Please Note: REGISTRATION for WOCON 2023 is now CLOSED – Join us next year!
Sing to the Lord, to the Lord, a new song…. Sing to the Lord, Sing all the earth! (Psalm 96:1)
Our third online Women’s Conference is happening on March 11, 18 and 25. Registration is now CLOSED for this, our 66th conference. Register here or click on the link to the right. All dates and times are listed in JST – Japan Standard Time. Please note that WoCon is not able to support visas to Japan.
Your payment of 6,000 yen (or equivalent) provides access to the keynotes and closing worship by Rev. Kiran Young Wimberly along with a variety of workshops offered by our WoCon community.
Workshop choices are posted and will be available to those who have registered for the conference. Use the link to the right to view choices.
Deadline: Registration for the 2023 conference closed on February 28, 2023. Thank you to those who registered. Keynote and workshop links will be emailed to all registrants. Scroll down to see the conference schedule and to view chronological list of workshops.
Welcome to WOCON 2023 – SING a New Song! Kiran Wimberly, who resides in Ireland, will lead the women of WoCon in “Singing a New Song” on three Saturdays in Lent: March 11 & 18 with a closing worship on March 25. The main keynote talks and worship service will all happen at 4pm on Saturdays. 4pm in Japan is 8am for Kiran, so we chose a time when both Ireland and Japan would be wide awake and ready to sing. Last year’s theme, called us to Arise! Now that we are up and breathing deeply, it is time to sing out.
Ireland Coastline 
Kiran and Mom 
McGrath Family
“Sing a new song!” the Psalms invite us. These are words we have heard many times, but they take on a new meaning as we emerge from these pandemic years. At this particular point in time, with each of us beginning a new chapter, we ask ourselves afresh – what is the new song we can sing in the coming season?
In this year’s conference, we will explore the theme “Sing a New Song” both literally and metaphorically. We’ll remember songs that have inspired and lifted our spirits, and we’ll listen for the song we might feel called to bring forth. What were the songs that lifted our spirits when we needed encouragement and inspiration? What were the songs our hearts yearned to sing when we couldn’t sing together? Were there other forms of creativity that touched our hearts and gave rise to a “new song” within us? And as we listen for what inspires and refreshes us, we will explore what leads us toward healing and hope as we move into the future. What new songs do our spirits long to sing now? What do we feel called to create, to bring into being in the season ahead? What is the song God wishes to sing in and through us? As individuals, as women of God, as sisters in Christ, as communities of faith, from the diversity of our backgrounds, contexts, and life stages, how can each of us “sing a new song,” and what is the “new song” we can sing together?
This year’s speaker is Rev. Kiran Young Wimberly. Kiran is an American Presbyterian minister and spiritual director living in Northern Ireland, based at the Corrymeela Community for Peace and Reconciliation. A child of Tokyo Union Church, she grew up with a cross-cultural background and has a heart for building bridges and finding common ground across community divides. One way Kiran has explored this bridge-building is through music, and she has collaborated with the McGrath family from County Tyrone, N. Ireland to record four albums of Psalms set to Celtic melodies, the most recent of which emerged during the Covid period. They sing their songs in sacred and secular venues, across the historic divides between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. Bringing together the ancient words of the Psalms and beautiful Celtic melodies, their music ministry is a way of “singing a new song” in their context and in the communities they visit while on tour. Kiran also leads ecumenical retreats at Corrymeela and online, writes regular reflections at Bless My Feet, and hosts “Psalms for the Spirit,” a podcast about spirituality and resilience that she began during Covid to explore how the Psalms lift our spirits in difficult times.
Links to Kiran Wimberly’s Resources:
Kiran Young Wimberly webpage: www.kiranyoungwimberly.com
Bless My Feet Writing/Podcast site: https://kiranyoungwimberly.substack.com
Celtic Psalms – https://www.celticpsalms.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CelticPsalms/
GIA Publications – books and music: https://www.giamusic.com/store/search?elSearchTerm=Celtic+Psalms+&giaSession=sm
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT6naf-l9ewLmFWs2ExcrPA?app=desktop
iTunes: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/celtic-psalms/1110799096
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/search/celtic%20psalms%20kiran%20young%20wimberly%20and%20the%20mcgraths
Psalms for the Spirit Podcast – https://psalmsforthespirit.substack.com
Corrymeela: https://www.corrymeela.org
Retreats at Corrymeela: https://www.corrymeela.org/events/215/residential-retreats-in-20222023
We hope to see you at the conference. Registration begins in November. Invite a friend and share the experience.
