Your Weekly News & Updates |
|
From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive |
|
“We want this to be a growing thing.” The pun was unintentional, but obvious to everyone on the call. Rev. Matt Lee of Kettle Moraine Presbyterian Church shared with the Planning Commission about the work of Food for the Journey, a collaboration of 5 Presbyterian congregations committed to growing and distributing food in Southeast Wisconsin. The garden, dedicated this past Sunday, is a literal “growing thing.” The harvest season is upon us, and their garden is bountiful. But, Matt also hopes the idea will take off and “grow” as...(read more)
|
|
MILWAUKEE PRESBYTERY WELCOMES CO-MODERATOR ELONA STREET-STEWART TO SEPTEMBER GATHERING |
General Assembly Co-Moderator Elona Street-Stewart will be a featured speaker at our Presbytery Gathering on Wednesday, September 22. We are privileged to welcome our Co-Moderator and to hear her reflections on the Matthew 25 vision. Elona Street-Stewart is a descendant of the Delaware Nanticoke Tribe and is the first Native American to serve as a Moderator of the PC(USA) as well as the first to serve as a synod executive in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). A ruling elder and a longtime staff member of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, she has served in the synod since 1994. Please register now for the Zoom Gathering and join us in welcoming her.
|
|
CELEBRATING CONGREGATIONAL GARDENS |
We are celebrating congregational gardens in conjunction with our Matthew 25 Food Security initiative. If you have a garden that produces food for those in need in your community, please send word to Ann Gibbs at agibbs@pbymilwaukee.org.
And please don’t assume that Ann knows you have a garden!
|
|
FAREWELL TO DELISA BUCKINGHAM-TAYLOR |
On Sunday, September 12, Grace United Church in Fort Atkinson said goodbye to their long-time pastor Delisa Buckingham-Taylor, who is moving out of state. It was a service filled with laughter, tears, and the ultimate “mic drop.” Grace also celebrated the completion of its Matthew 25 challenge to more than double the original gift from the Presbytery’s anonymous donor to benefit the Homeless Coalition of Fort Atkinson and RIP Medical Debt. |
|
FEEDBACK FOR SUMMER HOURS? |
For several years the Presbytery has had summer hours which meant the office was closed on Fridays (there is always someone on call for emergencies). The Personnel Committee is evaluating this tradition and is soliciting feedback from the Presbytery. Do you have any thoughts or concerns about the summer hours policy? If you do, please email Jenny Gleichauf at jenny@covpres.org.
|
|
Matthew 25: I needed clothes and you clothed me... |
|
On September 12, the Presbyterian churches organized as Food for the Journey dedicated their bountiful garden. Food for the Journey is a new multi-church mission to grow and distribute food in Southeastern Wisconsin. Learn more about this Matthew 25 effort at our upcoming Presbytery Gathering on Sept. 22. Register now!
|
|
LABOR IN THE PULPITS / ON THE BIMAH / IN THE MINBAR |
The Wisconsin Council of Churches has partnered with Wisconsin Worker Justice to celebrate Labor in the Pulpits/ On the Bimah/In the Minbar. This weekend service during the month of September is an opportunity to uplift the dignity of work, support low-wage and immigrant workers, and speak to the experience of essential workers in your community who have faced new challenges in their workplaces during the COVID-19 Pandemic. To take part in this year’s Labor in the Pulpit/ On the Bimah/ In the Minbar, all you need to do is fill out this form and plan a weekend in September when your community will lift up workers and the realities they’ve faced in this pandemic.
|
|
COVID-19 News & Information |
|
AN UPDATE FROM LISA ALLGOOD |
General Presbyter of Cincinnati Presbytery and immunocytochemist Lisa Allgood offers the following update:
|
|
AFGHAN REFUGEES IN WISCONSIN
A message from the Wisconsin Council of Churches
|
We continue to work with partners and churches across the state to welcome Afghan refugees to Wisconsin. As of last week, over 8,700 Afghan refugees were housed at Fort McCoy located between Tomah and Sparta. Fort McCoy is one of eight US military bases that will temporarily house Afghan refugees who have fled Afghanistan. Following processing, refugees will be settled around the country with up to 500 people being resettled in Wisconsin. This presents two arenas of need. First, there are immediate material needs for the large number of people who are housed at Fort McCoy. Second, there will be longer term needs of housing, supplies, and volunteers as people are settled in communities. Welcoming Afghan refugees to the United States is a long-term project and will require help from communities. As we prepare webinars and other resources, let us know what questions you have. We will post answers on our website and it will shape our educational offerings in the future.
Immediate Needs
· Housing located on the west side of Madison (near UW hospital is ideal). Contact us if you have this available.
