FROM RACHEL YATES, PRESBYTERY EXECUTIVE
LEANING ON EACH OTHER
From time to time, I suffer from vertigo.  When it gets out of hand, I need to hold onto walls to navigate, and any head movement makes my brain spin.  Several years ago, I had a particularly acute and ill-timed bout on the day of a presbytery meeting.  My pastor and I were scheduled to speak about our congregation on a property issue requiring the vote of the assembly.  I spent most of the day on the couch, laying as still as I could. 

My pastor drove me to the church, and we walked slowly, arm in arm, into the meeting.  When it came time for us to speak, we approached the podium as one, holding onto each other and moving in synch so that I didn't spin out of control.  So long as I was holding onto the sides of the podium, I was able to address the assembly without assistance.  After we both spoke ...( READ MORE )
PRESBYTERY PULSE
THE NITTY GRITTY, DOWN-N-DIRTY OF GA
Our commissioners and Young Adult Advisory Delegate have returned from General Assembly and have stories to tell.  We are going to record a Q&A session with them soon to hear what they saw, experienced, and learned.  What would you like to know?  We'll add your questions to the list.  Please send questions to Chris Halverson at chalverson@pbymilwaukee.org by July 25 . 
THE MINOR LEAGUES: A SERIES ON THE MINOR PROPHETS
Welcome to The Minor Leagues: A Series on the Minor Prophets, week 2! This link will take you to Presbytery's webpage for this series which includes resources for worship and Bible study.
 
This week's worship centers on the prophet Zephaniah with a message by Rev. Nikki Blanks, pastor of Delafield Presbyterian Church. The complete online service as well as separate sermon text and video link will be available on the presbytery website tomorrow, Thursday, July 16.
 
Meet this week's players:
The catcher (and feature player in worship), Zephaniah whose name means God protects.
The pitcher, Nahum, slinging fastballs at Nineveh, the capitol of Assyria.
The short-stop, Obadiah, at 21 verses, Obadiah is the shortest "book" of all the prophets.
 
Movies of the week:
For  Zephaniah -  A League of Their Own , starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis as the amazing catcher of a women's baseball team in the 1940s.
For Nahum - Million Dollar Arm, based on the true story of baseball pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel from India who were discovered after winning a reality show competition and brought the U.S. for training.
For Obadiah - Eight Men Out, the story of the 1919 World's Series scandal in which eight players from the Chicago White Sox conspired with gamblers to throw the World Series. Though the circumstances are different, Obadiah accuses the tribe of Edom of selling out Judah to the Babylonians.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS ASK LEGISLATURE TO ACT ON COVID-19
Concerned about the lack of an effective statewide response to COVID-19, Wisconsin religious leaders sent a letter today calling on the state legislature to work across political divisions to protect the people of Wisconsin.

The letter was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and signed by members of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, including 34 bishops, executive leaders and pastors from Lutheran, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal, Orthodox and other Christian traditions.  Read more here.
UPDATED PULPIT SUPPLY LIST
The Presbytery of Milwaukee has updated the Pulpit Supply list with new information you can use when you need help filling your pulpit (digital or physical).  Congregations should discuss ahead of time with the pulpit supply additional compensation for non-traditional technological services, such as recording or editing or online worship.  
View the Pulpit Supply list here.
COVID-19 PRESBYTERY RELIEF GRANTS AVAILABLE
The Presbytery of Milwaukee Council and Commission on Congregational Vitality are working together to provide relief aid and support for our congregations in response to COVID-19.   Please see this  grant application form for details.  Grants are available to both individual ministers and congregations.   If you have any questions, please contact   Ann Gibbs , Associate for Ministry Vitality.

