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A Few Scattered Seeds... June 29, 2017
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Dear Friends in Christ,
I just wanted to offer a simple thanks for all the people at Christ Church who model courage and perseverance in the midst of illness. I can be more than a little crabby when I get lemon juice in my paper cut. I just don't know how people continue to be gracious, serve other people, keep a sense of humor in the midst of all the pain, fatigue and general bodily wonkiness of a major illness. This is surely a gift of the Spirit. "Long-suffering" it's called in the old King James.
I always think it would be especially difficult to be both sick and poor. To have all the daily stresses and strains of poverty while your body craves comfort and peace to help with the healing.
I believe God is with those who are sick and those who are poor, and especially those who are both. And I believe that God asks us to serve them, for in serving them we encounter God. Matthew 25 says that our salvation (Greek = healing) depends on working for the healing of others. Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.
Surely we will never fully live into this challenge, either as disciples or as citizens. Our best efforts are cracked and flawed. But it does not lessen the challenge.
So again, I am grateful for those who inspire me with their own long-suffering and for those who inspire me by looking out for the long-suffering of others. May all of us live more deeply into God's power for healing.
Peace and Blessing,
Seth+
To listen and/or read Sunday's sermon, click
here
.
For this week's readings, click here.
To view the SUMMER ISSUE
of the
Messenger
, click
here.
To read the Annual Reports from 2016
, click
For more information regarding our Building Campaign,
click
here.
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Long term: Betsy, Roger Carrington, Drew Morse, Franne Dickinson, Mark McLaughlin, Ben, Kate, Tanya, Jack Dargle, Donna, Joan Streed, Janet Shaw, Stella Hensley, Candice, John, Arlene, David, Charty Bassett, Pat Birchall, Grace Dreher, Heidi Hudnut-Beumler, Barbara K., John McIntyre, Sue McIntyre, Patti, PJ Lawler, George Stolarczyk, Laura Tatum, Phyllis Babb, Elizabeth Casey, Anne, Bob Figg, Michael Jent, Eric, Dustin, Taj, Earl, Larry, Lynn, Ann, Jack, Marge.
Especially this week
: Beverly Dupree, Martha Morse, Helen Benton.
Birthdays this week: Gertrude Kloppenburg, Audrey Rikkers, Karen Watson, Pamela Uihlein, Jerry Braun, David Bubacy, Jean Heffernan, Gene Weinshrott, Tripp Satran, Daisy Satran, Marina Wigdale, Roman Sevenich.
Anniversaries: Jennifer and Scott Sevenich; Ann and Donald Allen.
Home-bound: Joanne, Edith.
Parents Expecting:
Anneliese and Matt Morell; Ingrid and Andrew Davis.
Serving in the Armed Forces: Anthony, Bill, Davin, Jeffrey, Jack, Mark, Matthew, Nick, Scott, Tom, Will.
Sunday's altar flowers
are offered to the glory of God.
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8:00 a.m. Service:
Acolyte/Reader - Randy Dean.
Ushers
- Tom Watson, Jack Bryson
.
9:30 a.m. Service:
Vestry Greeters - Penny Cruse, Steve Bruemmer.
Lesson Reader - Margaret Cooper.
Prayer Reader - Bruce Dunn.
Eucharistic Ministers - Alex/Ben Rikkers, Drew Harmon, Cathy Martin Braun, Sarah Gottlieb.
Ushers - Bruce Dunn, Gary Laev.
5:30 Evening Prayer week of 7/02 (W/TH):Paulie McCown, Carol Crowley.
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T
oday's Fellowship and Formation for All Ages
Nursery Care at the 9:30 Garden Service
The outdoor service is definitely kid-friendly, but the indoor nursery is also available for children. Paid nursery workers supervise children in the nursery which is located through the main church doors and down the stairs to the left.
Calling all musicians! We need you to help make a joyful noise
in our summer Garden Services. Adults and youth are encouraged to contact Seth Dietrich to participate.
Help set up the root beer float tent this morning immediately following the Garden Service. See Greg Bell, and thanks for lending a hand. -- More info about CC 4th festivities, below.
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WFB Fourth of July Parade
Christ Church root beer float tent!!
Volunteers needed for: setting up/taking down the large tent, scooping ice cream, pouring root beer, handing out 2500 FREE root beer floats, and being ambassadors for our CC hospitality.
We especially need strong folks on the 2nd to set up the tent and at 2:00 p.m. on the 4th to take down the tent graciously donated by Betsy Head.
Additionally, EVERYONE is invited to arrive before the parade begins to
hear Scott Riedel play patriotic tunes on our lovely organ that will be sure to get you in the spirit.
