The latest news for you

From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive

LOVE

As Advent draws to a close this week, we reserve time to imagine that silent night in which Mary first held Jesus. We wonder, like the shepherds and the magi, about this extraordinary birth foretold and marked by a bright star. We proclaim Immanuel! God with us!

In the midst of that miracle, I have a confession to make. When I ponder Jesus’ birth, I tend to think that the human form of Jesus was...(read more)

Presbytery Pulse

CELEBRATING REV. ALAN MCCALISTER'S MINISTRY

Please join Second Presbyterian Church and the Presbytery of Milwaukee in celebrating Rev. Alan McCalister on his impending retirement at the end of this year. While in the Presbytery of Milwaukee, Alan has served Westminster Presbyterian Church and Second (Racine). He also finished his years of service with University Christian Ministries, our ecumenical campus ministry at UW-Milwaukee. Second hosted a lively retirement party, with members and guests from around the Presbytery.

REV. DAN GONZALEZ-ORTEGA AWARDED TWO HONORARY DOCTORATES

On December 19, Rev. Dan Gonzalez-Ortega, our Presbytery Evangelist, was recognized for his 12 years as President of the Theological Community of Mexico. In a farewell ceremony, he received the Doctorate Honoris Causa granted by the Universidad Autónoma Central Santo Tomás de Aquino "for his important contributions in national and international institutions in biblical and ecclesial matters, as well as for his unconditional support in the establishment of higher studies in Sacred Scriptures and Theology in Jalisco, Mexico.”

The Forum for Ecumenical Theological Education in Latin America and the Caribbean also awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa to Dr. Gonzalez with emphasis in religious sciences for the impact of his ecumenical efforts in theological education.

This ceremony allowed students, professors, and institutions of theological education from across Mexico and many Latin American countries to bid farewell to Dr. Dan Gonzalez-Ortega. These two honorary doctorates are representative of more than 50 theological seminaries in this region of the continent. However, our Milwaukee Presbytery Evangelist was quick to respond: "Soli Deo Gloria, glory must be given to God alone.”

TAX BILL?

If you have received a tax bill connected to your church’s property, please advise Stated Clerk Christian Boyd. The Presbytery is looking into the issue of a change in tax status in some jurisdictions. Thank you!

COVENANT PC IN THE NEWS

Covenant Presbyterian Church is hosting a reverse Advent calendar food drive as a way to stock up the Northside Food Pantry. Check out the article about their efforts here.

WCC WEDNESDAY: MEXICAN TRADITIONS AROUND CHRISTMASTIME

Deaconess Johnna Georgia, Program Director for Awaken Dane, recently interviewed Pastor Dan Gonzalez-Ortega, a Mexican pastor serving a PCUSA/ELCA parish in Beloit, about the Mexican traditions of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Las Posadas. Pr. Dan shared the history behind the Virgen de Guadalupe as a way for Spanish Monk Evangelists to make Christianity more accessible for the indigenous in the 16th century. He described Las Posadas as a time for Christians to re-enact the story of Joseph and Mary knocking on doors seeking shelter and to celebrate the birth of Christ. Watch the interview to learn more!

FROM INTERFAITH CONFERENCE OF GREATER MILWAUKEE

Images from the IFCGM 52nd Annual Luncheon. We gathered at Marquette University to celebrate Interfaith in our community and also learned some basics for constitutional law and Religious Freedom in the USA by our keynote speaker, Prof. Steve Collis. Several individuals and communities received awards and recognition for their work over the past year(s).

HOLIDAY CLOSURES

Due to the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holidays and staff vacation days, the Presbytery Office will be short-staffed from December 23 - 31, 2022. Fresh Impressions will not be published Wednesday, December 28, 2022. Presbytery staff will resume normal working hours on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

If you need assistance during this time, Rachel Yates, Presbytery Bridge Executive, will be on call and available to help by telephone or email.

Building Ministry Vitality

Through Matthew 25

Empowered Servant Leadership:

"We all have gifts according to God's Grace"

EMPOWERED SERVANT LEADERSHIP VIDEOS

At the November Presbytery Gathering we featured two short films on Empowered Servant Leadership created by Milwaukee Presbytery Congregation, Faith Springs in Pewaukee. Here's your opportunity to watch them (or watch them again) and discover what Empowered Servant Leadership IS NOT and what it IS, and hopefully reflect on your own experiences with this Vital Mark.

To view go to https://www.pbymilwaukee.org/empowered-leadership.html and scroll down; the videos are the 2^nd and 3^rd items on the page. When you're done, feel free to check out our other resources.

News From The Denomination

REGARDING RULING ELDERS

Now What?

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

HOW TO HAVE AN EARTH-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY SEASON

Are you interested in following more sustainable holiday practices? Find ideas in this graphic from the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Examples include handcrafted toys and fair-trade baking goods.

'TROUBLE THE WATER' DOCUSERIES AND DISCUSSION GUIDE AVAILABLE

A documentary series designed to encourage constructive conversations about race and racism has been released by the Presbyterian Mission Agency in collaboration with the Office of the General Assembly and other partners. All four episodes are now available for download upon request.

Out of the Blue in '22

23 HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOWS ACROSS WISCONSIN YOU CAN WALK OR DRIVE THROUGH

Ah, holiday lights! It’s that magical time of year where locations across Wisconsin light up the night with MILLIONS of holiday lights, animated displays, showcases, and more. Enjoy many of them from the warm comfort of your vehicle, or pop out and walk to get some fresh air and enjoy the lights and displays up close. Here are 23 holiday light shows for you to check out across the state.

Invitations

LESSONS AND CAROLS & CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

Heritage Presbyterian Church is offering two of its Christmas videos for use on December 25 or January 1, especially if you are not meeting in person these Sundays. The first is a Lessons and Carols service and the second is from Christmas Eve 2020. Contact Michelle Henrichs if you would like copies of the bulletins.

Lessons and Carols Service

December 24, 2020 Worship (Christmas Eve)

Christmas Eve Service

2023 OJIBWE STORYTELLING SERIES

In Ojibwe culture, winter is storytelling season. The Wisconsin Historical Society is very excited to bring you four wonderful Ojibwe storytellers: Mike Wiggins, Val Barber, Chris McGeshick, and Wanda McFaggen.

Storytelling will meet virtually, via Zoom, Tuesday evenings, January 10^th - 31^st from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. This series is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Once you’re registered, you will receive a zoom link to attend that evening.

Please visit https://wihist.org/OjibweStorytelling to learn more about the storytellers and to register for these events.

For questions please contact Liz Arbuckle at liz.arbuckle@wisconsinhistory.org.

COPING WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA BROCHURE

The City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) created a small brochure in English and Spanish for victims and their families coping with grief and trauma.

Mission Opportunities

LET ME SOW LOVE

A letter from Thomas Goetz

Dear friends,

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 – New Revised Standard Version

How does a Japanese Christian look? I know this is one of those “Garden Path” questions. It can mean... (read more)