Overview
July 25-31, 2021
logo by Zach Dishman
Bible Study
Belonging: Five Keys to Discipleship
Discipleship is never a one size fits all kind of category. As people of faith, we are always growing and changing in how we embody our beliefs and how we imagine faithful following of Christ. The past year especially has us asking, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus when our usual ways of going about Christian living have been challenged? The Samaritan woman at the well in John’s Gospel shows us five aspects of discipleship that can help us recenter and reground our commitment to Christ. This bible study will bring us back to belonging – in Christ and in God’s love.
Preacher’s Study:
How To Craft A Faithful Sermon
When was the last time you thought about the basics of a faithful sermon? What is the difference between a good sermon and a faithful sermon? This study will reconnect preachers with the core principles of our craft and reinspire us toward a renewed sense of what is foundational for effective proclamation.
Bible Text For Sermon: John 4:25-26
Questions? Please feel free to get in touch with Hannah Altman, Director of Programs, or Rachael Brannock, Registrar for Church Music Conference, at 540-434-3829.
Evening Worship and Bible Study Recordings Orders
Bring home a little of the 2021 Bible Conference! We are now accepting orders for CDs as well as digital downloads. Order online or fill out the order form and mail it in.
For Physical CD Orders
For Digital Orders
Bible Study
Bible Study Leader
Rev. Dr. Karoline M. Lewis
Karoline M. Lewis is the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, where she has taught since 2007.
Lewis is the author of SHE: Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry (including an accompanying facilitator guide, participant guide, and DVD) and John: Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries, as well as numerous articles and book chapters. She was one of the 100 religious scholars in the United States to contribute to the Values and Voices Campaign (valuesandvoices.com). Her next two books are Embody: Five Steps to Leading With Integrity and A Lay Preacher’s Guide: Eight Steps Toward Crafting a Faithful Sermon (both in May 2020).
Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Lewis holds degrees from Northwestern University (B.A.), Luther Seminary (M.Div.), and Emory University (Ph.D., New Testament Studies and Homiletics). She has served as Treasurer of Academy of Homiletics and Regional Coordinator for the Upper Midwest Region of the Society of Biblical Literature. Lewis is the Program Director of the Festival of Homiletics and Chair-Elect of the Homiletics and Biblical Studies Section of the Society of Biblical Literature.
Lewis leads conferences, workshops, and retreats internationally on the Gospel of John, the New Testament, interpreting the Bible, preaching, leadership, and women in ministry. She is a contributing writer for Working Preacher, co-host of the site & weekly podcast, Sermon Brainwave, and authored the Dear Working Preacher column for five years. Visit karolinelewis.com for resources on preaching and being a woman in ministry.
Preachers and Worship Leaders
Worship Leader
Rev. Kate Rascoe
Rev. Kate Rascoe is a follower of Christ, a seeker of the Spirit, and a trusting child of God. Her twenty-ish years in ministry have taken many forms in some interesting locations. She loves that she, her two daughters, husband, and a growing menagerie of animals get to call Massanetta “home”.
Conference Artist
Rev. Nathan Taylor
Nate joined the SPC team in October 2020. Before joining us he spent 10 years in non-ordained ministry with young people at 4 different churches and 10 summers on staff at various camps. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Master of Divinity degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary right here in Richmond Virginia. Nate is passionate about using wonder, humor, and critical thinking to engage our faith. Nate enjoys painting, playing his Pantheon Steel Halo handpan, watching stand up comedy, and spending time with his wife Natasha playing games or watching Netflix and YouTube.
Preachers
Sunday Evening
Rev. Dr. Ed McLeod
Since 2004, Rev. Dr. Ed McLeod has been the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC. Prior to taking the call at FPC, he served three churces in South Carolina. Ed is active in the life of the larger church serving on vairous presbytery committees and the Board of Trustees of both Union Presbyterian Seminary and William Peace University. Ed is married to Jenny, and they have two adult children. Golf, triathlons, crossword puzzles and movies are some of the things that Ed enjoys in his free time.
