Happy Summer!
Crystal
All submissions are due the first and third Wednesday of the month. This email is sent the second and fourth weeks of the month.
Send pulpit supply updates to
Terri Allen
.
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Directory Update Needed
Recently, our webmaster, Christine Wilke, has been contacted with updates and corrections to a church’s information on the SEA website. To ensure that every church’s information is correct please go to
http://www.wcucc.org/associations/southeast-association/churches/
, click the district for your church and check all of the information, including church name, pastor, contact info, email link, website, Facebook page, and photo. Send any updates to Christine at
christine.wilke@garrett.edu
Thank you!
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"God's Doors" Available
Delavan UCC has a set of GDAOTA (God's Doors Are Open To All) doors that they would like to share with any church that wishes to borrow them.
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The set of six doors reminds us to boldly stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community. They were created in response to the shooting at the Orlando nightclub.
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Let’s Talk: Privilege, What Does It Mean to Me?
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Have you wondered to yourself about this idea of Privilege? Have you found yourself timid when the topic comes up?
Three faith leaders at Emanuel Church, Hales Corners, United Church of Christ have created “Let’s Talk: Privilege, What Does It Mean to Me?” This is a Bible study based, activity centered, learn from each other approach to the topic of Privilege and how it moves in our individual lives. We aren’t here to point fingers or criticize, we want to learn and grow as people of faith.
The three developers, Ms. Christine Wilke, MDiv., Rev. Lisa M. Irwin, and Rev. William G. Utke have taught this curriculum twice in our own congregation and more than 20 people have participated. We invited people High School and older to participate. The approach of “Let’s Talk: Privilege, What Does It Mean to Me?” is not to have one expert teach others; we hope the participants will learn from each other through the Bible readings, discussion, discernment, and activities which comprise the curriculum.
We have tried to reduce feelings of discomfort by including a Class Chaplain. It is our hope people will be more willing to learn about this difficult topic if they know there is a designated person present during each session with whom they may have a one on one conversation if they become upset or uncomfortable. We suggest this person be a good, caring, active listener. We also suggest the facilitator(s) have some knowledge of what Privilege is and what it isn’t. (For instance it isn’t a suggestion that some of us did not work hard in life, but it is a reality that the structure of society makes it more difficult for some to gain opportunity more easily than others).
We at Emanuel are ready to share “Let’s Talk: Privilege, What It Means to Me?” with your community of faith free of charge. We are open to answering any questions you have or talk with you about changes or additions you are considering for teaching in your context. We also welcome your feedback at the end of your course.
Rev.bill@emanuel-ucc.org
,
lisa@emanuel-ucc.org
, and
christine.wilke@garrett.edu
. We have made this relatively easy to teach but If you wish, we may be open to someone from our church coming to help facilitate this at your congregation. Please be in touch with Christine or Lisa, or our office at the emails above, or call 414-425-1515.
We offer you our prayers and support as you engage in this journey!
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Conference-wide Racial Justice Survey
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Dear Colleagues in the Southeast Association:
The Wisconsin Conference is encouraging our congregations to explore and work on issues of racial justice in our nation, our communities, and our churches, and I have offered to be the point person in the Northeast Association for the Conference's Racial Justice Working Group.
I know that a number of congregations have already been doing work in this area. I am wondering if your congregation has done something along these lines recently, and if so, could you please let me know what you have done and, perhaps more importantly, if over time you would be willing to share some of the stories of your experience? No need for the details right now. Please also share any good resources of which you are aware.
A note about the scope of this: The Conference is defining racial justice in broad terms - African-American, Latino, Hmong, First Nations. Some of you may have focused more on one group than another, so please feel free to include the breadth of your efforts.
After the Conference Annual meeting, we'll try to send out a list of some of things that have been tried and links to some resources that could be used. There is no standard notion for how congregations might do this - you know best the realities in your setting. But by sharing ideas, it might be easier to move this forward.
Additionally, let Lisa Hart at the Conference Office (
lhart@wcucc.org
) or me know if you would like to: 1) be part of the Racial Justice working group or 2) simply be kept in the loop regarding the work this group is doing.
Blessings to you and your ministries,
James Schleif
St. John's UCC - Hartford/Slinger
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Grace UCC in Milwaukee has been serving The Guest House of Milwaukee for nearly 10 years. Though some years have been a struggle, through the Grace of God they have always been able to continue serving their community. The Guest House is a homeless shelter that houses 86 men per night. They offer shelter, case managers, housing, counseling and so much more.
Grace UCC is proud to support their community by making sandwiches every other month. Their sandwiches help the Guest House feed the homeless and/or food deprived people in their immediate community. The Changing Lives Mission Grant they received helps them continue their mission.
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Members of Grace UCC - Milwaukee prepare sandwiches for Guest House
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2018 Changing Lives Mission Grants Available!
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This year the SEA Mission Team is offering two separate Changing Lives Grant opportunities.
Changing Lives Mission Outreach Grants of up to $250 are available for programs and projects connected to your congregation’s local community such as a food pantry, community meal, after school program, or work you do with a local non-profit. For more information or to apply, please see the
attached document
or get the application online at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y5J85LG
. Past grant recipients may apply again this year.
Changing Lives Race and Privilege Grants of up to $100 are available for congregations engaging in conversations about race and privilege to print or copy curriculum, purchase books, rent movies, or host speakers. For more information or to apply, please see the
attached document
or go to
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2LCGR3X
for the online application.
The SEA Mission Team’s goal is to support congregations who seek to change lives, their own and others. If your congregation would like support for something not covered in one of these grants, please contact chairperson Christine Wilke at
sewaucc.missionteam@gmail.com
.
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Southeast Wisconsin Association UCC
Crystal Stinemates, editor
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