Harnessing the Holidays:
​Advent Preaching Workshop

The second in our two-part "Harnessing the Holidays" series, this Advent workshop will have you prepared for the best holiday season your church can offer. Gather with other pastors for a planning, sharing, and growth workshop designed to help you have a stress-free Advent. Participants will also enjoy personal quiet time for study, planning, and reflection in the beautiful sacred space of Olmsted Manor Retreat Center. Our retreat leader, Rev. Charles Maynard, will offer individual consultation to aid participants in making their specific plans for this central season of the church year. The event will offer ideas helpful to any size congregation. 

Retreat Leader

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Rev. Charles Maynard, a native of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, is an ordained United Methodist pastor, a storyteller, and an author. A graduate of Emory & Henry College and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Charles has served in the Holston Conference of the UMC for over 30 years. He has authored or co-authored 30 books, Sunday school and devotional literature, and magazine articles. Charles worked as the first executive director of Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and as the director of advancement at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN. He served seven years as the Director of Development for Holston Camp and Retreat Ministries. He now teaches “Storytelling and Preaching” at the Emmanual School of Religion. Charles married his high school sweetheart, Janice, who is a well-known novelist. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

August 14-16, 2022

$225/person

Event Information

  • Event starts with dinner on Sunday, August 14 and concludes with lunch on Tuesday, August 16. Check-in is in Groves Lodge between 3 and 5pm on Sunday.
  • Pricing includes two-nights stay (private hotel style room with linens), six meals, and course tuition. Discount available for those willing to select or be assigned a roommate. Please contact Olmsted for commuter rates. 
  • Register online, print and mail the registration form, or call to register at (814) 945-6512
  • 1 Continuing Education Unit available upon request