The latest news for you

From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

I’ve been saying it a lot lately. For several months, it has been my go-to question whenever I’m with people and we get stumped. I say it without realizing it mostly, but now even my family notices. After we’ve read the instructions or watched the YouTube video, or when the website doesn’t provide the answers, I find myself asking again and again: “Isn’t there someone we could call?” I long for the person who will hear my situation and questions and provide an answer... or, if not an answer, then maybe some commiseration or sympathy. I want a live person who will...(read more)

Presbytery Pulse

WITH CHRISTIAN CONDOLENCES

John E. Miles, husband of Sara Wasson Miles who formerly served as the Presbytery Moderator and is currently a Commissioned Ruling Elder at First Presbyterian Church, Kenosha, passed away on April 16. Visitation will be held at Frist Presbyterian Church of Kenosha on Saturday, April 22 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. with a service to follow. The service can also be viewed online.

ASB WITH CARROLL UNIVERSITY

by Chaplain Resident, Rev. Anna Langholz

The Office of Spiritual Life at Carroll University recently led an Alternate Spring Break (ASB) trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. We took two chaplains and 12 students to Montreat Camp and Conference Center to serve with their staff repairing and preparing their popular hiking trails before summer season begins. Our students fortified a river embankment, cleared trails of weeds and dead trees, constructed a camping outhouse, and built rich community throughout the week. Additionally, they served with a local congregation providing weekly meals to the unhoused community in Asheville.

Some highlights from the trip, according to many of our students, included...(read more)

UPCOMING PRESBYTERY STAFF CHANGES

The Personnel Committee, on behalf of the Presbytery Council, shares the news that Chris Halverson has chosen to retire this Fall. Chris currently serves as the Presbytery’s Office Manager/Associate Stated Clerk, but in the 18 years since she began as a part-time administrative assistant, she has filled many roles. At each point, Chris accepted more hours and more responsibilities, until it is hard to imagine the Presbytery without her. While dreaming of retirement, Chris also shares a couple fun facts about her tenure:

My dad, the Reverend Dr. Carl R. Simon, was the first Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Milwaukee for 14 years, from 1977-90.
I have worked with 8 different Executives, some temporary, during my 18 plus years.

We plan to celebrate heartily Chris’ ministry with us as her retirement date draws closer. Stay tuned for those details!

To accommodate the larger transitional work that’s underway, Personnel will examine the position description (especially for a likely virtual environment) and will open the search for a temporary staff position in late summer, to begin in October or slightly later. We plan to have a period of overlap with Chris to make the transition smooth.

WALKER CLEAVELAND ELECTED TO RUSD BOARD

Congratulations to the Rev. Sarah Walker Cleaveland who was elected to the Racine Unified School District Board! Read more about Rev. Walker Cleaveland's appointment in Racine's The Journal Times.

Building Ministry Vitality

Through Matthew 25

Ecclesial Health:

"So far as it depends on you,

live peaceably with all"

ECCLESIAL HEALTH: FROM FIXING TO EMPOWERING

A conversation with Jane Johnson

Ecclesial Health: From Fixing to Empowering is part of Faith and Lead's Building Healthy Communities initiative. Jane Johnson, pastor of Beloved Community congregation in Steven's Point, WI, and congregation members share their experiencing in "making room for the Holy Spirit" as they shifted their ministry focus from trying to fix the church to living into the Kingdom of God.

Invitations

DONATIONS NEEDED

Heritage has a mission partner looking for filing cabinets and a large corkboard or magnetic white board. If you would like to donate them, please contact Michelle Henrichs to arrange pick-up.

INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGE TO CHIAPAS, MEXICO

Adults and college age young adults are invited to join Rev. Dan Gonzales Ortega and San Jose Fellowship (Beloit) in an Intercultural Exchange to Chiapas, Mexico this summer July 5-14. The cost is $300 plus airfare and includes: accommodation in shared rooms, meals, and a bus ticket from Mexico City to Chiapas.

The exchange has three foci: Ecological diakonia (leadership for creation care), Empowering youth spirituality (indigenous spirituality and youth awareness-raising), and Training for the development of intercultural dialogue.

Chiapas is a place of deep spiritual roots as an environment of different cultures of Mayan (indigenous) origin. It is also a place of multiple socio-economic needs and great marginalization. However, there is a large sector of Christian churches that encourage hope and build a life of faith in the search for food sovereignty and cultural subsistence. Sharing experiences with indigenous and evangelical communities in Chiapas will help young people and leaders from Mexico City and North American churches to find expressions of the Gospel of Christ that help to give meaning to the faith that develops in these other contexts. As well as the value of solidarity and appreciation of the different ways of expressing faith in situations of need and crisis, nurturing hope.

