The annual Celebration of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ will be held at the  Double Tree Hotel in Oak Brook, Illinois on Friday, June 8th and Saturday, June 9th.  I am an “energizer” for the conference—yes, really—and as such I will be leading a workshop at 10:15 on Saturday morning.  It’s session B-3.

Here’s my description of the workshop:

Surprise!  Our God is a still-speaking God, a God of surprises, a God who says, “See, I am doing a new thing.”  When people come to the door, this is an aspect of the Spirit that is moving in their hearts.  No door is fully open if it is not open to surprises; no extravagant welcome can be complete if it does not say, “God’s surprises are welcome here.”  We use music and dance in creative ways, in liturgy and in preaching, to help extend this spirit of welcome.

Well, that’s what I said I was going to do.  But the truth is that I’m not sure yet.  I’ve written a hymn for the event, and I’m trying to think up something else surprising (and perhaps even energizing) to do on the day.  We’ll see.

To register for the Illinois Conference Celebration, see the Illinois Conference web site.