From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive |
|
We are in a season of peace. Maybe it doesn’t feel that way, but I take it on good authority that we are. On October 2, we celebrate World Communion Sunday, joining with denominations around the world at the Lord’s Table. It is one way we promote Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation – one way we promote peace.
On October 2, many of our congregations will receive...(read more)
|
|
MEET REV. JULIE KANDEMA, PRESBYTERIAN PEACE MAKER FROM RWANDA |
The Presbytery of Milwaukee is thrilled to host Julie Kandema from Rwanda, an international peacemaker who is part of a group of seven individuals touring the country for the next month with the PC(USA)’s Peacemaking Program. Julie’s schedule while visiting the Presbytery is as follows:
-
September 18 - 9:30 a.m. worship at Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church
-
September 20 - 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Presbytery Gathering at Crossroads Presbyterian Church where Rev. Kandema will be the speaker for our education hour and preaching in worship
-
September 21 - 11:30 a.m. lunch at Forest Park Presbyterian Church with presentation and discussion at 12:15. Please RSVP with the church administrative assistant, Pam, at 262-786-5850 by the morning of Thursday, September 15
-
September 21 - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church Brown Deer on behalf of the Wisconsin Council of Churches this includes a meet and greet with Rev. Kandema, presentation, and dessert. This event will also be livestreamed. Registration for the livestream will take place through the Wisconsin Council of Churches website.
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program makes it possible for leaders from overseas partner denominations and organizations to visit Presbyterian congregations and institutions in the U.S. to bear witness and interpret peace and justice issues.
Since 1984 more than 350 International Peacemakers from 60 countries have been hosted through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. The International Peacemakers focus their time on 3 priority areas of the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s work: dismantling structural racism, alleviating systemic poverty and building congregational vitality. They also help Presbyterian’s live into a biblical commitment based on Matthew 25 by sharing unique experiences and stories from their work.
|
|
MUSTARD SEED JOURNEY RECEIVES GRANT |
Congratulations to Rev. Mark Fraley on receiving a New Worshiping Community (NWC) Seed Grant! This grant will help support the organization and programs of Mustard Seed Journey, one of the alternative ministries of the Presbytery of Milwaukee, shepherded by Mark Fraley. |
|
Our mission partner UMOS is again requesting your assistance to help a victim of labor trafficking. This woman is a US veteran, who has been recovered from a criminal enterprise. She will be moved into a one-bedroom apartment this week. If you have household furnishings, bedding, linens, dishes, or other items, please contact Rachel Yates (ryates@pbymilwaukee.org) to learn what is needed. The delivery date is this weekend. Thank you!
|
|
In November, the Presbytery of Milwaukee will welcome the Dan Gonzalez-Ortega as our new Evangelist for Latinx Ministries including our San Jose Fellowship in Beloit. Dan and his wife, Alma, will be relocating from Mexico City to our presbytery to start a new ministry with very few belongings. One of the essential items for Dan is a car. If you have an additional car or have connections to someone who does, the presbytery (and Dan) would be very grateful for its donation for the purpose of this ministry. Please contact Ann Gibbs at agibbs@pbymilwaukee.org.
|
|
VIRTUAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING EVENT
Saturday, September 17, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
pre-registration required
|
A virtual Disaster Preparedness Training Event has been planned for Saturday, September 17th, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and is open to individuals or teams from churches presbytery-wide. The potential exists for one of any number of disasters to occur within our presbytery, therefore, being prepared leads to a quicker response with less chaos.
What would you do if. . .
- a tornado warning occurs on a Sunday morning?
- gunshots are fired from the parking lot or street next to the church?
- a fire destroys your church including membership, financial and historical records?
- an emergency occurs in your church while a non-member group is meeting. Could they call for help?
This training event is designed to provide background information regarding disaster preparation for churches and will provide time to begin a Church Disaster Preparedness Plan specific to your church. All churches are encouraged to participate!
