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Living the Hope Workshops

Living the Hope focuses on three study streams which have emerged as critical to the work of nurturing welcoming congregations which are faithful, relevant, and vital. There are three workshops offered in each study stream, each one addressing a different type of change congregations may be experiencing.

STREAM 1: REIMAGINING SUNDAY MORNING 

Before the Call to Worship (Stream 1, Workshop 1)
Through a focus on practical tools and techniques this workshop will review a variety of best practices of welcoming ministries. Participants will evaluate and design the components of a welcoming ministry, considering everything from effective signage to child-friendly sanctuaries, and more.

Worship Possibilities (Stream 1, Workshop 2)
What makes worship an integral and gospel part of welcoming ministry for 30-45-year-olds? This workshop will explore the welcoming, liturgical, and technical components of Emergent church worship. It will also highlight opportunities to make your worship gathering a key part of welcoming people to your church.

A New Vision of Sunday Morning (Stream 1, Workshop 3)
This workshop will consider the overall place of worship in the life of the faith community-looking at worship as an identity-shaping missional element of the church. Participants will be challenged to reimagine worship, preaching, and prayer in light of Emerging Spirit research and as a means of congregational transformation.

STREAM 2: BUILDING CONNECTIONS IN COMMUNITY  

Getting Ready to Reach Out (Stream 2, Workshop 1)
A critical part of being a welcoming, relevant Christian community is the ability to develop healthy and vital relationships with your community. This workshop introduces tools, techniques, and resources to help congregations identify their strengths and the gifts they have to offer, and to discern opportunities for partnership within the larger community.

Reaching New Connections and Partnerships (Stream 2, Workshop 2)
(This workshop is available as Option A or Option B, depending on the city the event is located in. For more information see the Living the Hope Event Page and click on the city where you will be attending the event - i.e. Living the Hope Cambridge, Living the Hope Winnipeg, etc.)

Option A
In this workshop you will explore the best practices of congregations that have arisen as they address the following questions:

  • Where have all the young people gone?

  • What are young people looking for these days when it comes to church and faith?

  • How can the church connect with young adults?

  • When are we going to stop complaining and do something (an examination of practices and program resources that will help make new connections with young adults and partner with them in their life of faith as it grows in discipleship to Christ?)  

Option B
When we form communities in ways we never expected, this is when we are transformed!  What are some congregational strategies and systems that provide avenues of spiritual growth toward active partnerships in mission?  This workshop provides an opportunity to examine best practices and program resources, and to share experiences of community partnerships, cultural/ethnic partnerships, and justice work in community.

A New Chapter (Stream 2, Workshop 3)
This workshop explores ways to influence and modify the culture of a congregation so as to increase its missional orientation and openness to thinking beyond itself. Participants will explore the challenges and discover practical steps for implementing a new congregational vision and making powerful connections with their community.

STREAM 3: EXPLORING LEADERSHIP  

Leaders Gifted and Called (Stream 3, Workshop 1)
One characteristic excellent leaders share is a high degree of self-knowledge. Through a focus on practical tools and techniques this workshop explores leaders' self-identification, gifts, passions, and spiritual practices.

Essential Leadership Practices (Stream 3, Workshop 2)
Congregational leadership requires leaders to have a unique set of skills. This workshop focuses on the essential behaviours and practices of leaders in our current ministry context and looks at how these skills can be developed, nurtured, and maintained.

Conflict and Change (Stream 3, Workshop 3)
(This workshop is available as Option A or Option B, depending on the city the event is located in. For more information see the Living the Hope Event Page and click on the city where you will be attending the event - i.e. Living the Hope Cambridge, Living the Hope Winnipeg, etc.)

Option A
This workshop explores ways leaders and leadership teams can guide congregations through the challenging times of change and transformation. Leaders will prepare for the conflict that accompanies change by examining resources, techniques, and leadership styles in times of transformation.

Option B
"Bridging the Gap" - This workshop focuses on the practice of leadership which entails identifying the deep purpose of the congregation and closing or narrowing the gap between living towards the purpose and the current reality. In this workshop we will consider how to identify deep purpose and explore practices in mobilizing congregations towards narrowing the gap. We will also learn how to hold steady and healthy in the predictable turmoil of change and growth.