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Winter Talk 2024
January 13 - January 15
Winter Talk 2024 will be held on January 12-16th at the Mustang Island Conference Center in Port Aransas, TX. The 12th and 16th are travel days for those attending the conference in person by invitation, and the event will take place all day on the 13-15th for those watching virtually. Portions of the event will also be livestreamed for broader viewing.
DRAFT Agenda (subject to additions and changes):
CONFERENCE THEME: Indigenous Ways of Learning, Knowing and Relating
Friday, January 12th (Arrivals begin)
Travel to the Corpus Christi airport. Travel arrangements for those who will be present in person and are not DFMS staff are to be made through the Office of Indigenous Ministries and Altour Travel. Please book flights by December 22, 2023. Upon arrival at Corpus Christi, transportation to the Conference Center will be provided. Bags of swag and name tags will be available at the Conference Center. Spanish interpretation services will be available virtually during the program events.
Saturday, January 13th
- 7:00 am BREAKFAST
- 9:00 am Opening music, Bude VanDyke
- 9:00 am Morning devotions in the Conference Center room: Disciples Prayer Book without Bible study
- 9:30 am Missioner statement
- 10:30 am BREAK
- 11:00 am Opening music, Bude VanDyke
- 11:00 am Building the Altar
A tradition of Native American gatherings in the Episcopal Church has often included a practice of creating an “altar” at the start of the gathering. Participants, representing diverse Native cultures and traditions, have often brought items of significance to them (their culture, tradition and ministry) and placed it on the altar. Some items are also placed on the altar and used as “give-aways” at the end of the gathering (according to the participants culture) but this practice in no way suggests that participants are to bring give-away items. These are personal decisions. It is also true that not all participants bring something to place on the altar. All of these represent the practice that results in “building the altar.” Each person is asked to limit their comments to no more than three minutes and will be reminded of their time. Please remember that this is an altar, a holy space in our midst that will remain until the end of the conference. It is not a tract rack or distribution desk. - 12:00 pm LUNCH
- 1:00 pm Opening song, Bude VanDyke
- 1:00 pm Building the Altar, continued
- 2:15 pm BREAK
- 2:45 pm Opening music, Bude VanDyke/others
- 3:15 pm Conversation with the President and VP of the House of Deputies
- 5:00 pm DINNER
- 6:00 pm Opening music, Bude VanDyke/others
- 6:30 pm Missioner’s “State of the State” Address
- 7:30 pm Sarah Augustine presentation
- 8:15 pm BREAK
- 8:30 pm Holden Evening Prayer
- 9:00 pm Close of Day
Sunday, January 14th
- 7:00 am BREAKFAST
- 9:00 am Morning Worship
- 9:30 am Building the Altar cont’d., announcements and introductions
- 11:00 am Alan Yarborough, OGR presentation (virtual)
- 12:00 pm LUNCH
- 1:00 pm Song by Bude VanDyke/others
- 1:00 pm Group photo
- 2:00 pm ITEC presentation by Mary Crist and Micah Jackson
- 2:45 pm Greetings from the Bishops and others in attendance
- 3:00 pm BREAK
- 3:30 pm Opening music by Bude VanDyke/others
- 3:30 pm IMAC panel discussion
- 4:30 pm BREAK
- 5:00 pm Executive Council panel discussion
- 6:00 pm SUPPER
- 7:30 pm Boarding School commissions panel discussion
- 9:00 pm Holden Evening Prayer
- 9:30 pm Close of Day
Monday, January 15th
- 7:00 am BREAKFAST
- 9:00 am Music by Bude VanDyke/others
- 9:30 am Morning Prayer, A Disciple’s Prayer Book with study
- 10:00 am John Kitagawa presentation (virtual)
- 10:45 am BREAK
- 11:15 am Resume discussion, reports from our dioceses
- 12:00 pm LUNCH
- 12:00 pm The Rev. Garth Howe, Church Pension Group break out lunch
- 3:00 pm Local area excursion, details TBD, possible sign-up sheet
- 6:00 pm SUPPER
- 7:00 pm Taking down the altar and closing service
- 9:00 pm Close of Day
Tuesday, January 16th (Departure day)
- 7:00 am BREAKFAST
- 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Check out of rooms and depart for airport (transport provided)
MEMBERS OF THE BOARDING SCHOOL COMMISSIONS REMAIN AT THE CONFERENCE CENTER FOR THEIR MEETING
Questions – email, text or call Missioner Brad Hauff, 917-565-1891
Questions regarding travel and lodging, contact Angie Cabanban, 212-716-6186
