Workshops at 2025 District Conference

(1) Finding Peace As You Garden: — Come get your hands into God’s earth with Glenn McCrickard, pastor at the La Verne Church of the Brethren, in the Peace And Carrots Garden. Here you will weed, pick fall fruits and veggies for donating to a local shelter, and commune with each other and nature.
Glenn McCrickard is a seasoned pastor with over three decades of ministry experience. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion from Bridgewater College and a Master of Divinity from Bethany Theological Seminary. Glenn is passionate about fostering community, pastoral care, and preaching. He’s been married to his spouse Nancy since 1987, he is a proud father of two adult sons and enjoys travel, journaling, and photography. Glenn finds gardening to be a relaxing activity and a time to experience the Holy One./ Encontrando la Paz en tu Jardín: Ven a cultivar la tierra de Dios con Glenn McCrickard, pastor de la Iglesia de los Hermanos de La Verne, en el Jardín de Paz y Zanahorias. Aquí desherbarás, recogerás frutas y verduras de otoño para donar a un refugio local y disfrutarás de la comunión entre ti y con la naturaleza.

Glenn McCrickard es un pastor experimentado con más de tres décadas de experiencia ministerial. Tiene una Licenciatura en Filosofía y Religión del Bridgewater College y una Maestría en Divinidad del Seminario Teológico Bethany. A Glenn le apasiona fomentar la comunidad, la atención pastoral y la predicación. Está casado con su esposa Nancy desde 1987, es un orgulloso padre de dos hijos adultos y disfruta de viajar, escribir un diario y la fotografía. Para Glenn, la jardinería es una actividad relajante y un momento para experimentar al Señor. ( by Glenn McCrickard, La Verne)

(2) Beatitudes, the deep work of peace: — a practical look at how the Beatitudes can help us practice peace in tough times.  Reba is a retired minister, credentialed teacher, and certified Enneagram instructor./Las Bienaventuranzas, la obra profunda de la paz: una mirada práctica a cómo las Bienaventuranzas pueden ayudarnos a practicar la paz en tiempos difíciles (by Reba Herder, La Verne).

(3) Encontrar la paz en medio del caos — Una mirada a las Escrituras y la experiencia vivida de lo que significa aferrarse a la esperanza en medio del caos. (ofrecido en español por Juan Pablo Plaza)/Finding Peace in the Midst of Chaos – A look at Scripture and lived experience of what it means to cling to hope in the midst of chaos. (offered in Spanish by Juan Pablo Plaza, Conexión)

(4) Peacemaking — Matt will be leading a workshop on a theme of his choosing related to peacemaking. Exact details will be available when he returns from sabbatical in late September. (by Matt Guynn – the co-Executive Director of On Earth Peace)

(5) Spiritual Practices for Peacemaking –Join us in soul and body practices that help manage a stressful world. (by Julia Wheeler & Erin Matteson)

(6) Peace Through Music –Come learn new songs, and enjoy ones you might already know, as Shawn Kirchner leads in a repertoire of music you can take back to your congregations and churches.
Shawn Kirchner is a composer, singer, pianist, and songwriter whose choral compositions are performed throughout the United States and abroad in concert halls, churches, schools, and on radio, television (and YouTube!). He is a tenor with the Los Angeles Master Chorale as well as the Music Director at the La Verne Church of the Brethren. Kirchner was raised with his triplet brother and sister in Cedar Falls, Iowa and holds a degree in Peace Studies./Paz a través de la música: Ven a aprender nuevas canciones y disfruta de las que quizás ya conozcas, mientras Shawn Kirchner presenta un repertorio musical que podrás llevar a tus congregaciones e iglesias.
Shawn Kirchner es compositor, cantante, pianista y letrista, cuyas composiciones corales se interpretan en todo Estados Unidos y en el extranjero en salas de conciertos, iglesias, escuelas, radio, televisión (¡y YouTube!). Es tenor del Coro Maestro de Los Ángeles y director musical de la Iglesia de los Hermanos de La Verne. Kirchner se crio con sus hermanos trillizos en Cedar Falls, Iowa, y es licenciado en Estudios de la Paz.