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May 4-9, 2020
Montreat Conference Center
Montreat, NC

$550 all-inclusive registration fee before January 15th
(Program fee, double occupancy room, and meals)
$575 after January 15th
​$600 after April 15th
​
Planning ahead? Just go ahead and pencil in ARW 2021: May 3-8
Our theme for the 2020 Arts, Recreation and Worship Conference is Dive Deeper: Immersed in God's Grace

ARW is a week long experiential opportunity to "Dive Deeper" into our faith as we participate in recreation, worship, community, creativity and the arts. The conference is designed for those who want to deepen their creativity, broaden their leadership skills and experience personal spiritual renewal. In addition to whole group worship and recreation events, participants select from a wide range of unique courses. Our learning together provides space for us to share in community that includes all of God’s voices
Rev Samantha Gonzalez Block
Worship Leader
The Reverend Samantha González-Block serves as the Associate Pastor at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, North Carolina.  A graduate of Barnard College and Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, Samantha grew up in a multicultural, interfaith home and has a passion for creatively building bridges across faith traditions and cultures in order to impact social change. She has worked in a number of different fields in the United States and abroad: including as a Communications Officer for a United Nations campaign to end violence against women, a New York City public school teacher, and a a women's rights activist in Chile. Samantha uses Latin dance and storytelling as mediums to bring people together. She is published in Journal for Preachers,  Uncommon Bonds: Women Reflect on Race and Friendship and The Porch Magazine. Samantha is the recipient of the Auburn Seminary Maxwell Fellowship for promise of excellence in parish ministry. In her spare time, she is a member of an all-clergy Improv group. She also enjoys participating in local theater and exploring the beautiful Asheville mountains.
Music Leader
Hugh Donnelly
Hugh Donnelly grew up in Prince Edward Island, on Canada’s east coast. While enjoying some live music one night in an Irish pub during his university years, Hugh made the decision to teach himself how to play the guitar. He has a passion for congregational singing, and has been invited to lead music at a variety of conferences in Canada and the US, including APCE, Montreat Youth Conference, ARW, Peacemaking, Big Tent, and Canada Youth. Hugh serves as the minister at Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church in Toronto. Important activities in Hugh’s life include long distance running, flying small airplanes and playing with his band, Lost Pilgrims.​
Held annually in
Montreat, NC
Montreat Conference Center is a pleasant, scenic, 20 minute drive east from Asheville, North Carolina. A national conference center serving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), it offers guests a time-honored tradition of friendly, gracious hospitality in a warm and casual setting. Annualy, approximately 50,000 people of all ages and from all walks of life come to Montreat for rest, renewal, and recreation. 

Sponsored and planned by re:create and Montreat™ Conference Center.

Arts

The Art of Stole Making

This course offers an offers an opportunity to learn a new hobby or practice skills for one you may already have. We will be making a clergy stole for use in your personal life or as a gift for another. I?ll help you choose fabrics and give you hints for successfully completing the project. The goal is to make sewing fun and useful while learning new techniques that will inspire and enrich your lives and give you a sense of accomplishment. Come, join the FUN! Some sewing experience is helpful but not required.


Darci McKinnon is a musician, artist, recreation/workshop leader and mother of two, daughter Aidan and son Ian. She recently moved to Edmond, Oklahoma when her husband accepted a call to First Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City. Darci spent most of her professional career working with youth and adults as a Camp and Conference center director and as a Christian Educator/Youth Minister for the Presbyterian Church (USA). She enjoys camping, playing games, sewing, knitting, reading, creating art and having fun with?family and friends.
Description

Mirrored Reflections

Leslie McCarthy is a creative spirit with a sense of adventure and play thrown in the mix. A retired business?owner, she isnow lucky enough to create, volunteer and have fun with like-hearted friends. Leslie would say that she's primarily a textile and fiber artist with a little wood and paint thrown in for good measure. She loves to design and create everything from jewelry and journals to totes and handbags, but her passion is designing fun and funky furniture that can found on her Instagram account FunkyFibersKY. She's willing to try anything once... well, almost anything!
Description

Baptismal Boxes

In our baptism, we are claimed by God and connected with one another through the waters of God’s grace. In this workshop, you will learn to make baptismal boxes which are special boxes designed to hold keepsakes of a baptism. We will dive a little deeper beyond the making of the boxes to explore a bit about the theology of baptism, how we remember and help others to remember our baptism. woodworking skills are not required.


