Fresh Impressions January 24, 2018

FROM RACHEL YATES, PRESBYTERY EXECUTIVE

AMEN!

Today we close out the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Joining with Christians around the world, we offered prayers for greater dialogue and reconciliation. Of course, the need doesn't end just because the week is over. How will you continue to pray for restoration of the Christian family?

The exercise leads me to think more deeply about prayer. I confess that my prayer life needs more discipline. In those times when I pray faithfully and regularly, the presence of the Holy is powerful. I feel a greater sense of peace and guidance.

But, for some reason, I struggle with the discipline it takes. You probably don't want to hear...( READ MORE ).

LATEST NEWS

OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE ENDING RACISM

White Privilege Conference

The White Privilege Conference (WPC), will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on April 4-7, 2018. It is a vital experience for those who want to be equipped to strive effectively for a world, and a church, that look more like the Kingdom of God. A glance at the headlines, or an honest assessment of the PC(USA), provides ample evidence that we have a long way to go, and even the best...(READ MORE).

Unite to End Racism

Unite to End Racism events will be taking place in Washington, D.C., on April 3-5. The Wisconsin Council of Churches is making plans to send buses from four Wisconsin locations, filled with local participants committed to building relationships and advancing the work of racial justice in our own state. A rally on the National Mall is being planned to launch a movement to...(READ MORE).

CELEBRATION OF TRANSITION

You are cordially invited to attend the following service to show support for those in new ministry:

The Rev. Andy Holmes' installation at Jerusalem Presbyterian Church is on February 4 at 2:00PM. Following the service there will be a time to meet and greet, with an hors d'oeuvres and dessert reception. (READ MORE).

God's blessings on Andy as he begins his new ministry. Please keep him in your prayers.

PRAYERS AND CONCERNS AND JOYS

PRAYER BASKET

In our prayers this week:

God help us all, as members of God's family, to be united in the love of God as we faithfully seek to follow in the way of Jesus Christ - as we are counseled and comforted by the Spirit - as we rejoice in...(READ MORE).

If you have prayer requests, please send them to [email protected].

FEATURED CONGREGATION

WAUWATOSA PRESBYTERIAN, WAUWATOSA

We lift up one of our congre gations each week in Fresh Impressions, inviting you to learn more about your sister congregations and keep them in your prayers. This week we are lifting up Wauwatosa, Wauwatosa.

SHARE YOUR MESSAGE

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FRESH IMPRESSIONS

If you have an activity or event happening in your congregation and want to share it with our readers, please send it my way. We look forward to the inspiration! [email protected].

PRESBYTERY PULSE

YOUNG ADULT VOLUNTEER (YAV) DEADLINE MARCH 1

March 1 is final date to apply for international YAV service. A transformative year of service at more than 20 sites worldwide awaits young adults ages 19 to 30 through the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program - now in its 25th year!

March 1 is the final deadline to apply to serve at one of five international YAV sites. After that date, limited spots will be available at sites within the U.S. Learn more and apply.

Ana Miller, YAV at Grace Presbyterian, Beaver Dam, is serving in Albuquerque. Read more about her here.

GARDENS AT FAITH PRESBYTERIAN PROSPER

Faith Presbyterian Church in Franklin has gardens, partly funded by a grant from the Presbytery of Milwaukee. Nan Luedtke shares some of the background for the project and some of its current success. " Faith Presbyterian Church has had a vegetable garden on its grounds since 2013. The garden initially grew out of an adult study lesson that focused on a reading from Isaiah 55, where the passage focused on choosing...( READ MORE).

REST IN PEACE, LOUISE WITHERELL

With great sadness we share the news that Louise Witherell died on January 16, 2018, at the age of 97. A member of Wauwatosa Presbyterian, Louise resided at Luther Manor. Louise is survived by her daughters, Jane Martell (also a WPC member) and Anne Witherell.

A memorial service will be held at Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 27. Visitation from 12:00Noon until 2:00PM; Memorial Service at 2:00PM. We mourn with Louise's family, rejoice in the gifts she shared, give thanks for her life and entrust her to God until we meet again.

A full obituary can be found here.

