We are excited to welcome Susanne Schmidt as our keynote speaker/facilitator.   As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, trainer and speaker, Susanne's compelling and humorous presentations assist listeners to understand the power of stories to heal.  With a focus on working with participants, staff, and leadership teams, Susanne teaches the science and art of storytelling and designs her presentations that raise awareness and celebrate community. 

  In addition to the important work of the Conference, we have an abundance of workshops for learning, spiritual renewal and living out our faith in actions of justice. Worship will be woven throughout the meeting and incorporate what we learn as telling the stories.  Join us along the beautiful setting overlooking Lake Morey for another memorable Annual Meeting.

Annual Meeting Workshops

How Can I Choose?

The Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ is so looking forward to your participation in the upcoming Annual Meeting at Lake Morey Resort. In addition to our keynote speaker, Sue Schmidt, who loves stories and wants to teach you how to tell your own story of faith, struggle and gratitude, we have many workshops from which to choose.

On Friday you can learn how to tell the Bible stories in a new way, listen to how our churches responded to disasters in the past with the Influenza epidemic of 1917, the ice storm of 1998 and more recently Irene, using flowers as symbols to show the story, retelling our stewardship story in our congregations, participate in a veteran-centered program that works to reconnect the veteran with who they really are and help them move back into their families and community  and discover Children’s Literature as a means to seeing our own stories of faith. In preparation for our vote on a Resolution, we will explore our connection with the earth and our role as stewards of this place we all call home.

On Saturday you will have the opportunity to sharpen your skills in reading the scripture in ways that people will “hear”, to hear the stories of volunteers and their passion in working in areas of Restorative Justice, to listen to the history stories from our church’ past and join in with your own, to visit Sri Lanka with members of our Global Ministries team, to view a film made in Vermont by Steve Cadwell; to share the story of his vulnerability, authenticity and integrity as he “comes out” as a gay man, to celebrate the stories of Vermont’s refugees and to learn how we can be partners with them in their new home and to listen to the stories of those who carry a cross no one should have to bear; domestic and sexual violence.

During each workshop period on Friday and Saturday we will also be offering a workshop with our keynote speaker to work more closely one on one to develop your skills in telling your story.

There will be an open time period from 3 pm to 5:30 pm on Friday. Part of this time the Peacemakers will meet to share their stories. We will have a quiet room set up with a labyrinth for your self guided meditation and prayer, which will be open all day on Friday and Saturday. This open time will be a great opportunity to include a visit to our Vendors and Hopkins Bookstore and weather cooperating to go out for a walk along the lake.

​​​​​​​Then there’s Friday night’s Faith Story Café in the Steamboat Lounge, but that is another story and one you won’t want to miss! Registration opens March 1st.

Diane Holme, member of First Congregational Church United Church of Christ in Springfield and member of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee

All the Exhibitor Space has been filled.