Event Information

“Ready For a New Song?” Nashville is ready for you – and what better place to think outside-the-box and develop a new personal plan for your ministry with children and families.

Being in Music City allows some unique opportunities to experience creativity. We won’t pass up an opportunity to be creative, fun and hear excellent music, including a song written just for our event. But this event is about you and your ministry. You will be guided throughout the event to “sing your own song” using music notes to track your learnings. At the end of the event a process will be shared to help you think about your next steps. You will go home rejuvenated, refreshed and with a plan for recreating your ministry with children and families.

Worship is a key part of this event. Plan to be present for each worship service. No need to think about acolytes, the nursery worker who was late or the new family five rows from the back of sanctuary. You will be able to fully worship AND each worship is designed to be fully inclusive for all ages with lots of creative elements you can take home to use.

Tuesday night: Experience the sounds and tastes of Nashville without leaving Calvary UMC. Food from some awesome local eateries and the many types of music for which Nashville is famous will tickle your tongue and your music fancies. You will progress from jazz to blue grass; from classical to steel drums while sampling some of the best Nashville cuisine to be found. There will be something for everyone's ears and tastebuds!  Y'all come!

New workshop just added: Check out “Be(ing)Tween: The Formative Middle Between Childhood and Adolescence” Learn what set tweens apart from the younger children or the old teens. How is being a tween different today then the tweens of years past. Andy Stoker’s doctoral dissertation was on tweens – so lots of great information will shared.

• Dress comfortably and appropriately for Nashville in February. (Check the weather forecast before packing). The days can be gloriously warm or remind us that winter is still present.
• Bring an expectation of learning and fun.
• No child care will be available for Children’s Ministry Forum ‘12. Calvary’s child care facilities are being used by their weekday ministry. No space is available for event child care. Please plan to give yourself the gift of rejuvenation by making arrangements for your children to remain at home.
• Meals provided with full event registration are: Tuesday lunch and evening dinner, Wednesday lunch and Thursday lunch. The conference hotel (Hilton Garden Inn Vanderbilt) provides an excellent hot breakfast with those staying at the hotel. You will be on your own for Wednesday evening dinner. A list of Wednesday evening options will be available when checking in at the event.

Special Events

• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Lunch – Clean out the fat. Prepare for Lent. Enjoy a favorite food – pancakes (and other accompaniments as well). Alternative selections available for those who note special diet issues when registering.
• Welcome to Nashville Festival – A variety of music groups + grazing through food centers representing Nashville specialties + fun and laughter = an evening to remember on Tuesday, February 21. Bring your camera and be ready to have fun.
• Design Your Own Evening in Nashville – Wednesday night will be “on your own.” Explore the uniqueness of Nashville. Spend a quiet evening with friends. Shop ‘til you drop in the Green Hills area across the street from the church. A variety of options will be available in your packet when you arrive.

1.4 Continuing Education Units equaling 14 content hours are available for full attendance at this event. CEU certificates may be picked up at the close of the event. Additional CEU’s are available for those who attend pre-conference seminars.

If you have special needs including dietary concerns: please be certain to include appropriate information while completing the registration information.

Questions?

Registration information - contact Connie at cschmutz@gbod.org or call 877.899.2780 x1761.

Program information - contact Mary Alice Gran at maryalicegran@gmail.com.