Dick Porter  is a retired from Hanes Hosiery Corporation and now lives in Hartsville, South Carolina. He has taught dulcimer making at ARW with Howard Moore for over 40 years. In that time they have helped students make over 600 dulcimers. Dick has taught a number of other woodworking classes.  He and wife, Brenda, are involved in Living Waters for the World projects.

Kris (Bubba)Brammer lives in Lincoln, Nebraska but grew up surrounded by the mountains of Roanoke, VA. Bubba has been in youth ministry for over 20 years serving churches in Hickory and Southern Pines, NC as well as his current call at First Presbyterian in Lincoln, NE. When not working, Bubba enjoys, golf and fly-fishing , but most of his time is spent with his amazing wife Kris Adler-Brammer and their four legged child/dog, Wrigley.
Description

Handcrafted Books

Create a bundle of small handmade books as we explore several different techniques for covers, binding, closures, and enclosures. We will dye papers, create felted wool covers, accordion fold pages, and craft interesting pockets, tabs, and other internal structures. No experience necessary and your inner artist will emerge even if you didn't know you had one.

Deb Guess is an artist, gardener, lover of good food and all things creative, and a proud wife, mom, and grand mom.
Description

Stained Glass Made Easy and Fun

Whether learning the basics or improving your skills, join us to build your own beautiful stained glass creations. If a beginner, you will learn to cut glass, apply lead or foil, and to solder in order to create one or more one-dimensional pieces. If you have prior experience, you will be able to create more intricate pieces, including larger panels, or three-dimensional pieces like boxes or kaleidoscopes. Everyone will leave with beautiful pieces, the fun of creative expression, and the resources to continue at home if you wish. Roger Maness - although officially "retired" from church ministry, is anything but retired. He has shifted his time and energy to a large non-profit youth sports ministry. In his?limited spare time, he continues to enjoy teaching others the "how-to" of creating with stained glass. Brian Maness has worked in sports, recreation, or as a stained glass artisan for 20 years. He is renowned well-beyond these workshops for his creativity and expertise with both fused and traditional glass.
Description

Clay Fountains

Listen to your inventive side as you walk across the dam, sit by Lake Susan or hike along side a flowing creek and imagine a bubbling fountain in your creative space made by you! In class we will hand build a 3-piece, tabletop fountain suitable for creating a meditative space for introspection or prayerful contemplation, practicing yoga or for the simple pleasure of fun. No experience is necessary for this class. You will create the 3 pieces in class and learn how to assemble the fountain. A small pump is included in the class fee but you will need to add your own rocks or marbles for inside the base (upon final assembly.) Enjoy taking home the sound of our Montreat creeks.


Anne Stone is an artist working in a variety of mediums including pottery, stained glass and textiles. She also is a small business owner representing over 100 artists in her shop. For the past 13 years she has been a pottery instructor at the Sally Jones Pottery (MRA). Throughout the rest of the year Anne splits her time between Montreat and Washington, DC, creating all the time. Her philosophy is that while arts and crafts certainly are functional, they also can inspire and beautify the spaces we live in.
Description

Community Art

Come explore the sacred creative process in community as Lisle leads us through a spiritual practice she calls, "Creatio Divina." If you haven't picked up a paintbrush or crayon in years, this workshop is for you.


Lisle Gwynn Garity is an artist, ordained Presbyterian (USA) pastor, retreat leader, and creative entrepreneur. As founder of A Sanctified Art, a collaborative arts collective creating multimedia resources for churches, Lisle and her team resource worshiping congregations all across the globe. In addition to her work with A Sanctified Art, Lisle travels frequently to serve churches as a retreat leader and artist-in-residence.
Description

Recreation

Jump In!

