Our ministries, our ways of connecting with our members and our community, and our ways of utilizing technology have changed and evolved during the past year.  Let’s gather to learn how we can share resources and ideas which can strengthen the work of the Church.  The event will take place on Zoom with the opportunity to attend 3 of 6 different workshops.  

Workshops do NOT need to be chosen until the day of the event.

WORKSHOP Choices

WORKSHOP #1 - "Blest Be the Zoom that Binds"
Panelist – Rev. Christy Eckert, St John Trenton and Dale Ritzel, COGS, Carbondale
Learn more about using Zoom for worship services, meetings, & staying connected. Join a frank discussion about pros & cons, costs, what works & what doesn't, & future possibilities for using Zoom.

WORKSHOP #2 - “From the Mail Box to the Zoom Box: Communicating Effectively with Multiple Generations.”
Panelist – Rev. Michelle Torigian
This past year has made us rethink much of the way we communicate with each other.  While many are embracing Zoom, others are still relying on newsletters, phone calls, and radio.  Let’s talk about creative ways to communicate with ALL generations in our churches and communities to ensure that no one gets left out of our communications.

WORKSHOP #3 – “From Virtual to Hybrid—How do we choose?”
Panelist – Katie Hotze-Wilton, Eden Theological Seminary
There is so much technology to choose from and so much to learn. What questions should we be asking? And who will become the tech steward? Finding the answers together.

WORKSHOP #4 - “Live-streaming Your Church Events”
Panelists: Rev. Jeremy Wood, Salem UCC, Alhambra and Rev. Don Wagner, St. Paul UCC, Lebanon
Live-streaming” is not as scary as it sounds.  With the expertise of two of our ISC churches that have been live-steaming their services, you can learn why you should and how you can implement live-streaming, as well as learn how to avoid the pitfalls of live broadcasting

WORKSHOP #5 - Mental Health
Panelist – Rev. Tim Darmour-Paul, Grantfork UCC & Rev. Lori Schafer, St John Midway UCC Moro
We focused last year’s Day of Discipleship on mental health, having no idea that just a few weeks later we would be thrown into a pandemic that none of us had before navigated.  We will discuss isolation caused by the pandemic, the rise in suicides in the past year, and ways to help as told by some of our WISE congregations (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged).  

WORKSHOP #6 - “Town Hall Conversation with Low-Tech & No-Tech Congregations”
Panelist – Rev. Andy Wilson, St John’s UCC Smithton & Rev. Rosemary Captain, St John UCC Fairview Heights
Are you a member of a low-tech or no-tech congregation, and are you feeling overwhelmed by all the technological demands of the pandemic? Do you feel like your congregation is being left behind in ministry and outreach because your congregation is not technologically savvy? Well fear not my friends, because you are not alone! This breakout session will be led by two IL South Conference ministers who are serving low-tech/no-tech churches. They will talk about engaging in fruitful ministry, even though they are not serving technologically advanced churches. Also, this will be a space for open dialog and exchange of ideas for all churches (laity and clergy alike) to share their experiences. 

• Fee for the event: $25/person. Registration link If you need assistance with the fee, please contact the ISC registrar at jriechmann@iscucc.org  
• Schedule for the day: 

8:45 am - 9:00 am      Participants log in

9:00 am - 9:30 am      Opening devotion and presentation of schedule

9:30 am - 10:10 am   Session A

10:20 am - 11:00 am  Session B

11:10 am - 11:50 am  Session C

The 40-minute session times are intended to offer the last ten minutes (at least) for questions and comments from the attendees. Ten-minute breaks between the session will allow all participants to get away from their screens for a bit and choose their next workshop. All six workshops will be available for all three session times.