FROM RACHEL YATES, PRESBYTERY EXECUTIVE
HONEST PATRIOTISM
I tried to explain to those seated next to me on the lawn: "It will be loud and bright, but it won't hurt."  I gestured with my hands lifted high and fingers spread wide.  My words were translated from English to Somali.  As the fireworks started, one teenager hid her face in her hijab.  Her mother and the youngest boys smiled at the sky in amazement.  It was my most memorable Fourth of July celebration, and I felt pride at sharing my birth country with these newest citizens.

I pray you all have a safe and memorable Fourth of July.  It's a tricky time for faith leaders.  How do we acknowledge ...( READ MORE )
PRESBYTERY PULSE
SERVICE OF WORSHIP FOR JULY 5, 2020
We are grateful this week for a worship offering from our sister Presbytery, Boston Presbytery.  The July 5 service featuring recent co-moderators Cindy Kohlman (preaching) and Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri (virtual choir member) as well as a diverse worship leadership team reminds us of the great cloud of diverse witnesses in our denomination, nation and world. The message, centered on Psalm 145, asks: "What would it look like if we, as the church, took these words in this psalm as a challenge? Took these words in this psalm as a clear picture of who we are called to be as followers of Jesus Christ in the world today. What if we took this psalm and paired it with the parables from Matthew 25 to help us understand what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves, as people who love our Almighty God with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength." The service includes the hymn This Is My Song sung by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program Virtual Choir, including the voices of peacemakers all over the world which will hopefully impact how you hear and sing the hymn from now on.

The service is available as a full service via youtube video and Google drive as well as separate docs for bulletin options, sermon text, and hymns.
https://www.presbyteryofboston.org/Resources/COVID-19-Resources/Worship-Services
PRESBYTERY OFFICE CLOSURE
The Presbytery Office will be closed Monday, July 6, 2020, in observance of Independence Day.  Staff will resume working remotely on Tuesday, July 7th.
RACIAL JUSTICE CHALLENGE
Sponsored by PW Synod
What can we do in response to the racism that exists across the U.S. and in our communities?  There is a growing awareness among Presbyterians that racism is a crisis and must be addressed. The PC(USA) and PW in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies are strongly committed to the struggle for racial justice.  PW in our Synod believes that it begins with education and dialog.

You are invited to begin to dismantle structural racism through your participation in the "Racial Justice Challenge".  This "Racial Justice Challenge" will help raise awareness about the perniciousness of racism and encourage action in response to that awareness.  Through discussions surrounding the PC(USA)'s anti-racism policy, scripture and a variety of other resources, participants may develop an increased understanding of how racism is systemic rather than simply personal.

This study is open to women and men across the synod.  It will meet for six-sessions on Mondays, beginning June 29 and ending August 31.  There are two sessions offered each time, 1:30-2:30 PM (Central Time) or 6:30-7:30 PM (Central Time).  There is no cost involved, yet you must register to participate via Zoom.

To register, email your name, presbytery, email address, phone number and preference for afternoon or evening participation to Marilyn Stone at mmstone52@att.net. 
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
THIS MIGHT BE THE WORLD'S LONGEST ANIMAL
An approximately 150-foot long siphonophore -- a string-like ocean creature made up of clusters of cells that can clone themselves thousands of times -- was recently discovered near the coast of Australia.  The enormous creature, found floating nearly 2,000 feet below the research vessel of a team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute, was compared to a UFO or silly string.  Read more about the team's discoveries and see videos of the siphonophore and a bioluminescent Taning's octopus squid here.
ON THE HUNT FOR RARE SEEDS
These elegant pointy trees in the remote Tasmanian highlands are called pencil pines, and right now is their time to shine.  The ancient trees can live for a thousand years, but they only bear seed cones every once in a while. This rare event, known as masting, last took place in 2015. Now, in the middle of everything else going on in the world, it's happening again.  Some scientists have made the trek to Tasmania's elegant wilderness to harvest these precious seeds to make sure the trees always have a future. And the view isn't too bad, either.
TOP 10 CRAZY MOMENTS INVOLVING COMETS
The nickname "dirty snowballs" suits the ice-cores of comets -- but not their insanity.  Comets spew booze, destroy each other, and outgrow the sun.  They also touch earth.  Twice a year, the planet passes through Halley's Comet with magical results, but not all encounters are so benevolent.  One comet vaporized a village and others brought disaster on a scale for which humanity isn't prepared.
NEWS FROM THE DENOMINATION
FROM LAMENT TO HOPE: 224th GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECAP
The 224th General Assembly which was conducted entirely online concluded Saturday, June 27th.  Read a summary of General Assembly in the Post-GA Bulletin* published by Presbyterian Outlook.