We are at our best when experiencing God's creativity in community through recreation. Join us for a week of diving deeper into the theology of recreation. We will grow in our faith and knowledge as we play, create, and learn in community. When we play together we make God smile!!

Beth Gunn is a recreation leader from Western North Carolina. She is the Associate for Youth for the Presbytery of Western North Carolina with a particular emphasis in the field of Recreation Ministry. She lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her husband and dog Scruffy. Their 3 daughters are all out of the nest and while she and Bruce miss them a lot they are enjoying being GG and Grumps to their 3 granddaughters! Time with family to play together has been a life long priority and made for a richer and stronger bond.

Byron Wade is the pastor of Davie Street Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC. A frequent visitor to Montreat, he attended ARW and served on the Planning Team a long time ago in a galaxy far away. Now he's back to rediscover the joy of play! Byron enjoys watching football, travelling, reading, and spending time with family and friends including his wife Regina and teenage son Andrew.
Description

Theology on Demand

Do you consume pop culture content as soon as it's released? Or Are you overwhelmed by all the choices out there? Are you looking for new ways to explore God's presence in the world with the people you serve? From pop music to movies to streaming TV, we'll explore the intersection of pop culture and theology. Bring your questions, a willingness to share, and a few of your favorite thought-provoking songs or video clips. Sarah Leer is the Director of Children and Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Bentonville, Arkansas. Sarah is a graduate of Wake Forest University, Columbia Theological Seminary (where she earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Master of Theology), and the Clinton School of Public Service. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Ministry at Columbia Seminary. A lifelong Presbyterian, Sarah has served as a Young Adult Volunteer in New Orleans, as the Moderator of the Leadership Council for the Young Adult Volunteer Alumni Council, and currently serves as on the board for the Presbyterian Youth Workers' Association and as the Adult Co-Moderator for the Youth Advisory Team for the Presbytery of Arkansas. Sarah enjoys singing Broadway songs in her car, geeking out over pop culture, hanging out with her family, traveling, watching college football, and attending youth conferences that include energizers.
Description

Active Games

Active games aren't just a tool to wear out the 7th graders who can't sit still, they're a chance to build trust, remove barriers, and can be the first step to honest conversation with the kids, youth, or adults in your community. In this workshop we?ll explore games as a ministry tool, learn to play a bunch of games, and plan a large-scale rec event. Recognizing that you come from a variety of church and budget sizes, we'll also group think ways to alter and scale these games to fit the size, age, or abilities of your group. Think of it as theology plus aerobics plus think tank plus pool noodles or something like that.


Eric Dillenbeck lives in Shaker Heights, OH with his wife, Amy, his three children, Anna 16, Sam 14, and Sarah, 11. They all shower love upon their very photogenic pooch, Gus. Eric has served the PCUSA as a church educator, youth director and pastor in churches in South Carolina, Georgia and Ohio. He has served as a recreation leader in numerous conferences including, Montreat, Triennium, Faith in 3D and presbytery retreats. He currently serves as the Manager of the Summer Youth Employment Program for Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a nonprofit focused on youth workforce development in the Greater Cleveland area. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Heights Community Congress, a small nonprofit committed to working for fair housing and diverse communities.


Alex Collier is a husband, dad of 2 young'uns, fly fisherman, and rabid Tar Heel fan that has called Seattle home for the past 14 years. He's worked in youth and adult ministry in several capacities and has always been a fan of leading rec events for groups of all sizes. Montreat is really close to his heart, because it's also pretty close to where he grew up, so he's excited to return to the Land of SweetTea and Bojangles
Description

Plunging IN with EVERYone!

When we intermingle with different ages and stages of people, there is a vast pool of possibilities for community building, Bible study, learning between the ages, chances for empathy and understanding, ...and just plain fun. We will play oldie-goldie games and activities and share new and fresh ideas, too. Recreation that is shared with people of all ages has a unique opportunity to be fun and meaningful - being re-created as Children of God. Whether we need a time filler, a chance to explore scripture together, or a whole weekend of fun and games, we will come away with practical ideas and theology of recreation to take home and use ?next week.


