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FROM RACHEL YATES, PRESBYTERY EXECUTIVE
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THINKING ABOUT IT
Your Presbytery staff and work groups are really not trying to torment you, even if it sometimes feels that way. The most recent example was dinnertime at yesterday's Presbytery Gathering. Our theme was Stewardship of Creation, and the Planning Team tried to be mindful of the theme in its planning. If you attended, you saw that firsthand during dinner.
Online registration asked people to pick whether to bring their own reusable or recyclable dinnerware, eat from their hands, or use compostable plates provided by our host, Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church. Because the congregation couldn't serve everyone on china, we tried to come up with
.
..(
READ MORE
)
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Does your church have a bully in the pews? Do you describe your congregation as a "loving church family" and yet, everyone is fearful of disturbing the peace? Do your sheep huddle in small groups in the parking lot or around the coffee pot plotting coups to take over the children's or deacon's or hospitality ministry? Do you leave family gatherings convinced it would have been a better experience if you'd just smacked so-and-so upside the head? Did your grandmother teach you "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything" and so you remain mute and frustrated about things that matter?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, this workshop is for you. If you answered yes to all of them, let us know and we'll increase your discount!
On Saturday, October 20, from 9-4:30 at Dickson Hollow in Menomonee Falls, the Commission on Ministry will be hosting its second in our three-part series with Lombard Mennonite Peace Center: Conflict Transformation Skills. Cost $14 per person. Value of having pastors and congregations equipped to "prevent destructive conflicts" while also discovering "how church conflict can be transformed into an opportunity to learn something new about God's will for their church"- priceless.
Please register by October 9.
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TOWNER CREST GROUNDBREAKING!
We are excited to announce today's groundbreaking ceremony for Towner Crest, the new Presbyterian Homes senior living center in Oconomowoc. Named
after Margaret Towner, the facility will provide multiple housing options, including 120 apartments for seniors who can live independently, 38 assisted living units, and 18 units set aside for people who need memory care. Towner Crest also will have a two-story, 24,000-square-foot town center, with amenities such
as a bistro, club room, library and wellness center. Here is Margaret's message for the groundbreaking.
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To learn more about how your congregation can be good stewards of creation in your ministries, check out the
Earth Care Congregation program. Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church has been involved for several years and shared at our Presbytery Gathering about improvements made in their building, worship, education, and outreach.
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BOARD OF PENSIONS - EMPLOYER AGREEMENTS
Review your Employer Agreement on Benefits Connect
Employers and congregations: Log on to Benefits Connect to review,
update, and submit Employer Agreements for 2019, due October 12.
See details.
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ATTENTION CLERKS OF SESSION
Attention Clerks of Session! The Clerk's Annual Questionnaire (CAQ) is being sent this week with a deadline of November 15. If any clerks of session have questions about the CAQ, you can send them to:
CAQ@pcusa.org
. The Word file will be emailed to presbytery offices on September 10 in case you do not have an email address.
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2018 BOOK OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
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FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM SUSAN STOLL
THE FOG OF UNCERTAINTY + THE LIGHT OF DISCERNMENT
Decision-making is a day-to-day occurrence. It can be as simple as deciding what to eat for breakfast or what clothes and shoes to wear depending on the day's weather. Perhaps a decision is in the making whether or not to downsize from a suburban home to a downtown condo. Listing pros and cons is a helpful evaluation tool in making decisions. However, there's a significant difference between decision-making and spiritual discernment. While
discernment
is about making assessments and evaluations, the purpose of this process is...(READ MORE).
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CALL TO PRAYER IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE
God of our life, whose presence sustains us in every circumstance, in the aftermath of storm and distress, we welcome the restoring power of your love and compassion.
We open our hearts in sorrow, gratitude, and hope:
that those who have been spared nature's fury
as well as those whose lives are changed forever by ravages of wind and water
may find solace, sustenance, and strength in the days of recovery and reflection that come.
We are thankful for the generous grace of days of preparation;
...(
READ MORE
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This congregation began as a ministry of Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1922, and for a time their Sunday School met in the old jailhouse nearby. Recently
their new logo was created with a pineapple, the universal image of hospitality. They are one of the few congregations in our presbytery with both a Senior Pastor and an Associate Pastor. Their youth group just returned from a mission trip to Denver to work with the DOOR YAV program.
Answer is
here.
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"Staying Alive Spiritually:
Tools for the Spiritual Journey"
October 29-30, (Monday morning - Tuesday evening)
This Retreat is targeted at Clergy and Ministers serving congregations. Certified Spiritual Director
Rev. Holly Whitcomb, will help us learn to balance the expectations of leading others in an authentic spiritual life, while maintaining our own spiritual life. Cost: $275
Please contact Rev. Sara Gillespie at St Paul Lutheran Church in Mayville for more information.
Email or call/text (608) 482-3009.
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GREAT COMMISSION TASK FORCE NEEDS A NEW NAME
Tick-tock-tick-tock . . . Be sure to submit your contest entries before the Nov. 1st deadline! The Great Commission Task Force has requested that the Presbytery provide a new name for the task force. To do so we have created a contest! Every congregation can submit as many entries suggestions as you like. The Presbytery will vote on the best entries at the November Presbytery Meeting. The winning congregation will receive a
FREE CHURCH COFFEE HOUR as the prize.
