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From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive

REMEMBERING

The crowd swelled outside the convention center. They had a cause and a destination. The energy was high as hundreds began their march down the major street that ran between the convention center and the courthouse. Traffic couldn’t pass and had to be re-routed. Arm-in-arm, they marched and sang and chanted. After rallying at the courthouse and taking the action they had plotted ahead of time, the protesters...(read more)

Presbytery Pulse

BECOME A COMMUNITY COVID-19 VACCINE SITE

As Wisconsin ramps up its vaccinations with more supply available, local agencies are in need of vaccination sites. If your congregation is interested in becoming a community site, please reach out to your local health officers. Their contact information can be found under “WI LHD Agency info excel” at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lhdepts/counties.htm. Or, you can contact Lisa Olson at lisaa.olson@dhswisconsin.gov.

AGAIN AND AGAIN A LENTEN REFRAIN

Devotional Resources

for the

Fourth Week of Lent

UPDATE ON REV. KEVIN TARVID

With joy we share that Kevin's surgery to remove the cancer went very well and doctors believe they got it all. To be on the safe side, Kevin will begin radiation treatment, but things are looking good. He is grateful for the prayers, cards, and messages, knowing his presbytery family is supporting him through this journey. Continued prayer is very welcome!

COVID-19 News

COVID-19 VACCINE

We encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine when eligible. As a nation, we can defeat this virus by taking individual and collective responsibility for our health, so that people can return to work, can reconnect with family, and can return to activities that had been off-limits. As the church, we can show our love for one another by seeking the welfare of all through a comprehensive vaccination program. These Ad Council COVID-19 vaccine education toolkits can help faith leaders promote the use of this vaccine:

NEW COVID-19 NEWS FROM THE CDC

Matthew 25: I was in prison and you came to visit me...

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RESTORE CHALLENGE WINNER: NICOLE FARLEY!

Nicole purchased a beat-up secretary from the Habitat Restore and gave it some TLC. As the winner of the Habitat ReStore Challenge, Nicole has designated Hebron House in Waukesha as the recipient of $250. Congratulations Nicole and Hebron House!

IFCGM TUESDAY LECTURE: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER WITH HOPE AFTER INCARCERATION

March 30th, 12:00-1:30 p.m. join IFCGM for "Moving Forward Together with Hope after Incarceration." The role of hope for those who have been through, and may be going through, the legal system with Jeanne Geraci, Terri Strodthoff, and John Serrano.

Cost for the virtual program: $25.00 the Series of 5, or $10.00 per lecture

You may pay online for the series OR download a printable form to mail in payment

Once you register, a receipt will emailed, and an event link will also be emailed before the program dates.

All registrants will receive a link to watch programs again on our Interfaith Conference Youtube channel. These programs will be captioned for the hearing impaired.

JOSHUA GLOVER JUSTICE FUND PANEL DISCUSSION

Join members of the Joshua Glover Justice Fund team, in a panel discussion with the Rev. Jenny Gleichauf. Learn more about the cash bail system, the disproportionate impacts of cash bail on people with lower incomes and People of Color, and how we, as people of faith, can take action to address the specific injustices in criminal justice around this issue. There will also be time set aside for Q&A. Saturday, March 20, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. All are welcome! Register for this Zoom event here.

The Racine, Wisconsin, based Joshua Glover Justice Fund was established in 2021 and exists to provide bail support, primarily for those incarcerated at the Racine County Jail. For the past two months, the JGJF has been in its initial fundraising phase and has been raising enough funds to effectively operate. This month, March of 2021, it will go live with accepting requests for bail support and will begin the work of releasing people from the Racine County Jail who otherwise simply can't afford to get out.

ENGAGING MATTHEW 25 THOROUGH FILM

Engaging Matthew 25 Through Film is a new video discussion series that will address each of the three areas of the Matthew 25 vision — building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism and eradicating systemic poverty. The author of this video discussion series is Dr. Edward McNulty, a Presbyterian minister who for many years was the film reviewer for Presbyterians Today. This first installment of the video series was edited by the Rev. Denise Anderson, Co-Moderator of the 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and coordinator for racial and intercultural justice for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. The series leads the members of the discussion group through five films that can help them see and understand concrete examples of racism and its effects. “The films force us to see racism as the ugly, concrete evil that affects all of us. Each film tells us a story that draws us in, helping us to feel how racism affects people and, in all too many cases, destroys lives,” McNulty writes. This study is set up as six sessions, though it could easily be 10 or 12, however the leader(s) choose to frame it. This new resource is available for free digital download here.