Lynn Turnage is Director of Children & Family Ministries, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC. Lynnis a lover of games, community building, movies, adventure, Montreat, and her girls.
Description

Storytelling: Holding, Creating, Telling

We will play with all kinds of stories, our own, Bible stories, children's stories, and many more. Exploring quick and easy ways to get folks talking will be our starting point. Over the course of the week we will dive deeper into how we share our stories in ways that let our lights shine. How we hold onto and share our story can shape our view of the world. Join us to play, laugh, explore and dive deep into the art of storytelling.


Sophie Maness is the Director of Children's Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. She thoroughly enjoys laughing, learning and sharing stories with all ages.
Description

Dutch Oven Cooking

In this two day course we will dive deep into the deliciousness of Dutch oven cooking. Mmmm


Dick Porter is a retired from Hanes Hosiery Corporation and now lives in Hartsville, South Carolina.   He and wife, Brenda, are involved in Living Waters for the World projects.

Bubba Brammer Kris (Bubba) lives in Lincoln, Nebraska but grew up surrounded by the mountains of Roanoke, VA. Bubba has been in youth ministry for over 20 years serving churches in Hickory and Southern Pines, NC as well as his current call at First Presbyterian in Lincoln, NE. When not working, Bubba enjoys, golf and fly-fishing , but most of his time is spent with his amazing wife Kris Adler-Brammer and their four legged child/dog, Wrigley.
Description

Noodle Mania

Don't you just love floating with a pool noodle? I do! But even better are all the ways you can use those noodles outside of the water. We will play games, solve problems, get crafty and just have good ole fun with noodles


Beth Gunn is a recreation leader from Western North Carolina. She is the Associate for Youth for the Presbytery of Western North Carolina with a particular emphasis in the field of Recreation Ministry. She lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her husband and dog Scruffy. Their 3 daughters are all out of the nest and while she and Bruce miss them a lot they are enjoying being "GG"and Grumps to their 3 granddaughters! Time with family to play together has been a life long priority and made for a richer and stronger bond.
Description

Telling your Story

Many of us don't have a "testimony"--the story of the one moment we became a Christian. So how do we share our faith in ways that people can hear? We'll be crafting our faith stories and creating our own personal elevator speech for when people ask "so what do you believe?"

Anne Russ believes in the transformative power of story and loves to help people explore, craft and tell their own. She currently pastors online at doubtingbeliever.com and is relocating from Arkansas to New York in the near future.
Description

TechReation

We'll take a look at the bright side of technology to create community and spark collaboration. We'll focus not on traditional social media, but on apps and platforms that enhance togetherness in a physical space. Bring a smart phone or tablet!


Josh Richard stares at screens a lot and knows it. As a consequence, he thinks about how to utilize technology as a social medium beyond isolated media consumption. He currently serves as Communications Director at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.
Description

Worship

Prayer Stations 101

Looking for ways to add experiential opportunities to worship, Church School, mid-week programming, or your personal spiritual life? Join us as we experience and CREATE a wide variety of prayer centers that can be used in multiple settings and with a variety of ages. Go home with a great list of new ideas and possibilities. Deb Guess is an artist, gardener, lover of good food and all things creative, and a proud wife, mom, and grand mom.
Description

Celebrating Sexuality

Why and how do we talk about sex in the context of church? Join us as we tackle these questions and model how to open dialogue about sexuality and faith. We will explore resources and experience lesson plans for ages birth through adolescence using multi-media, a variety of curriculum, and play.

Sophie Maness

Shannon Guse joined the staff at Faith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, FL in July of 2005. She has a B.S. in Health Science Education from the University of Florida, and taught middle school and high school health in Marion County, FL for six years. Shannon has been working in youth ministry for over 20 years. She is married to Matt and they have two children. Shannon enjoys reading young adult novels that address tough issues and capture the quirkiness of teenagers!
Description

