Category Archives: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

2016 NWCU Registration is Now OPEN!

We are gathering at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky April 18 – 21,  view our SAVE THE DATE mailing for an complete overview of this year’s program.  Download Conference Brochure

Workshop & Network REGISTRATIONS are NOW OPEN!

Highlights of this year’s conference include The Rev. Dr. James Forbes, our resident theologian, a Wednesday evening River Cruise on the Spirit of Jefferson, significant presentations on the Papal Encyclical on the care of the earth, and workshops on ways to be good companions with Interfaith sisters and brothers in difficult  events. And there will be a Bookstore !

Networks are planning their usual round of educational and informational gatherings, beginning on Monday afternoon April 18th – be sure to check meeting times. Our opening late Monday afternoon begins with a conference-wide reception, followed by the opening liturgy at the Roman Catholic Cathedral.

Room rates are lower than previous years, and we hope you can find less expensive flights into Louisville by planning early.   We have a large block of rooms at the Galt House, if you want to go ahead and register, make sure that they know you are with the National Workshop in order to get the conference rate. Reservations can be made by phone, 800-843-4258. Please mention 2016 NWCU Annual Conference to get the group rate of $ 120.00 (does not include tax). Reservations can also be made on-line by visiting Galt House Hotel. The deadline for the group rate is March 28.

If you have particular questions please check www.nwcu.org, check with the president of your network, or staff person at your communion headquarters.

I look forward to seeing you in Louisville for a great National Workshop on Christian Unity.

Daniell Hamby, Chair

2016 NWCU Planning Committee

Uncategorized

Workshop Wrap Up ~ Thursday, 23 April, 2015

7:15am ~ Breakfast on your own

8:30am -2:00pm ~ Cokesbury Book Store – Cypress Room

8:30am ~ Join us for our Gathering Prayer in Birch/Dogwood Ballroom

9am ~ Bible Study – Dr. Amy-Jill Levine – Birch/Dogwood Ballroom

10:30am ~ Plenary – Dr. D. Stephen Long – Birch/Dogwood

Noon ~ Plenary Lunch ~ 2016 Preview NWCU Louisville, KY

2pm ~ Network Gatherings

  • AFFEP
  • EDEIO
  • CADEIO
  • LEIRN
  • UMEIT

Check page 10 in the NWCU Brochure for respective locations

6pm ~ NPC Meeting

2015 NWCU, Uncategorized

Workshop Lineup ~ Wednesday, 22 April 2015

7:15am ~ Network sponsored Morning Breakfast

8:30am -5:30pm ~ Cokesbury Book Store – Cypress Room

8:30am ~ Join us for our Gathering Prayer in Birch/Dogwood Ballroom

9am ~ Bible Study – Dr. Amy-Jill Levine – Birch/Dogwood Ballroom

10:30am ~ Morning Seminars  ~ check page 10 in the NWCU Brochure for respective locations

Noon ~ Plenary Lunch ~ Msgr. Paul McPartlan- Presenter- Birch/Dogwood Ballroom

2pm ~ Network Meetings ~ check page 10 in the NWCU Brochure for respective locations ~ All are invited to these gatherings

3:30pm ~ Business Meeting(s)

  • CADEIO
  • UMEIT

4:15pm ~ Business Meeting (s)

  • AFFEP
  • EDEIO
  • LEIRN

Check page 10 in the NWCU Brochure for respective locations

6pm ~ Eucharist – Episcopal Rite – St. Peter’s Episcopal Church –  115 W 7th Street – see page 8/9 of the workshop brochure

7pm  ~ Plenary ~ Birch/Dogwood

 

2015 NWCU, Uncategorized

We are Glad You are Here with Us!

7:15am ~ Thank you Graymoor Ecumenical Institute for hosting our Tuesday Morning Breakfast

8:30am ~ Registration re-opens

8:30am ~ Join us for our Gathering Prayer in Birch/Dogwood Ballroom

9am ~ Plenary I – Dr. Sandra Keating/Presenter – Birch/Dogwood Ballroom

10:30am ~ Morning Seminars  ~ check page 10 in the NWCU Brochure for respective locations

Noon ~ Plenary Lunch ~ Dr. Amy-Jill Levine/Presenter- Birch/Dogwood Ballroom

2pm ~ Afternoon Seminars  ~ check page 10 in the NWCU Brochure for respective locations

CHANGE

  • Parliament of the World’s Religions location has been moved to the Willow Room
  • Shoulder to Shoulder location has been moved to the Juniper Room

5:30pm ~ Eucharist – Catholic Rite – St. Peter’s Catholic Church – 507 Tryon Street – see page 8/9 of the workshop brochure

7pm  ~ CharlotteOne ~ First United Methodist Church – Tyron Street – see page 8/9 of the workshop brochure

Uncategorized

2011 Byzantine Vespers

Photos and Text by the Rev. Chris Repp
Lutheran Ecumenical Representative
Central/Southern Illinois Synod

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church
St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church

I attended the Byzantine Vespers on Tuesday night of the workshop, held in St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church and led by His Grace, the Most Reverend John Bura, apostolic administrator of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, OH. I have a lot of experience with Orthodox churches, having lived in Russia for four years, but I have never been to an eastern church in full communion with Rome. The meeting of East and West was striking: stained glass windows and pews alongside orthodox icons and fixtures, and an Orthodoxy-style icon of the newly beatified John Paul II up front in a place of honor.

An Orthodoxy-style icon of St. John Paul II
An Orthodoxy-style icon of St. John Paul II

I had an interesting experience during the service. We chanted a rather long psalm, which used a refrain like we normally do on Sundays in my congregation – except that the refrain was sung after every single verse. My initial reaction (which I kept to myself) was “Oh, come on! This is ridiculous, we’re going to be here all night!” But by the time we had finished – and it did take a while – I had changed my mind. There was something about the repetition of that refrain over and over again that enriched the praying of that psalm. And I didn’t really have anywhere else to be that evening, except going out for dinner afterwards. I also came to appreciate the rotation of the verses among the vested leaders around the altar. They each used a different tone, some of which seemed as if they might have been made up on the spot. It reminded me just a little of jam sessions with the bluegrass band I played with in high school. Were they up there signaling to each other that they just thought of a good tone and would take the next verse? Maybe they’re not allowed to have that much fun with the liturgy, but I imagined that they were enjoying themselves. In sum, this was a good example of worship not being about me and my personal concerns or tastes, but drawing me out of my comfort zone and into the life of the wider church.