It’s that time of year again. This year will be my thirteenth Midwinter Conference, and I always look forward to the experience. The worship, the teaching, the workshops, even the Chicago chill (and it’s supposed to be cold next week) are all important facets of this week we spend together as Covenant pastors and leaders. But what I have come to value most of all are the relationships that I’ve built in the years since I walked into my first Midwinter Conference in 2001. This year, I’m sure, will be no different.
We want to make you aware of some of the ways we can connect as worship-types next week in Chicago. There are fewer formal gatherings to give people more freedom to connect spontaneously, but there are a few to point out:
- Our yearly “Better Together” gathering will take place on Tuesday afternoon in SKY HARBOR B from 1:00-2:30. In the conference literature it’s billed as the “Affinity Group” for worship pastors. Bring your own lunch and join in a freewheeling discussion on worship leadership in our local churches.
- Friday morning’s worship service will include communion and music from the Midwinter Choir. Rehearsals are Monday and Thursday nights at 9:00pm in MCCARRAN A/B. Sid Smith III will be directing us.
- On Wednesday night, we are all invited to connect in the Covenant Cafe from 8-11:00pm at Ventana’s (top floor of the Hyatt) to listen to live music, spoken word, and experience the visual arts gallery walk, while connecting with friends and colleagues, old and new, over coffee, tea, and light fare, compliments of the Serving Globally Partners (Covenant Kids Congo, Covenant World Relief, Covenant World Mission, Merge Ministries, Paul Carlson Partnership and Women Ministries). Sharon Irving will be performing with a jazz trio.
We hope Covenant worship leaders will take advantage of these opportunities for connection. We are Better Together, and although our online connection is rich, this yearly face-to-face time is always rich. See you soon!
Matt Nightingale is Pastor of Worship at Redwood Covenant Church in Santa Rosa, CA, and a member of the ECC’s Commission on Worship.