Critical Conversations: Creating space with and for LGBTQIA+ identities

Evolving understanding of gender beyond a binary presents a sea change to the way we understand our identity, community, and theology. The ways youth understand and live into their gender offers rich ground for new ways of being for the Church. Similarly, some of the Bible?s most celebrated characters defied their culture?s gender norms. Yet, for many of us, the conversation about LGBTQIA+ identities feels more like a tidal wave than a sea change. This workshop will equip participants to be sensitive to emerging language around gender identity and nuances of sexual orientation, and opportunities to practice putting new terminology to us. We will discuss how to start the conversation about LGBTQIA+ identities in your setting, hone skills, and create resources for participants to take back to their congregations. Jess Cook is the Program & Communications Manager for More Light Presbyterians and, as of July 29, will have been the first openly non-binary person ordained in the PC(USA). A native of East Texas and lifelong Presbyterian, Jess holds a Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary, a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from Baylor. Prior to joining MLP, Jess was the Youth Programs Director at Side by Side, an organization in Richmond, VA serving LGBTQIA+ youth. While at Side by Side, Jess worked with hundreds of young people through support groups, a leadership program, and various programs in the community. They created a parent support group and a meals program, and trained a wide variety of faith community leaders and service providers on best practices for working with LGBTQIA+ youth. Jess?s call is to help facilitate spaces where reconciliation is possible, with the acknowledgement that reconciliation is only possible if we are able to be honest with ourselves and one another about the ways in which we are broken. True reconciliation requires relationships, and relationships require trust and vulnerability. Jess sees their role as helping make spaces where that vulnerability is celebrated and trust can be built. To learn more, check out Jess?s TEDxTalk on what faith communities can learn from LGBTQIA+ youth. Jess loves poetry, liturgy, sharing meals, and pretty much any conversation about the ways we see the Spirit come to life in the world. They live in Richmond, VA with their lively child and dog.
Description

Thirsting for Theology

So what is the deal with these "beer and theology" things anyway? So many of our meetings with church folks are over coffee, or perhaps over a milkshake with a youth. Even our sacrament of the Eucharist is centered around a bite to eat and a common cup. In this course we will be discovering the intersection between theology and culture, and how the church can play more "away games" when it comes to talking about and living our faith outside the church walls. The class will include field trips to some local "watering holes" including coffee shops, ice cream shops, restaurants, bars, and breweries. Participants will pay their way for purchases on the field trips.

Bill Buchanan is Executive Director of Youth Mission Co, a non-profit ministry that plans and leads mission immersion experiences for young people. He is a Presbyterian pastor, Christian Educator, father, husband, and stepfather. He loves live music, North Carolina barbecue, and college basketball.
Description

Treading Water

Michelle Thomas Bush
Description

Diving Deeper: Cultivating a Culture of Vulnerability

We will explore the practical ways that vulnerability can influence pastoral leadership and congregational ministry. Whether you work with children, youth, adults, or all of the above (like I do!) a culture of vulnerability can deepen your community's relationships with God and one another. Finding the courage to be vulnerable - as God is vulnerable with us - can strengthen the ways we lead our congregations and live our lives. What does the vulnerability of God teach us about how to practice our faith at the crossroads? This workshop will combine theological and Biblical reflection with the insights of Brene Brown to develop models of Christian practice that display vulnerability and courage. We will do this through conversation, examination of particular contexts, Bible study and play. Play itself is an act of vulnerability!


Shelby Etheridge Harasty,mom to Amelia, wife to Matt and pastor to the people of God at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church. Shelby has lived and served in DC and its suburbs for about 6 years now but feels most at home in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She loves Italian food (and wine), a walk with her dog on a sunny day, a good Netflix show and celebrating the sacrament of communion weekly at Saint Mark.
Description

Calming Troubled Waters

For those who wrestle with anxiety, Philippians 4:16, “Do not be anxious about anything” often feels more burdensome than helpful. In an ever more and more anxious world, what are ways we’re seeking in calming the troubled waters of our souls? Our time together will look at ways we are caring for ourselves, our families, and those we serve in the church and our community as we wrestle with the worries of the world that sometimes overwhelm us, or others we care about. Are you an anxious person? You are welcomed! Not an anxious person? You are welcomed as well!  Know an anxious person? Come on and join us!


