Gather 23 – Piece by Piece
Overview
Gather is the Diocese of Bethlehem’s annual formation event. Piece by Piece is the theme for the 2023 event.
Date
May 20, 2023
Registration
Closed
Keynote Speakers
- Rev. Dr. Patricia “Tricia” Lyons, an affiliated faculty member and the Senior Advisor to the Dean for Evangelism Initiatives at Virginia Theological Seminary
- Dr. Elisabeth “Lisa” Kimball, Vice President for Lifelong Learning and the James Maxwell Professor Chair of Lifelong Christian Formation at Virginia Theological Seminary.
Location & Hotel Rooms
Split Rock Resort (428 Moseywood Road, Lake Harmony, PA 18624)
Planning to attend Gather 23 and thinking arriving the night before? Rooms are now available for Friday night (May 19, 2023) and Saturday (May 20, 2023) at the Split Rock Resort at a discounted rate of $184 per night using the group code “dioceseofbeth”. Be sure to enter the check-in and check-out dates as well as the promotional code before selecting your room. Rooms are limited so book soon!
Schedule
| Start | End | Event | Presenter |
| 8:00 a.m. | 8:45 a.m. | Registration | Diocesan Staff |
| 9:00 a.m. | 9:10 a.m. | Opening Welcome | The Rt. Rev. Kevin D. Nichols |
| 9:10 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. | First Keynote | The Rev. Dr. Patricia Lyons – Naming the Pieces: Being Church Today |
| 10:15 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Session 1 | Various facilitators |
| 11:15 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | Session 2 | Various facilitators |
| 12:10 p.m. | 12:15 p.m. | Lunch blessing | The Rev. Canon Barbara Harrison Seward |
| 12:15 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. | Lunch | Diocesan Staff |
| 1:10 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Second Keynote | Dr. Elisabeth M. Kimball – Putting the Pieces Together: Living Acts 2 |
| 2:15 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Session 3 | Various facilitators |
| 3:15 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Session 4 | Various facilitators |
| 4:15 p.m. | 4:35 p.m. | Bishop’s Address | The Rt. Rev. Kevin D. Nichols |
| 4:35 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. | Closing Worship |
Sessions
Unpuzzling Evangelism
Evangelism that is One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. Introverts and extroverts joining God’s joy!
Facilitator: The Rev. Dr. Patricia “Tricia” Lyons, an affiliated faculty member and the Senior Advisor to the Dean for Evangelism Initiatives at Virginia Theological Seminary
Baptized for Life: Creating a Congregational Culture of Formation
What are the “pieces” that help form confident, courageous Christians for everyday life? How can we discern and activate the gifts each person (of any age) brings to the Body of Christ?
Facilitator: Dr. Elisabeth “Lisa” Kimball, Vice President for Lifelong Learning and the James Maxwell Professor Chair of Lifelong Christian Formation at Virginia Theological Seminary.
Bishop Kevin’s Puzzle Piece
Bishop Kevin shares his thoughts and answers your questions about the mutual ministry of a parish and a Bishop in the Episcopal Church.
Facilitator: The Rt. Rev. Kevin D. Nichols, Bishop, Diocese of Bethlehem
How Does Church Work? (double session)
Share your experiences serving on Vestry, hear from fellow Vestry members, and learn more about the ins-and-outs of Vestry leadership in this two-session presentation. This session is intended for current and hopeful Vestry members who have not yet participated in these sessions.
Facilitators: Steve Baker, Canon for Mission Resources & COO, Diocese of Bethlehem; Sara McNelis, Warden, Grace Episcopal Church, Kingston; Melissa Amator, Warden, Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton
Embracing Conflict – When the Bible Disagrees with Itself
We desire scripture to be clear and straightforward, but it rarely is. Nor is it meant to be. What can scripture teach us about our messy but common life?
Facilitator: The Very Rev. Dennis Reid, Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Boise, ID
Straight Talk About Parish Finances
This session is an opportunity to hear from finance and audit professionals from across the diocese and get answers to questions you have about managing parish finances.
Facilitators: Jim Harding, Chair, Mission Resources Committee; Joan McDonald, Chair, Diocesan Audit Team
Mission Puzzle Pieces
From grants to loans to Assessment relief, learn about the various financial resources available to your parish in your work on the puzzle of financial vitality for your church.
Facilitators: Jim Harding, Chair, Mission Resources Committee; The Rev. Canon Melinda Artman, Northern Canon Missioner, Diocese of Bethlehem, Rector, Church of the Redeemer, Sayre, and Member, Mission Resources Committee; Paula Lapinski, Missioner for Finance & Administration, Diocese of Bethlehem
The Episcopal Church Welcomes You – Making Sure Everyone Fits In
Explore simple changes to ensure that all who visit your parish feel welcome, especially on your website and your church. Learn how to look at your space with new eyes and inventory it. Explore easy website changes that could make your parish more appealing. See inexpensive ways to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Facilitators: The Rev. Canon Melinda Artman, Northern Canon Missioner, Diocese of Bethlehem, Rector, Church of the Redeemer, Sayre; Vincent Chrepta, Cathedral Church of the Nativity
Practices of Prayer
Prayer has many different faces. Such practices may include Praying with Music, Rhythm-of-the-Moment (based on the River-of-Life), Praying with Color, Praying the Anglican and Roman Rosary, Writing Psalms, Praying while Working, and many others. The goal of this session is for you to learn or refresh one or more practices that can be used in the daily rhythm of ministerial life. Materials will be supplied.
Facilitators: The Rev. Canon Barbara Harrison Seward, Southern Canon Missioner, Diocese of Bethlehem and Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton; The Rev. Betsy Sentigar, Priest in Charge, Christ Episcopal Church, Towanda
Parish: It’s Not Just a Congregation, It’s a Community
This session will explore the traditional definition of parish (i.e., a geographical location) and parishioner (i.e., anyone living within the parish) and how it might apply to contextual ministry today.
Facilitator: The Very Rev. Jon Stratton, Dean and Rector, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
The Justice Making Power of Circle Processes (double session)
Learn about peacemaking circles and their potential to transform the social justice initiatives dialogue communally inside the church, as well as missionally outside the church. The history of circle processes and their roles in restorative justice as a tool for peacemaking will be discussed. Participants will practice a Circle of Understanding as we explore what can be accomplished when we talk to each other rather than past each other.
Facilitator: Melissa Amator, Warden, Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton
Safeguarding God’s Children (double session)
Participants will discuss painful realities of sexual abuse and its impact on survivors and church communities in this two-session presentation. This session is intended for people who who did not attend this session at a previous Gather event.
Facilitator: Tim Wagner, Detective (Retired)
Youth Sessions
This option is for youth participants (ages 13 to 19) in Gather 23 for a day of fellowship, worship, and service. Please contact the Rev. Bruce Gowe for details.
Facilitator: The Rev. Bruce Gowe, Priest in Charge, Christ Episcopal Church, Stroudsburg