Great Lakes Region
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Cincinnati Presbytery
Upcoming Events
Great Lakes Region Webinar series
presented by Friends of the Groom
October/November 2025
Lead by acclaimed theater group Friends of the Groom, this series of three webinars will present ideas for churches to use drama, storytelling, and oral interpretation during Advent.
This series is open to participants from any region. Registration is free, and is required in order to join via Zoom.
Click below to register for each date.
Session 1
October 29th 1:00pm - 2:30 pm EST
FAITH IN MOTION: Theatrical Tools for Transformative Worship and Education
This webinar will focus on drama and storytelling.
Session 2
November 5th 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST
ENACTED WORD: Using Theater to Present Scripture
This webinar will focus on using theater and oral interpretation techniques to present scripture
Session 3
November 19th 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST
Follow-Up
This final webinar will attempt to address questions, feedback, and requests from participants in the earlier two webinars.
Region Leadership
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Connecting Committee
Past Virtual Events
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A Webinar on "Hymn Festival in a Box"
Join David VanderMeer and Ann Wood for a lively discussion of the thinking behind this hymn festival and suggestions for implementing this event in your own community.
A Conversation with Sanctified Art
Join Lisle Gwynn Garrity, Hannah Garrity, Sarah Speed, Lauren Wright Pittman, and Anna Strickland for a conversation about, and experience of, their upcoming Advent materials.
Hymn Festival: All the World from Generation to Generation
This Hymn Festival was at First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor on Sunday, October 15.
Handbell Techniques - Basic and Advanced
Handbell Webinar Series #4
March 22, 2023
Wendy Warner Ransom will present an educational session introducing handbell techniques including ring touch, shake/trill, hand damp, thumb damp, pluck, mart, mart lift, echo, gyro, and tower swing. View the webinar handout here.
Handbell Maintenance
Handbell Webinar Series #3
March 8, 2023
Schulmerich Handbell Maintenance
March 8, 2023
Bethan Neely of Schulmerich Bells will discuss maintenance of Schulmerich handbells and chimes.
Handbell Maintenance
Handbell Webinar Series #2
March 1, 2023
Malmark Handbell Maintenance
March 1, 2023
Kathy Ebling Shaw from the Malmark Bellcraftsmen will discuss maintenance of Malmark handbells and chimes.
Starting a Handbell Choir
Handbell Webinar Series #1
January 26, 2023
Join presenters Janet Langhorst, Ann Wood, and David VanderMeer with moderator Sandra McDonald for this presentation about starting a handbell choir. Participants receive suggested resources, techniques, and exercises for starting a handbell choir in their context.
To view the resource page from the webinar click here.
Em-Bell-ishing Advent & Christmas
November 16, 2022
Panelist David VanderMeer, Ann Wood, Janet Langhorst with moderator Sandra McDonald discuss creative ways to use handbells during the Advent and Christmas seasons.
Collaborative Worship Planning
August 18, 2022
This virtual event was led by David VanderMeer, Minister of Music and Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor. In this 30 minute session David talks about about what collaborative worship planning is and how to implement it in your congregation.
Nourishing the Soul - A Spiritual Practice
March 22, 2022
Come away for an hour and tend to your soul through a series of guided experiences and invitations to nurture: your breath, the four great connections in life, gratitude, and life-giving experiences that feed your soul.
This virtual event was led by Tracy DePue, trained Spiritual Director and Founder of InsideOut Spiritual Living.
Liturgical and Visual Arts Panel
January 25, 2022
This virtual panel discussion features Lisa Longo, Sandra McDonald, and Ellen Phillips, moderated by David VanderMeer. The panel discussed liturgical/visual arts and implementing arts in a congregational setting.