Our purpose and tasks can be found
HERE. Entries can be made on the Presbytery
website. Remember: only the first 1000 entries will be accepted for consideration, so get your entries in ASAP!
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A WEEKEND WITH DIANA BUTLER BASS -
October 13-14, 2018
Author of
Grateful:
The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks
at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Milwaukee
Diana Butler Bass is a widely-read author and scholar of American religion and culture. Her newest book explores why gratitude is missing as a modern spiritual practice, offers practical suggestions for reclaiming it, and illuminates how the shared practice of gratitude can lead to greater connection with God, our world, and our own souls.
Presbytery friends are invited to join Immanuel for lectures on Saturday afternoon, October 13 at 1:30 and 3:00. Dr. Bass will preach on Sunday morning at 10:00. This special weekend event is being offered to Church and community through a special gift.
Click here for more information and free registration.
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AVALON SQUARE CHAPEL SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTATION
Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you: love one another"; and one of the best ways to love one another is to better understand each other! On
Thursday, September 20th at 6:30pm, we will have an opportunity to learn more about how to better understand, support, and love our family, friends, and neighbors with dementia. Join us as Avalon Square hosts dementia care specialist from the Waukesha County Aging and Disability Resource Center,
Mr. Randy Kohl. Plan to attend this Chapel Speaker Series event as Mr. Kohl presents his topic,
"Love One Another: Creating Dementia-Friendly Communities". All are welcome to join us at 222 Park Place Waukesha. RSVP to Pastor Erin at 262 446 9436, please.
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HOPE FOR CREATION WORKSHOP
September 29-30, 2018 First United Methodist Church of Whitewater 145 S. Prairie St. | Whitewater, WI. On Saturday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Rev. Dr. Timothy Eberhart, Assistant Professor of Theology and Ecology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, will lead a series of workshop sessions that explore how Christians are called to share in the healing of creation. Click for
more information.
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Southminster invites its sister congregations who may have confirmation age youth to join us in offering a co-op confirmation class. If any are interested, please contact Pastor Christian at pastor@southminsterchurch.org or mobile, 618-292-8583.
Youth from 6th grade to senior in high school are invited to join Southminster Presbyterian Youth in their annual touring youth musical. For more information, please contact Sarah Bristol, Director of Youth Musical Ministry at
north_physics@yahoo.com
or (262) 853-9346.
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YOUNG ADULT VOLUNTEER EMILY TEERINK
Here is a note from Emily Teerink, who is spending a year in Zambia as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) with the PC(USA). "I am so excited about this mission opportunity and everything I will get to experience over the next year. I hope that many of you will be able to follow along by subscribing to and reading my YAV blog. A link to the blog can be found here.
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DIVINE INTERVENTION TRAINING
For those interested in or active with Divine Intervention (overnight prayer vigil with people who are homeless), please note the upcoming trainings/orientation on your calendar. The leaders at Tippe Presbyterian Church will go over revised covenants and changes as well as address questions and hear shared wisdom. It is extremely important to attend. Send your confirmation to attend and any questions to:
divineinterventiontohomeless@gmail.com.
DI Trainings:
- Sunday October 28 (2pm-3:30pm): Returning Host Training, Tippe Parlor
- Sunday November 4 (2-4pm): New Host Orientation, Tippe Sanctuary Please invite folks you know to attend! You do not have to Host if you attend, but you cannot Host if you do not attend an orientation. Let's grow the joy! And if you'd like someone to come do a DI presentation at your church, please let us know...a great way to grow the ministry and the support it needs to continue to flourish...calendaring now!
- Sunday November 11 (2-4pm): Staff Training, Parlor
- Sunday December 2 (4pm-6pm): Make-up Host Training
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GOOD SHEPHERD TRINITY SEEKS PART TIME BOOKKEEPER
Send resumes to the church at 3302 N. Sherman Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53216, to the attention of Jeannette Bell.
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PRESBYTERY OF MILWAUKEE SEEKS TWO POSITIONS
The Presbytery seeks 2 people to serve in unique roles. We are hiring a part-time
Communications Coordinator
to be part of our Presbytery staff team. Also, as Jessie Read plans for retirement this year, we are looking for a part-time, volunteer Treasurer
to begin working with her to transition. Click on those links for job descriptions. If you are interested in either position, notify
Matt Lee
, Moderator of Personnel Team.
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CALVARY SEEKS TWO POSITIONS
Calvary Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee is seeking to fill two open positions:
Church Manager: job description
here.
Sunday School Educator: job description
here.
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FUTURE PRESBYTERY GATHERING DATES
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- TUESDAY, November 27 - Linn Presbyterian in Lake Geneva, 4pm
- TUESDAY, February 19 - Living Hope Presbyterian in Menomonee Falls, 4pm
- WEDNESDAY, May 22 - TBD
- WEDNESDAY, September 25 - TBD
- THURSDAY, November 21 - TBD
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