As of 1-10-22 The committee made the difficult decision to cancel 2022’s event,* due to the ever changing realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2023 dates are below.
*Two virtual gatherings will happen instead for those who registered:
“Hymn Sing Minus” from the Great White North! Saturday, Jan. 22, 7pm
Dear Music & Worship Leader Retreat participants,
Three long-time Canadian Laurelville participants, Alissa Bender, Mark Diller Harder, and Joya VanderMeulen, have offered to host a Zoom Hymn Sing Minus on the Saturday night of the canceled Laurelville Music & Worship Leaders Weekend. “Minus” you ask? Minus travel. Minus gathering in person. Minus singing together. Minus Committee members needing to pivot and organize yet again.
The Plus is we can still gather over Zoom to share videos and stories. So many of you have created your own ‘Voices Together’ videos for worship within your congregational setting. Let’s share these with each other. What new ‘Voices Together’ song caught your attention that you found a way to record? Come prepared to screen share a video. Or come to simply listen and sing along (on mute!) from home.
If you know you would like to share your own video, please contact either Mark Diller Harder (mark@sjmc.on.ca) or Alissa Bender (alissajaneb@yahoo.ca).
This event is also just for those who registered for MWLR. The Zoom link is limited to the first 100 participants
Topic: Laurelville Hymn Sing Minus
Time: Jan 22, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
A music and worship leaders retreat where you can truly relax, recharge and reconnect Next event: January 20-22, 2023
The Music and Worship Leader’s Retreat, one of Laurelville’s long-standing programs, is designed to give music and worship leaders a space to relax, recharge, learn, and connect with their peers. This weekend retreat includes workshops, seminars, valuable resources, fellowship time, and plenty of music.
Dates & Pricing
CANCELLED FOR 2022
Jan. 21-23, 2022: Registration opened September 2021.
Three pricing options:
Virtual
$60/person
Commuter
$140/person
Overnight
$200-$350/person, depending on lodging preferences (see a full list of lodging options when registering)
Details/Schedule
CANCELLED FOR 2022* *Two virtual gatherings will happen for those who registered:
Please note: For MWLR 2022, participants must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, masks will be required, and we are limiting in-person attendance to 150 guests.
This year’s retreat will explore the theme of lament and hope through songs and worship resources from ‘Voices Together.’ Topics include the psalms, anger, sexual abuse, climate crisis, community tragedies, and more. Resources from Anabaptist sources will be a focus of the weekend. Our theologies of hope and lament are expressed and formed when communities gather for worship. Our guest speaker is author and Safwat Marzouk, along with Benjamin Bergey, Sarah Kathleen Johnson, and other ‘Voices Together’ resource experts.
The 2022 virtual component will include the plenaries, prayers, a virtual hang-out, and the Sunday worship service.
| Friday (subject to change) | |
| 4:00 PM | Registration begins Dining Hall |
| 5:30 PM | Dinner |
| 7:00 PM | Hymn Festival: Hope and Lament |
| Evening prayer | |
| 9:00 PM | Snack / Zoom Social |
| Saturday | |
| 8:00:00 AM | Morning prayer |
| 8:30 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:30 AM | Morning plenary |
| 11:00 AM | Talkback with Safwat |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:30 PM | Plenary session: Worship Leader and Accompaniment Editions |
| 3:00 PM | Break |
| 3:30 PM | Breakout sessions: |
| Who are we in Voices Together? | |
| Challenges in Implementing VT | |
| Engaging VT with Children | |
| 5:30 PM | Dinner |
| 7:00 PM | Hymn Sing + |
| 8:30 PM | Snack / Zoom Social |
| 9:00 PM | Evening prayer |
| Sunday | |
| 8:00 AM | Morning prayer |
| 8:30 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:30 AM | Ask Me Anything/Question Box |
| 10:30 AM | Morning worship |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
Planning Committee
- Benjamin Bergey
- Sarah Kathleen Johnson
- Anneli Loepp Thiessen
- Katie Graber
- Adam Tice
FAQ
Who should attend this program?
It’s not just for pastors and music directors; it gathers a wide variety of individuals interested in worship, including:
- New music or worship leaders looking to become stronger leaders
- Experienced music and worship leaders looking for a refresher course to help them improve their effectiveness in their congregations
- Anyone with a love for music and worship who is discerning their gifts and interested in exploring music or worship leadership
How do I register?
Once the dates for 2022 are released each September, scroll down and register online, or you can print, complete, and send the registration form to Laurelville Retreat Center at 941 Laurelville Ln., Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666, or call 724.423.2056 to register by phone during office hours. Payment in full is required with each registration (your $50 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is included in the registration cost). Please be sure to indicate any special dietary needs you might have so we can make necessary accommodations.
Many congregations choose to register their participants together and we encourage you to do this. Please note however that we must receive individual names, contact information, and payment in order to hold your spots. Whenever sending payment, please clearly indicate the names of the congregation and participants so that we can divide the payment accordingly.
Note: Please contact us at 724-423-2056 if you experience any issues with online registration.
What if I must cancel after I have registered?
Life happens, weather happens. We get it. Your payment is refundable until two weeks prior to the event (minus a $50 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit). While we cannot issue refunds after the two-week deadline, you may transfer the balance of your registration payment to a participant coming in your place or we can roll your money into the next year (minus the $50 non-transferable deposit).
Accommodations
Motel
- 10 private rooms
- Max occupancy: 40 (4/room)
- Private bathrooms, 1 full bed, and 2 twin beds in each room
- Linens provided
- Associated meeting space: Laurel Room
- Contact for all inclusive pricing
- Floorplan: Motel Room
Meeting Spaces
Meetinghouse
- Seats groups up to 200
- Associated lodging space: Guesthouse