LAKE JUNALUSKA, NC – Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, in partnership with the Alban Institute, presents Emerging Patterns for Worship in the 21st Century, May 24-27, 2010. This four-day conference will feature opportunities to explore contemporary movements and patterns of spirituality that are emerging in Protestant worship, and participants will enter into holy conversation with worship leaders and ministry colleagues to gain deeper insight into developing culturally relevant worship.
“We are excited to join with The Alban Institute in offering this worship and learning experience,” said Jimmy L. Carr, Executive Director of Lake Junaluska. “This is a signature partnership event, and we hope that all who participate will be spiritually enriched.”
Participants will explore new patterns of worship with two well-known speakers and experienced worship leaders. Author, speaker and independent scholar Diana Butler Bass will be one featured conference speaker. Bass has written seven books on the subjects of Christianity and worship, including her best-selling Christianity for the Rest of Us, which was named one of 2006’s best religion books of the year by Publisher’s Weekly. It also won the Book of the Year Award from the Academy of Parish Clergy. A regular contributor to USA Today, Newsweek, Time, CNN, FOX, PBS, and NPR on the subjects of religion, politics and culture, Bass is not only well-known but well-respected as a leading figure in the Christian spectrum. She also directed a study of mainline Protestant vitality from 2002-2006, funded by the Lilly Endowment, and has taught at several different universities and seminaries.
The conference will also feature Daniel T. Benedict, who served as Worship Resources Director for The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church from 1993 – 2005, and now directs Strong Center Open Doors, a worship website and consulting ministry. Benedict has written and co-authored several books, his most recent entitled Patterned by Grace: How the Liturgy Shapes Us. He has also served on the Baptism and Holy Communion study committees, and received certification in digital culture ministry from Perkins School of Theology. Benedict teaches online courses through Southwestern College’s Institute for Discipleship, and is passionate about integrating liturgy and contemplative spirituality, and teaching and resourcing worship leaders.
Susan Leonard Ray, senior pastor of Advent United Methodist Church in Simpsonville, SC, will lead worship. Ray has served since 2005 as the principal designer of worship services for the South Carolina Annual Conference, and is known for her integration of culturally-relevant worship practices with ancient, faithful practices, while still retaining qualities of the community environment. She best describes these practices not as “new” worship, but as “renewed” worship.
More information about the speakers, registration and cost, lodging, and directions can be found at www.lakejunaluska.com/worship-patterns or by calling Pam Naplen at 828-454-6656.
Written by: Andie Robbins, Communications Intern