SLPN Annual Gathering 2025

Registration Open Now

September 16-18, 2025

first presbyterian church — cheyenne, wyoming

Some sessions to be live-streamed via Zoom

This page contains information about paying your registration, travel information, and the Annual Gathering Registration Form.

~ PLEASE FILL OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM BELOW ~

REGISTRATION DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 9

Our Theme: strengthening Partnerships amid Rapid Change

Worship and conversations with pastors and church members in Syria and Lebanon
Continued conversation with the Carter Center, focusing on advocacy
Strengthening our Network across the U.S., as our work evolves with changes in our denominational structure
Learning more about, and praying about, the ongoing changes in our beloved Syria and Lebanon

REGISTRATION FEE

$100 per in-person participant (which covers dinner on Tuesday, lunch and dinner Wednesday, coffee, tea, and snacks)

$25 per Zoom participant. (Sessions marked with an asterisk (*) will be live-streamed on Zoom.)

All participants are responsible for making their own travel and hotel reservations and covering the cost of travel and lodging.

All payments must be received by September 9, 2025.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Please note that registration payments are not tax-deductible.

Online: You can pay online at the Des Moines Presbytery website, using a credit or debit card or PayPal. Click here to be directed to the online payments page. In the “Note” box, type “SLPN Annual Gathering” to alert the Presbytery’s accountant that the payment is for SLPN.

By Check: Make your check out to Des Moines Presbytery with “SLPN Annual Gathering” in the memo line, to help the Presbytery’s accountant know the payment is for SLPN. Mail the check to: Susan Schroeder, SLPN Secretary, 65 W 26th Avenue, Eugene OR 97405

PLEASE FILL OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM BELOW

Travel INFORMATION

By plane: There are flights to Cheyenne on United Airlines with a layover in Denver.

If you are flying into Denver International Airport and want to take the van from the Denver Airport to Cheyenne, please let the SLPN travel coordinator, Bob Garrard, know your airline, arrival and departure days and times. Email your information to Bob at bobgarrard73@gmail.com. This will facilitate the coordination of transportation between the airport and Cheyenne.

The drive between the Denver Airport and Cheyenne takes two hours. Groome Transportation provides bus service to and from the airport and the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne for $74/one way. To see the bus schedule and reserve a seat online, go to https://groometransportation.com/wyoming.

By car: Free parking is available at the church. Parking is also available at the hotel for a fee. A car may be rented at the Denver airport for the 2-hour drive to Cheyenne.

HOTEL

A block of rooms has been reserved at the historic Plains Hotel in downtown Cheyenne, within walking distance of First Presbyterian Church. To reserve a room with a queen size bed, call 307-638-3311 and give them the name “Robert Garrard” to get the special rate of $115/night, including breakfast. Go to the hotel’s website to see photos of the accommodations.

Please note that the Plains Hotel has a two-week cancellation policy. If you need to cancel your hotel reservation, cancel by September 2.

REGISTRATION FORM

PLEASE FILL THIS OUT SO WE KNOW WHO’S ATTENDING. tHANK YOU!

The Annual Gathering schedule is listed below the Registration Form.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Your email address

Your home congregation or presbytery

Your phone number

(###)

###

####

Do you have any dietary preferences or restrictions? Please list them here

What are your travel plans?

Are you booking a room at the Plains Hotel? Please note that the Plains Hotel has a two-week cancellation policy. If you need to cancel your reservation, cancel by September 2.

Yes

No

If planning to attend in person, will someone be attending with you? Type the number of people in your party in the box below. Thanks!

Please indicate the type of attendance.

In person: Registration fee $100/person

Virtually: Registration fee $25

Do you have a question? Type it here and we'll get back to you.

Annual Gathering 2025 Schedule

Times listed are U.S Mountain Daylight time.

Items with an *asterisk* will be live-streamed via Zoom for our online participants.

September 16

3-5 pm – Registration at First Presbyterian Church, Cheyenne

*5pm – Welcome, introductions, and opening worship

6 -7pm – Catered dinner at the church

*7 – 8pm – Prayer and Bible reflection, focused on ‘In what specific ways do we participate in what God is doing in partnerships between American Presbyterians and our partners in Syria and Lebanon?’

September 17 (breakfast at the Plains Hotel)

*9 - 11:30 – Zoom conversations with Rev. Joseph Kassab, General Secretary of National Evangelical Synod of Syria-Lebanon (9 – 9:45), Dr. Martin Accad, President of Near East School of Theology (10 – 10:30), and Rev. Ibrahim Nseir, pastor of Aleppo Church (10:45-11:30)

11:45 – lunch at Epic Egg restaurant across street from church

*1:30 – 2:30 = Zoom conversation focused on advocacy with the Carter Center staff, Rana Shaab and Nancy Azar

2:30 – 3:00 – Break

*3:00 – 5:00 – Discernment discussion focused on, ‘What specifically is God calling us to do in faithful partnership between American Presbyterians and our partners in Syria and Lebanon?’

Dinner out, followed by informal fellowship at church or hotel, to strengthen our connections with one another as we work together in partnership

September 18 (breakfast at hotel)

*8:30-9:00 – Annual business meeting and election of officers for SLPN

9 -9:15 – Break

*9:15-10:15 – Mission partners in Dialogue, with partners in Lebanon and Syria

10:15 – 10:30 – Break

*10:30 – 11:00 – Closing worship with Communion, and Dedication of Pledges