Dear Friends in Christ,

Many of us have been taught to be embarrassed of belonging to a church. Our well-meaning, socially-concerned, highly-educated friends have been lured into the thin but highly popular story that personal spirituality is good, but religious institutions are so obviously bad. Maybe you are tempted by this story, too.

I've been reading the Muslim author and interfaith advocate, Eboo Patel, for many years. It can be rare to find someone who cuts through all the negativity about religion in America in order to tell the larger story: that despite the very real dysfunction and damage, American religious institutions of many stripes are doing incredibly important, meaningful work on the ground. I appreciated his recent interview with Anglican priest, Tish Harrison Warren. 

I am deeply biased, but I think what you all do to nurture a local church is critically important, not just for personal comfort and spiritual growth, but for our larger culture. Amidst the scorched-earth of division and isolation, you are sowing seeds of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, humility. And you are doing it very old school, in real time with real people through a real stone-and-mortar institution. 

The next time someone pulls you aside and whispers to you about the obvious evils of religion, smile, nod, admit the reality of the damage and dysfunction and then perhaps say, "Come with me to church. It's a deeply imperfect place with deeply imperfect people. But there are some things that might surprise you."

With Hope and Faith,

Seth+

SPECIAL OUTREACH:

Many Christ Church members have asked: How to best support wildfire humanitarian relief in Maui.

After some research, we believe the best way to help is by making a financial donation to Episcopal Relief and Development. This organization is part of the national Episcopal church and all its donations go to humanitarian aid.

You may make a donation in either of two ways. 

Go to Episcopal Relief and Development's Hawai'i Emergency Response Fund to give online. 

You may also send a check to:

Episcopal Relief & Development,

P.O. Box 7058,

Merrifield, VA 22116-7058

Please indicate that your gift is for Hawaiian wildfire aid.

Indoor Services Resume September 10th!

13th Sunday after Pentecost

August 27, 2023

Outdoor Service weather permitting

8am service Holy Eucharist, Quiet service

9:30 service* - Holy Eucharist, Music with congregational singing. Held in the garden weather permitting

*This service is also live-streamed on YouTube

 and on the Christ Church website.

________________________________________________

Serving This Sunday: August 27, 2023

8:00 am Service

Greeter/Usher: Tom Watson

Acolyte/Reader: Randy Dean

9:30 am Service

Vestry Greeters:  Derek Riley, Penny Cruse

Ushers: Paulie McCown, Bill McCown

Newcomer Host: Lynne Schley, Kathy Stanford

Lector: Maureen McCabe Prayer Reader: Jeff Evans

Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Blom, John Hinchey, Sarah Gottlieb, Jennifer Jetton

Backpack Blessing this Sunday!

We will end this Sunday's 9:30 am service,

by inviting all students, teachers and administrators to come up for a special blessing and a prayer stone for your backpack or work bag.



Christ Church Picnic Sunday, September 10th

RAIN or SHINE Following the 9:30am service, join fellow parishioners for a Back-to-Fall Potluck Picnic.Catch up on summer happenings and make plans for fall fun and fellowship. Contact Kathy Stanford for any questions

Click the sign-up link to help with a task or two and to bring a dish to share,

Review your directory listing: HERE

If you need the password, just contact Heidi our parish administrator. THANKS!

Summer Photos of your kids!

Our online directory needs

current photos

Lyn Slater will be emailing requests for photo updates for the Christ Church Directory. They will go mostly to those with children. Think about summer photos.  

Is your photo how you wish to appear to the church community? We are accepting updated photos AND new or changed address, phone, emails.

Our Next Generation:

Consider volunteering!

Christ Church founded Our Next Generation 30 years ago to support Milwaukee students academically and socially to give them the best possible chance to get a good education and to spend time in a safe environment after school and during the summer.

We have supported this non-profit with funds and tutors in the past

and Outreach is proud to participate in their Homework Club this fall.

We are looking for volunteers to join us to work one on one with a student from 5-6 pm on Wednesdays.There will be an orientation prior to the program starting up for fall. Probably the orientation will be held the week of Sept 18 with Homework Club starting the following week. We hope to be able to carpool from church on Wednesdays at 4:30 pm but if you prefer to drive yourself or are coming from another part of town that is fine too.

Please let Betsy Head know that you are excited to work with the ONG students or if you have any questions. As the dates get firmed up by ONG Betsy will get back to you with details. 