If interested, please contact Rev. Dan Gonzales Ortega. Space is limited.

PRES HOUSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVITATION

Pres House is seeking committed and engaged individuals to serve on the Board of Directors for our dynamic and growing organization. Board members will provide vision, governance, and financial oversight over programs, including the Pres House Apartments, that serve more than 1,000 students annually as well as a $2.5M+ annual budget.

Board members should share a passion for meeting the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual needs of UW Madison students. Board members should also share the Christian faith that is central to the mission of the Pres House.

Pres House is committed to diversity in socio-economic status, racial-ethnic identity, political affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, and more and we hope for our board to reflect that commitment in spirit and in membership.

Board meetings are held 6-8 times per year in-person in Madison, WI.

Please reach out to Andy Holmes or Lee Tan if you have questions or are interested in providing your name for consideration.

2023-24 UCM STUDENT INTERNS

University Christian Ministries (UCM) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is seeking undergrad and graduate students interested in serving their peers in an internship capacity. There are currently four open positions. These internships will have students leading small groups, organizing service and outreach events, and also serving within a local congregation. Each internship position includes free housing (conveniently located right across street from campus) or a stipend. If you know of a student currently attending or beginning at UWM in the fall, please share this information and application. Application deadline: May 19, 2023

About UCM: University Christian Ministries (UCM) is a multi-denominational campus ministry which seeks to serve students, staff and faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As we accompany and inspire students to continue in their faith journey, it is our hope that ministry may flourish not only in our building, but throughout the wider-community of people who call Milwaukee home.

USE THE WCC'S STUDY-ACTION GUIDE ON IMMIGRATION AND RECEIVE A FREE BOOK

Be one of the first churches to use the Wisconsin Council of Churches new study guide on immigration!

The WCC recently announced the release of the second, expanded edition of the WCC's study-action guide, Becoming Welcoming Communities: Immigration in Light of Biblical Faith. Whether or not your congregation used the first edition, please download the resource and consider how it can enhance your understanding of the issue and how your church and community can be more welcoming to your neighbors from outside the US.

The first six congregations to use the study-action guide and submit an evaluation form will receive a copy of Separated: Inside an American Tragedy, by Jacob Soboroff, about the US Government's systematic separation of migrant families at the US-Mexico border (a study guide for group discussions of the book is available on the Becoming Welcoming Communities resource page which you can access by downloading the study-action guide).

News From The Denomination

IS THERE A GRANT FOR THAT?

The Presbyterian Mission Agency has many grants available to congregations and presbyteries. For a complete list, visit https://www.presbyterianmission.org/grants/.

REGARDING RULING ELDERS

Embracing the valuable ministry of ruling elders

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

'SOWING SEEDS' ON EARTH DAY SUNDAY (APRIL 23)

The Presbyterian Hunger Program invites you to download Creation Justice Ministries’ new Earth Day Sunday resource. It features stories from people committed to caring for the planet and can help to guide you and your congregation in faithful action.

EARTH DAY MINUTE FOR MISSION

In an Earth Day Minute for Mission, PHP’s Rebecca Barnes asks, “How much will we continue to ask vulnerable populations, future generations and the earth itself to withstand — just so that we can continue to live the way we want?”

Disaster Preparedness & Response Task Force

TORNADO SEASON IS UPON US

by Laurie VanderJagt

In the U.S., the Midwest and Southeastern states have a greater risk for tornadoes.

Tornado season typically starts in April. In 2023 the season started in Wisconsin on Friday, March 31^st when 12 confirmed tornadoes touched down in Wisconsin. What if this had been a Sunday morning tornado? ARE WE PREPARED?

As a congregation, we can accomplish disaster preparedness if we work together. With the understanding that knowledge and communication are the most important parts of a disaster plan, we offer these suggestions for your consideration...(read more)

What You See in '23

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS!

We've enjoying seeing what you see in '23 -- please keep the photos coming! Send Kate photos of things that catch your eye this month -- beautiful sunrises, storm clouds, people laughing, celebration events, flowers blooming, pet antics -- all the things that catch your breath, make you smile, or bring joy to your heart. Your photo will be shared in our monthly collage!

God is at work in the world through all these moments that cause you to snap a quick picture! Let us share that glimpse of God with the Presbytery.

Employment Opportunities