Katy Walters

Originally a native of North Texas, Rev. Katy Walters currently resides in New Braunfels, located in

the Texas Hill Country where she serves as the Associate Pastor of Christian Education at New Braunfels

Presbyterian Church. She is a graduate of Austin College in Sherman, Texas where she received a

Bachelor of Arts in music, and then went on to earn her Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Practical

Theology with a focus in Christian Education from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta. Rev.

Walters has over 14 years of experience working primarily with children and youth, serving churches

across the south, as well as working with the Girl Scouts of America.

Katy loves learning something new every day and has discovered she likes many things that begin with

the letter “C,” including: coffee, Christ, children, churches, conferences (like youth ones!) crafts, cards,

cats (especially one named Milo), comedies, and collecting coffee cups. She loves walking out in God’s

good creation and seeing nature at work – from running rivers to singing songbirds to the changing of

colors through the seasons. Her favorite energizer move is the “Beyoncé move” found in the “Waving’

Flag” energizer, but she also really loves the “Firework ooo’s and ahhhs.” Katy loves lock-ins with Disney

movies, always requests bumper lanes while bowling, and seeks to sing something every day. She also

daily tries to love like Jesus loves.
Description

So You've Decided to Plan a Youth Sunday

Planning Youth Sundays is an art not a science. It is never a perfect experience, but it is always an adventure. We'll get creative, explore best practices, discuss elements of the service, and exchange stories and ideas. We'll engage with Scripture through a dramatic lens. Come ready to play, write, and share.


Sarah Leeris the Director of Children and Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Bentonville, Arkansas. Sarah is a graduate of Wake Forest University, Columbia Theological Seminary (where she earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Master of Theology), and the Clinton School of Public Service. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Ministry at Columbia Seminary. A lifelong Presbyterian, Sarah has served as a Young Adult Volunteer in New Orleans, as the Moderator of the Leadership Council for the Young Adult Volunteer Alumni Council, and currently serves as on the board for the Presbyterian Youth Workers' Association and as the Adult Co-Moderator for the Youth Advisory Team for the Presbytery of Arkansas. Sarah enjoys singing Broadway songs in her car, geeking out over pop culture, hanging out with her family, traveling, watching college football, and attending youth conferences that include energizers.
Description

Multi Aged Youth Groups

It’s not always an easy decision, but often a faithful one for churches to combine their middle school and high school youth together. This workshop will work through the practical components of combining, as well as discuss the challenges, the joys and the quirks that come along with multi-aged youth groups. Part of our time together will be developing some “take-away” programming for our contexts around Bible Study, Fellowship and Mission. 


Katy Walters, originally a native of North Texas, currently resides in New Braunfels, located inthe Texas Hill Country where she serves as the Associate Pastor of Christian Education at New Braunfels

Presbyterian Church. She is a graduate of Austin College in Sherman, Texas where she received a

Bachelor of Arts in music, and then went on to earn her Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Practical

Theology with a focus in Christian Education from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta. Rev.

Walters has over 14 years of experience working primarily with children and youth, serving churches

across the south, as well as working with the Girl Scouts of America.

Katy loves learning something new every day and has discovered she likes many things that begin with

the letter “C,” including: coffee, Christ, children, churches, conferences (like youth ones!) crafts, cards,

cats (especially one named Milo), comedies, and collecting coffee cups. She loves walking out in God’s

good creation and seeing nature at work – from running rivers to singing songbirds to the changing of

colors through the seasons. Her favorite energizer move is the “Beyoncé move” found in the “Waving’

Flag” energizer, but she also really loves the “Firework ooo’s and ahhhs.” Katy loves lock-ins with Disney

movies, always requests bumper lanes while bowling, and seeks to sing something every day. She also

daily tries to love like Jesus loves.
Description

SOLD!

Sign me up for the 2020 Arts, Recreation, and Worship Conference!
Don't forget the
Pre-Conference Golf Scramble!

ARW Scholarship Golf Scramble 
Monday, May 4, 8 a.m.
Black Mountain Golf Course
The 2019 ARW Planning Team
We hope to see you around!

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