Be Still and know that I am God . . . Psalm 46:10

“Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations”

A Seminar on the book by Bishop Robert Schnase with Rev. Jeff Sterling

October 31 -- November 2, 2010

The retreat begins with dinner at 6:00 on Sunday evening & continues through lunch on Tuesday.

From his experience in ministry, Bishop Robert Schnase identifies five things that he sees as common denominators in “fruitful” (growing, vital) congregations across the Christian Church: radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity. His book, “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” details his study.

Jeff Sterling, pastor of First UMC in Warren, PA, will be leading the discussion-oriented seminar on Schnase’s material. This three-day session is open to clergy and laity who wish to hear more about and compare notes on the “Five Practices.” 1.0 continuing education units will be offered for those who attend the entire event, which begins with dinner on Sunday evening, October 31, at 6:00PM and ends with lunch on Tuesday, November 2. This seminar may fulfill the quadrennial CE requirement in either “The Practice of Ministry” or “Leadership/Contemporary Church”.

Participants for this seminar are requested to read Robert Schnase’s book, “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations,” and to bring their questions and experiences of the concerns addressed by the book. What kinds of things are you doing to promote extravagant generosity? Does your church have a hospitality ministry? Bring your ideas to share!

NOTE: Bishop Schnase is scheduled to present a seminar on his new book on using the “Five Practices” in the personal spiritual journey in January 2011 at the Sheraton in Cranberry Township, PA.

The Seminar Leader, Jeff Sterling, is a graduate of Clarion University with a B.S. in Communication, and holds M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. In 2010, he began his 26^th year in pastoral ministry, having served churches in Turtle Creek, Allison Park, Coraopolis, and Sharon, and is now serving at First UMC in Warren, PA. Sterling got interested in the “Five Practices” material from a talk by Bishop Bickerton several years ago, and has continued studying and applying the book’s principles in his ministry. His doctoral project was on hospitality issues in the church, and he is a graduate of the three-year Pastor’s Academy on Stewardship offered by The United Methodist Foundation of Western PA.  He is the author of a website on stewardship: www.tenfortheworld.org.