Schedule and General Information
This year's Diocesan Convention will be held at the Grand Summit Hotel at Mount Snow, West Dover, Vermont. Special package rates are available. See below for details.
The Convention special guest is Episcopal Church House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson. Learn about her here.
Ministry Fairs are planned for October 1 (St. Paul's, Burlington), October 8 (St. John's, Randolph) and October 22 (St. Michael's, Brattleboro). Delegates should attend at least the afternoon session, where Convention business will be discussed, with an opportunity to ask questions in a less formal setting than that of the Convention business session. Information on the Ministry Fairs is here.
Schedule (see
details below)
Friday, November 4
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.: Registration
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Workshops (they will begin promptly, so arrive
early)
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Choir Rehearsal
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.: Deacons' Lunch
Noon: Lunch on your own. There is a deli on the premises. If you bring
your own lunch, it can be consumed only in your room or in public areas—not
in hotel meeting rooms.
12:10 p.m.–1:00 p.m.: Convention 101 (only food purchased at the
hotel deli permitted in the meeting room)
1:10 p.m.–2:50 p.m.: Open hearings on budget and resolutions.
3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.: Forum with Bonnie Anderson, President of the
House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church
5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.: Social hour (cash bar) and Friends of Bill
meeting
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.: Dinner, with guest speaker Bonnie Anderson
8:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.: Taizé worship
Saturday,
November 5
8:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.: Registration
8:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.: Eucharist, Bishop Ely presiding; Bonnie
Anderson preaching
10:00 a.m.: Convention business, beginning with Bishop Ely's annual
address
Lunch provided for those who paid in advance with their registration
4:00 p.m.: Expected adjournment
Choir Rehearsal (All are
welcome, 11–12:30)
Those interested in joining with others to form the choir for our Convention
Worship are invited to gather with Susan Dedell, Music Director at
Saint Michael’s, Brattleboro. Music will be provided, so make
this your morning workshop choice and help us “make a joyful
noise.”
Workshops (11–12; locations will be posted)
God in the
Water: This workshop is an opportunity to hear stories from, and be in
conversation with, individuals who have been involved in the relief and
recovery efforts of our diocese since Tropical Storm Irene moved through
our area the end of August. Specific information about on-going efforts
will be included. Workshop Leader: Lynn Bates
Our Stories ARE God’s Story: This workshop will begin with a brief look at some of the “people stories” from Scripture and the ways in which God’s Story moved through the events in their lives. We will then look to our own personal stories – the places in which our storyline dips into the wide river of God’s Story, seeking: 1) to perceive and recognize some piece of our personal narrative with God and 2) to explore some ways to articulate that story for ourselves. No previous storyline is necessary. Personal disclosure is optional. Seekers welcome! Workshop Leader: Carole Wageman
Stories of a Missional Church: The Episcopal Church Living out God’s Story: This workshop will feature Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church, who will share stories from around The Episcopal Church of God’s people engaged in God’s Mission. The stories will be of challenge, accomplishment, failure, inspiration and more, and about what they might teach us here in Vermont about our engagement in God’s mission.
Turn off the Light, for God's Sake: Why energy stewardship matters for the Church and Creation: This workshop will explore stories of energy stewardship. Have you been wondering how to develop a congregational energy stewardship ministry but not sure where to start? Has your congregation been working on energy reduction for a while but needs some direction on next steps? Come to this facilitated conversation with the Diocese Earth Stewards Committee and the Reverend Stephanie Johnson, Province I Energy Steward Minister, to learn from other congregations about how to grow this important ministry.
Connecting our Stories: Social Media and the Web: Explore how social media offer new ways to do and be church. How can they connect us within our congregations? How might they affect ministries such as outreach and pastoral care? How can they connect us with our communities? What role did Facebook play in the response to Tropical Storm Irene? The new diocesan website has a strong social media component. Learn how it can be a valuable tool for your congregation and for connecting us to one another as the Diocese of Vermont. Workshop Leader: Anne Brown and others.
Friday Forum (3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Plenary Session for All)
Defining
Moments: Why we do what we do
Led by Bonnie Anderson,
President of the House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church
Our lives are filled with transformational moments. Transformational
moments are a part of the stories of our lives. These are most often
not big "aha" moments, but more typically a simple expansion
of our knowing and experiencing. Defining moments may even be recognized
for their importance in retrospect. We are shaped by defining moments
throughout our lives. They help to make us who we are. If we look closely,
we are sometimes able to see how the Holy Spirit has been acting in our
lives. During the forum, participants will reflect on transformational
moments in their lives, be invited to share those stories of transformation
and how transformation moments shaped them.
Taizé Evening Worship (8:00 – 9:00, All are welcome)
All
Saints Taizé Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving
Chants from the Taizé tradition will combine with
prayer, readings, and silence to provide a setting for honoring and remembering
loved ones, past and present in this Friday evening service, which falls
within the octave of All Saints. Those attending are invited to bring
pictures, objects, devotional items, or written prayer intentions to
place on an altar of remembrance during any part of the service if so
desired. There will be candles available for all. The chants are
beautiful and easy to learn, and the readings will be from a variety
of sources. The service will last around 45 minutes, although all are
welcome to remain in contemplation and quiet following the service.
Download the Secretary of Convention's "First Call to Convention."
Display Space will be in
the lobby areas of the Grand Summit Hotel. Parking is limited and registration
will begin by 9:00 a.m. on Friday, so please plan on having your displays
set up as early as possible on Friday.
We will reserve space on a first come-first served basis and I expect
to have room for 16 displays (space being one-half of an 8’ table.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. on Friday and all displays should be
in place by then to avoid congestion and confusion. Please plan on removing
your display by noon on Saturday.
Please complete the request form and
return it to Sarah Gallagher as soon as possible to reserve your space.
Please also do not assume that because you had a space last year we will
automatically reserve one for you this year. She will try to accommodate
all requests insofar as possible. Please also note that this year we
will ask non-Diocesan displays to pay $25.
Registration and lodging information:
Registration for Convention will be handled by the Diocese. Hotel reservations (see below) should be made directly with the Grand Summit Hotel.
Convention registration may be done either online (for individual registrations only) or by downloading the registration form and mailing it to the Diocesan Office. Congregations registering multiple delegates will need to use the mail-in registration form.
Individual online registration is now closed.
The registration fee for delegates is $15/per delegate.
Package A: Dinner only, for delegates and others wishing to attend the Friday night (Nov. 4) dinner—$37.00/person. Includes tax and service charge.
Package B: All Meals. Includes dinner Friday (Nov. 4), hot buffet breakfast on Saturday (Nov. 5), and box deli lunch or vegetarian wrap on Sat. (Nov. 5), all service charges and taxes included. Please circle “D” Or “V” to indicate that person’s lunch choice: Deli box or Vegetarian wrap—$77.00
Package C: Commuters. Includes dinner Friday evening (Nov. 4) and box deli lunch or vegetarian wrap on Saturday (Nov. 5) – all taxes and services included—$59.00
Package D: Commuters. Friday lunch only—$20.00
Hotel
reservations at the Grand Summit Hotel at Mount Snow need to
booked directly with the hotel and can be booked now. The Diocese
has a contracted rate of $99 per night for single or twin
occupancy. There is an 8% tax and 10% resort service charge which
will be added to your room account. You may have the same rate
for an arrival one day earlier or for the night after Convention.
We hold a block of rooms for the night of November 4th. The pre
or post night stays are subject to availability.
To book the Grand Summit Hotel have a credit card ready and call:
800-817-0764. You may need to dial “1” before the
800 if that is the norm for toll free calls in your area.