Monday Evening
Rev. Dr. Aram Bae
Ministry with youth and their families is the stuff of her heart. Shoes and barbeque aside, Aram is most passionate about the faith development of teens, equipping parents, and partnering with the larger faith community on how to best address questions of faith and spirituality during adolescence. This is what speaks to the heart and soul of her calling. Aram began her studies in education in college, majoring in Education & Child Studies at Smith College, and taught fifth grade before going to Princeton Seminary for her M.Div. She continued her focus on faith development at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, pursuing a Master of Christian Education, and delved deeper in youth ministry with a dissertation in practical theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. During her doctoral work, she served as the Director of Family Ministries at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. This is her first call, and she is thrilled to call Charlottesville her home.
Tuesday Evening
Rev. W. Clay Macaulay
Since 2016, Clay Macaulay has had the privilege of serving as the Director for Alumni Development for Union Presbyterian Seminary. He returned to Richmond after serving as a pastor in congregations for thirty years. The son of a Presbyterian minister, Clay spent his boyhood in Mooresville, and grew up in Asheboro, NC.
Married to the former Pam Moses (PSCE, M.A., 1983) of Richmond, Clay and Pam met while students at PSCE and Union. They married after Pam graduated from PSCE in May, 1983. Pam and Clay have a daughter, a son, and daughter-in-law who live and work in Florida and North Carolina. With his family, Clay has served pastorates in Williamsburg, Virginia, Hillsboro, West Virginia, Peoria, Illinois, and Weems, VA. He is a graduate of Davidson College (AB 1981).
Wednesday Evening
Rev. Dr. Fred Holbrook
Fred Holbrook has been a minister of Word and Sacrament for 35 years. During this time, he has served as pastor, head of staff, interim pastor, and associate pastor to churches in Virginia, North Carolina, and Kansas.
His most recent ministry was as interim pastor to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, Kansas. From 2002 to 2014, Fred was executive director of Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center.
Fred has a strong grasp of polity and parliamentary procedure which has enabled him to support churches, moderators, stated clerks, and presbyters at mid-council levels.
Fred was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond. He is married to Laura, a Christian educator, with whom he has three adult children and two grandchildren.
Thursday Evening
Rev. Dr. Emily Peck McClain
The Rev. Dr. Emily A. Peck-McClain is Visiting Professor of Christian Formation and Young Adult Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She is author of Arm in Arm with Adolescent Girls: Educating into the New Creation and a contributing editor to We Pray With Her: Encouragement for All Women Who Lead and Speaking Truth: Women Raising Their Voices in Prayer. Peck-McClain is interested in how the Spirit works in and through people to shape communities to respond to the challenges facing our society and churches. She is an ordained United Methodist minister, married to another United Methodist minister, and proud mom to three wonderful kids.
Friday Evening
Speakman Chair of Preacing 2021
Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis
Karoline M. Lewis is the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, where she has taught since 2007.
Lewis is the author of SHE: Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry (including an accompanying facilitator guide, participant guide, and DVD) and John: Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries, as well as numerous articles and book chapters. She was one of the 100 religious scholars in the United States to contribute to the Values and Voices Campaign (valuesandvoices.com). Her next two books are Embody: Five Steps to Leading With Integrity and A Lay Preacher’s Guide: Eight Steps Toward Crafting a Faithful Sermon (both in May 2020).
Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Lewis holds degrees from Northwestern University (B.A.), Luther Seminary (M.Div.), and Emory University (Ph.D., New Testament Studies and Homiletics). She has served as Treasurer of Academy of Homiletics and Regional Coordinator for the Upper Midwest Region of the Society of Biblical Literature. Lewis is the Program Director of the Festival of Homiletics and Chair-Elect of the Homiletics and Biblical Studies Section of the Society of Biblical Literature.
