From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive
KEEPING US HONEST
Some say the numbers don’t lie.  It’s hard data.  The facts and figures keep us honest.  From stepping on the bathroom scale to the speedometer in our cars (admittedly both of which can be fudged by about five points), we rely on the numbers to show how we’re doing.  So, I offer you some numbers today.  

The Office of the General Assembly has released its annual statistics report showing a continued...(read more
Presbytery Pulse

We are sad to report that our Presbytery Executive Rachel Yates has submitted her resignation effective May 31, 2022. Please read the announcement letter about her plans and the Presbytery's transition.
Click to read Moderator Kent Tess-Mattner's invitation letter to the Presbytery Gathering on May 24th.

Click to register for the Presbytery Gathering, which includes the the request to pay for your dinner using a credit card: REGISTRATION
RETIREMENT OF REV. JOHN HANSEN
Congratulations to Rev. John Hansen who is transitioning to Honorably Retired status this month! He preached his last sermon on April 24 at Grace (Milwaukee) Presbyterian Church and capped off his ten years of ministry there with a congregational party and delicious meal at the South Shore Yacht Club. Blessings to John on this new phase of his call to ministry!
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS AND CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY GRANTS
Summer is coming and so are opportunities to enjoy camp. The Commission on Congregational Vitality offers camper scholarships of up to $150 per child or youth. Access the application at https://www.pbymilwaukee.org/commission-on-cong-vitality.html. You'll also see we have congregational vitality grants and leadership development grants available. Check those out too! There are no deadlines for applications, the CCV usually meets monthly to review and approve applications.
Building Ministry Vitality
Through Matthew 25
Caring Relationships: "Let love be genuine..."
BUILDING CONNECTION THROUGH DEEPER CONVERSATIONS, AN INTERVIEW WITH ROB ATER
Rob Ater, Associate Pastor at Immanuel PC(USA) in Milwaukee, reflects on his ministry and the tools he's learned from Common Ground Wisconsin for having conversations that get beyond the common chit-chat and into learning what really matters to people.
NEWS FROM THE DENOMINATION
REGARDING RULING ELDERS

Julie Hester has written the most recent installment of Regarding Ruling Elders, a monthly resource of the Office of the General Assembly.
AFTER EASTER, THERE'S EARTH DAY TO OBSERVE, CELEBRATE
With Earth Day around the corner, the Presbyterian Hunger Program is pointing faith communities to a number of resources, including an online hub created by one of its partners, Creation Justice Ministries (CJM).

CJM has created an Earth Day Sunday 2022 website that includes liturgy, Bible studies and sermon starters, videos, action steps, stories, and a map of how communities of faith are being affected by climate change. The theme is “Weathering the Storm: Faithful Resilience.”

“Faith communities must take a proactive stance towards resilience to prepare for social, physical, and spiritual storms of the climate crisis,” the website states. “This year, we invite you to consider how you and your church are anticipating, preparing for, and ‘bouncing forward’ into a just, sustainable and resilient community.”

The Presbyterian Hunger Program highlights CJM’s website and other resources on its Earth Day Sunday page, which notes, “Earth Day is April 22 and you can celebrate Earth Day Sunday with your congregation anytime in April, or throughout the year.”

Find additional resources here.
COVID-19 NEWS & INFORMATION
SAFER SINGING TIPS FROM THOSE NERDY GIRLS
Some of the most frequent questions we've gotten around COVID guidance are around the safety of singing. Those Nerdy Girls just published a great synopsis around how to "sing safer!"

Recommendations they share from choir associations include:
  • "Do space out performers so that they have at least 3 feet between them and 6 feet in areas of higher transmission.
  • Do limit the number of performers.
  • Do encourage humming, moving, clapping for members of the audience in place of singing.
  • Do increase ventilation in places where people are singing and try to limit time together for practice and/or performances (30 minutes is recommended).
  • Do sing outdoors when possible!
  • Do have performers wear masks if your population is at higher risk or if many people are not vaccinated.
  • Do have attendees wear masks if you are in areas of higher transmission and/or many people will not be vaccinated or are at higher risk.
  • Do encourage regular testing (rapid antigen) before performance events for performers and/or at regular intervals (weekly).
  • Do encourage vaccination as we know it decreases the risk of developing COVID-19!"

Out of the Blue in '22
IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR FARMERS MARKETS!
Dozens of area farmers markets are preparing for their seasons, with the earliest ones opening in just weeks.

Shoppers will find more of the activities that markets had before the pandemic struck in 2020. Yoga returns for the month of June at the Greenfield Farmers Market, for instance, and the Greenfield library will have story time at the market in June and July. At the Brookfield and South Shore markets, weekly musical entertainment returns.

Find farmers market information for Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties.
Invitations
ATTEND "REFUGE" PREMIER
MIlwaukee Film will be premiering "Refuge." a story about fear and love in the American South at the Oriental Theatre on Sunday, May 1st, at 5:00 p.m..  The journey of a Syrian Kurdish doctor, a former Klansman, and a town of refugees seeking belonging, "Refuge" illustrates the false promises of hate and reveals where real and lasting refuge can be found. This film demonstrates the power of reaching across ideological difference and speaks to what is at stake for our country if we choose not to.
Trailer for "Refuge"
The conversations following the documentary will be led by Interfaith Conference Executive Director, Pardeep Kaleka and Peace Activist, Arno Michealis.

A MEDITATIVE SONG CIRCLE FOR THIS TIME: "ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS"
Friday, May 6, 7:00 p.m.
Join with the Living Water's Contemplative Life Center as they lean into the Holy Hush guided by a sharing of simple melodies. Listen or sing along.

Please bring a candle and an opening heart!

Pastor Trish will guide the meditation. Opening with reflective sharing, the light each one brings to this shared time will be honored, moving to embrace the holy hush and sung meditations. Then a holy closing sends the light from our shared time out with participants into the night and into their lives.

For more information call 414-702-7997
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