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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Great Lakes Conference
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260521T184500
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260521T203000
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UID:8098-1779389100-1779395400@greatlakes.cc
SUMMARY:Succession Planning for Lay Leadership Workshop
DESCRIPTION:6:45 p.m.  — Meet and Greet\n7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. — Training Session\nZoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85699532441\n \nHave you ever been nominated to serve in a position for which you have had no education or training? Have you ever served in a position of leadership and found yourself wondering “who are they going to find to replace me when my term expires?”  Because of these common experiences\, the importance of intentional leadership development and succession planning in the local church cannot be overstated! \nIn this session\, Garth McGrath (Superintendent) and Peg Cichon (Missional Vitality Liaison) with the Great Lakes Conference will discuss how to develop pools of potential leaders through preaching and intentional discipleship strategies. They will also share practical steps for spotting talent\, recruiting\, teaching\, equipping\, encouraging and empowering talented people to serve effectively in church leadership. \nEach church is encouraged to have at least two people from the Leadership Team or Church Council attend the session. Participation of the Chair of the church’s Nominating Committee would be particularly helpful. After the session\, we can set up time with you to discuss how your church can use particular resources identified in the session. \nOne of the best things about being in the Covenant is sharing in fellowship with “Mission Friends” in other Covenant churches.  Join us at 6:45 p.m. to meet and greet other Covenant Church leaders from around the Great Lakes Conference. The session will officially begin at 7:00pm.
URL:https://greatlakes.cc/event/succession-planning-for-lay-leadership-workshop/
LOCATION:OH
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260917T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260917T203000
DTSTAMP:20260813T235340Z
CREATED:20260813T235340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T235340Z
UID:8162-1789669800-1789677000@greatlakes.cc
SUMMARY:Church Security Webinar
DESCRIPTION:The Great Lakes Conference is offering a 90-minute webinar featuring four approaches to church security from different sized churches in different locations. The webinar will be September 17. The zoom room will open at 6:30 p.m. for those who want to meet their colleagues from other churches. The speakers will begin at 7:00 p.m. and they are: Pastor Jay Fast from Harbert Community Church\, a town and country church\, in southwest Michigan\, Pastor Mike Rice from Faith Covenant Church in Farmington Hills\, MI\, a suburb of Detroit\, and Jerry Ricks\, Director of Logistics for Life Church Southfield\, near Detroit. Rob Hall\, Vice President of Real Estate Services for National Covenant Properties has included resources in the resource list that will be provided to those who sign up for webinar. After the three presentations\, Pastor Peg Cichon will moderate the panel. \nPlease email Jani Gustafson to sign up – jani@greatlakes.cc
URL:https://greatlakes.cc/event/church-security-webinar/
LOCATION:OH
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261005
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261008
DTSTAMP:20260702T141637Z
CREATED:20260403T140113Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T141637Z
UID:8053-1791158400-1791417599@greatlakes.cc
SUMMARY:GLC Pastor-Spouse Fall Retreat 2026
DESCRIPTION:Register by Mail: Click here to download the Brochure\, and mail the registration form with your payment. \nRegister Online: https://www.covchurchgiving.com/p-123-fall-ministers-retreat.aspx \nRequest a Scholarship: https://tinyurl.com/glcmaretreat \nOur fall retreat this year is October 5-7 at Maumee Bay Lodge\, 1750 State Park Road\, #2\, Oregon\, OH 43616 \nThis year’s retreat will be led by a team from the Ministry Rooted Pastors. They exist to help pastors\, church leaders\, and their spouses be rooted in the love of God for the flourishing of the church and the healing of our broken world. Leading our retreat from Rooted Pastors include Pam Pangborn\, Kevin Butcher\, William Mack\, and Matt Ness. Our worship leader from Rooted Pastors will be David Simmons. For more information on their ministry\, go to rootedpastors.org. \nLearning to walk and not faint is centered upon Isaiah 40:28-31 and focuses on nurturing resilience in pastoral ministry in life. What it means to truly hope in the Lord while renewing our strength\, and continuing to walk\, even when weary and faint\, will be the focus of our time together. We will also explore the importance of being rooted in the love of God\, and how that impacts our relationships with others. Bring your spouse and join us for this time of encouragement and renewal.\nThis retreat will be a balance of worship\, teachings\, and reflective time with Jesus. \nWe look forward to seeing you there! \n– The GLCMA Officers
URL:https://greatlakes.cc/event/glc-pastor-spouse-fall-retreat-2026/
LOCATION:Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center\, 1750 State Park Rd #2\, Oregon\, OH\, 43616
