The latest news for you

From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive

ANOTHER MILE

My one-year-old granddaughter persistently removes her shoes. We can load her into the car seat for a short hop and, upon arrival at our destination, discover that she has pulled off her shoes and socks, scattering them in the back seat. Before we can go inside, we’re forced to hunt for each piece of footwear.

This habit completely reverses when they are someone else’s shoes. She loves to put her brother’s boots on. She wears her...(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.

Rodger Nishioka serves as the senior associate pastor and director of adult faith formation at the Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, KS. Prior to his joining the staff at Village, he served for 15 years as the Benton Family Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. The son of a retired Presbyterian pastor, Rodger is proof that you can be a pastor’s kid and still love the church!

Stephanie Fritz is the Mission Coordinator for Christian Formation in the Presbyterian Mission Agency. She is a Colorado native who served as an educator and director of mission before coming to the PMA from Presbytery of Denver. She also has a background in early childhood education and non profit management. In the PMA she is passionate about the work she does with faith formation leaders to equip them in their ministries. She and her husband live fulltime in their RV and travel the USA while working remote.

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

WELL DONE, GOOD & FAITHFUL SERVANT!

Rev. Lee Meissner retires this month from the ministry of Word & Sacrament. He has served most recently as an interim pastor with First Presbyterian Church of Janesville, which celebrate this ministry milestone with him last Sunday. Blessings from Milwaukee Presbytery on your well-deserved retirement!

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

I do and I will -- Question C

Julie Hester has written the most recent installment of Regarding Ruling Elders, a monthly resource of the Office of the General Assembly.

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!"

To read the full article on Singing Safer, click here.

Out of the Blue in '22

BOOK CHAT WITH KRISTOPHER POLLARD

Tuesday, May 10, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Need something to read? Join librarians from the Milwaukee Public Library and special guest Kristopher Pollard from Milwaukee Film as they share a list of curated books guaranteed to fill up your to-be-read pile.

Kristopher Pollard is an artist/illustrator and has been the Membership Manager for Milwaukee Film for the past ten years. Born in St. Louis, Missouri he moved to Milwaukee twenty years ago to work for the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops and has called Wisconsin his home ever since. His love of film is only rivaled by his love for books!

Invitations

FAITH SPRINGS SILENT AUCTION

Don't miss out on the fun! Faith Springs Presbyterian Church is holding its online auction again.

This is a low-key auction with a goal of raising money for mission partners and having fun doing it. Bidders' names are not displayed: Instead, you receive a bidder number and a famous persona, which is displayed in place of your real name. You might find yourself in a bidding war with Babe Ruth over a homemade apple pie! Last year's participants agree that it was a great deal of fun.

Proceeds benefit two local Matthew 25-related mission partners:

Family Promise of Waukesha County, which helps homeless families with children regain and retain their independence, and the Lake Area Free Clinic, which provides high-quality comprehensive health care to those in need.

Bidding on auction items will be open from May 6 - May 8 at 8:00pm. Browse items any time and register to get your bidder number and your persona any time at GoldenRuleMusic.com/Auction

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

GARDEN HELP NEEDED

Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church is seeking 2 gardeners at 20 hours a week (mostly earlish morning) at $15 an hour late May through September. Interested in learning more? Contact Karen Hagen.

Employment Opportunities