Your Weekly News & Updates
From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive
A NEW BEGINNING
The stories coming out of Afghanistan are heartbreaking.  The withdrawal of US troops has been in the works for years – many would say, long overdue.  The aggressive and fast takeover by the Taliban, however, has required an urgent recovery of troops and civilians from many nations.  Afghanis who do not wish to live under Taliban rule are finding extraordinary means to flee their home country.  As is the case with refugees from Syria, South Sudan, and other countries embroiled in conflict, any place is safer than home.  

Displaced Afghanis are already being...(read more
Presbytery Pulse
REV. SAMUEL A. ODJELUA
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Chairperson Rev. Samuel A. Odjelua, in the Dangme-Tongu Presbytery of Ghana. Many of you had the chance to meet him during his visit to the Milwaukee Presbytery in 2019 and may remember his passionate vision for the ministries of the Dangme-Tongu Presbytery, and how we might partner together for God’s glory. We give thanks for his life and the promise of his eternal rest with the Lord. Please join us in praying for the comfort and peace of Rev. Odjelua’s family, his friends, and the congregations of the Dangme-Tongu Presbytery. 
Matthew 25: I needed clothes and you clothed me...
THANK YOU FROM UMOS!
Thanks to everyone who donated furniture and household items to create a livable home for four victims of labor trafficking. Over the weekend, we delivered dishes, bedding, towels, and other usable items. A special thanks to Glenn Kozicki and Heritage Home Delivers who came with four dressers, a kitchen table set, and a sofa! Based out of Heritage Presbyterian Church, HHD has made more than 160 furniture deliveries in the last four years, with most of the donations coming from Heritage members and friends. The four men were thrilled to get into their apartment and expressed their gratitude for the many donations that will allow them to make a fresh start.

COVID-19 News & Information
UPDATES FROM LISA ALLGOOD
Last week, Executive Presbyter of Cincinnati Presbytery and immunocytochemist Lisa Allgood offered some insights on the pandemic. She notes we are at about 100,000 new cases per day, and it is not likely to peak until early next year, at which point we will be around 200,000 cases/day. Unlike the original coronavirus in which it took about 15 minutes of exposure to cause an infection, the Delta variant needs only 10 seconds. Because our vaccination rate in the US remains relatively low, additional variants are being generated. She anticipates we will likely need boosters in our vaccines to address these variants. We probably will see provisional approval of the vaccine for children ages 5-12 years before December. Continue to practice social distancing and wear masks, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, in order to mitigate these health risks.
DELTA VARIANT ADVICE
The Wisconsin Council of Churches offers this information about the Delta variant:
  1. It's contagious, really really contagious.
  2. Vaccination is the best protection—even if the doesn't keep you from getting it, it will almost certainly keep you out of the hospital—and alive.
  3. Children are at risk. Because infection rates are skyrocketing, more kids have been getting sick. That's really bad, because children seem to be more vulnerable to "long COVID," and because we still don't know very much about the long-term effects of the disease.
In sum, it's important to maintain safer practices, even now, especially now.
Mission Opportunities
PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE IN HAITI
NEWS FROM OUR MISSION CO-WORKERS
Mission Co-Worker Josh Heikkila shares his recent letter: Why Go To Church?

Mission Co-Workers Scott and Elmarie Parker share their recent letter: Living Stones for the Future
News from the Denomination
NEW HYMN OFFERS PRAYER FOR AFGHANISTAN
'The Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a Presbyterian hymn-writer and the parish associate at First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego, New York, has written new lyrics to an old hymn for the people of Afghanistan. “We Pray for Afghanistan’s People Today” is set to “CRADLE SONG,” the tune for “Away in a Manger.”

“This hymn,” Winfrey Gillette wrote, “is written to a gentle, peaceful tune for a people who need gentleness, peace, justice and human rights in their land (as we all do, in our lands).”
MANAGING AND STEWARDING CHURCH PROPERTY
The Presbyterian Foundation is pleased to offer a second Day of Learning with presentations focused on the stewardship of church property. There will be time for questions and answers and an opportunity to see colleagues from across the country.

Join us October 12 for this FREE learning opportunity.

Schedule

  • 11:30 am EST/8:30 am PST - Maggie Harmon will discuss the importance of defining Mission, Vision and Values in Managing Real-Property Assets.
  • 2:00 pm EST/11:00 am PST - Olanda Carr and Robert Hay will give a presentation on Considerations in Property Use, Re-Purposing, and Partnering.
  • 5:30 pm EST/2:30 pm PST - Paul Grier will provide an Overview of Understanding Finances Related to Property.

Questions? Please contact the Presbyterian Foundation at serving@presbyterianfoundation.org
CELEBRATING AND SUPPORTING EDUCATORS - A MESSAGE FROM THE PC(USA) EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE

As we approach the beginning of a new school year, we invite congregations and pastors to take time in worship the Sunday after Labor Day to recognize the educators in your congregation and the children returning to school. This could be as simple as inviting them to stand, offering applause and then prayer. A litany is also available. Presbyterians have a long history of supporting education in general and public schools in particular. You may be interested in our most recent policy statement on public schools, “Loving Our Neighbors: Equity & Quality in Public Education.” Thank you in advance for honoring those who teach our children and supporting our children as they return to school.
The policy statement is available from Alonzo Johnson. The litany is available from Dave Brown.
REGARDING RULING ELDERS


Rodger Nishioka has written the most recent installment of Regarding Ruling Elders, a monthly resource of the Office of the General Assembly.
Have Some Fun In '21!
FUN ROAD TRIP STOPS IN EVERY STATE
Whether you're exploring hidden gems of America or traveling across the country to visit family, a road trip is an adventure of its own. There's no security to go through or cancellation fees—you're completely on your own schedule. As exciting as they are, road trips can sometimes be overwhelming to plan—there’s just so much to see. 

Each of these road trip stops is based on the notion that there is something so unique about each one that you can’t see anywhere else. Start planning and be sure to add these to your ultimate road trip bucket list for a trip of a lifetime.
Hot Links
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 2021 Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
UCCI Newsletter - August 2021 Newsletter from United Church Camps, Inc.
Employment Opportunities
Future Presbytery Gathering Dates




Presbytery of Milwaukee
414-292-2740