*The Presbytery has purchased the Post-GA Bulletin for all Presbytery members.  Please feel free to share this document with your congregations through email or church newsletters.  The Outlook has asked that it not be published on social media or websites.
INVITATIONS
ATTEND THE MILWAUKEE HABITAT VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION
Monday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity's Presbyterian Coalition brings local churches together to raise walls, funds and prayers to build a new home in partnership with a Milwaukee family in need of decent, affordable shelter.
It's an opportunity to live out your faith and see the miracle that occurs when God touches the hearts of new homeowners and the volunteers who work alongside them.  
In 2020, we are celebrating 21 years of partnering together!
 
Here are some of the many ways to get involved:
  • Commit to praying for the Presbyterian Coalition homeowner and their new house.
  • Volunteer at the build site or fund raise to help build the homes.
  • Donate materials, donate gently used furniture to Habitat ReStore, or have the Habitat ReStore Destruction help with remodels.
  • Create a welcome basket or other special items (e.g., hand tools, cleaning supplies, lawn tools) for Habitat homeowner family.
  • Participate at the home dedication event - TBD early 2021.
To register and receive the Zoom link for the virtual information session contact Kristi Sebald at (414) 316-5612 or ksebald@milwaukeehabitat.org.
TAKE PART IN THE HISTORIC VIRTUAL NEW WILMINGTON MISSION CONFERENCE
July 17-19
For the first time in its 115-year history, the New Wilmington Mission Conference will meet online, July 17-19.  Programming will be provided for all ages, and there will be no charge to participate in NWMC 2020.  Read more about the New Wilmington Mission Conference and preparations for this year's conference here.
LOMBARD MENNONITE PEACE CENTER UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Leadership and Anxiety in the Church (LAC) 
August 19
This webinar is comprised of a series of PowerPoint presentations that look at the challenges posed by rising levels of anxiety in churches and in society as a whole.  Works of art from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern eras are integrated to help facilitate theological reflections on the themes being presented.  Like the two workshops listed below, LAC is particularly effective when members of the same church attend as a group.  We encourage church leaders to organize a group and register for one (or more) of these outstanding seminars today!
 
Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches
July 18
Sessions include "Finding Renewal in Conflict" and "How to be Effective when People are Angry," among others.  Groups are especially encouraged to register for this event!
 
Healthy Congregations
July 21
Participants will learn how to keep anxiety within their congregations from becoming infectious, put limits on invasive behavior, manage reactivity, focus on strengths, and more!  Members of groups can save $40-$50 per person, compared to the regular individual rate, for any of these three events!
 
Multiple sessions of all three workshops are available.  Visit https://lmpeacecenter.org/brochures/ for additional dates, group discount coupons, and complete details.  To register online go to https://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/720852.
COMPANIONS IN MINISTRY
Companions in Ministry(CiM) is an ecumenical support program for Christian pastors and ordained deacons in southeastern Wisconsin. The program engages participants in prayer, retreat days, plenaries, spiritual companionship and group discussions about clergy well-being. Small groups meet in person (as we are able) and online. CiM is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. and based at Marquette University.
 
Each cohort runs for two years. Small groups within the cohort meet 8-10 times a year and are facilitated by trained pastor-leaders. Cohort Three begins on September 22-24th with an opening retreat in Oconomowoc. (The retreat may be a combination of in-person and online experiences.)
 
Groups discuss themes related to clergy well-being, resiliency, thriving in ministry, self-integrity and happiness. In relation to these themes, participants explore other topics such as s erving during a pandemic; serving in mid-career; serving multiple congregations; serving multi-cultural congregations; serving small congregations; serving as a pastor in central Milwaukee; specialized ministries; bi-vocational pastors; female pastors; seasoned pastors; and more.
 
Expenses are fully-funded. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend upon completing the program. Group leaders receive a $2,000 stipend. The deadline to apply is August 26, 2020. For information and to apply, visit marquette.edu/companions-ministry/ .
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE TASK FORCE
SELF-CARE TOOLS #12
by Judi Holmes-Jensen
This week's self-care tool to help reduce stress and anxiety, particularly during these endless weeks of the pandemic is the Morning Examen.
 
The practice of the Morning Examen is a simple but powerful prayer that is based on Ignatian spirituality.  It can be used to reflect on positive emotions, move past negative emotions, and align your work with God's work.  This may be done with a journal or simply in a quiet place in the morning.  Try to set aside ...( READ MORE )
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