Monday

 

In our current event schedule format, everyone's first official stop on Monday is registration, where you will receive all of the resources needed for the week. Then it is off to the first choral reading session or handbell meet and greet, followed by orientation, another reading session (see below), rehearsals (see below), dinner together, and an evening of worship as we begin our journey through this year's theme – The Gardens of God. 

 

Tuesday / Wednesday

 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we come together for morning worship and then disperse to our selected rehearsal groups. After breaking for lunch, the day's events resume with choral and handbell reading sessions, rehearsals, seminars, dinner, evening events – a youth talent show on Tuesday, and organ recital and music program on Wednesday – and then finally, evening worship. 

 

Thursday

 

Thursday is the culmination of our week's work. After morning worship, everyone returns to their rehearsal spaces to put the finishing touches on anthems, bell choir pieces, choreography, or concert selections. After lunch, the children's choirs will kick off a full day of performances which highlight everything learned throughout the week, and offer praise to the one who called us together as worship artists. The evening is brought to a close with worship. 

 

Friday

 

Friday's closing worship service sends participants off with a final reminder of what is possible when worship is done really well; and, as more than one person said in their evaluations from last year, enough inspiration to get them through to next summer when we will be together again!

 

Daily Worship

 

Daily worship at Music & Worship Arts Week has been carefully crafted by our Worship Design Team to not only offer deeply meaningful moments of praise, contemplation, preaching, and prayer; but also to inspire everyone in attendance by exemplifying what worship can look like when there is a specific vision for the service, and coordination and care for each detail and medium which helps bring our worship to life. Each day's worship service will offer an opportunity to encounter our living God as we are guided through the gardens of Creation (Gen. 2:4b-3:11), Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-56), Resurrection (John 20:1-18), Re-Creation (Rev. 22:1-5), and, finally, God's Garden (1 Cor. 3:1-9).

 

Reading Sessions

 

Our choral and handbell reading sessions, scheduled at various points Monday through Wednesday, offer time for all participants – regardless of selected rehearsal group – to join together under the direction of well known composers and sacred music publishing representatives to sightread choral anthems or handbell choir selections. Your shared talent and passion makes these sessions a favorite part of our week together as they provide participants the opportunity to simply immerse themselves in the beauty of these worshipful compositions. They also offer an opportunity to become familiar with newly published pieces that can be purchased for the upcoming program year at the Beethoven & Company Store, offered on site at Music & Worship Arts Week this year! 

 

Rehearsal Groups

 

Our rehearsal groups are broken down into worship areas of focus – choral (children, youth, adult, and chamber), handbell, dance, and orchestra. Throughout the week, you will meet with others in your rehearsal group to prepare a repertoire that will be showcased on Thursday. These rehearsal groups offer the opportunity to learn from leaders renown for their mastery of their individual fields, as well as the ability to inspire the best from others as they hone their gifts.

 

Seminars

 

Seminars that span every worship arts focus area are offered throughout the week and tackle subjects that are pertinent in the world of worship arts both today and as we look to the future. During seminar blocks, opportunities are also offered for children, youth, and young adults to engage their energy and creative skills, and spend time getting to know one another better.

 

The Fellowship of Music & Worship Arts Week

 

At any point throughout the day, you will find yourself surrounded by people who are passionate about creating transformative worship, and uplifting others as they do the same. Ours is a community that grows each year, creating new networks and opportunities to learn from each other and support one another as the world continues to shift significantly around us.

 

Your Music & Worship Arts Week

 

With the exception of rehearsal groups, which depend on your attendance to prepare for Thursday's programs, Music & Worship Arts Week is a choose your own adventure event. You will receive from it as much as you choose to take. 

 

If you want to fill your day with as many of the offered opportunities as possible, we encourage you to do so. Each part of the day has been thoughtfully crafted to cultivate and equip your gifts, and inspire you for the creation of transformative worship in your churches and communities. 

 

If you are a person who needs a break in the day to reflect and reset, that is possible, too. Your schedule (with the exception of rehearsal group sessions) is entirely of your making. Lunch can be a quick meal followed by a retreat to the Terrace rocking chairs which overlook the lake and the mountains in the distance. Or you can choose to forego a seminar or reading session if you need to rest.

 

However you choose to engage throughout the week, our Fellowship community will be there to journey with you through this time of personal growth, education, and God's abundant grace.