Hello, Soulforce Delegates!
A number of you have asked Laura Montgomery Rutt and me about the schedule for the weekend. We’ve answered you as best we could while plans were under way, and now we have a schedule that’s finalized enough to share. Those of you who’ve been on a Soulforce event before know that change and flexibility are an important part of who we are, but we’ll keep you updated along the way as plans change. We’ll always do our best to keep you informed.
Friday afternoon/evening
Local groups
Training for local group leaders from 1 to 4 p.m. facilitated by Karen Weldin.
Registration
Try to arrive as early as you can at registration, which is scheduled from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at First Christian Church. Our capable and experienced registrar, Judy Osborne, will make sure you’re registered whenever you arrive, but you’ll make her job much easier if you arrive early — and the lines will be shorter for you as well.
Program
The program for the evening will begin at 6:30 and include music, welcoming remarks by Soulforce leadership, a Soulforce videotape preview and more. We should adjourn by 9:30.
Saturday morning
Soulforce training
After breakfast provided by First Christian, we’ll have basic training in the Soulforce principles for first-time delegates and advanced training for Soulforce veterans. The advanced training is likely to be a panel discussion of The Sacrament of Civil Disobedience by John Dear, S.J. (You’ll learn from the discussion even if you haven’t read this wonderful little book, but you’ll learn even more if you’re familiar with it beforehand. You can order a copy from the Fellowship of Reconciliation at www.forusa.org for $17.95 plus postage).
Other workshops
A variety of hour-long workshops will be offered, including Living Simply taught by veteran activist Kara Speltz, Soulforce administrative coordinator (and co-chair of our U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops action in November); How to Start a Soulforce Local Group taught by Karen Weldin, Soulforce director of operations; and other exciting topics, some taught by representatives from national advocacy organizations.
Saturday afternoon
"Out and About in Lynchburg" festival from 1 to 4 p.m ….additional details soon to be posted on the Soulforce website and provided in an upcoming Alert from me or Laura Montgomery Rutt.
Saturday evening
Yet to be decided.
Sunday morning
Worship
After a worship service/meditation led by Mel White beginning around 10 a.m. (place to be decided), we will participate in the 11 a.m. service at Thomas Road Baptist Church.
Sunday afternoon
After-church activity
Yet to be decided … plans dependent upon issues still being investigated.
Closing and (tearful) goodbyes
We hope to be finished no later than 3 or 4 p.m. so that delegates returning home can catch flights, trains and buses on time.
As you can see, it’s a full weekend! Most important, it’s wonderful that you’re joining us for Soulforce’s historic Return to Lynchburg. The rest of the Return to Lynchburg Planning Team join me in saying that we’re looking forward to seeing you there!
God bless,
Diana G. Westbrook
Co-chair, the Return to Lynchburg
and the planning team:
Bill Carpenter (logistics)
Sandy Knodel (Lynchburg local co-chair)
Laura Montgomery Rutt (media/publicity/pride-fest)
Richard Murphy (outreach/planning)
Judy Osborne (registration)
Chuck Phelan (board chair and audiovisual guru)
Jake Reitan (young adult outreach)
Jennifer Riddel (Lynchburg local team)
Kara Speltz (administration)
Kristin Van Heyningen (outreach/planning)
Karen Weldin (operations/local groups coordinator)
Mel White, Soulforce Co-Founder (everything)