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Happy Summer From the Building Project Committee
We promised everyone a short rest from the intensity of the Good Shepherd Campaign, but that rest is over. For the Building Project Committee, summer may be hazy...it will be crazy...and it definitely will not be lazy!
Between June and December, the final architectural plans will be developed tweaked, revised, re-tweaked and, eventually finalized. Those final plans will include every detail from room dimensions to colors, counter tops, light fixtures, roof lines, drainage plans, landscaping, sound systems, and all those hundreds of details that comprise a large project.
By the beginning of 2018, the detailed plans will be put out to bid to various contractors and sub-contractors, and a final contract will be approved by the Vestry in early 2018. We have every hope of breaking ground the day after Easter, 2018, and we plan for completion by November 1, 2018.
WOW!!! Even the Building Project Committee admits we are enthusiastically stunned by the work that lies ahead. We are concentrating on the enthusiasm part and trying not to feel overwhelmed by the many decisions that are needed.
To divide and conquer the collection of tasks needed at this point, seven advisory groups have been formed to advise the Building Project Committee on specific areas. The advisory groups will include selected members of the Building Project Committee, the Vestry, and parishioners with particular expertise. Those advisory groups will address Color, Materials and Interior Design; Sound, Light and Technology; Landscaping; Hospitality; Sustainability; and Good Shepherd Finance. Each group will seek input from parishioners as they see the need and opportunity.
The entire Building Project Committee continues to work with the architects on the exterior look of the addition. Who knew there could be 20 ways to design a window? Who knew that lintels have "language" and that a church door capstone is called a "Christ stone"? The good news is that, as we look at different possibilities and listen to the guidance of the architects, we are achieving consensus and a "common eye," with greater ease than one might guess.
As all the design work continues, Rick Donner and others are spearheading the approval process for the variance we will need to build the addition. If and when the variance is approved, the next step will be approval of the architectural plan. We hope to have full approvals by the end of August, but we are reminded that nothing is final until it is final. In addition, we are working with the immediate neighbors to keep them informed of our plans and to assure them the building process will be as considerate of their needs as possible.
How can you help? As always, we ask for your prayers in all that we undertake. We ask you to trust us to make good decisions. We ask you to share your input in a positive way and to understand that each person's eye sees things differently. Mostly we ask you to anticipate the day we all will share in this new space to do the work God asks us to do. Exciting times are ahead!
Please feel free to contact any member of the Building Project Committee with your thoughts and ideas.
Chair: Tom Scrivner Wardens: Greg Bell and Mary Jones.
Fr. Seth Dietrich Music Director: Scott Riedel and Building Guru: Chris Manger
Vestry members: Steve Bruemmer, Carol Crowley, Cathy Martin Braun, Rick Donner
Parishioners: Steve Schley, Chris Binder, Judy Moburg, Sybil Bell,
Susan Lovern, Meredie Scrivner
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In conjunction with Safe & Sound, which has been working in inner-city areas to increase neighborhood vitality, safety and harmony, we have been invited to participate in a
mixed racial interactive listening and learning session, designed to undo stereotypes.
It will be held at the River Works Lofts Community Room, 3372 North Holton Street, on
Friday, August 11, beginning promptly at 4:30 and ending by 7:30 p.m. (with Pizza dinner).
To register, contact John Haydon,
[email protected], 414-732-5013; car-pooling will be available. Participants will be limited to ten from our parish (to be joined by an equal number from the Harambee neighborhood). If it is over-subscribed, additional sessions are planned.
Our first sharing of parish plants have gone to 11 different homes. We are doing our best to make successful transplants, though spring and fall are the best times to do this. Some plants die back in summer and are now hidden. We hope to do more sharing in fall. Check with
Paulie McCown,
[email protected]
and Ira Leidel,
[email protected]
if you have any questions.
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Middle School and High School Youth Group
Looking Ahead:
Click HERE to see what's coming up!
Donations Needed for Vacation Bible School
VBS is in August, and we are in need of some donations.
- T-shirts of any color with a clean back, free of designs and writing
- circular or square lids (think butter spread, mayo, peanut butter)
Bring donated items to Anna Harmon's office located next to Great Hall stage. Thanks!
Vacation Bible School will be held with the UMC of Whitefish Bay, August 7-11.
All students K3 - 5th grade are welcome to participate.
Also, we have a special two-day program for 2 year old children.
- 6th - 8th grade students are invited to be junior counselors.
- High school students are invited to be counselors.
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The U.S. is Losing the Race
Research released several weeks ago from a United Nations climate meeting in Germany shows that China and India will easily exceed their targets listed in the 2015 Paris Agreement. In fact, India is expected to obtain 40% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2022 (eight years ahead of schedule.)
