After a two-year hiatus, The Fellowship returns to Lake Junaluska in June


“M


ost people don’t get to spend over two years with an amazing worship team, planning a single series of worship services,” wrote Laura Jaquith Bartlett in a Facebook post in early March, “but I’ve been lucky enough to do it twice.”


Te first time was intentional,


when Laura served as Worship Direc- tor for the 2016 General Conference Tis second time though? Not so much. As Worship Designer and Lead-


er for Music & Worship Arts Week 2020, Laura and the worship team created “20/20 Vision” for what was to be the annual gathering of Te Fellowship at Lake Junaluska, NC, in June 2020. And, as we well know, that event


didn’t happen. Neither did 2021. So now, finally, more than two


years later, the worship design and planning will be manifested June 19-24 as Te Fellowship gathers for its first in-person national event since Convocation 2019 in Kansas City. “We first met each other (as a


worship team) in October 2019, obviously never dreaming that we would still be a team two and a half years later,” Laura said. “At that time we were praying for each other


intentionally once a week to help us bond together and to remember that the bond isn’t just a work assignment but it’s something that the Holy Spirit really creates.” Te cancelation of the 2020 event


in early April became a nearly two- year hiatus for worship planning, Laura said. Te team resumed work- ing early this year and re-established a regular meeting schedule. “Meanwhile all this time we’ve


been praying for one another every week,” Laura said. Music & Worship Arts Week is


unique as it’s a truly multi-generation- al event that brings together worship leaders, musicians, artists, dancers, actors, and pastors of all denomina- tions, ages, and experience levels. Te 2022 event will feature many


of the attendee-favorite moments, including the Chamber Choir concert and organ recital featuring Joby Bell on Wednesday evening at Waynes- ville First United Methodist Church.


Tuesday night will resume the tradition of the Youth Talent Show in Stuart Auditorium. And, of course, Tursday will feature concerts and performances from all of the attendee ensembles. New this year will be a “Clinicians


in Revue” night on Monday evening as the event’s faculty showcase some of their “not so well-known” talents on stage. And a special feature will be a children’s musical presented by the elementary music attendees led by Mark Burrows. (Read more about this on p. 23.) But one of the true highlights of


the event is worship, as the communi- ty gathers six times to worship on the theme of “Embracing God’s Vision.” “It’s this wonderful anticipation of


finally,” Laura said. “All these dreams and work and the vision that we had back in 2019 is finally going to come to fruition. And so we’re very excited to get to be together in the flesh again at the lake in 2022.”


June 19-24, 2022 • Lake Junaluska, NC • musicartsweek.org


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January-February-March 2022 • WorshipArts • UMFellowship.org


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