childers

Beginning: For those relatively new to ringing with limited handbell experience (Music level 1, 2). The 4:30 Beginning Handbell class will not meet on Friday. IG

Intermediate: For those who have rung in bell choirs before and feel moderately proficient in reading music and most handbell techniques (Music level 2+, 3+). The Intermediate Handbell classes perform in the Closing Concert Friday night. IG

Advanced: For those who ring regularly and feel confident in all handbell techniques and upper-level performance (Music level 3+, 4+). The Advanced Handbell class performs in the Closing Concert Friday night. IG

Instrumental Ensembles - Mark Britt and Phil Kent

These ensembles provide opportunities for instrumentalists to rehearse and perform during the conference. An on-site interview for ensemble placement is required during Sunday check-in.  IG

Morning & Evening Prayer 

Morning prayer will begin at 7:30 am, Monday – Friday, and evening prayer will begin 15 minutes after the end of the evening event, Monday - Thursday.  We invite you to begin and end each day with prayer, scripture, and song in services intentionally designed to mirror the practices of smaller worshipping communities.

Organ Master Class - Nathaniel Gumbs

Each day, Monday through Thursday, participants will have the opportunity to perform and be coached in various aspects of organ playing by the conference Organ Recitalist in a public master class setting. IG

Organ Service Playing Seminar - Eric Wall

Singing and the Organist. How can fingers and feet sing at the organ so that the congregation sings also? In this class, we’ll consider the organist’s primary work of participating in the people’s song. We’ll explore practical matters like registration, voicing, introductions, and more, as well as the theological and pastoral foundations that undergird our work. IG

Photography as Worship - Aaron Doll

Photography as Worship: Claiming Visual Culture as a Medium of Devotion

The visual image is a familiar and expected path of communication for us today. Often, we are encouraged by a spiritual meme in our inbox or on social media. We are soothed by a video of a bubbling brook almost as if we were present with it in person. When used in worship or devotion, pictures illicit responses within us of eternal archetypes: a path disappearing into the horizon, a baby held peacefully in a parent’s arms, the crash of surf against a shore. Together we will look through the lens with theological eyes and capture moments of Scripture and divine inspiration. Participants will use their smartphones or a camera to capture images from the abundant visual resources of Montreat. Digital images may be shared during the week with the conference visual presentations.   IG

Service Playing Seminar - Tony McNeill

On and Off the Keyboard, On and Off the Page: Accompanying Worship

This class will explore the different ways service musicians lead and accompany singing. We’ll talk about ways songs can be brought to life beyond what is written on the page (including specific, practical resources) and how we can do justice to different kinds of songs. We’ll also look at other ways that we can accompany and support the liturgy. This is not just a keyboardist’s class―it is for anyone interested in the life of singing in worship. IG

Small Groups - Rachel Doll

The Small Groups for Middle and High School Youth will be a daily time to laugh, dialogue, connect, and get to know yourself, your faith, and your siblings in this amazing branch of the family of God. Small groups are required for Senior High participants.

Senior High Chamber Choir - Elisa Dekaney

This auditioned ensemble rehearses twice daily, Monday through Thursday, and sings several times during the week, including the Thursday evening Chamber Choir Concert. Auditions take place during Sunday check-in hours. Youth who have completed ninth grade through twelfth grade and young adults ages 18-20 may audition. Those selected must purchase a music packet from the on-site store prior to the first rehearsal.   

Senior High Choir - Elisa Dekaney

The Senior High Choir rehearses twice daily to prepare for singing in worship and the Friday evening concert. This is a required class for Senior High participants.

Senior High Classes
SH Art Workshop
SH Global Drumming
SH Handbells
SH Hymn Writing
SH Instrumental Ensembles
SH Morning Prayer
SH Organ Service Playing
SH Photography
SH Service Playing Seminar
SH Small grous
SH Chamber Choir
SH Choir

Middlers

Fun & Games - Montreat Staff

Games and other fun activities in the outdoor beauty of Montreat.   