The Women’s Conference is an annual gathering started by the women of the Christian missionary community 66 years ago and has been blessed by speakers such as Diana Butler Bass, Madeleine L’Engle, Susan Townsley, Sharon Draper and Hennie Symington.
Please reserve your spot at WoCon 2023 by registering here.
Conference Schedule: Listed in Japan time – please convert for your own time zone. The Wocon workshop schedule will be finalized and shared by January 30, 2023.
Mode Notes: Pre-recorded Keynote and Worship will be broadcast (thanks to Tokyo Union Church for their assistance); Zoom groups are live; workshops are as listed. Links will be sent before the conference begins.
WoCon Keynote & Worship Schedule – Japan Standard Time
| Date and Time | Event | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| March 11 | ||
| 3:20 pm | Pre-Conference Small Group Greetings | Zoom |
| 4:00 pm | Keynote 1; Kiran Wimberly – Live introduction + broadcast | Zoom + Broadcast |
| 4:30 pm | Discussion Groups – (Up to 8 per group) | Zoom |
| 5:00 pm | Keynote 1 Conclusion; Kiran Wimberly | Broadcast |
| 5:30 pm | Discussion Groups – Live with Kiran | Zoom |
| 6:30 pm | Dinner Discussion Groups – (Up to 32 per group) | Zoom |
| March 11-17 | Workshops – Leaders will set times of workshops | Zoom and/or Link |
| March 18 | ||
| 3:20 pm | Pre-Conference Small Group Greetings | Zoom |
| 4:00 pm | Keynote 2; Kiran Wimberly – Live introduction + broadcast | Zoom + Broadcast |
| 4:30 pm | Discussion Groups – (Up to 8 per group) | Zoom |
| 5:00 pm | Keynote 2 Conclusion; Kiran Wimberly | Broadcast |
| 6:30 pm | Dinner Discussion Groups – (Up to 32 per group) | Zoom and/or Link |
| March 18-24 | Workshops – Leaders will set times of workshops | Zoom |
| March 25 | ||
| 3:30 pm | “Sing to the Lord a New Song” Worship | Broadcast |
| 4:30 pm | All-Conference Zoom Fellowship (All are welcome) | Zoom |
Chronological Workshop Listing – Japan Standard Time – JST
(Scroll down for listing in Eastern Standard Time – U.S.A)
| Workshop Date | Time – JST | Workshop Title | Presenter/Host | Additional Notes: |
| March 4 – Saturday | 9:00 am – 10:30 am | Trust by Design – (Will be recorded) | Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker | Limit – 25 |
| March 9 – Thursday | 9:30 am – 10:30 am | Lenten Haiku – (Part 1) | Ruthie Rogers, Julie Fukuda, Sarah Oba | First of 3 sessions |
| March 10 – Friday | 10:00 am – 11:00 am | Finding God’s Beauty and Hope in the Broken | Sue Plumb Takamoto | |
| March 11 – Saturday | 9:30 am – 11:30 am | IN-PERSON A-Tumblin Down Book Discussion & Apple Crisp Bake | Sarah Hinlicky Wilson | Limit – 5 |
| March 13 – Monday | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Meet the Author – Online Book Discussion – A-Tumblin Down | Sarah Hinlicky Wilson | Pre-reading suggested |
| March 14 – Tuesday | 9:00 am – 10:30 am | End to End: A Thru-Hike on the Colorado Trail | Lisa Grusy | |
| March 15 – Wednesday | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Sing in the Mountains: Highlights from the 100 Famous Mountain Hikes | Hydi Peterson | |
| March 16 – Thursday | 9:30 am – 10:30 am | Lenten Haiku – (Part 2) | Ruthie Rogers, Julie Fukuda, Sarah Oba | Second of 3 sessions |
| March 16 – Thursday | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Asian Rural Institute’s Sustainable Lifestyle and Practices for Daily Life – (Will be recorded) | Tomoko Arakawa & Kathy Froede | Q & A follows |