Tuesday, September 12, 6:30 pm

Sponsored by:

FREE

Film Event!

Get tickets here

MY ASCENSION

DOCUMENTARY

Presented by:

The Charles E. Kubly Foundation, REDgen and Christ Church

A film to spread hope and fight suicide.

Download the Flyer here

Held in the Christ Church Great Hall

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm

(download a .pdf flyer to post in your community)

NEW Volunteer Opportunity for all!

Pantry Help needed

All Peoples Church Pantry distributes food on Wednesdays 11-1pm.

Brian needs help during that time.

Please email Brian at  if you are available.

FALL

FEASTS!

Don’t forget to sign up!

handled via email for the summer. Please contact Kathy or Denise

Check out our thermometer in the Good Shepherd room and help put us over the top.

Click here for the upcoming Feast Schedule

Featured Feasts for September:

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Host:The Hinchey Family

Saturday, September 16, 8:30-10:30am - Great Hall

Calling all kids and their families!!!

Sugared cereals as well as other breakfast foods to start the day! Please come in your pajamas with blankets, pillows and stuffed toys. We will be showing cartoons.

$15/family no limit

--------------

Wine Tasting Host: Elizabeth and Brian Casey

Saturday, September 16, 6-9pm. Casey Home

Channel your inner sommelier and join us for a Regions of France Wine Tasting of reds, whites and rosés. Hors d'oeuvres will be served. $30/person max 20 people

--------------

Mexican Train on Beautiful Lake Michigan

Host: Jack & Diane Holzman and Lyn Slater

Saturday, September 23, 4pm - Lyn Slater home

Mexican Train is the most popular domino game played today. It brings together just the right mix of simplicity and intrigue. The goal is to be the first player to play all one's tiles for each round. The fun begins when unexpected twists during the game occur, challenging players to think in a strategic way. Everyone can learn within the first round. Includes non alcoholic beverages, sangria, wine and beer along with Mexican/American tapa style dinner served midway through the game.

$25 single/$45 couple. max 16 people

Another Reason to Shop at Sendiks.

They have the ultimate compost pile! ...and you can make one at home to keep food and methane gas out of landfill by adding red wriggler worms to digest our organic food waste in your compost pile.

We had so much fun learning how to love and care for God's creation this summer!

Thank you to everyone who participated in Family Creation Club.

Family Dinner Tuesday

Come on out to Estabrook Park THIS TUESDAY August 29th at 5:30 PM for some summer socializing with other Christ Church families! We'll meet by the playground area (4400 N. Estabrook Pkwy. Milwaukee, WI 53211) and take advantage of the brats, hot dogs, pretzels, and beverages available at the nearby beer garden. Feel free to bring your favorite lawn games! Please RSVP by signing up to bring a side dish to share HERE. 

Interested in monthly family dinners but can't make Tuesday evenings? Please take a minute to fill out this brief, anonymous survey and let me know what times and dates work for your family!

Families, how are things going in the pews?

It's no easy feat to keep kids entertained and engaged throughout a whole church service. As we gear up for indoor church services, the children’s ministry team wants to know how to support you as you parent (or grandparent) in the pews. Please fill out this brief, anonymous survey or let Bailey Steger know your thoughts in person or via email.

It's time to sign up for children's and youth formation!

Registration helps us staff enough volunteers and purchase enough materials for the year. We'll send out more information on curriculum and specific dates soon.

Birth to 4: Nursery Care

Our nursery is open from 9:10-10:40 AM. Three- and four-year-olds are welcome to attend Sunday school in addition to nursery.

Sign up for nursery here!

K3-1st Grade: Explorers Sunday School

This pre-reader Sunday school class involves songs, Bible stories, simple activities, and free play. It runs from 9:15-10:05 AM, after which kids join their families for communion.

2nd-5th Grade: Seekers Sunday School

Formerly called "Storymakers," our older elementary Sunday school class will study the Bible more in depth through a variety of fun activities. It runs from 9:15-10:05 AM, after which kids join their families for communion.

Sign up for Sunday school here!

6th-8th Grade: Middle School Youth Group

Middle schoolers will meet after the 9:30 AM service every other Sunday. Fr. Oswald leads this group. Middle School Calendar

Sign up for middle school youth group here!

9th-12th Grade: High School Youth Group

The Christ Church high school events will debut on Sunday September 24^th, 2023, with a blow-out brunch feast in the youth room after the 9.30 service. Then, we will have our first encounter with youth from the other congregations on Sunday October 15^th at St. Paul's Milwaukee from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. Whether you can come to these events or not, would you (or your parents) please take 10 seconds and fill out this form? Thank you!

