e-Note from Martin: One Year Review

Dear Church Family, Last week I completed my first year at Brentwood UMC. It's been an eventful twelve months. As I look back, a few highlights come to mind that I'd like to share with you.

• I completed 44 listening sessions with the staff and congregation. These sessions gave me an excellent broadstrokes overview of the people and ministries of BUMC. • I instituted this weekly pastoral enote that has been exceptionally well received by the congregation. Hundreds of people have expressed appreciation for regular and transparent communications about the life of our church.

• Worship attendance, which had been in a serious three-year decline, stabilized during the first six months, then increased the second six months.

• We welcomed 574 new members (adults and children, including 106 of our young people who were confirmed into full membership).

• Giving significantly increased. We started with a serious deficit, ended 2011 strongly, and received virtually 100% of our budget needs for the first six months of 2012. As is the case for most every church in America, July giving is down, but I'm sure we'll catch up soon.

• Our staff has pulled together as a team, with strong morale and enthusiasm.

• All our clergy asked to return for another year, affirming their confidence in the future of our church.

• We have focused on our five core spiritual practices (worship, group-life, service, evangelism and giving) during the past year with good results.

• Our SLI (Spiritual Leadership Inc.) team is going well. In the near future they will share a tentative MAP (ministry action plan) to our key lay leaders, including a mission, vision and values statement, along with strategies for 2013. After receiving feedback, a final MAP will be approved by the Church Council by the end of the year.

• We carried out an ambitious project called "The Called Congregation." Over 3,300 church households were contacted and significant connections were made.

• We made good progress on our parking challenges by deploying three shuttles to and from the Synergy parking lot. Large numbers of volunteers park there every Sunday, leaving more room for guests and persons with physical limitations.

• We were able to secure a gift of ten prime acres of land (right next to the new high school) for Trinity UMC, our campus in Spring Hill, giving them a clear vision for their future. In the meantime, Trinity has moved into a new and better location, which will allow them to provide seven-day-a-week ministry in their community.

• We changed the Church Council to a lay council instead a staff driven council, which has resulted in more lay ownership and leadership at BUMC. • We put in place a senior pastor lay advisory team and they have been giving me helpful input and guidance.

• Numerous people from our congregation have made mission trips this year to places like Mexico, Haiti, South Africa and Honduras.

• We launched an exciting new Patient Advocacy Ministry (PAM) that is helping people navigate the complex world of medical and insurance challenges.

• We've had many meaningful congregational worship experiences.

• We completely updated our website.

• We added a Tuesday morning prayer time in the sanctuary at 6:30, which has enriched both individuals and our overall congregation.

• We made advances in our music ministry including a new orchestra, a new Sounds of Joy gospel choir, and we hired Bill Caldwell as our Chancel Choir director.

• We built another Habitat for Humanity home, easily raising the funds and workers to build the house.

• Our Missions and Outreach team is developing exciting new ministry plans and partnerships, with the goal of involving far more of our members in service, both locally and beyond.

• We continue to carry on large numbers of exceptional ministries, both internally and externally, locally and internationally-far too many to mention specifically. But God is clearly at work through the ministries of BUMC. Many other positive developments could be mentioned. But the past year has been a significant and exciting time in the life of our church, and in my own personal life. I've certainly made some mistakes along the way and will again. But I've grown and learned much this year about pastoring a "mega-church." And, I've come to love and appreciate this wonderful congregation. I'm incredibly optimistic about our future. I deeply appreciate your love and support and look forward to many more years as your pastor.

A year ago, when I first came to Brentwood, I remember making the exit off I-65 to Franklin Road that leads to the church and to my house, which is close to the church. I said to myself, "I look forward to the day when I make this exit and feel like I'm coming home." A few days ago, Paula and I were returning to Brentwood

from dinner in Nashville with good friends. As we made the exit off I-65, I felt like I was coming home.

Finally, it was good to receive Doug and Beth Paul, Brian and Allison Finkelmeyer, Thomas and Neva Graves and Heather Wirth. Welcome to our church family.

In Christ's Love and Service, Martin