This Shepherd’s visit is a follow up visit from last year.  Bishop Lowry plans to do some attentive listening and teaching at these meetings.  All three meetings will take place in the Christian Life Center of the Brownwood First United Methodist Church.  

4:00 pm – All Clergy in the Brownwood District
5:30 pm – District Superintendency Committee
6:30 pm – Lay Members or Key Leader should attend 

Preventing Clergy Sexual Misconduct (PCSM) Course to be offered in the Brownwood District – September 30:

Karen Granderson and Mary Gean Cope will lead this course on Thursday, September 30, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Early First United Methodist Church (1073 Early Blvd., Early).  The course is designed for clergy who wish or need to do the training in person instead of online. Clergy from other districts are welcome to attend as well as Church Assistants and Children and Youth Workers.  A light lunch will be provided for the cost of $5.00.  Please RSVP to the Brownwood District Office (brownwood@ctcumc.org); 325/646-8223 or 800/646-8223) by Monday, September 27. 

Demographics Research Information — Sept. 10

Mission Insite is the conference demographics program provided free to you by Church Growth & Development. Peter Wernett is one of the creators and is doing a free training at the North Texas Conference office on Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and again at 1 to 4 p.m. If interested, please contact Deniece@ntcumc.org. This would be a great way to learn Mission Insite and be able to run reports to help in your ministries. If interested but unable to go, contact Vicki@ctcumc.org for help in getting started. 

September is Recovery month. 

This is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) within the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.  It is a platform to celebrate the people in recovery and those who serve them.  Each September thousands of treatment and recovery programs around the country celebrate their successes and share them with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues in an effort to educate the public about treatment, how it works for whom and why.

                Recovery month also serves to educate the public on substance abuse as a national health crisis that addiction is a treatable disease and that recovery is possible.  Recovery month highlights the benefits of treatment not only the affected individual, but for their families, workplace, and society as a whole.

                The United Methodist Church is responding to this substance abuse crisis through Special Programs on Substance Abuse and Related Violence, SPSARV. SPSARV is housed in New York City under the General Board of Global Ministries.  SPSARV is mandated through the General Conference and offers an array of trainings that not only undergirds the local church response to substance abuse and its adverse effects on individuals, families, and communities, but supports those in recovery. Visit www.umspsarv.org for more information.

                As OMC Addiction and Recovery Task Force Chairman of the Central TX Conference of the UMC we would like to know what each church is doing in any recovery ministry. Rev Buddy Moore and Susan Moore are volunteers for the SPSARV.  Anyone that would like to be a part of this ministry contacts them.  If your church is sponsoring any type of recovery ministry please let me know at the following email:

Rev. Buddy Moore
buddymoore550@gmail.com 

Youth Groups, register now for UNIFY!

A 1-day event in multiple locations throughout the CTC, designed for building leadership in our local churches.  The event will begin with team-building activities and end with youth-led worship.  (Please see attached informational flyer.)  The event for Brownwood & Weatherford is Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Glen Lake Camp.  For more information please contact MaDora Ratliff, Administrative Assistant, CTC Student Ministries and Youth in Mission, 800-460-8622 #22, www.ctcumc.org; www.ctcym.org

Evangelism Training Opportunity

Hundreds attending the Annual Conference in June signed a Holy Covenant document promising to “heed Jesus’ call to ‘make disciples of all nations’ by extending the hand of Christian witness to at least two people each week.” The Conference Evangelism Task Force, mainly Rev. Joel Robbins (chair) and Rev. Brad Brittain, have been providing training to churches that are interested in adopting what Bishop Robert Schnase refers to as “radical hospitality” in his books on Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations and Five Practices of Fruitful Living. The two pastors are committing their Thursday evenings to provide this training for local churches and/or clusters of churches anywhere in the conference. The training includes new ideas for leadership and an inspirational component tied to success stories in other churches and the resulting changes in the lives of individuals and the congregation. To schedule a time for your church or cluster of churches, please contact Carolyn Stephens at Carolyn@ctcumc.org. 

