Central District Spring Lay Servant School 

Lay Servant School is for anyone interested in learning or polishing skills related to speaking, teaching, leading, and caring ministries by church laity.

Cost:  $23.00 per person

Payment Method:  Online credit card processing by PayPal - you do not need to have a PayPal account.  Payment by check mailed within 7 days of registration to:  INUMC; Attn: Lisa Timmerman; 301 Pennsylvania Parkway, #300; Indianapolis, IN 46280.  All check payments must be received by May 3, 2017.  Please print a copy of your registration for your receipt.

Cancellation policy:  cancellations must be received by April 27, 2017 at 11:59 by email to: lisa.timmerman@inumc.org to receive a refund less processing fee; no refunds for cancellations received after this date

Registration deadline:  April 27, 2017 at 11:59 pm

Child Care: must be reserved during the registration process.  Please give names and ages of children.  Please bring a bag lunch for each child.  We cannot provide lunch for children because of allergy concerns.

Class Descriptions

Basic Course:  This is a prerequisite for any of the Advanced Courses.  You will learn about the "Ministry of the Baptized" and the Ministries of Leading, Caring, Communicating, and Going into the World (The Great Commission).  Leader: Kate Biggs, CLS, Fairland New Life UMC.  Required text:  Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course Participant's Book by Brian Jackson and Sandy Jackson; Order online at Cokesbury.com or Amazon.com.  If you have difficulty or questions about ordering, contact Anthony Swinger at 317-372-4991 or anthonyswinger@yahoo.com 

NOTE:  The Basic Course was previously offered in 2 separate installments.  If you have completed Basic A but not Basic B, please enroll specifically for Basic B, and join us for the afternoon session of the Basic Course.

Advanced Courses

Spiritual Gifts: Being a Doer of the World -  What is God calling you to do in your next step as a Lay Servant?  This class will help you explore your calling, your spiritual gifts, and the best ways to apply them to your ministry.  Whether you're beginning your ministry as a Lay Servant or have been serving for years, God is constantly speaking and constantly challenging all of us to step up to the next level. In this class, you'll learn more about the Gifts of the Spirit, how to hear God's voice, and how to put His calling to use in practical ways.  This is one of the 6 advanced classes required to be a Certified Lay Speaker.  Text: Spirit Gifts Participant's Workbook by Patricia D. Brown.  Leader: Larna Spearman, CLS University UMC Prerequisite: Basic

Worship: Building Disciples & Building Community - How can we make the worship experience meaningful for every guest, and how can we make sure our opportunities for worship connect with newcomers and the most experienced churchgoers alike?  If you plan or lead worship services, or may do so in the future, this class will help you prepare.  You will spend half the day in a traditional setting and the other half in a contemporary setting, while learning approaches and strategies to make the worship experience richer and move vibrant.  Text: The Special Days and Seasons of the Christian Year by Pat Floyd.  This is one of the 6 advanced classes required to be a Certified Lay Speaker.  Leader: Rev. Elizabeth Gilbert, Plainfield UMC.  Prerequisite: Basic

Preaching 1: This is a 2-session class, and is one of the 6 advanced classes required to be a Certified Lay Speaker. The first session (which takes place during the Lay Servants School) will focus on the basics: What is a sermon, and how is it different from other forms of speech? We will consider different styles of preaching and learn from each participant's experience of great preaching. We will discuss the basic structural form of the sermon. As preparation, write less than one page about this topic: If I had to preach today, which scripture passage would I choose and why? Also read Go Preach chapters 1-3. At the second session (on a future date to be scheduled by the class), each participant will preach a short sermon and receive class feedback. All participants are expected to attend both sessions. Leader: Rev. Dr. Rachel Metheny.  Text: Go Preach! A Primer for Beginning Preachers by John P. Gilbert.  Order online at Cokesbury.com or Amazon.com. If you have difficulty or questions about ordering, contact Anthony Swinger at 317-372-4991 or anthonyswinger@yahoo.com. 
 

Preaching 2: This is a 10 hour (2 session) class.  The first session (during the Lay Servants School) will refine the skills learned in Preaching 1 while introducing new sermon ideas such as preaching from the Lectionary, Scripture, topical personal testimony, and on special occasions.  Additional topics include: knowledge of the demographics of congregation, silent prayer time and altar calls.  Participants will be given an opportunity to prepare and give a short message to the class with discussion and critique.  As preparation, read Go Preach chapters 4,5, 7 & 8.  Also, at the second session (on a future date to be scheduled by the class) a longer sermon will be written and delivered with discussion and critique.  All participants are expected to attend both sessions.  Leader:  Rev. Colin Cress, Shelbyville First UMC.  Text:  Go Preach! A Primer for Beginning Preachers by John P. Gilbert.  While this class is not required in order to be a Certified Lay Speaker, it is encouraged for those who want to take their preaching skills to the next level.  Prerequisite: Preaching 1

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