GREENFIELD AVENUE CHURCH CELEBRATES THIS SUNDAY

Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian invites you to their worship this Sunday, January 28, to welcome guest Lee Tan, Moderator of the Presbytery of Milwaukee. Greenfield Avenue Church shares a ministry with Forest Park Presbyterian, Faith Presbyterian and Heritage Presbyterian Churches. That is also the date of Greenfield Avenue's Annual Congregational Meeting, followed by a Pot Luck Lunch. Please bring a salad, entree or dessert to share, plus your own tableware.

GREETINGS FROM OUR MISSION CO-WORKER IN GHANA

Quarterly newsletters from Rev. Joshua Heikkila can be found here. Josh is our Mission Co-Worker.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATIONS AT TIPPECANOE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Living Waters Contemplative Life Center, a Mission of Tippe Faithing Community, special offering: Side By Side: Mindfulness Meditations of Christianity, Buddhism, and Other Spriritual Traditions! Thursdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22 at 6:30-8:30PM. ( READ MORE).

GET INVOLVED!

Spurred by a request for notes from last week's Do Not Stand Idly By meeting, we've decided to write up a brief summary of the meeting. SUMMARY. ANSWERS. HANDOUT.

Cheers, The DNSIB Leadership Team

PRESBYTERY POINT SUMMER CAMP

Rev. Laura Loving, who was a pastor in the Presbytery of Milwaukee, sends information about a camp in Michigan. Here is her invitation:

You may know that Bill and I have been on staff for a couple of weeks during the past few summers at Presbytery Point Camp in the UP. I write the summer curriculum and help train the counselors, Bill teaches sailing and offers counsel and encouragement in his inimitable way. We think that there might be young people in Winnebago and Milwaukee presbyteries who could share their gifts, get a job, or go to camp there! Here's the link.

MISSION TRIP TO MISSISSIPPI

Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church in Janesville and Jerusalem Presbyterian Church in Wales are co-hosting an adult mission trip to a PDA site in Hattiesburg, MS from March 21-28, 2018. Severe flooding occurred in March 2016 followed by an EF4 tornado in January 2017 which damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes. The HOPE Mission Team is coordinating work projects with Recover, Rebuild, Restore Southeast Mississippi or R3SM, Inc. R3SM is a non-profit, faith-based organization which oversees renovation of homes in a three county area around Hattiesburg. Cost for meals and lodging is $30/person/day. Volunteers can arrive on different days and do not need to be on site for the entire duration of the mission trip. Interested volunteers can request a handbook or get more information from Mike Williams, HOPE Coordinator at [email protected] or 608.751.6274.

CROSSROADS CANCUN MISSION TRIP

Looking for a break from the ordinary next spring break? Consider joining an all-ages Crossroads Presbyterian team as we return to Mexico, March 30 - April 8, 2018 to work at Ministerio de Vida on the outskirts of Cancun. You'll spend a rewarding week doing construction work and helping teach Vacation Bible School to kids at the ministry. You'll also experience the warmth of genuine hospitality as you live in community with fellow volunteers, our Ministerio hosts Jacobo and Omega Caamal, and members of their congregation. You'll enjoy sleeping in a hammock, eating tasty homemade Mexican food, and spending a touristy couple of days on the beaches of Isla Mujeres. You'll also work hard, get dirty, and love every minute of it. Families welcome! Spanish not required. If you're interested in learning more, please email Cathy and Jay Sanders at [email protected].

WAUWATOSA PRESBYTERIAN WINTER FARMER'S MARKET

Sunday February 18 9am -12:30pm - More details

FOR CLERKS OF SESSIONS

The online statistical report for 2017 can now be accessed at http://oga.pcusa.org/stats

The deadline for submitting this report is February 5, 2018.

OFFICER TRAINING 2018

Ruling elders and deacons are invited to a training session sponsored by the presbytery and offered through the Leadership Development Task Force. Saturday, February 3, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Southminster Presbyterian Church .. .( READ MORE ).