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261015T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261015T200000
DTSTAMP:20260917T193125Z
CREATED:20260917T191110Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260917T193125Z
UID:8254-1792089000-1792094400@greatlakes.cc
SUMMARY:Simple Facility Updates Webinar
DESCRIPTION:Online Webinar \nEmail jani@greatlakes.cc to sign up\nAs facilities age and the needs of a congregation change\, it can feel overwhelming to think about how to keep your building aligned with your ministry. Major renovations can be expensive and\, for many churches\, simply out of reach right now. Yet there are meaningful\, affordable upgrades that can refresh your space\, support your ministry goals\, and better serve your people. \nIn this session\, Rob Hall from National Covenant Properties Real Estate Services and Peg Cichon from the Great Lakes Conference will share practical examples of simple facility updates that churches have already made. You’ll hear real stories of modest changes—often done on limited budgets—that have had a significant impact on ministry\, hospitality\, accessibility\, and overall effectiveness. These use cases are meant to spark ideas\, not add pressure\, so you can see what’s possible in your own context. \nParticipants are encouraged to bring a team of at least three people involved in both building maintenance and church leadership. Viewing the session together will make it easier to begin an honest discussion about what needs attention in your facility and which upgrades could make the biggest difference for your congregation and community. After the session\, your team can continue the conversation\, prioritize needs\, and begin to plan next steps that are realistic and faithful. \nTo make the most of this opportunity\, participants are invited to join the webinar on Thursday\, Oct 15 at 6:30 p.m. This early time will allow you to connect with other church leaders\, share experiences\, and identify areas that need changing in your church. You are not alone in facing aging buildings and evolving ministry needs; learning from others can bring both encouragement and clarity. \nThe session will be recorded and sent out afterward so that more people in your congregation can access it. This will allow you to include additional voices in the discernment process\, build support for potential projects\, and help your whole church see facility updates not just as building fixes\, but as ministry investments.
URL:https://greatlakes.cc/event/simple-facility-updates-online-workshop/
LOCATION:OH
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270305
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270308
DTSTAMP:20260820T170500Z
CREATED:20260820T170358Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T170500Z
UID:8218-1804204800-1804463999@greatlakes.cc
SUMMARY:Exploring Your Call
DESCRIPTION:Save the Date for Exploring Your Call – March 5-7\, 2027 \nThe research is in – The most effective way to develop new pastors\, lay leaders\, chaplains\, missionaries\, and spiritual directors is for you to prayerfully ask the Lord to give you the gift of identifying and mentoring people. In the next couple months will you pray and talk to people whom you think are called and gifted? \nThe Exploring Call Retreat is a space to slow down\, listen\, reflect\, and explore God’s unique call on your life—whether in a church\, nonprofit\, camp\, the marketplace\, or somewhere in between. This is for anyone post-high school and beyond\, both men and women who are curious about vocational ministry in all its forms. \nThe Great Lakes Conference is planning an Exploring Your Call retreat on March 5 -7\, 2027 at Portage Lake Bible Camp for those interested in pastoral and lay ministry. Participants will have an opportunity to slow down and discern whether God is calling to ministry in one of its many forms. It will be an opportunity to clarify the next steps and to build a support system to help on the journey. For more information\, contact Peg Kohring Cichon at margaretkcichon@gmail.com\, 616-510-1221.
URL:https://greatlakes.cc/event/exploring-your-call/
LOCATION:OH
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270423
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270425
DTSTAMP:20260629T152429Z
CREATED:20260629T152429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T152429Z
UID:8134-1808438400-1808611199@greatlakes.cc
SUMMARY:GLC Annual Celebration 2027
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://greatlakes.cc/event/glc-annual-celebration-2027/
LOCATION:OH
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270718
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270724
DTSTAMP:20260820T182011Z
CREATED:20260820T181344Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T182011Z
UID:8223-1815868800-1816387199@greatlakes.cc
SUMMARY:Unite 2027
DESCRIPTION:University of Nebraska\, Lincoln\, NE \nClick Here for Info & Registration \nUnite is the triennial youth conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church — a formative gathering that invites students into deeper faith\, shared life\, and God’s work in the world. Rooted in Scripture and shaped by the life of the church\, Unite creates space for teaching\, prayer\, service\, and joy. Students are called not only to belong — but to be sent.
URL:https://greatlakes.cc/event/unite-2027/
LOCATION:OH
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