Longer-Term Needs
· Gift Cards from Woodman's Grocery Store for Refugees who are not eligible for Food Share (mail to 6434 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI 53719)
Worship & Education Resources
We will continue to update our website with these and other resources as they become available.
|
|
UPDATE: HELPING AFGHAN REFUGEES
An update from Lutheran Social Services
|
Friends,
Thank you so much for your outpouring of support for the Afghans arriving in Wisconsin.
Lutheran Social Services is currently working to resettle Afghans into local communities after...(read more)
|
|
News from the Denomination |
|
THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION SUNDAY
A message from the Presbyterian Foundation
|
Theological Education Sunday is observed each September in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This year, Theological Education Sunday is officially set for September 19, but you may celebrate theological education any time that is appropriate for you and your congregation.
VIDEO Minute for Mission: We’re providing a video-recorded minute for mission that you can download and use as part of your worship service. Find it here.
PowerPoint Slides & Bulletin Inserts: We’re providing PowerPoint slides for your use during virtual or in-person worship. You can also find bulletin inserts designed to be printed. Access those here.
Liturgical Resources: This year’s liturgy is written by Rev. Anna Rainey Dickson, Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, and we’re so excited to share it with you. This includes a bulletin announcement, hymn selections, scripture suggestions, a children’s sermon and prayers. You can download it here. If you’re looking for just the bulletin announcement, you can find that here.
|
|
PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR MANAGING CHURCH PROPERTY |
Register for the free Day of Learning on property transition and management: October 12.
8:30 PT/11:30 ET Maggie Harmon, Ministry Relations Officer for the Southwest Region, will present The Value of Vision.
At 11:00 PT/2:00 ET Olanda Carr, Senior Ministry Relations Officer for the East Region, and Robert Hay, Senior Ministry Relations Officer for the Southeast Region, will share Options for Repurposing Church Property.
The day will close at 2:30 PT/5:30 ET with Understanding Financial Implications for Property Transition from Paul Grier, Vice President of Project Regeneration.
|
|
CHURCH LEASE AND COVENANT ISSUES |
|
NEW INTERGENERATIONAL MISSION TOOLKIT |
Looking to plan an intergenerational mission experience or mission trip? Or are you wanting to make suggestions for at home mission opportunities? This new Intergenerational Mission Toolkit from the PC(USA) includes the why, the what, and the how.
|
|
MOTHER GOOSE TAKES CARE OF 47 BABIES AND KEEPS THEM ALL SAFE |
Mike Digout has never been a big fan of Canadian Geese. But this spring his views changed after meeting one remarkable mother goose caring for a very large family.
Since work from home started, Digout has been taking walks along the Saskatchewan riverbank near his home in Saskatoon and bringing along his camera to capture the wildlife that lives there. That's where he first met the geese. (Read more)
|
|
Disaster Preparedness & Response Task Force |
|
CREATING A FAMILY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN
Disaster Preparedness for Families
|
September is National Disaster Preparedness Month
National Disaster Preparedness Month is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. The 2021 theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”
The Presbytery’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Task Force encourages everyone to take time to create a disaster preparedness plan for your family, including all family members in this process and then practice the plan periodically. It is equally important for our churches to create disaster preparedness plans and to be aware of disaster plans for schools and work places that pertain to you and your family. Disaster preparedness reduces the chaos when a disaster occurs and allows for calmer and quicker response.
Make A Plan
Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster. Make sure to update your plan based on the Centers for Disease Control recommendations due to the Coronavirus.
-
#PrepareToProtect means preparing to protect everyone you love. Start by making a plan before disasters and emergencies strike. www.ready.gov/plan
- Discuss with your household or family how you will communicate if there is an emergency.
- Decide and practice your emergency plan with members of your household.
-
Houses, mobile homes, apartments, and high-rise buildings have different evacuation considerations. www.ready.gov/plan-for-locations
-
Involve your entire family, including your children, in planning for disasters and emergencies so they are prepared, not afraid www.ready.gov/plan
|
|
DEATH & END OF LIFE ISSUES
September 30, 6:30 p.m. (cst)
|
Death and end of life of issues affect all of us, and yet we are often reluctant to address them honestly, even in churches. Rather than facing our mortality, we often talk about ways to prolong our days, surgeries that will restore youthful appearances, and how quickly we can “move on” from the loss of a loved one.
This webinar will address this topic openly by bringing together five experts known for their pastoral and theological insights. This webinar stems from the most recent themed issue of Union’s flagship journal, Interpretation. This journal is read by pastors, rabbis, academics, students, and interested laypersons all over the world. We will cover such matters as responding to a loved one with dementia, conducting a funeral, the content of Scripture on death, pastoral care with those who are dying and their families, and how to deal with the decline of a beloved family member. There will be time for audience interchange with our excellent panel.
The event is FREE, yet attendees must register. A webinar recording will be available for those that register as well.
|
|
The Sower - August 2021 Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
|
|
Future Presbytery Gathering Dates |
|
|
|
Presbytery of Milwaukee
414-292-2740
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
