The 24th Annual Conference of the Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal ChurchJoin us on Thursday October 11 through Sunday October 14, 2012The Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church will gather for the 2012 annual conference on Thursday October 11th through Sunday October 14th at All Saints Episcopal Church in Lakeland, Florida.Click HERE for registration information. This is a great opportunity for many members of the Guild to come together for fellowship, training, business, and worship and we will be hosted and coordinated this year by vergers Cheryl Cantrall and Sid Glynn. Highlights of this year’s conference are:
If you have any questions, please email conference chair Cheryl Cantrall at [email protected] or call 863.644.9806. To see highlights of the 2011 conference in Cleveland, click HERE. Basic Conference InformationDatesThursday October 11 through Sunday October 14, 2012Host Parish202 South Massachusetts Avenue
Lakeland, Florida 33801
863.688.4502Event ChairCheryl Cantrall[email protected] 863.644.9806 Event Co-Chair and Registration CoordinatorSid Glynn[email protected] 863.644.5170 Conference ScheduleNote: This information in development and is subject to change until September 15, 2012
Thursday October 11, 2012
Friday October 12, 2012
Saturday October 13, 2012
Sunday October 14, 2012
Sessions, Workshops and Events![]() in Cleveland, Ohio Note: This information in development and is subject to change until September 15, 2012
Verger 101 - Hands on for the new VergerThe Verger 101 workshop is specifically designed to support the new verger as he or she embarks on this ministry. It is designed for those who have been vergers three years or less or first-time conference attendees. Topics will include:
This session will be led by David Jette from Trinity Wall Street in New York and Scott Smith, from Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville, Tennessee.
Note: Verger 101 is reserved for vergers with three or less years of experience and for first-time conference attendees.
Vergers in TransitionThe position of Verger is not necessarily a lifetime appointment. This session will be led by Pat Allen from Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, Kentucky, Ed Metz from Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio, and Fr. Al Jenkins, Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church, Lakeland, Florida. Security in your Parish - Do you have a plan?Many people believe that security does not belong in the church. Some might think that it unnecessarily heightens a perception of threat, and others believe that it means we are not trusting in the sovereignty of God to protect his church. In 2008, thirty percent of all churches experienced a threat or other emergency. Seventy-five percent of churches have no security plan in place. Today’s churches simply must be prepared for a variety of threats and emergencies. Topics covered:
This session will be led by Sid Glynn, All Saints' Episcopal Church, Lakeland, Florida. Developing a Worship Council/Liturgical Committee This is a short seminar introducing a suggested plan for developing and initiating a Worship/Liturgical Council for your parish. Topics to be covered are:
Making your own Eucharistic Bread It is easier to believe in the real presence of Jesus in the bread than to believe that the wafer is really bread. Sound familiar? This year at the Vergers' Guild Annual Conference Duke DuTeil, head verger at the Washington National Cathedral, will lead a discussion about different breads for the Eucharist. Pros and Cons of several types both homemade and commercial. He will also talk about an easy economical way to offer gluten free wafers to your congregations. The discussion will conclude with a live demonstration of an easy to make honey whole wheat Eucharistic bread that tastes great, breaks easily, and does not leave intinction crumbs in the chalice. Order of Saint Luke (OSL) Healing Ministry This session will be led by the Rev. Richard Hoover Conference RegistrationRegistrations on or before September 10, 2012 are $200.00 per person. Registrations after September 10th are $225.00 per person.Conference registration is available online through the VGEC Guild Shoppe Online Store using Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Online registration is the easiest method of registration for the conference. You can also click HERE to download and print a manual registration form. Please remember it saves us time and money for you to register online. If you need help, please contact Sid Glynn, event co-chair and registration coordinator, at [email protected] or call 863.644.5170. After registering on-line you will receive a confirmation email and further instructions. When you register online, you will also be asked to complete an online conference information form to supply the conference chairs with additional information (workshops, etc.) that will help them plan the event. Because of the many incidental expenses associated with the VGEC Conference, we cannot price individual parts of the conference. Our hope is that all guests would register as a guest of the conference and attend as many of the conference functions as they desire. ScholarshipsThe Guild will be providing scholarships to cover $150 of the registration expense for up to 15 attendees to this year's conference. The Mark Emory Graham Scholarship Fund of the VGEC will make these grants. They are intended to develop the ministry of the verger and will be considered for junior vergers, new vergers or first time attendees with a financial need.You may download and print an online scholarship application form. For a faxed or mailed application, please contact Guild President, Margaret McLarty at [email protected].
The scholarship committee will review the requests and make the awards as soon as possible.
The grant will cover 75% of the registration fee but not transportation to the Conference or lodging. Please contact Margaret McLarty for additional information. Transportation, Maps, and DirectionsThis information is still in development. Please check back for more information as it becomes available.AirLakeland is serviced equally from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) and the Tampa International Airport (TPA). The Tampa Airport is a slightly easier and less expensive drive than Orlando.
Airport Shuttle ServiceSuperShuttle is offering a special discount to the Vergers' Guild on transportation to and from the hotel and the Tampa and Orlando airports. Click HERE for more information or go to https://www.supershuttle.com/default.aspx?GC=3AWVE - the discount code is 3AWVE. Florida Shuttle Transportation may also be of assistance in traveling from the airports and Lakeland. Contact [email protected] for more information.
AutomobileThe best way to travel between the airports and Lakeland is by car. Many VGEC members will be renting cars, so use the V-List to find opportunities for carpooling or contact [email protected] for more information.
Map from the Hotel and the ChurchThis is an interactive Google map of the conference hotel and All Saints Episcopal Church. Click HERE for a more advanced version of the this map.
The approximate walking distance from the hotel to the parish campus is 500 feet. Accommodations![]() 500 feet from the parish campus The Terrace Hotel 329 East Main Street Lakeland, FL 33801 863.688.0800 The Conference rate is $89 per night. (Editor's note: this is a fantastic rate for this hotel - it's a very nice property located just near the church) Online reservations may be made by clicking HERE. The special group code for this event is: VG1
If you need help, please contact the hotel directly.
Alternate HotelAs of Sunday, September 30, 2012, the Terrace Hotel is sold out Thursday evening and may be sold out for other nights. The alternate hotel is The Hyatt Place, 525 West Orange Street, 863-413-1122, email: [email protected] web address: hyattplacelakelandcenter.com. Click HERE for complete information including the discount code for reservations. The rate is $89 per night for vergers attending the VGEC Annual Conference.
Useful Documents and Links
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