Lewis leads conferences, workshops, and retreats internationally on the Gospel of John, the New Testament, interpreting the Bible, preaching, leadership, and women in ministry. She is a contributing writer for Working Preacher, co-host of the site & weekly podcast, Sermon Brainwave, and authored the Dear Working Preacher column for five years. Visit karolinelewis.com for resources on preaching and being a woman in ministry.
Speakman Chair of Preaching
Frederick B. Speakman began coming to Massanetta Springs in 1953. Over a forty year period, he inspired young ministers and ministered to many while on the platform at the Bible Conference. Fred graduated from the University of Oklahoma, Harvard University (M.A.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (B.D.), and in 1950 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA. He served three churches: Central-Brick in East Orange, NJ, Third Church in Pittsburgh, PA, and Westminster Church in Dayton, OH. Fred was also an author and wrote three books of sermons: The Salty Tang, Love is Something You Do, and He Dwelt Among Us.
In 1957 Fred purchased a home in the Cottage Community, on the Massanetta Springs grounds, and in 1983, he and his wife, Zoe, retired and moved to the Cottage Community. With Fred in mind, a family in the Cottage Community began an endowment to which others have added, to ensure that the quality and name recognition of preachers for the Bible Conference will continue to be of the highest quality as has been in the past! This endowment supports the Fred Speakman Chair of Preaching. Each year one or more outstanding preachers are brought to Massanetta during the Bible Conference by the proceeds from the endowment.
Preachers receiving the Speakman Chair of Preaching award:
2021 - The Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis
2020 - No Conference due to Pandemic
2019 - Bishop William H. Willimon
2018- The Rev. Drs. Kimberly Bracken Long and Thomas G Long.
2017- The Rev. Dr. Luke Powery
2016 – The Rev. Dr. Steve Eason
2015- The Rev. Michael Lindvall
2014- The Rev. Dr. Debra J. Mumford
2013- The Rev. Dr. James C. Howell
2012 – The Rev. Dr. Brian K. Blount
2011 – The Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes
2010 – The Rev. Dr. Joanna M. Adams
2009 – The Rev. Dr. William J. Carl III
2008 – The Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence
2007 – The Rev. Thomas G. Long
2006 – The Rev. Dr. Frances Taylor Gench
2005 – Bishop William H. Willimon
2004 – Dr. Stephen D. McConnell
2003 – The Rev. Dr. William Powell Tuck
2002 – Dr. Ben Lacy Rose
2001 – Dr. Jerold D. Shetler
2000 – Dr. Paul T. Eckel
1999 – Dr. Myron Augsburger
1998 – Dr. Thomas K. Tewell
1997 – Dr. Ernest Campbell
1997 – Dr. Ernest Campbell
Forums & Workshops
Forums for Wednesday and Thursday mornings are being finalized now.
Monday-Tuesday two-part morning forum from Alonzo Johnson. Topic to be announced soon.
Tuesday-Thursday-Friday - Conference Artist Nathan Taylor to lead three days worth of workshops. Topics to be announced soon.
Wednesday - Thursday - morning Forums from Colleen Earp entitled “The Community of Creation.”
Wednesday - afternoon talk back session with Bible Study Leader, Karoline Lewis
Friday - Morning Forum with Rev. Dr. Emily Peck-McClain, topic to be announced soon.
Schedule
You can preview and download a draft copy of the 2021 Massanetta Springs Bible Conference Schedule here.
For Locals
Did you know that you can take advantage of excellent preaching and teaching right in your own backyard?
Located just 3 miles of I-81 at exit 247A in Harrisonburg, Christian inspiration is just a stones throw away from you. Come enjoy worship at the Massanetta Springs Bible and Church Music Conference! Each evening July 25-30 at 7:00 p.m. you're invited to join us at Hudson Auditorium for worship. There are a few things you need to know. Masking will be required for certain portions of the service, so please bring a mask. We are taking reservations for worship so we can be sure we have enough space to be socially distanced during worship. Simply fill out the Reservation Form to indicate which night(s) you plan to attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Local Participants come just for worship this year? What are the COVID Protocols?