We continue to hold you and your ministries in prayer.
ANYTHING BUT COVID-19 NEWS
TODAY, JULY 15TH, IS ST. SWITHIN'S DAY

St. Swithin's Day, if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain
St. Within's Day, if it be fair
For forty days, t'will rain no more

Learn about the legend of St. Swithin's Day and if there is any truth to the traditional folklore.
CONDOR SOARS 100 MILES WITHOUT FLAPPING WINGS
An Andean condor, one of the largest flying birds on the planet, soared though the air for 100 miles without flapping its wings.  This epic example of flight was observed by a team of researchers at Swansea University in the 
UK.
CAT DRINKS VICAR'S MILK DURING ONLINE PRAYER SERVICE 
In a recent virtual prayer service at Canterbury Cathedral, one of the four resident cats, Tiger, helped himself to the milk of Dr. Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury.  About the cat, Dr. Willis said, "we've acquired a friend this morning."  You can watch the video with Tiger's cameo appearance here.
NEWS FROM THE DENOMINATION
VIRTUAL SYNOD SCHOOL
July 27-30, 2020
There are only 12 days left to register for the 2020 Virtual Synod School!  This digital version of Synod School is completely free and will offer daily activities, youth and adult classes, and evening options that include pictures, music, stories, guest speakers, fellowship time, and special events!  A PDF of the class offerings can be found here.
PHP 2019 IMPACT REPORT
The 2019 Presbyterian Hunger Program Impact Report is now available.  Learn how 2019 gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing and the Presbyterian Hunger Program made a difference in lives around the world over the past year by working to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes, rooting work in communities through partner grants, striving to change laws and practices so communities can flourish. 
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT PREVENTION RESOURCES -- A MESSAGE FROM GENERAL COUNCIL MIKE KIRK
The Insurance Board and Praesidium are partners with the PC(USA), providing victims, congregations, and councils with support and resources through the PC(USA) Helpline (866-607-7233). Recently the two organizations offered a presentation entitled " Abuse Prevention: Creating a Safe Environment."
 
All congregations and councils are encouraged to review this presentation, which is full of information to help develop and enhance your policies, protocols, and procedures to keep minors safe in your ministries.
 
You can also find many resources on the PC(USA) Creating Safe Ministries webpage. It has a collection of PC(USA) papers and policies on sexual misconduct and child protection, including the Child/Youth/Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy and Its Procedures, recently amended by the 224th General Assembly (2020). This is a policy for the national agencies and entities of the General Assembly, but congregations and councils are welcome to borrow and adapt those portions of it that can be used in their own policies for their ministries. Remember that the Book of Order requires that all councils of the PC(USA) have policies to protect children:
All councils shall adopt and implement a sexual misconduct policy and a child and youth protection policy. (G-3.0106)
 
Children are precious and vulnerable. Please use all available resources to develop policies and procedures to protect them.
INVITATIONS
FILMS THAT EXPLORE THE SIN OF STRUCTURAL RACISM
PC(USA) pastor and film critic Edward McNulty recently provided a list of 10 thoughtful films that expose and explore the effects of structural racism.  Find McNulty's list here, with excerpts from and links to his online reviews published in "Visual Parables."  McNulty has listed the films "somewhat in historical order."
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE TASK FORCE
SELF-CARE TOOLS #14
by Judi Holmes-Jensen
This week's simple exercise is Morning Centering Prayer. As you and God partner to begin your day, you may become aware you are anxious about the tasks to be done and conversations that need to held. Beginning your day with Morning Centering Prayer may help you to become calm and energized to move forward with all that the day holds. ..( READ MORE )
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
MISSION TOOLKIT: SHORT-TERM MISSION
Presbyterian World Mission has an updated resource on how (or whether) to do a summer mission service trip during the pandemic.  Here are a few guiding questions about summer trips and some alternatives to consider.
HOT LINKS
A Year in Zambia  - YAV Emily Teerink's Blog - Relief and Development
Grapevine - Presbyterian Women's Newsletter
Keeping In Touch  - Newsletter from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies 
Life in the Labyrinth - Inspirational Website by Michelle Henrichs
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Current Information
The Sower -  May 2020 Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
FUTURE PRESBYTERY GATHERING DATES

2020 Presbytery Gathering Posters are available for download and distribution!

  • TUESDAY, September 29, 4:00-8:00 p.m. - Apostle Presbyterian Church, West Allis
  • THURSDAY, November 12, 4:00-8:00 p.m. - Covenant Presbyterian Church, Racine 

Presbytery of Milwaukee
414-292-2740
khopta@pbymilwaukee.org
http://www.pbymilwaukee.org