PROM AND HOMECOMING DRESSES NEEDED

(From Lexie Snyder-member at Wauwatosa Church and daughter of the Rev. Fiona Nicolaisen)

I am a sophomore at Reagan IB High School in Milwaukee, where all 10 ^th graders are required to complete a Personal Project. I have chosen to support the Worldwide Hunger Relief organization by collecting new and gently-used CLEAN prom and homecoming dresses and shoes to send to the girls who live on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. (Larger sizes are especially needed.) If you are able to bring any donations to your churches by February 4 ^th we will be glad to pick them up. I really appreciate your generosity! Thank you. If you have questions or would like more information, email [email protected] or call/text 414/881-5848

INVITATIONS

2018 PRINCETON FORUM ON YOUTH MINISTRY

Here is a brief description of what the 2018 Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry is about: April 24

to 27 , 2018. The Forum gathers Christian leaders who are passionate about young people and the church. Youth ministers, Christian educators, pastors, ministry innovators, and emerging scholars from the USA and beyond gather annually for this four-day event on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary. This year, our theme is IMAGE. We will explore what it means to practice youth ministry in a visual age. Hear from speakers like Matthew Milliner, Brian Bantum, and Katie Douglass. Renew your energy for ministry as you create vocational friendships, stretch your imagination, and give Sabbath to your soul. Here is the Forum website: http://iymforum.com . (READ MORE).

NEXT CHURCH 2018

Looking for an energizing church leadership event open to anyone seeking ways to strengthen the church? Join other members of the presbytery at the NEXT Church Gathering in Baltimore this February 26-28. Details about the conference can be found here.

If you plan on going, please let Nicole Farley know ( [email protected]) so she can gather all of our folks from the presbytery together while we are there.

If you'd like to go but money is a factor, please be reminded that the Leadership Development Task Force can issue grants up to $500 to anyone in the presbytery aiming to grow their own leadership (one grant per every two years per person). You can find the application for grants under the Leadership Development menu here. Email your completed grant application to Nicole Farley ( [email protected]).

We hope to see you in Baltimore!

Nicole Farley

MUTTON LECTURE 2018

Dear White Christians: A Path toward Racial Justice, presented by Dr. Jennifer Harvey

Friday, February 9, 2018, 7 pm to 9 pm, Fountain of Life Covenant Church, 633 Badger Road, Madison, WI

Saturday, February 10, 2018, 10 am to noon, Calvary Memorial United Church of Christ, 4515 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa, WI ...( READ MORE ).

WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES 2018 WINTER FORUM

Faithful Innovation in an Uncertain World. The Rev. Dwight Zscheile, PhD., March 2 and 3. In today's dynamic cultural environment, churches have to be more than faithful-they have to be agile. That means embracing processes of trial, failure, and adaptation as they form Christian community with new neighbors. And that means a whole new way of being...( READ MORE ) (READ MORE).

WARTBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY RURAL MINISTRY CONFERENCE

March 4-5, 2018 DETAILS

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN SEEKS FULL-TIME SUPPLY PASTOR

First Presbyterian Church in Waukesha, Wisconsin, is seeking a full-time stated supply pastor effective immediately. We are a small but warm and caring congregation seeking to share Christ in word and deed. Our church has been a fixture in downtown Waukesha for more than 170 years.

We are seeking a pastor who can guide us through a time of transition and lead us into a sustainable future, in whatever form that may take. We envision this as a full-time, 40-hour per week position. Benefits meet and compensation exceeds the Presbytery minimum requisites. Interested candidates should submit a resume to [email protected] ( READ MORE).

PART-TIME COOK POSITION AT LOCAL CAMPUS MINISTRY

University Christian Ministries (UCM) represents the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on the UW-Milwaukee (UWM) campus. Presently we have a part-time, paid opening for a cook to assist UWM students in providing 2 to 3 lunches each week. The food is provided by a local non-profit and simply needs preparation and serving. If interested, or if you would like further information, please contact UCM at 414-962-5460.

SEEKING SUNDAY MORNING CAREGIVER

Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church is looking for a child care provider for its Sunday morning nursery. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon most Sundays; some weeknight and evening hours are also available. $12.50/hour. Age 18 or older, background check required. Contact Office Manager Cindy Thomas, [email protected]. View full job description here.