| March 17 – Friday | 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Becoming Japanese: Why Permanent Residency Isn’t Enough for Me Anymore | Anne Crescini | |
| March 18 – Saturday | 9:00 am – 10:00 am | The Joy of Listening – (Part 1) | Helen Kwak | First of 2 sessions |
| March 18 – Saturday | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm | Blessed to Be a Blessing – (Will be recorded) | Carol Sack | |
| March 19 – Sunday | 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm | The Uprising of Worship | Hanna Peterson | Limit – 10 – FULL |
| March 21 – Tuesday | 10:00 am – 11:00 am | Starting Over from Experience | Martie Tarter | |
| March 23 – Thursday | 9:30 am – 10:30 am | Lenten Haiku – (Part 3) | Ruthie Rogers, Julie Fukuda, Sarah Oba | Third of 3 sessions |
| March 24 – Friday | 10:00 am – 11:00 am | The 7 Healthy Lifestyles | Karen Seevers | |
| March 25 – Saturday | 9:00 am – 10:00 am | The Joy of Listening – (Part 2) | Helen Kwak | Second of 2 sessions |
| March 25 – Saturday | 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Cancer Prevention | Dr. Minako Abe | |
Chronological Workshop Listing – USA – Eastern Standard Time
| Workshop Date – USA | Time – USA EST | Workshop Title | Presenter/Host | Additional Notes: |
| March 3 – Friday | 7:00pm – 9:30pm EST | Trust by Design – (Will be recorded) | Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker | Limit – 25 |
| March 8 – Wednesday | 7:30pm – 8:30pm EST | Lenten Haiku– (Part 1) | Ruthie Rogers, Julie Fukuda, Sarah Oba | 1st of 3 sessions |
| March 9 – Thursday | 8:00pm – 9:00pm EST | Finding God’s Beauty and Hope in the Broken | Sue Plumb Takamoto | |
| March 13 – Monday | 6:00am – 7:00am EST | Meet the Author – Online Book Discussion – A-Tumblin Down | Sarah Hinlicky Wilson | Pre-reading suggested |
| March 13 – Monday | 8:00pm – 9:30pm EST | End to End: A Thru-Hike on the Colorado Trail | Lisa Grusy | |
| March 15 – Wednesday | 6:00am – 7:30am EST | Sing in the Mountains: Highlights from the 100 Famous Mountain Hikes | Hydi Peterson | |
| March 15 – Wednesday | 8:30pm – 9:30pm EST | Lenten Haiku – (Part 2) | Ruthie Rogers, Julie Fukuda, Sarah Oba | 2nd of 3 sessions |
| March 16 – Thursday | 6:00am – 7:00am EST | Asian Rural Institute’s Sustainable Lifestyle and Practices for Daily Life – (Will be recorded) | Tomoko Arakawa & Kathy Froede | Q & A follows |
| March 17 – Friday | 7:00am – 8:00am EST | Becoming Japanese: Why Permanent Residency Isn’t Enough for Me Anymore | Anne Crescini | |
| March 17 – Friday | 8:00pm – 9:00pm EST | The Joy of Listening – (Part 1) | Helen Kwak | 1st of 2 sessions |
| March 17 – Friday | 9:15pm – 11:00pm EST | Blessed to Be a Blessing – (Will be recorded) | Carol Sack | |
| March 19 – Sunday | 3:30am – 5:00am EST | The Uprising of Worship | Hanna Peterson | Limit – 10 |
| March 20 – Monday | 9:00pm – 10:00pm EST | Starting Over from Experience | Martie Tarter | |
| March 22 – Wednesday | 8:30pm – 9:30pm EST | Lenten Haiku – (Part 3) | Ruthie Rogers, Julie Fukuda, Sarah Oba | 3rd of 3 sessions |
| March 23 – Thursday | 9:00pm – 10:00pm EST | The 7 Healthy Lifestyles | Karen Seevers | |
| March 24 – Friday | 8:00pm – 9:00pm EST | The Joy of Listening – (Part 2) | Helen Kwak | 2nd of 2 sessions |
| March 25 – Saturday | 12:00am – 1:00am EST | Cancer Prevention | Dr. Minako Abe | |
The Women's Conference 