Looking for something different?

There are many opportunities for kids and families to participate in the life of the church beyond traditional Sunday school programming.

• Children of any age are more than welcome to worship for the entire service. We will continue to provide a variety of supports for parents to engage and entertain their kids during worship.
• Kids grades 3 and up are invited to serve as acolytes during the 9:30 AM service.
• We will continue Handing Down the Faith Sundays once a month.
• Stay tuned for more information on intergenerational feasts and other family-friendly events!

We are so excited to welcome back our families!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me (Bailey), Julie Davis (our Sunday school coordinator), or Fr. Seth, in Fr. Oswald's absence (our youth ministry coordinator).

Next HDTF Sunday is September 10, 2023

Handing Down

the Faith Sundays

Designed to encourage deeper understanding

of and more engagement with the liturgy for children. The clergy will offer brief explanations and invite children to participate and observe in specific ways. All children of any age and ability are welcome to participate as they feel comfortable.

Check Air Quality: fire smoke.ca

Summer Patio Open!

CCLC Happy Hour Thursdays

Every Thursday at Lyn Slater's home -

6350 N. Lake Dr. WFB at 4:30 pm

Christ Church Ladies Connections is open to all women at Christ Church. Please join us on any Thursday that works for you. No need to RSVP, just come when you can. We'd love to see you!

N/A beverages available; wine $3.

If you would like to receive the group email which is sent weekly, please contact Kathy Stanford with any questions.

Common Ground needs more tutors!

You can make a difference in the life of a child.

What is Forward Scholars? A community volunteer tutoring program focused on helping K-3rd graders who are not yet reading at grade level. The program was started by Common Ground, a 15 year old community organizing group with a track record of success in a number of areas including education. Common Ground leaders listened to the community, saw a need and took action. Forward Scholars began in the fall of 2022 in five MPS schools. 

For more information on how to get involved, click here

Or email Executive Director Dr. Carrie Streiff-Stuessy

What's the commitment? Twice a week for an hour each day- 45 minutes of one-on-one time with your student and 15 minutes for prep and notes. You'll tutor the same student for a minimum of 20 weeks (40 sessions). You can be a regular tutor or a substitute tutor. 

Am I really the right person for this? If you want to make a difference in the life of a child, and you're willing to learn and ask lots of questions, it's nearly certain that you're a good fit! We provide lesson plans, resources and training. Your most important job is to be there for your student, willing to work one-on-one with a child who truly needs you. 

All Saints’ Episcopal Cathedral Celebrates 150 Years with Community Events 

Open to the public

150th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION EVENTS: 

• Milwaukee Episcopal Parish Organists Concert 

Sunday, September 17, 2023 – 2:30 PM 

Concert Program Link: - https://ascathedral.org/music 

• Historic Milwaukee, Inc. 

Doors Open Milwaukee – September 23-24, 2023 

www.historicmilwaukee.org/doors-open/ 

• All Saints’ Cathedral Choral Evensong & Reception 

Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 4:00 PM www.ascathedral.org 

• All Saints’ Cathedral 150th Anniversary Choral Eucharist Service Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 10:00 AM www.ascathedral.org

For more information download the flyer here

North Shore School for Seniors gears up for fall 2023 session

North Shore School for Seniors (NSSS) organizers are planning 50+ exciting classes for fall 2023. That’s the most since the school’s post-Covid reboot! Participants can stretch their muscles and minds, while meeting others AND having fun.

The fall session is Sept. 18 – Oct. 10 (first term) and Oct. 23 – Nov. 14 (second term). (There are no classes Oct. 16 & 17.) Classes meet at United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay, 819 E. Silver Spring Dr. on Monday and Tuesday. They cover a wide range of subjects including exercise, arts, local topics, languages and history. Classes meet from one to eight times, and start at various times throughout the session.

Class information and online registration is available at nss4s.org beginning Aug. 1. Fall 2023 catalogs also will be available Aug. 1 for pick-up at United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay. Cost is $10 per class meeting. Email questions to nssbxt@gmail.com or phone (414) 292-0960.

The mission of the NSSS is improving mind and spirit through learning and friendship. The North Shore School for Seniors is an adult outreach program of United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay.

Download the latest Martha & Mary newsletter here