Saturday Workshops

Presenter: The Rev. Dr.  Dwight Zscheile

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Faithful Innovation

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Many inherited church structures were designed for a different world and are reaching the end of their life cycles. Yet they bear precious treasures and traditions that we don't want to lose. In this workshop, we will explore how to faithfully discern the next steps through life-giving practices that help us clarify our story and join in God's life in our neighborhoods.

Panelists: The Rev. Janet Tunnell, All Saints, Tarpon Springs; the Rev. Chris Wood, St. John's, Tampa; Leila Miser, St. James House of Prayer, Tampa, and Jackie Overton, Redeemer, Sarasota.

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What is Your Calling? 

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God calls each of us to serve in unique ways. This workshop focuses on non-ordination callings, particularly the vital roles of lay leaders in ministry. Learn how to discern your spiritual gifts and understand the significance of your contribution to worship and community leadership. Through guided reflection and group activities, this session will help you listen more closely to God's call and empower you to step confidently into your ministry role.

Presenter: Ashley Cummings, MHA, LNHA

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Walking Together Through Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Health Transitions

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This presentation explores dementia and Alzheimer’s disease through a holistic lens, combining healthcare strategies and spiritual care insights. It provides practical guidance for understanding the phases of dementia, health transitions, and the role of advanced directives, with actionable tips for caregivers, friends, and family. Emphasizing the biblical principles of humility, patience, and love from Ephesians 4, it also introduces innovative care models like the Montessori approach to dementia care. The session aims to equip attendees with tools and inspiration to support individuals and families navigating these challenging health transitions.

Presenter: Jane Breaux

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Finding Peace in the Midst of Chaos

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In this session, we will discuss stress in our daily lives and learn ways we can find peace even when we are in the middle of chaos. Open to all ages, this session invites individuals to explore habits that promote mental well-being and spiritual grounding. Participants will be invited to experience some simple and accessible techniques, so come with an open mind and a willingness to try!

Presenter:  Dr. Lisa Kimball 

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Godparents Matter: Presence and Presents ​​

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Godparents are hidden treasures. Research consistently finds that young people who have a healthy mentor and role model demonstrate higher resilience in daily life. Godparents are natural mentors, and congregations can be communities of intentional support for

 healthy discipleship by taking godparenting seriously. This “no guilt zone” workshop is designed to (re)ignite enthusiasm and confidence in godparents and to equip congregational leaders to nurture the potential of godparenting to form healthy intergenerational relationships and grow Christian vocations.  

Presenter: Sybil MacBeth

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Two-Stroke Blessing Prayers 

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When we offer blessing prayers to others, even simple ones like "May the Lord bless you and keep you," we are acting as God's agents or emissaries to extend comfort, hope, joy..... But finding the words to express what we want to say is not always easy. In this prayerful but playful workshop, we will use our spiritual imaginations to explore the vast nature of God and to expand our blessing vocabulary. With pen and colored pencils or markers, we will create a simple, visual framework for sharing these prayers. 

Presenters: The Rev. Deacon William Pardy

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Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Discipleship

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Through his “The Cost of Discipleship” (1937), Dietrich Bonhoeffer leaves the sacred community of the church with profound reflections on faith and obedience as the foundations of true discipleship. This session will explore Bonhoeffer’s life and writings, tracing his uncompromising views on the essential elements of “costly grace” versus “cheap grace.” Emphasizing costly grace reveals itself in surrender, sacrifice, and a steadfast commitment to obedience, this workshop challenges the complacency often found in modern faith. By examining Bonhoeffer’s personal choices during the rise of Nazi Germany and his stance that discipleship takes priority over secular agendas, this session invites us to “make disciples”  who will embody courage, integrity, and a faith that actively influences both private and public life. Through discussion and guided exercises, participants will discover practical applications for Bonhoeffer’s timeless principles, equipping them to nurture a faith that is deep, resilient, and dedicated to Christ above all.

Presenter: Lilly Lewin 

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Experiential Prayer Stations 

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It is time to open the gate and move our worship beyond singing. Participants will gather in the Open Air Pavilion to participate in an inter-active, multi-sensory worship experience curated  to deepen our prayerful meditation on Ephesians 4.  This “Sacred Space” is open to participants of all ages engaging God through prayer stations a - moving our worship beyond singing and listening and beyond sitting and watching to actually participating.

Panelists: The Rev. Alexander Andujar, St. John's, Sun City; the Rev. Dave Marshall, All Angels by the Sea, Longboat Key; the Rev. Michelle Robertshaw, St. Andrew’s, Boca Grande and the Rev. Canon Michael Alford, The Cathedral Church of St. Peter, St. Petersburg. 

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Incorporating Pilgrimages into Your Everyday Life.

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Not everyone can hike the Camino, but many people are still interested in seeking out the benefits of a pilgrimage. How can your church or group of individual parishioners create pilgrimages closer to home?

Presenters: Lindsey Nickel, Director of Communications, and John Edgar, Director of Congregation Support, Diocese of Southwest Florida.

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How Artificial Intelligence and Process Automation Tools Can Optimize Church Leaders Time

 

In today's fast-paced world, church leaders often find themselves overwhelmed with administrative tasks, scheduling, communication, and data management. To focus more on your core mission of ministry and pastoral care, it is essential to leverage modern technology. This workshop will explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Process Automation tools tailored specifically for church leaders.

Presenters: The Rev. Robert Vaughn, St. Edmund, Arcadia, and the Rev. Bryan O'Carroll, Holy Innocents', Valrico.  

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Creating a Focus-Driven Mission

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Connect your church’s mission and gifts with a community-centered people group, problem, or need your congregation can support. This workshop will highlight the benefits of aligning your financial contributions with volunteer time, creating a holistic approach to giving back. Discover methods for selecting the right focus area, engaging your congregation, and making a lasting impact through spiritual and congregational growth.

Presenter: Lilly Lewin

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Finding Your Thinplace - Where do you feel God’s pleasure?

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Where do you feel God’s presence in your life? That’s your thinplace! The word thinplace is a Celtic term for a place where the veil between heaven and earth is thin, a place where heaven and earth seem to touch. It’s the place where you experience God and feel God’s presence most easily.  Finding your thinplace means finding how you experience God and feel God’s presence. Like Eric Liddell, we’ll begin discovering where we feel God’s pleasure, and build personal and corporate practices to continue the discovery after the conference and help others to do that too.