The Paris Agreement is a combined effort by the 190 countries to ward off the worst consequences of global warming: devastating droughts, melting glaciers and unstoppable sea level rise. At the time of the Agreement, China was the number one producer of greenhouse gases and India was number three.
China has reduced the use of coal for three years in a row and has scrapped plans to build 100 new coal plants. Electric car vehicle sales jumped 70% last year, helped by government incentives.
It's no secret as to one reason that China and India are so eager to "go green." Air pollution in Beijing and New Delhi are horrendous and any move away from coal would enormously improve public health.
I have a businessman acquaintance in Beijing. He was recently telling me how he and his wife and baby daughter manage the air pollution.
"It's not too bad," he said, "We just check and my wife doesn't take the baby out when air pollution is really high-plus we have a really good air filter in every room."
He said this with total equanimity. I was astonished. A basic human right-to breathe-was being denied to him and his family, and he was talking about it as if it were not a big deal. I was reminded of the frog that never jumps out of the pot because the water heats up slowly.
Many of our American cities already have days when pollution is high and it's recommended not to go out. Currently, every past initiative towards a sustainable and healthy future for the American people is being destroyed. How long until the U.S. goes backwards and New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and many more cities become like Beijing and New Delhi?
China and India and the U.S. are in a race-and the U.S. is looking like the clear loser.
Sarah Streed is a member of the Christ Church Green Team.
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Give a Senior Neighbor a Ride -
North Shore
Interfaith Older Adult Programs needs volunteers for the Shoreline Neighborhood Outreach Program to drive seniors to doctor appointments and grocery shopping.
These are your neighbors who can no longer drive and have no family available to help. Have a few hours during the week? Are you off work this summer? Home from college and looking for a fulfilling opportunity? We need you! Flexible schedule. Volunteer as little or as often as you would like. For more information contact Theresa - 414-962-9950 or [email protected].
Meal Program - The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Milwaukee
operates a free Meal Program at two sites, five nights per week on the north side, at 2600 N. 2nd Street, and six nights per week on the south side, at 931 W. Madison Street. Each of the sites serves between 150 and 200 hot, nutritious meals. Guests at the south meal site can also access, showers, clean clothing, and a bike repair program. At both sites, guests can obtain outerwear and join in various social activities.
Christ Church began a partnership with SVDP this year by serving a meal at the 2600 N. 2nd St. which is the basement of All Peoples Church. Guests come from throughout the Harambee neighborhood. Christ Church's date to volunteer is on the second Friday of every month at which time one can cook and/or help serve the meal. Sign-up reminders will be posted monthly.
Kids Working To Succeed, KWTS,
is a youth program at All Peoples Church
for children ages 8-16 that focuses on three areas: Discipleship, Job Training and Leadership. This ministry continues on Saturdays during the school year and daily during the summer months. They teach children about a strong work ethic, Christian values and money management. The kids also work in the gardens adjacent to the church.
Christ Church has partnered with the KWTS program to provide 65 lunches on
Monday, July 10 and Monday, August 14.
If you would like to help pack the bags, deliver the food or work in the gardens with the children, please contact
Lynne Schley at
[email protected]
or talk to me at church!
Please continue to bring offerings for the All Peoples' neighborhood outreach food pantry.
We will continue this collection throughout the summer on the second Sunday of the month. Please bring nonperishable goods and toiletry items for the Food Pantry at All Peoples Church and place them in that red wagon on Sunday (located in the Garden Vestibule during the week). Thank you for your contributions!
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Sunday Night Bible Study:
7 p.m. Contact
Christine
.
- Monday Evening Centering Prayer Group: 5:00 p.m. at the Bentons. Contact Helen
- Tuesday Morning Women's Faith Group: 9 a.m. in the J.T. Room. We are reading The Sacred Fire:A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity, by Roland Rolheiser. and ending each session with a short Bible Study. Contact Helen.
- Downtown Small Group: Tuesday 12-1 p.m. at Quarles & Brady. Contact Seth or Dan.
- Wednesday Morning Men's Scripture Group: 7:30 a.m. Contact John.
- Wednesday Noon Men's Group: meets at Estabrook Beer Garden. We are reading Thoughts in Solitude by Thomas Merton. Contact Ed.
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First Thursday Play Group -
Parents with young children are invited to a monthly play group on the first Thursday of each month- Church Great Hall. Contact Anna Harmon.
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Third Thursday Moms' Book Group
meets monthly in the J.T. Room at 7 p.m.
Contact Anna Harmon for more information
.
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*For more information on Adult Small groups, click here.
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To view the latest quarterly newsletter, The Messenger, click here.
To read the latest Vestry documents, click here.
To join the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee e-news mailing list, click here.
To read the latest Mary & Martha's newsletter for women of the Diocese, click here .
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