Thursday Notes - W&M 2026 (Wk 2)

Evening Prayer. Online bedtime stories and prayers read by Worship Planning Team faculty. Today’s story, The Name Jar, is available at presbymusic.org/conference-evening-prayer or scan the QR code below.

Password: WBAW2026

Columbia Theological Seminary Seminar. Please join us for an informal conversation this morning at 9:00 am in Convocation Hall with Columbia Theological Seminary for anyone discerning a call to theological education and/or continuing education.

Joyful Gratitude! Thank you for your generous gifts at last night’s Hymn Festival offering. As a result, $1,392.30 was donated to support the Hal & Martha Hopson Service Musician Fund! If you missed it, you may make a gift here or at the PAM onsite office.

Choral Reading Session. Choristers Guild led by Katie Houts at 1:30 pm in Anderson Auditorium.

String Ensemble Performance. The String Ensemble will be playing in the Assembly Inn Lobby just outside the cafeteria directly after worship today.

Interest Sessions. 

It Takes a Spark: Music in a New Space (Belk Center Lower/Left Bank) | 10:00 am

Planning Music Like a Worshiper (Belk Center Lower/Left Bank) | 4:30 pm

Conference Liturgy. Much of the music used as liturgy in this week's services come from Ways Will Open: Hymn Tunes, Songs, and Chants by Sally Ann Morris. You can find the collection here.

Instrumental Ensemble Lakeside Concert. An annual event of the Worship & Music Conference, all are invited to gather around Lake Susan tonight at 6:30 pm to hear the Instrumental Ensembles perform from the porch of Assembly Inn.

Chamber Concert. The Chamber Concert will take place tonight at 7:30 pm in the Anderson Auditorium.

Meet & Greet with Sally Ann Morris. Today from 3:30-4:30 pm and tomorrow from 10:00-11:00 am in the Beethoven & Company store (Allen Building A, upper level) Sally Ann Morris will be available to chat and sign copies of her books.

Conference Art Auction. This year, Anderson Auditorium has featured art created by the worshiping community and Joel Schoon-Tanis (Artist in Residence). Some of the art will be available in an online auction tomorrow starting at 12:00 pm EDT, ending at 3:00 pm EDT. Winners will be notified immediately and must arrange payment in the PAM Office (Allen building, lower level) before 4:00 pm EDT. Cash, cards, or checks are accepted. Art must be retrieved by the winners prior to the end of the conference. All proceeds benefit the PAM Annual Fund. The auction link will be available in tomorrow's Daily Notes.

Youth Evening Activity. Open Mic Night (with ice cream!) in Moore Center Lower immediately following the Chamber Concert.

2027 Art Installation. In 2027 the PAM Worship & Music Conference scriptures draw us to the expanse and mystery of God's presence through all generations. Called up by the scriptures, the art installation will consist of geometric shapes joining in harmonious pattern. To deepen its connection with those gathered for worship, it must be strengthened by your church's participation! Please pick up a piece of fabric from the PAM Office or from the Adult Art Class. It will include instructions for your congregation's participation in the art-making at your home church, which can be done anytime over the next year. Next year at Sunday Check-In, you will drop off your piece to be incorporated in the visual art in worship at the conference!

Friday Concert Mic Check and Rehearsal. Each group featured in the Friday evening Closing Concert will have a brief mic check and rehearsal in Anderson Auditorium on Friday afternoon. 

1:30-1:55 Middler Choir (the remainder of class will take place in Upper Anderson)

2:00-2:25 Children’s Choir (Children’s 1:30 classes release at 1:55)

2:30-2:55 Adult Choir

3:00-3:25 Senior High Choir (report to Upper Anderson at 2:25)

3:30-3:55 3:30 pm Intermediate Handbells

4:00-4:25 1:30 pm Advanced Handbells

4:30-4:55 10:00 am Intermediate Handbells

Friday Closing Concert. Please note that on Friday, July 3, the Friday Night Mountain Circle Dance on the Tennis Courts (7:00 pm) and the Worship & Music Closing Concert in Anderson Auditorium (7:30 pm) will take place on the same evening. Because these events overlap and will draw both conference participants and members of the public, parking in the town center will be more limited than usual. To accommodate Worship & Music participants, additional parking is available across from Gaither Chapel and behind the library. Accessible parking is available in the creekside lot at Anderson Auditorium. Please note that beginning at 5:00 pm, the creekside lot at Anderson Auditorium will be reserved for individuals who need accessible parking. If you do not have a placard, we kindly ask that you relocate your vehicle from this lot by that time. We encourage all guests to carpool, walk, or make use of drop-off options when possible to help ease traffic flow for the evening.

July 4 Travel. As the Worship & Music Conference concludes, please be aware that Montreat's annual Fourth of July parade will take place the morning of July 4. If you are planning to travel home on Saturday, we encourage you to depart before 9:30 am or wait until after lunchtime, as portions of Assembly Drive will be closed for the parade. Click here to view the map with parade route details, road closures, and alternate travel directions.

2027 Conference Lodging. It is not too early to reserve your lodging for the 2027 Worship & Music Conference. The following options are now open for reservations: (June 20-25 & June 27-July 2, 2027) 

• Montreat College (email Montreat Conference Services at montreatconferenceservices@montreat.edu) 

• Greybeard Rentals (email Mandi Pike at mandi@greybeardrentals.com) 

Set a reminder to check these options in August and September: 

• William Black Lodge will begin accepting reservations in mid-August (email reservations@williamblacklodge.org).  

• South Carolina Inn will begin accepting reservations in the fall (scinnatmontreat.org).

• Montreat Conference Center will begin accepting reservations on September 1st. 

PAM Certification. If you are interested in pursuing PAM Certification and would like to meet with a Certification Committee member this week, please contact Mitchell Crawford at mitchell@oldsouth.org.

Conference Coverage. Follow along @presbymusic on Facebook and Instagram to view and share social media photos and videos of the conference. Use the hashtags #PresbyMusic and #MontreatWM26 to share your photos and videos.

Concerns. If you have any crises, pastoral concerns, or conference issues, please call or text (828) 275-7362 to leave your phone number and someone from the planning team will contact you.