FROM RACHEL YATES, PRESBYTERY EXECUTIVE
JOY (link corrected)
I confessed last year that I found a secret pleasure in Hallmark Christmas movies, as predictable as they are.  This year, I experienced my own Hallmark moment while taking a few vacation days in Door County.  My husband and I stopped one afternoon at a pub in Fish Creek and settled in to watch a favorite college football game.  Toward the end of halftime, we noticed a restlessness among our pub mates.  Several were getting hot drinks to go; others were bundling up in their hats and mittens.

Our bartender explained that just across the street, at the little town museum, a crowd was gathering for... ( READ MORE ).
PRESBYTERY PULSE
HOLIDAY CLOSURES
The Presbytery Office will be closed 
Tuesday, December 24th
Wednesday, December 25th
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
for the Christmas and New Year's holidays; however, staff will be on call in the event of an emergency.  We hope you have a joyous time with those you love.
PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION GRANTS AWARDED
The Partnership Commission is pleased to announce that Voces de la Frontera and UMOS have been awarded $25,000 each for their community work.  These grants were made possible by a legacy gift to the former Bethany Presbyterian Church on Milwaukee's South Side neighborhood.  In keeping with the desire to help organizations in that neighborhood, the grants will be used locally.  Voces de la Frontera will be able to improve both the technological support and field experience for its New Americans Program, especially its work toward citizenship.  UMOS's Latina Resource Center offers programming to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.  Our grant will be used for youth leadership development to help identify victims and create safe practices to prevent dating violence and sexual exploitation.  We are grateful for the work of these organizations and glad that we can support their efforts.
2019 ANNUAL REPORT
The 2019 Annual Report for the Presbytery of Milwaukee is now available online.  You can view this interactive document here and watch videos and follow links embedded in the document for more information about the work that has happened in your Presbytery this year.  
Creating this document allows us to stop and reflect on all our Presbytery has accomplished.  We are grateful for the opportune pause.
MONTHLY PRAYER MEETING TOMORROW, DECEMBER 19TH
Join the staff at the Presbytery Office for the monthly prayer meeting held every 3rd  Thursday of the month from 1:00-1:30 p.m.  Can't make it to the Presbytery Office?  We  invite you to join us by "Praying in Place" at that same time.
NEWS FROM THE DENOMINATION
2020 WOMEN OF FAITH AWARD NOMINATIONS
The Women of Faith Awards, sponsored by Racial Equity & Women's Intercultural Ministries in the Presbyterian Mission Agency, will offer an awards breakfast at the 224th General Assembly (2020).  The 2020 theme is Women who Disrupt Systemic Poverty.  Nominations are being sought for women who challenge systems of poverty and join in action and solidarity with low-income communities and individuals.

A nomination form can be found on the web at www.pcusa.org/women. Nominations must be postmarked by January 8, 2020.

Many of us know women who have raised the economic level of entire families and communities.  We also know women who have provided educational opportunities for girls and boys, joining alongside poor communities, listening to dreams for a better future, and supporting communities as they determine how to make their dreams reality.  Gratitude abounds for these women who "see those who are hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison" and give of themselves to serve others, through the power of Jesus Christ, who is Savior of all.  Your assistance in the nominating process is greatly appreciated.  We look forward to seeing you at the Women of Faith Awards breakfast in Baltimore, MD, on Sunday June 21, 2020.
REGARDING RULING ELDERS: 
A MONTHLY SERIES FOR SPIRITUAL LEADERS
Gina Yeager-Buckley has written the most recent installment of Regarding Ruling Elders, a monthly resource of the Office of the General Assembly.
INVITATIONS
CHOIR ROBES
Linn Presbyterian Church has 40 blue and gold choir robes to be given away at no charge.  If you are interested, please send an email to the church to arrange a time to meet and receive the robes.  
LinnChurch@gmail.com; 262-248-1588
LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE AT FAITH SPRINGS
December 19th, 7:oo p.m.
For some, it is hard to embrace the joy of the holiday season.  Loss, loneliness, strained relationships, or simple stress can make this a difficult time of the year.  This is a service of prayer and reflection, a time when we can lift these sorrows (whether our own or not) to God.  The Longest Night Service will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 19th.
Faith Springs Presbyterian Church, N13W28771 Silvernail Road, Pewaukee
TELLING THE (OLD) STORY IN NEW WAYS
January 27-28, 2019
Story is at the center of our world, from the relational stories told on social media to the carefully crafted advertisement narratives and immersive stories on television, streaming services, and the big screen.  The church has a rich story to tell, but we don't always do the best job sharing this story in media that are constantly changing.  For two days you will be immersed in story work, with keynotes that will inspire you to develop your own story and learn the stories of others, workshops that will help you build skills for storytelling in a digital age, and time to connect with other storytellers to hone your craft.

Find out more about Telling the (old) Story in New Ways, a conference offered by Church Anew, an emerging ministry of St. Anderw Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, MN
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
2020 HOPE MISSION TRIP
May 4-8, 2020
The 2020 HOPE Mission trip is planned for May 4-8, 2020, to Omaha, Nebraska.  This area of the Midwest experienced extreme flooding in the spring of 2019.  The HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) Mission trip is being co-sponsored by the Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church in Janesville and the Jerusalem Presbyterian Church in Wales.  We will be staying at a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) site at the Presbyterian Church of the Cross in Omaha.  A volunteer handbook with more information can be requested by emailing col-mike@charter.net or calling Mike Williams, HOPE Coordinator at 608-751-6274.
CALLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Our Long Term Mission Volunteer, John Etheredge, has posted an update, Called by the Holy Spirit.  John, who serves in Ghana, shares a touching story of his call to Africa and how God has been equipping his for service there.
2018 PRESBYTERIAN HABITAT HOME DEDICATION
Friday, November 29th, the 2018 Presbyterian Habitat Home was dedicated.  The home is on North 29th Street, just south of North Avenue.  Our homeowner, Kemonie, at age 19 is the youngest applicant ever to be accepted into Milwaukee Habitat's affordable home ownership program.

Starting last June, church members and friends worked on Saturdays and Wednesdays framing, drywalling, painting, and doing the finish carpentry on the home.  The men and women of the United Presbyterian Habitat Coalition team of volunteers work on Habitat homes every Wednesday throughout the year.  This is the nineteenth home the United Presbyterian Habitat Coalition has completed since the year 2000.  Churches from our Presbytery, the Presbytery, and friends have contributed over $700,000 and over 27,000 volunteer hours building Milwaukee Habitat homes during the last 20 years.  Our 20th home should be finished in early 2020.

25 new Habitat homes were finished in the Midtown neighborhood of Milwaukee in 2019.
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 - Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Good Shepherd Trinity Church in Milwaukee seeks PART TIME DESIGNATED PASTOR
Good Shepherd Trinity is a combined ELCA/PCUSA congregation.  Please direct all inquiries and interest in the position to Ann Gibbs, Associate for Ministry Vitality, Presbytery of Milwaukee.
University Christian Ministries (UCM) seeks   COOK FOR 2019
FUTURE PRESBYTERY GATHERING DATES
  • TUESDAY, February 4, 4:00-8:00 p.m. - Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church, Janesville
  • SATURDAY, May 16, 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Carroll University, Waukesha
  • 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