At each APCE Annual event, the Spirituality Center provides a space for contemplation, reflection, prayer and interaction with a variety of engagement stations. In this quiet setting, you are invited to take time away for yourself to engage with God and with our 2026 Annual Event theme, “Bridging the Gap”.
This year, the center’s activity stations are designed by Carolyn Leah, CCE and PCUSA Commissioned Pastor of Plum Creek Presbyterian Church located in an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh. Carolyn has designed many spirituality engagement centers for the churches she has served over her 30+ year career as a Chrisitan Educator, especially during the Lenten and Advent seasons. “Many years ago, I experienced an Advent Spirituality Center that engaged me in a variety of ways and by doing so, deepened my faith and allowed me to explore my faith in ways that I may not have otherwise. I found it to be a method that allowed each individual the time they needed at each station, sometimes doing interpersonal work and other times making their contribution to a collaborative experience. This is why I love designing these spirituality stations,” says Carolyn.
As we explore the “Bridging the Gap” theme at the annual event, the stations will reflect different “gaps” and how we might explore them, engage with them, look at them from new angles and listen as God stirs us in new ways. Each station engages the participant in contemplative experiences that may include art, music, collaborative experience, prayer, movement and more. “I believe everyone will find something in the Spirituality Center that will help them to rest with God for a bit while their hearts and minds play with the Spirit in each of the stations”, says Carolyn.
We will uniquely explore the famous episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” where Mister Rogers and Officer Clemmons sit at the child’s wading pool, we will light the way as we “bridge” the waters of the rivers, we will look for beauty in the “gaps” and pray as we “bridge” between old and new. These and other stations will greet you in this special quiet place, not far from the main ballroom gathering space.
As you are planning your Annual Event schedule, plan in some time in the Spirituality Center. Perhaps plan one of the workshop time slots just for you and God to spend time together in the Center. Come and spend time with the scriptures of the day or spend time with your notes and insights from the plenary or from worship each day. There will be a space for you to take those “ah ha” moments from what you have heard and experienced during the event and listen for God to fill in the gaps.
The Spirituality Center is an experience you won’t want to miss. One of the bonuses of the stations is that we can take these ideas, mold them and shape them to work for our individual congregations when we head home.