Global Drumming -  Josh Dekaney

Students will participate in a drum circle playing either conga, djembe, cajón, tubano, or bucket drum with rhythms from across the globe including call & response, timeline patterns, and improvisation. IG

Handbells - Sandra Eithun & Brian Childers

Beginning: For those relatively new to ringing with limited handbell experience (Music level 1, 2). IG

Intermediate: For those who have rung in bell choirs before and feel moderately proficient in reading music and most handbell techniques (Music level 2+, 3+). The Intermediate Handbell class perform in the Closing Concert Friday night. IG

Middler Choir - Victor Johnson

The Middler Choir rehearses twice daily to prepare for singing in worship and the Friday evening concert. This is a required class for Middler participants.

Middler Instrumental Ensembles - Mark Britt and Phil Kent

These ensembles provide opportunities for instrumentalists to rehearse and perform during the conference. 

Morning & Evening Prayer 

Morning prayer will begin at 7:30 am, Monday – Friday, and evening prayer will begin 15 minutes after the end of the evening event, Monday - Thursday.  We invite you to begin and end each day with prayer, scripture, and song in services intentionally designed to mirror the practices of smaller worshipping communities.

Organ Service Playing Seminar - Eric Wall

Singing and the Organist. How can fingers and feet sing at the organ so that the congregation sings also? In this class, we’ll consider the organist’s primary work of participating in the people’s song. We’ll explore practical matters like registration, voicing, introductions, and more, as well as the theological and pastoral foundations that undergird our work. IG

Photography as Worship - Aaron Doll

Photography as Worship: Claiming Visual Culture as a Medium of Devotion

The visual image is a familiar and expected path of communication for us today. Often, we are encouraged by a spiritual meme in our inbox or on social media. We are soothed by a video of a bubbling brook almost as if we were present with it in person. When used in worship or devotion, pictures illicit responses within us of eternal archetypes: a path disappearing into the horizon, a baby held peacefully in a parent’s arms, the crash of surf against a shore. Together we will look through the lens with theological eyes and capture moments of Scripture and divine inspiration. Participants will use their smartphones or a camera to capture images from the abundant visual resources of Montreat. Digital images may be shared during the week with the conference visual presentations.   IG

Service Playing Seminar - Tony McNeill

On and Off the Keyboard, On and Off the Page: Accompanying Worship

This class will explore the different ways service musicians lead and accompany singing. We’ll talk about ways songs can be brought to life beyond what is written on the page (including specific, practical resources) and how we can do justice to different kinds of songs. We’ll also look at other ways that we can accompany and support the liturgy. This is not just a keyboardist’s class―it is for anyone interested in the life of singing in worship. IG

Small Groups - Rachel Doll

The Small Groups for Middle and High School Youth will be a daily time to laugh, dialogue, connect, and get to know yourself, your faith, and your siblings in this amazing branch of the family of God. Small groups are required for Middler participants.

Middler Classes
M Fun & Games
M Global Drumming
M Handbells
M Choir
M Instrumental Ensemble
M Morning Prayer
M Organ Service Playing
M Photography
M Service Playing Seminar
M Small Groups

Children

Bible- Suzie Lane and Liz Perraud

Children will use wondering questions to explore the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, Psalms 65 and 126, and baptism. A fun activity, like a craft, nature walk or game, will accompany the story each day. They will end each session with prayer.   

Children's Choir - Mark Burrows

The Children's Choir rehearses twice daily to prepare for singing in worship and the Friday evening concert.

Children's Music - James Wells

Our elementary music time will build in succession one day to the next. Although it will be singing based, we will be in constant motion with drums, rhythm instruments, sign language, creative movement, improvisation, call and response, and plenty of time for solo singing and instrumental leadership. The teaching approach will be both rote/aural as well as some notation and literacy reinforcement. The best way it can be described is a BIG JAM SESSION each day reinforcing the theme of the week, plus Bible stories, Scripture memory verses, hymn tunes, prayers, and spiritual songs.  The children won’t have time to be bored, and we’ll leave them wanting more!! Oh yeah, we hope to prepare something special for the talent show and would love to be considered for a worship service experience as well.

Fun & Games - Montreat Staff

Games and other fun activities in the outdoor beauty of Montreat.   

Global Drumming -  Josh Dekaney

Students will participate in a drum circle playing either conga, djembe, cajón, tubano, or bucket drum with rhythms from across the globe including call & response, timeline patterns, and improvisation. IG

Children's Classes
C Bible
C Choir
C Music
C Fun & Gams
C Global Drumming
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