NOT READY TO SWITCH YOUR FOCUS FROM HOUSING?

The Presbyterian Mission Agency’s first online Matthew 25 event for 2021 is scheduled for March 24, at 1 pm (Central) and relates to how all three areas of the Matthew 25 focus intersect around the subject of housing. The program will include conversations with pastors on how their congregations are engaging with the issue of affordable housing in their communities. Register here to join this conversation.

News From The Denomination

INTRODUCTION TO PC(USA) ANTI-RACISM POLICY TRAINING

The Rev. Denise Anderson and the Rev. Shanea D. Leonard have presented antiracism training sessions for Presbyterians around the country. This virtual training on March 23, 5:00 p.m. (Central), will focus on a basic introduction to concepts centered around racism and an in-depth look at the anti-racism policy of the church. It will cover concepts such as the definition of racism, types of racism, and why racism is a spiritual problem, with a biblical and theological foundation. Registration for this Zoom conference is open by clicking here.

SAVE THE DATE -- TRIENNIUM 2022!

Make sure to add Presbyterian Youth Triennium to your congregation's planning calendar for 2022 and have your High School youth join with other Presbyterian High School youth from around the PC(USA) and Cumberland Presbyterian Church on July 24-28, 2022. Our Milwaukee Presbytery program leaders are Lee Tan, Fiona Nicolaisen, and Andy Holmes, and they're already working to plan a terrific event. More information to come soon!

Have Some Fun In '21!

CELEBRATE WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR DAY, MARCH 20TH

Any day can be a beautiful day in the neighborhood – and Won’t you Be My Neighbor Day, is no exception!

Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day is a day to remember and honor Fred Rogers, that iconic children’s TV presenter of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. His show reached it’s heyday in popularity back in the 1970’s and 80’s, and repeats can still be seen today. Gentle, soft-spoken Mr. Rogers was a mainstay for preschoolers and their parents; teaching them that respect of those around you and a good attitude were just as important as learning your colors and letters.

Check out this article from Presbyterian Outlook that includes history about Presbyterian Peacemaking's involvement with Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.

You can also follow this link to find the Presbyterian Mission Agency's Minute for Mission: Mr. Roger's Day.

ARTIST TOSSES COLORFUL RICE CREATING 3D PORTRAITS OF POP CULTURE CHARACTERS MID-AIR

There’s lots of weird and wonderful art out there, with many talented creatives using all sorts of materials to create visual masterpieces. There’s one art form that’s new to us, though—tossed rice art. Minnesota-based mom and artist Maria Lynn is the woman behind it. She creates portraits of pop culture characters using colored grains of rice, laid out on a wooden board. She then tosses them into the air, revealing 3D portraits that hover in the air for just a few split seconds.

(Link includes videos)

Invitations

FAITH SPRINGS ONLINE AUCTION

Faith Springs Presbyterian Church will hold an online auction to benefit two local Matthew 25-related charities:

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.

This is a low-key auction with a goal of raising money for worthy causes and having fun doing it. Bidders' names are not displayed: Instead, every bidder receives a bidder number and a famous persona, which is displayed in place of the real name. Items range from watercolor paintings by children in the congregation to a cherry curio cabinet valued at $5000.

Bidding on auction items will be open from March 26 - March 28. If you would like to take part, you can browse items any time and register to get your bidder number and your persona any time at GoldenRuleMusic.com/Auction

Many items can be shipped anywhere in the US, but some are limited to the Pewaukee/Waukesha/Milwaukee area. Be sure to check each listing for details. We ask that winners please pay for the cost of shipping.

VOLUNTEER WITH THE RED CROSS

The Red Cross is looking for more Disaster Spiritual Care Volunteers. If you are interested in giving back to your community (and beyond) and supporting people dealing with the aftermath of disaster the Red Cross could use your expertise! The Red Cross now asks clients if they would like Spiritual Care support and they need more volunteers (especially Spanish speakers). Currently, work is preformed virtually.

Work from home locally or nationally to support people in need. Interest peeked or questions, please contact Catherine Neal or visit www.Red Cross.org.