Upcoming Events

FORMA Pre-Conference Workshop

• Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 09:30 AM

  Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA

  
  The Annual Conference is an opportunity for Forma to encourage and develop Christian educators, inside and outside the Episcopal tradition, to grow in how they educate and minister. This year, our theme is "Called to Covenant." Our four plenaries will be focusing on how we are called, through Micah 6:8, to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
  
  The 2023 Forma Pre-Conference will take place on the campus of Virginia Theological Seminary on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and Pre-Conference offerings run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunch is included in the Pre-Conference registration fee.
  
  MMC is excited to offer a pre-conference workshop, inviting participants to explore song leadership practices that help build and strengthen community. During our time together we’ll:

  • Explore a practice of paperless (oral tradition) singing leadership grounded in a spirit of welcome and generosity
  • Engage models of teaching and leading that welcome our bodies, hearts, and minds
  • Experience music reflective of the growing diversity of our communities and celebrating our rich spiritual and liturgical traditions
  • Experience building community and strengthening relationships through community and congregational singing
  • Participants will gain confidence in paperless singing leadership via shared leadership, skills practice, and reflection, expanding and exploring our musical options practically and creatively

  There are 30 tickets available for this Pre-Conference offering, so register soon to secure a space.
  
  Learn more and register here!

Weekend Residency in Olympia, WA

• Friday, January 20, 2023 at 07:00 PM through January 22, 2023

  The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Olympia, WA

  
  Join The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd for a renewing day of building community through congregational singing, learning, and fellowship on Saturday, January 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. We’ll be led by Paul Vasile and Elizabeth Schroeder of Music that Makes Community, a non-profit organization working to empower and liberate communities through singing. For over 15 years, they have developed and shared transformative leadership practices with musicians, clergy, educators, and lay leaders throughout the United States and Canada.

  During our time together we will:

  • Explore a practice of paperless (oral tradition) singing leadership

  • Engage models of teaching and leading that welcome our bodies, hearts, and minds

  • Experience music reflective of the growing diversity of our communities and celebrating varied spiritual traditions 

  Choir directors, clergy, cantors, educators, and those who love to sing are warmly welcomed. Each person will leave with new music to share, as well as experiences of learning and teaching songs applicable to their context.

  Registration fees are $30 per person, including workshop materials and refreshments throughout the day. You can bring your own lunch or purchase a sandwich for $10. Scholarship support is available, and we do not want cost to prevent anyone’s participation. Please sign-up using the registration links on this page and indicate if you will be ordering lunch. Please pay at the door: cash, checks and credit/debit cards accepted.

  Register for the workshop or inquire about it by contacting Julie or Jim.

  COVID protocols:
  We will follow the guidelines at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in place at the time of the event and will take precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. The rooms will be well-ventilated, we’ll take regular breaks, and follow the CDC’s best practices for in-person gathering.

  Additional Learning Opportunities:

  • We’ll offer an Intergenerational Community SING on Friday, January 20 at 7 p.m.  We’ll share songs that enliven the spirit, nourish the soul, and remind us that we are not alone.  This 75-minute event is free and open to all who love to sing.

  • MMC leaders will share musical leadership at The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd’s 9:30 a.m. morning worship service on Sunday, January 22, and during the Forum at 11 a.m. that morning, Paul Vasile will give a talk titled “What Did you Notice? Reflecting on the Practice of Singing in Community.”

  This event is made possible by a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Mini-Workshop and Lenten Planning Workshop in Portland, OR

• Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 02:30 PM

  Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Portland, OR

  
  Join us at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, January 25 for a day of singing and worship planning! We'll begin with a Mini-Workshop from 9:30 am to Noon presenting the basics of paperless music leadership and songs for the Lenten season.
  
  After a spacious lunch break, we'll continue with a multi-access Worship Planning Workshop from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. PT focused on the season of Lent (Year A). We'll:

  • READ sacred text for the season with an ear for how it speaks in our contexts;
  • SING music from varied traditions and cultures, focusing mostly on paperless music while including a range of congregational song repertoires;
  • COLLABORATE with others to imagine context-specific liturgy and songs for our communities;

  You can choose to participate in the whole day, a half day, or you can join us as an online participant for the planning workshop. Leave with practical ideas, preaching/planning prompts, and suggested congregational songs and choral music from varied musical traditions.
  
  Cost:
  Registration fees are on a sliding scale. We ask you to pay what is generous and affordable for you, with gratitude for the time and skill of our presenters. Additional scholarship support is also available, if needed.

