CCM12 - Twitter Prayers of People

Happy New Year Everyone!

The 2012 College Conference at Montreat is almost here,

and we can’t wait to spend some time Seeking Stars with each one of you!

Don’t forget to follow us on twitter:

@ccmontreat

And use the Official 2012 hashtag:

#ccm12

Also – we want YOU to participate in our Prayers of the People during Worship.

There will be a “Prayer Manger” located in the Lobby of Anderson Auditorium throughout the conference

where you can submit prayer requests. 

OR

Submit them virtually as you travel to the Conference for the Opening Worship,

or any other time throughout the conference:

Submit them via twitter using the hashtag: #prayermanger

OR

Submit them via comments on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/collegeconference

We hope you have a safe trip and look forward to seeing you all soon!

Peace,

Planning Team

J. Herbert Nelson on the Importance of Campus Ministry

Our Preacher for the 2012 College Conference @ Montreat // “Seeking Stars”

Talks about the struggles experienced by college students and the importance of Campus Ministry. Come hear more about the words he has to share with us all January 2-5, 2012!

PCUSA Washington Office Director on the Importance of Campus Ministry

J. Herbert Nelson, II, the Director of the Presbyterian Church USA's Office on Public Witness, Compassion, Peace and Justice Ministry, speaks about the importance of campus ministry to young people who will be tomorrow's leaders.

Advent Seeking

Photo from Flickr user dottorpeni

As November begins, I sense the onset of Advent. As a pastor in a church, it is natural for me to sense this, even though the leaves are just now beginning to change into glorious shades of color in eastern North Carolina. In fact, as I compose this post, my mind is also thinking forward to Epiphany and the new revelations it will bring. As Christians we celebrate Epiphany on January 6 when we rejoice at the coming of the Magi, or as some know them, the Wise Men. Over two thousand years ago these wise people from the east followed a star and celebrated Epiphany for the first time with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

At the college conference this year, we will tap into that ancient celebration. Through elements of our worship, we too will seek and we too will celebrate. We will seek the presence of Christ in our lives. We will seek ways to celebrate the Christ Child in our own contexts, all year long. We will celebrate the fact that we have a God who says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come” and “Then you shall see and be radiant”. Together we will ponder and question the meaning of these ancient prophecies in our lives.

As November continues, I offer prayers for you, my sisters and brothers in the faith, for the waiting of Advent is upon us. And before we know it, it will be time for a celebration, for the Christ Child is in our midst. Soon we will gather in the mountains in the cold of winter to join in the ancient art of seeking and celebrating this Christ Child as we ponder the meaning of a star in the sky and the joyful prophecies of Isaiah.

Mary Kathleen Duncan
College Conference Worship Enabler

Steve Lindsley - Music Leader // 2012 College Conference

Steve Lindsley

Hey folks! My name is Steve Lindsley, and I'm stoked about leading music for the 2012 College Conference at Montreat! I'm a pastor/head of staff at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Airy, NC, where I've served for nine years. I'm also a gigging musician and singer/songwriter who loves helping people make beautiful music together!

I've been coming to Montreat since I was in high school, and music has always been a special part of the whole experience for me. That's a big part of why I'm looking forward to returning to Anderson Auditorium with you all this January. My hope is that you'll do more than simply join me in singing some songs, but that you'll experience them anew in a way unique to our particular context - the beautiful space around us, the keynoters and preachers we'll listen to, the fellowship and conversations with friends, and the God who brings us all together. Expect some of the "old staples," but don't be surprised if we belt out a Mumford & Sons or Avett Brothers tune too!

Have a great fall and we'll see you up on the mountain in the new year, seeking stars together!

FACEBOOK // TWITTER // MUSIC // BLOG

2012 College Conference @ Montreat // Leadership

“Seeking Stars”

2012 College Conference @ Montreat // Leadership

Gabe Lyons, Keynoter – Gabe Lyons is the author of The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America and the founder of Q—a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society. Additionally, he is the co-author of UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters, a bestselling book based on original research that revealed the pervasiveness of pop culture’s negative perceptions of Christians.

Sara Miles, Keynoter – Sara Miles is the author of Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion and Jesus Freak: Feeding Healing Raising the Dead. She is the Director of Ministry at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, and the founder and director of The Food Pantry.

J. Herbert Nelson, Preacher – J. Herbert Nelson II is currently the Director of the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C. He is a third generation Presbyterian Pastor, who, before coming to Washington, served as Founder/Pastor of Liberation Community Presbyterian Church (LCC) in Memphis, Tennessee. J. Herbert, as he is commonly known, serves as preacher, workshop leader, consultant and writer. His writings have appeared in Presbyterians Today and The Outlook. J. Herbert spends his spare time listening to jazz; reading, working out and watching his favorite television program — The Good Wife.

Steve Lindsley, Music Leader – When he’s not playing music or playing with his kids, Steve Lindsley is Pastor/Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Airy, NC, where he has served since 2003. Having received his doctorate in 2006, Steve also teaches Old and New Testament at the local community college. Music takes on many forms for Steve. As a singer/songwriter he’s released four CDs, the most recent being Let Go as an entirely free download. He also plays in a Jack Johnson cover band, Mediocre Bad Guys, that’s currently working on their first original album. Steve is no stranger to the conference/presbytery scene, having led music for numerous retreats and conferences over the past twenty years.

Mary Kathleen Duncan, Worship Enabler – Mary Kathleen serves as the Associate Pastor for Congregational Life at First Presbyterian Church in Rocky Mount, NC. Mary Kathleen loved attending the college conference as a student and is excited to be back this year as part of the leadership team. In her spare time she loves to explore God’s creation far and near, attempt cool knitting projects, and try out Southern Living recipes.