Lay Health Promoter Training — Sept. 24-26/Salado

For the past 5 years, several CTC churches have taken the GoodNEWS training from Dr. Mark DeHaven (Genetics, Nutrition, Exercise, Wellness, and Spirituality) for the purpose of training Lay Health Promoters in local congregations. Dr. DeHaven and Dr. Jenny L. Lee will lead the conference Sept. 24-26 at Salado First UMC beginning Friday at 6 p.m. and ending Sunday at 3:30 p.m. A registration form is on the Health & Wellness page of www.ctcumc.org with information on motel reservations and a detailed itinerary. Registration deadline is Sept. 17. Motels involved with the Salado event had an Aug. 24 deadline, but rooms my still be available at regular rates. This workshop is asking for 2 people per church, and even churches that have taken it before can sign up again. There will be a maximum of 20 churches allowed – 2 individuals per church – with a registration cost of $75/person, $150/church. Those attending this training will form the CTC focus group for the next 3 years. Dr. DeHaven will follow progress of the local churches and meet with the LHP’s every 6 months for 3 years. 

Self-Care for Clergy Program Coming Nov. 8-9

The Self-Care for Clergy Workshop is designed to provide a break from day-to-day responsibilities and allow for reflections, reviving and renewing the spirit and potential that effective ministry requires.

Servant Leadership: Personal and Professional Self-Care

Nov. 8-9 – Summers Mill Retreat Center, Belton  •  Register by Oct. 15 • 254-939-6194 or www.summersmill.comm

Schedule: 5:30-9 p.m. Monday; 8:30 a.m. – noon on Tuesday. The cost of the course is $85/person. Participants in the Virgin Health Miles program will be given a 1,000-mile award for participating in Self-Care for Clergy. Register at www.ctcumc.org under “Ministries” and choose Health and Welfare.

Faithfully Fit Forever Leader Training — November 13:  The CTC Health & Wellness Task Force is sponsoring Faithfully Fit Forever Leader Training at 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 13 at Keller First UMC (1025 Johnson Road, Keller 76248). Faithfully Fit Forever (FFF) is a non-profit, cooperative community health program created by MeritCare Hospital Parish Nursing and Cardiac Rehab staff. It attempts to eliminate the barriers that keep people from participating in exercise and health enhancing behaviors. To date, over 150 places of worship in 8 states have implemented FFF programs. The $75 cost includes 16 weeks of programming to get you started, a training manual, educational materials/references, devotional resources and exercise leadership video. More details on the conference website
(www.ctcumc.org) under Ministries/Health and Wellness. 

The Sower’s Bag Sermon Writing Retreat — Oct. 25-27

The Conference Order of Elders is sponsoring The Sower’s Bag Sermon Writing Retreat Oct. 25-27 at Still Water Lodge in Glen Rose. This sermon writing retreat seeks to help inspire, facilitate and lead interested clergy in planning sermons for the Advent and Christmas season. Dr. David Mosser, senior pastor at Arlington First UMC, will lead exegetical and study sessions in a lecture/worship format with lectionary and thematic tracks. Time will be set aside for small group fellowship and discussion as well as time to write and plan sermons. Mosser has been the contributing editor for Abingdon’s Preaching Annual since 2003, and is a regular contributor to Preaching Magazine, The International Lesson Series Annual, Adult Bible Studies and Lectionary homiletics. For a flyer and registration form, visit http://www.ctcumc.org/pages/detail/1459. 

Please mark your calendars for the 100th year of our annual conference celebration!  Please look for details and tickets and memorabilia forms on the website at www.ctcumc.org. It will be on Saturday, October 23rd! (http://www.fortworthgov.org/publicevents/wrmc/)  Everyone is invited!  We want everyone to come together for this very important occasion.  There will be much to DO, SEE, and HEAR that day! 

Are You a Potential Centennial Church?   Tapping into this year’s centennial theme — the 100th anniversary of the CTC — a “Centennial Church” will be a designation given to congregations reaching certain achievements and will be celebrated at the 2011 Annual Conference June 5-8 in Waco. Check out the revised Point System list below. Between Sept. 1, 2010 and May 1, 2011, a church may select challenges from the list and will receive the designation of Centennial Church with a score of 100.

Centennial Church Point System

10 points Attend the Centennial Celebration (Oct. 23 in Fort Worth) and have a display tables for your church
10 points Develop a plan for “making disciples” of members and new members (youth and adults)
10 points Develop and “evangelism plan” that outlines how your church will offer Christ to your community and grow your congregation
10 points Conduct welcome training using Igniting Ministry/Rethink Church resources  (such as beyond 30 Seconds, Welcoming and Media Planner, Trainers’ Toolbox, etc.)  
10 points 10% increase in the number of professions of faith
10 points 5% increase in average worship attendance
10 points 5% increase in Sunday school attendance
10 points Start a new hands-on community mission
10 points Start one new small group (Sunday school class, Bible study groups, etc.)
20 points 25% increase in the number of Church Growth & Development SHARES (see SHARES listed in the soon to be released 2010 Conference Journal or page 232 in the 2009 Conference Journal)
10 points Offer a class on the meaning and practice of tithing
15 points Participate in the Cabinet “A-Pound-Weigh” weight loss challenge that benefits the denomination’s “Imagine No Malaria” campaign
(See www.ctcumc.org/news/deatil/115)
20 points Pay 100% of 2010 apportionments

