From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive
IN BETWEEN
Some of you who work closely with me know that my father is dying.  He has had a good life, but at 92 years, his body is tired.  After a recent, difficult stay in the hospital, he was released home and into hospice.  I went with my husband, my daughter, and her family to visit him in Boise this past week. 

It was a very good visit.  My dad was clear-headed, understood what was happening, and engaged us in ordinary conversation and storytelling.  He finished his and my mom’s taxes.  One warm day, he hosed off the patio and did some weed-whacking.  Another day, he gave me grief for...(read more
Presbytery Pulse
CONGRATULATIONS KEVIN SJOSTROM, PHW PRESIDENT
Congratulations to Tosa Pres member Kevin Sjostrom, who was installed as President of the board of Presbyterian Homes of Wisconsin at the PHW March board meeting. PHW is an affiliate of Presbyterian Homes and Services, a national organization that operates senior living communities, including five in southeast Wisconsin: Kirkland Crossing (Pewaukee); Avalon Square (Waukesha); Dickson Hollow (Menomonee Falls); Fairway Knoll (Germantown), and Towner Crest (Oconomowoc). A sixth development is currently under construction in Muskego.
Building Ministry Vitality
Through Matthew 25
Caring Relationships: "Let love be genuine..."
COVENANT (RACINE) & UMOS: CARING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS
Covenant Presbyterian (Racine) recently put together 40 hygiene backpacks for UMOS. UMOS will give the backpacks to people they recover from labor trafficking situations. The congregation collected items and the youth group and mission team members put together the backpacks.
LEADERS LEAN IN
In the midst of Holy Week we are reminded that caring relationships do not come without conflict. By leaning into conflict in healthy ways our relationships can thrive and flourish. Rodger Nishioka, who will be joining us at our next Presbytery Gathering, shares his wisdom on this in Leaders Lean In. Conflict can offer positive opportunities for growth and understanding if we lean in rather than avoid. Included are questions for reflection.
'YOU CANNOT LOVE IF YOUR HEART IS NOT SOFT'
Alla Soroka is a 2017 International Peacemaker living and working in Odessa, Ukraine. She’s clearly devoted to her work with at-risk teenagers — even those who are beyond being considered at-risk and are incarcerated.

With the help of translator Dasha Yakovenko, Soroka appeared Sunday during a moving, illuminating and youth-driven webinar called “When Did We See You, Ukraine?” put on by the Office of Presbyterian Youth and Triennium/PYT Beyond and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. Learn more about Soroka’s 56-minute conversation with PYT’s Gina Yeager-Buckley and the PPP’s coordinator, the Rev. Carl Horton, by clicking here.
COVID-19 NEWS & INFORMATION
COVID-19: WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Save the date! Wisconsin Council of Churches is proud to announce that they will be co-hosting a panel discussion with Wisconsin DHS, "COVID-19: Where Are We Now?" The webinar, to be held Tuesday, April 26th at 4:00 p.m., will focus on what churches can expect in the near future. The panel will be moderated by Rev. Daniel Schultz, WCC Community Health Program Director. If you have any questions you'd like to see discussed, drop Dan a line. Registration details to come.
Out of the Blue in '22
NO MOW MAY IN APRIL
The days will be getting longer and warmer soon, and grass and other vegetation is already beginning to grow. A messy yard can be a beautiful thing, and participating in No Mow May in April means you’ll get to focus more of your spring cleaning on the inside of your house. Pollinators are responsible for one of every three bites of food we take, and Wisconsin is home to a number of endangered or at-risk pollinators such as monarch butterflies, the rusty patched bumblebee and Poweshiek skipperling butterfly. Every yard counts.

An easy way to support native bees and create pollinator-friendly habitat in your backyard is to do nothing! Other important reasons to delay yard cleanup.
Invitations
VIRTUAL CLERGY TRAINING EVENTS ON MORAL INJURY & SUICIDE PREVENTION
William S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital, Madison, WI., would like to invite you to participate in one of two upcoming free Virtual Clergy Training Events.  Each event will be two hours long with the topics of Moral Injury and Suicide Prevention to be discussed.  

The event dates are: 
  • April 26, 2022 (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
  • June 28, 2022 (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

To find out more see this flyer and to register, please click on this Eventbrite link. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Heidi Klave, 608-256-1901 x17546 or Heidi.Klave@va.gov
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN VIRTUAL GATHERING
Saturday, April 23, 2022, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
All women are invited to join the upcoming Presbyterian Women gathering, "Who and What is Trustworthy?"

In the Baptismal service, those who are to be baptized or their sponsors are asked: “Who is your Lord and Savior? Do you trust in him?” Why do we need the second question? Carol Wickersham, Teaching Elder of Milwaukee Presbytery and Associate Professor of Sociology at Beloit College, will help participants engage with the concept of trust in society and their spiritual lives. The group will explore documents for the general decline of trust in society and reflect data on these trends in light of scripture and our faith. 
                           
Make your reservation by April 21 by emailing Judy Bell or call 414-378-6437. Please provide name, Presbytery, church, and phone number when registering.
(Zoom link will be emailed to registrants)

Share this flyer with those who might be interested in the upcoming PW gathering.
"BELOVED CHILD: A DAKOTA WAY OF LIFE" BOOK STUDY
The upcoming Presbyterian Women Native American Book Study book, "Beloved Child: A Dakota Way of LIfe" by Diane Wilson is open to interested women and men across the synod. This study will occur on May 16, May 23 and June 6th, with sessions at 1:30 PM and 6:30 PM (Central).  This book is recommended reading prior to Rev. Dr. Clifford Canku's workshop at the PW Synod Gathering which will be held on June 16-19 in Sioux City, IA.  Please share this information with others. To register, email Marily Stone with name, presbytery, cell #, and identify 1:30 or 6:30 PM Central session.
HELP THE FRANKLIN RESTORE REACH $1 MILLION IN DONATIONS
This month, Habitat’s ReStore in Franklin will celebrate their 1 year anniversary. To mark the anniversary they’re trying to reach $1 million in donations by Saturday, April 23rd. The proceeds from donations of gently used items are invested right into our community, helping families like Wellington and Denise. 

They’ve owned their home in the Borchert Field neighborhood since 2007. However, recently they received an unusually high water bill, which set off a red flag.

“I am a gardener, but we didn’t use a lot of water this year,” Wellington said. “[I saw] the extreme water bill we got. [I wondered] ‘why do we have this huge bill?’”

After contacting the water department, they were told (read more)
Mission Opportunities
IS HE ILLEGAL? *corrected link*
A Letter from Mark Adams and Miriam Maldonado Escobar, serving at the U.S. – Mexico Border
“Is he illegal?” asked the 911 dispatcher.

“No, he is a human being created in the image of God, beloved by God. Send an ambulance now!” should have been my response. But that was not what I said.

While Adrian Gonzalez and I were serving our 8 p.m. to midnight volunteer shift at the Migrant Resource Center in Agua Prieta, Sonora, a man entered the center and was obviously concerned. He reported that...(read more)
Employment Opportunities
Future Presbytery Gathering Dates
2022 PRESBYTERY GATHERING DATES

  • Tuesday, May 24 @ 4:00 p.m., Carroll University
  • Tuesday, September 13 @ 4:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, November 19 @ 9:00 a.m.

Hot Links
Grapevine - April 2022 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 - February 2022 Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
UCCI Newsletter - April 2022 Newsletter for United Church Camps, Inc.

Presbytery of Milwaukee
414-292-2740