  • Full Day (In-Person): from $120 to $90 per person (including lunch)
  • Afternoon Session (In-Person): from $75 to $50
  • Afternoon Session (Online): from $60 to $40 

  All participants will receive a video recording of the Lenten Planning Workshop, a song list, and additional resource materials following the workshop.

  
  Register here!

  
  Schedule:
  

  To make the multi-access workshop sustainable for all participants, there will be ample breaks as well as breakout rooms for small group conversation. Online participants are welcome to participate with their camera on or off.
  
  Accessibility, Parking, and Public Transit:
  There is an accessible entrance on 17th. You are welcome to park in a lot on 16th as well as street parking.
  
  Bus lines: 8, 17, 70, 77.
  Max Exit: Lloyd Center/NE 11th Station

One-Day Workshop in Columbus, OH

• Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 09:00 AM

  St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Columbus, OH

  
  Music that Makes Community is excited for a residency at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio, including a One-Day Paperless Music Workshop. We’ll gather on Saturday, February 18, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for a renewing day of building community through singing, learning, and fellowship. During our time together we’ll: 
  

  • Explore a practice of paperless (oral tradition) singing leadership grounded in a spirit of welcome and generosity
  • Engage models of teaching and leading that welcome our bodies, hearts, and minds 
  • Experience music reflective of the growing diversity of our communities and celebrating our rich spiritual and liturgical traditions 
  • Build community and strengthen relationships through singing.

  Each person will leave with new music to share, as well as experiences of learning and teaching songs applicable to their context. Choir directors, clergy, cantors, lay leaders, and all who love to sing are warmly welcomed. 
  
  Registration:
  The cost of the workshop is $120, including workshop materials, lunch, and refreshments throughout the day. We do not want the cost to prevent anyone’s participation, so please reach out to let us know if you need scholarship support. 

  Register here!
  
  Please contact Paul Vasile at [email protected] or (929) 266-4662 if you have any questions. 
  
  COVID protocols:
  We will follow the guidelines at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in place at the time of the event and will take precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. The room will be well-ventilated, we’ll take regular breaks, and follow the CDC's best practices for in-person gathering.
  
  Additional Learning Opportunities: 

  • We'll offer an Intergenerational Community SING at St. Stephen's on Friday, February 17 at 7 p.m. ET. This 75-minute event is free and open to all who love to sing.
  • MMC facilitators will share musical leadership at Sunday morning liturgies on February 19.

One-Day Workshop in Nashville with InterGenerate

• Monday, June 12, 2023 at 09:00 AM

  St. David's Episcopal Church in Nashville, TN

  
  Music that Makes Community is excited to offer a One-Day workshop at St. David's Episcopal Church in Nashville, Tennessee in collaboration with InterGenerate, a conference for church leaders and academics exploring intergenerational faith formation and ministry. Join Breen Sipes and Paul Vasile for a renewing day of building community through singing, learning, and fellowship, with a focus on skills for leading songs in intergenerational contexts. During our time together we’ll: 

  • Explore a practice of paperless (oral tradition) singing leadership grounded in a spirit of welcome and generosity
  • Engage models of teaching and leading that welcome our bodies, hearts, and minds 
  • Experience music reflective of the growing diversity of our communities and celebrating our rich spiritual and liturgical traditions
  • Build community and strengthen relationships through singing

  Each person will leave with new music to share, as well as experiences of learning and teaching songs applicable to their context. Choir directors, clergy, cantors, lay leaders, and all who love to sing are warmly welcomed. 
  
  Registration: 
  The cost of the workshop is $125, including workshop materials, lunch, and refreshments throughout the day. A discounted rate of $100 is available to InterGenerate Conference participants. We do not want the cost to prevent anyone’s participation, so please reach out to let us know if you need scholarship support. 

  Register here!
  
  Please contact Paul Vasile at [email protected] or (929) 266-4662 if you have any questions.
  
  COVID protocols: 
  We will follow the guidelines at Saint David's Episcopal Church in place at the time of the event and will take precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. The room will be well-ventilated, we’ll take regular breaks, and follow the CDC's best practices for in-person gathering.
  
  Transportation for Conference Participants:
  St. David's Episcopal Church is a 15-minute drive from the Lipscomb University campus. It will be easiest for InterGenerate Conference participants to take a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft, and we're happy to facilitate carpooling. 

  Additional Learning Opportunities: 

  • On Sunday, June 11, MMC leaders will share musical leadership at the 10:30 a.m. service at St. David's.
  • We are excited to participate in the InterGenerate Conference at Lipscomb University from June 13-15, 2023. MMC will help lead worship and share paperless songs throughout the conference.