CTC Accepting Online Payments:   Churches are able to make secure, electronic payments for apportionments, insurance, pension, and cafeteria plan. From the conference webpage (www.ctcumc.org) click on “Administration,” then “Apportionments,” then “Online Payments.”  Paying online is an easy 1-2-3-step process. Contact David Stinson, 817-877-5222, 800-460-8622, or david@ctcumc.org  if you have questions or need more information. 

Church Growth & Development Accepting Online Payments:   Churches and individuals are able to make secure, electronic payments for Shares. From the conference webpage (www.ctcumc.org) click on “Administration,” then “Apportionments,” then “Online Payments.” Go down to “Other” payments (you can type in Church Growth).  Paying online is an easy 1-2-3-step process. Contact David Stinson, 817-877-5222, 800-460-8622, or david@ctcumc.org if you need more information. 

September 16: Bishop Lowry’s Shepherd visit the Brownwood District, Brownwood FUMC,  2500 11th St., Brownwood.  
4:00 pm – All Clergy in the Brownwood District
5:30 pm – District Superintendency Committee
6:30 pm – Lay Member or Key Leader should attend
September 17 – 24:  District Assistant’s Vacation Time
September 23: District Clergy Day Retreat with Ed George – Leading from Your Strengths, Lake Brownwood FUMC, 9 am – 5 pm (RSVP Required.)
September 30: PCSM Course, Early FUMC, 10 am – 3 pm.  For clergy who wish or need to do the training in person instead of online. 

Fall Event Calendar for Local Churches

Please share your Fall Events with the Brownwood District! 

Saturday, October 2: Oakdale UMC (Stephenville) Annual Lord’s Acre Celebration
Saturday, October 2: Comanche FUMC Annual Harvest Festival - Doors will open at 1 p.m. with a Kid's Carnival, Sarah's "Mercantile", and Silent Auction.  We will begin serving the meal at 5 p.m.  The meal will include BBQ Brisket with the trimmings.  Tickets are $8 for adults; $4 for children.  The Live Auction will begin at 6:30 p.m.  For questions, please contact the church office, 325.356.2120.
Saturday, October 9:  Central UMC (Brownwood) Annual Fall Festival
Sunday, October 17: Ballinger FUMC Lord’s Acre Festival - Bar-B-Q Brisket & Sausage Lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Dine-in or Carry out. Tickets are $8.00. We also have a Country Store with lots of homemade items. Silent Auction starts at 10:00 a.m. Live Auction starts at 1:00 p.m. The Friends in Stitches will have hand crafted purses and frozen casseroles for sale also.
Saturday, October 30: Coleman FUMC 2nd Annual Lord's Acre, 9 am to 3 pm.  The event will include an expanded children’s area this year with lots of fun for all. Stew lunch, Silent Auction, Country Store and Children’s games and activities along with live music.
Saturday, November 6: DeLeon FUMC Annual Harvest Festival & Auction, DeLeon City Hall - Booths Open At 9:30 am; Sandwich Shoppe open for Lunch; 5 pm  BBQ Dinner;  6 pm  Auction.  Funds Raised Will Support Youth & Children’s Outreach Ministries of FUMC, DeLeon including The JUMP START! After-School Program.  Booths & Activities: Children’s Activity Booth, Marketplace booth, Christmas Store, Frozen Casserole Booth, Kountry Kitchen Bakery Booth, Craft Booths, Sandwich Shoppe, Auction Preview (quilts, hunting items, sports fan items, toys, …) & Much More. For more information, please contact Kelly Smith (fumc@cctc.net  or 254-893-6155)
Thursday, November 11: Early FUMC Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for church and community (5:00 pm). Silent Auction and Bake Sale, too!
Saturday, November 13: Cross Plains FUMC Lord’s Acre (Details soon!) Saturday, Nov. 13  Cross Plains Lord's Acre, begins at 9 am with our "Little Store", filled with jams, jellies, pickles, craft items, gifts, home decor, etc., open all day.  The traditional turkey dinner is served at 5:30 to 7:00 pm, with "take-outs" also beginning at 4 - 6 pm; Silent Auction All Day and the Regular Auction begins at 6:30. 

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