Yes, locals may come and join us for worship each evening at 7:00 p.m. However, you MUST make a reservation in order to be able to attend. Space will be limited to what we can social distance for. Please bring a mask with you, as we will be requiring masks when we sing.
What happens at Bible Conference?
The short answer is, “A lot!” There is a Bible study and worship service each morning, and another worship service each evening. In between there are workshops, fellowship opportunities, time to just enjoy the beauty of Massanetta’s campus, and much more. You can find a summary of last year’s schedule here.
How much does Bible Conference cost?
There are several answers to that question depending on your desired level of participation. Morning and Evening worship services are free and open to the public. There is an offering to support the ministry of Massanetta Springs taken at each evening’s worship service if you would like to contribute.
If you wish to participate in more than the worship service, there are several options to register for the conference. See the Bible Conference Registration Form (link to come) for rates and options.
Can I enjoy a meal while I’m there?
Absolutely. You may purchase meals at the Front Desk of the Historic Hotel on the day(s) you wish to attend. If you are bringing a group of 5 or more who wish to eat, we appreciate you calling at least 24 hours in advance to let us know you’ll be joining us. It will help us know how much food to prepare.
Who will be speaking?
The conference schedule tells you who will be speaking when. The conference webpage will give you more details about those who are leading the conference.
What if I have questions about the Massanetta Springs Bible Conference that aren’t answered here?
If you’ve read through this, and still have questions, please feel free to call us at 540-434-3829. Ask to speak with Clayton Rascoe, Executive Director or Rachael Brannock, Registrar for Bible & Church Music Conference. We will be happy to help you!
Registration
Registration is closed for 2021 Bible Conference.
Questions?
Please feel free to get in touch with the Registrar for Church Music Conference or the Director of Programs at 540-434-3829.
Children, Youth, and College
Camp Connections
July 26-August 1, 2020
There is something for the whole family during the Bible Conference and Church Music Conference.
Wee Connect: For infants- preschool age children. Spend time with our loving caregivers in our updated nursery. The day will include playtime, story time, rest time, and music time.
Kids Connect: For children in completed Kindergarten- 5th Grade. Children will spend the day doing a variety of Camp Activities including, water play, archery, swimming, canoes, Bible Study and lawn games. All children will participate in choir. Upper Elementary students will participate in handbells.
Youth Connect: For youth in completed 6th- 12th Grade. The day will be anchored by Bible Study, Choir. Middle School youth will participate in handbells. High School youth have the option of signing up for Intermediate and advanced handbells (this requires pre-registration). There is a lot of time to hang out, explore Massanetta, do the Challenge Course/Zipline, and spend time with friends.
Camp Connections for children and youth are led by HS Juniors/Seniors and College Students who have leadership experience working with Children and youth. Many of them are children and youth of Massanetta programs and camp and love coming back each year to share Massanetta with a new generation.
You Register for Camp Connections when your family registers for the Bible and Church Music Conference. Your confirmation material will include an additional youth information form that will help us register your children/youth.
College Connections
So many of the youth who grew up coming to Bible Conference and Church Music Conference are now in College. Many come back to experience the conference. College Connections is for collegiates (completed freshman year- 23 years of age) to have an opportunity to reconnect and dig deeper. College students are invited to register normally for either Bible or Church Music conference and there will be opportunities just for college students planned throughout the day.
Camp Counselors
Interested in serving as a 2021 Camp Connections Counselor?
We are looking for youth (completed 11th/12th Grade) and college students who are excited about leading at Massanetta to help add numbers to our full time summer staff for this week of music and camp.
Applications will be received on a rolling basis, dependent on room and availability. Camp Connection Counselors will be hired after Day Camp Counselors are hired.