Week 3 - Updates for the Assignments!

Okay. There's a good reason this is coming to you on Thursday instead of Sunday, but I'll get into that in a minute. First things first.
Week three assignment is now up on the site. This week Andrea is addressing Dialogue and speaker tags. It's good. I don't know any new folks who completely get tags. This will be a great lesson for you to tuck into your pocket. Visit the site blog or click here: 
https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/acwcwritersblog/142-Assignment-3--The-Role-of-Speaker-Tags-and-Beats?sel=1-0
NOW, if this link doesn't work thanks to MailChimp, just truck on over to the site, www.ashevillechristianwritersconference.com, click Blog and TA-DA! It's there. This isn't rocket science...though for me, sometimes it is. :)

NOW FOR THE NEWS:
Last week we told you: OUR IN-PERSON CONFERENCE IS SOLD OUT! And it was because the Cove moved us to a new location in the training building. BUT TODAY, we got our spot back in the main auditorium and that means IN-PERSON IS OPEN AGAIN! YEAH! If you have friends who are interested to stay on campus, we do have space available. But not to tarry. We will sell these out too. It's a long story about being moved around and really doesn't matter to you (though for me, my eyes have stopped spinning like a slot machine.) What you need to know is that we have space open for on-campus conferees. Of course, our virtual sign-up can continue until the day before the conference but for right now - I am excited to have you spread the word. Visit our website registration page (Hopefully, Eddie has the links posted for tomorrow).
This is great news. Better news, your peers can still attend the VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON conference. SO PASS THE WORD AROUND. Encourage your friends to visit the site and register for our VIRTUAL CONFERENCE. Those slots can just keep filling up. EVERYONE CAN STILL ATTEND THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE.

WHY IS THIS LATE? Well, it's late because I'm getting older and I threw my back out last Saturday. I've spent the week off my feet with today being the first day I've been able to sit in a chair long enough to work. I will do my best to get Assignment 4 out to you by Sunday night. Then we'll be back on track.

FINAL RESERVATION PAYMENTS ARE DUE - If you have not paid your remaining reservation amounts you will see an invoice this week. I am not beyond making a mistake (obviously you've seen this recently), so if there is a problem, I trust you will let me know via email to [email protected]. Please DO NOT reply to this email. I do not get it. This is MailChimp and I won't see it. Contact me at the above email. I do ask that you make your final payments in a timely manner. We are required to pay the Cove at this point, and since I am not floating in $$$, I need you to do your part. Thank you in advance! I have sent the remaining invoices out earlier this week. I repeat. Please take care of this promptly.

Also, check the website for deadlines on mentoring and critiques. For our online conferees, we are offering the same appointments, critiques, and mentoring. Just know that it may happen via phone or zoom after the conference. So yes, you will have the same opportunity to participate as our in-person folks.

Just a note to remind you that we will have the BOB BOX set up at the conference. Our conference believes fully in giving back to the Lord's work so yearly we sponsor Bob Hostetler's cause with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This year will also add our sweet Dee Dee Parker, who lost Mr. Jim on Christmas Day to Covid. Funds will help with funeral costs for Mr. Jim. And Edie Melson, who lost her sweet Daughter-In-Law, Katie to a terrible accident. Edie's son faces huge medical bills and he and Katie have a new baby boy. The funds we received are matched by the ministry of Christian Devotions and we'll divide the gifts evenly among these three needs. I pray that your generosity will run strong as God calls His church to care for those in need. For our on-line folks, if you would like to give to our BOB BOX we welcome your gifts. This money is matched and distributed to those above.
DONATE TO THE BOB BOX (you don't have to just be an on-line conferee. Anyone to donate to the Bob Box using this link.
You can donate by clicking here:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=A6F2DC7K4EQTA

For our ONLINE folks, you will receive instructions in the near future for your access to the conference. It will be early February but you will get this information as soon as we have all the details nailed down. IMPORTANT, once you receive the email DON'T LOSE IT. You will only get the info once. We need to be sure you hold on to the information.

AGAIN A REMINDER ABOUT COVID - If you are an IN-PERSON attendee, remember you are required to wear a mask at all times during the conference. We have made this clear from the beginning. So if you are a person who can't wear or refuses to wear a mask, then you need to let me know so we can set you up as VIRTUAL. You cannot attend the IN-PERSON Maskless. I have ordered masks for all those coming to the IN-PERSON conference so there no excuse. 

We will maintain social distancing and the only place you will be closer than 6 feet is in the main hall. There will be one seat between each conferee. Husbands and wives may sit next to one another and roommates may sit next to one another, but otherwise, everyone will have one seat between them. We ask that you pick your seat and remain in that spot for the entire conference. We will provide tape on the seats for you to put your name on it.  At our bookstore, there will be gloves. If you plan to browse the bookstore, we ask that you take a pair of gloves and wear those while you browse and purchase books. Remember, we are doing all we can to protect you from Covid. Please work with us.

NOTICE: Your temperature will be taken at the main gate of The Cove. Security will turn you away if one person in your car has a fever. Your temperature will also be taken at your check-in with us. Our insurance requires we have you fill out a Covid questionnaire and do a temperature check. If you are feeling bad, please don't put yourself through the embarrassment of being turned away. Just email me and we will get you in the virtual conference and even up with you on the money. We're honest! Really we are. But we want everyone safe. So if you are feeling bad, or if you have been exposed to this virus, please, please, stay home. We will make it right for you on our end. Your safety is our biggest concern. I've attended three conferences this year and one was in the thick of COVID. This can be done safely. No one has become ill from the conferences I've attended and it was because everyone worked together to be safe.

Lastly, I realize our country is in upheaval right now. We ask first and foremost that you spend time praying for our nation and then we ask that you leave your discussion of politics at home. We want are coming together to learn to be writers in the Name of the Lord. Let's make this a joyful time. Be respectful of others and let's just not even go there. Instead, pray for our nation, for peace, and for the church. Pray for your learning at this conference. For safety and for things to run smoothly. Pray that God's people will be the light that changes the world. But leave the politics at home.

 

THIS WEEK WE SIMPLY PRAY TOGETHER

Oh Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth. You are worthy of all praise, honor, and worship. We lift our hearts before You in gratitude for how You have pulled for us through this week. When we were bumped to a smaller room for the conference we felt disheartened because our desire was to grow this work in Your name, yet that did not stop Your plan for us. In Your perfect way, You reversed what took us down and replaced it with what was meant to be through Your will for this ministry. Thank you, Oh God, for we are grateful in everyway.

We pray now for each person You have chosen to attend this conference. We know that You send those You would have attend, regardless of the circumstance and they have listened, heard, and obeyed. Now Lord, I pray for the safety of each individual. I pray for that You will build a hedge of protection around us as meet in Your name and ask that You push away the nasty illness of the flu and also of covid. Protect Your people so that we might guide, train, and teach in Your name.

Lord, inspire each attendee. Make your desires known to them so that they understand the call You have placed on their lives. Help us to mold that desire into a path that follows Your lead.

I pray for our nation. Lord, keep her close to Your heart. Forgive those who tear at her soul and do all they can to rip her from Your arms. We know this is one nation under God. She is Yours. Guide her. Help Your people to stand firm in Your way. Lord, we lift this nation to You. Love her, despite her blindness.

We trust in Your ways, knowing that Your ways are not ours. May Your will be done and Your hand shadow us.
We pray these things in the name of Christ Jesus.
Amen

Much love,
Cindy

P.S. Please continue to pray for this conference. Pray for good weather, safety, and peace.