To participate in this training event on Saturday, September 17th, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., register using this link:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Just prior to this training event, you will receive another email containing an agenda and a Church Disaster Plan Template. It will be helpful for you to have a printed copy of the template for this event.
|
|
Building Ministry Vitality
Through Matthew 25
Outward Incarnational Focus:
"Lord, when did we see you?"
|
|
OUTWARD INCARNATIONAL FOCUS |
|
PREACHING CLASS FOR ELDERS |
Are you an elder in the Milwaukee Presbytery who currently preaches for your congregation but hasn't received training? Or, would you like to be able to preach in your congregation but don't feel equipped?
This class is for you!
Beginning September 29, the presbytery will offer 6 sessions on preaching and 2 additional classes on designing worship. Participants will learn the skills of Biblical exegesis (drawing meaning from the text) and how to develop a message that conveys the power and meaningfulness of the text for their congregation. Participants will also complete the class with two sermons as well as the skills, tools, and resources to keep going. For more information and to register visit: https://www.pbymilwaukee.org/preaching-class.html
|
|
WORLD MISSION INITIATIVE CONFERENCE |
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is hosting the World Mission Initiative Conference, October 7-8, 2022. The conference is hybrid and free for everyone.
“Want to learn how you can lead in mission in new ways amidst the disruptions we’ve experienced in the past two years? Then join Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s Conference, “Missional Leadership in a Time of Disruption”, Fri. and Sat., Oct. 7-8, 2022. Eugene Cho, renowned church planter and dynamic new president of Bread for the World will keynote. Check out the conference website and registration info at https://www.pts.edu/wmi-conference.”
|
|
News From The Denomination |
|
GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOMINATIONS |
Applications are now being accepted for persons who wish to be considered for appointment by GA Co-Moderators, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace and the Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis, to the special entities created by the General Assembly this summer – special committees, commission, task force, development team, and implementation team –
- 2020 Guiding Statement Implementation Team (2022)
- Commission to Unify the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency (2022) (225GA Commissioners and YAADS encouraged to apply; must be ruling elder or teaching elder)
- Funding Model Development Team (2022) - (225GA Commissioners, TSADs, YAADs encouraged to apply)
- Special Committee on the PCUSA and Race (2022)
- Special Committee to Revise the Standing Rules (2022) - (224GA and 225GA Commissioners and 225GA TSADs and YAADs encouraged to apply)
- Special Committee to Write a New Confession - (2022) - (must be ruling elder or teaching elder)
- Task Force to Explore the Theology and Practice of Ordination - (2022)
|
|
From now through September 30, 2022, you can save on the downloadable components of the Hope unit from the Follow Me curriculum series, ideal for use during Advent. Please note that the large- and small-scale packages include printed Adult Reflection Guides for the unit, however if the Adult Reflection Guides are purchased separately, they are not discounted.
|
|
(LINKS OF) LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED (FOR AN ALTERNATIVE GIVING MARKET!) |
Alternative Giving Markets provide an awesome opportunity for your church and community members to make a real difference in the lives of people around the world — but it can feel overwhelming to plan one! If you’re looking for an easy and effective way to host an Alternative Giving Market, look no further than the Presbyterian Giving Catalog’s Links of Love activity!
Watch this video to see just how easy it is to use Links of Love for a festive holiday activity at your church!
|
|
FOSSIL FOUND, LIKELY OLDER THAN DINOSAUR |
High school teacher Lisa St. Coeur Cormier was strolling with her dog near her home on Canada’s Prince Edward Island when something caught her eye. She often finds sea glass when she’s walking Sammy, but this day she thought she spotted a branch or tree root poking out of the sand. “I saw something about two feet long with a strange shape,” said Cormier. “When I looked closer, I realized there was a rib cage. And around that, there was a spine and a skull.”
Cormier, who used to be a middle school science teacher, immediately knew it was a fossil, but she never imagined how rare and old. It turns out the fossil is probably about 300 million years old, possibly from a species that...(read more)
|
|
CHANGE UP YOUR LOOK WITH NEW CHOIR ROBES |
Are you looking to spruce up your choir or find robes for your bell choir? Heritage has 25 deep navy choir robes available. They are in great condition. If you are interested, please contact Michelle Henrichs at mahenrichs@gmail.com.
|
|
PEOPLE OF PRAYER DAY
A letter from Rev. Erin Hittle
|
Dear Faith Leader,
We at Presbyterian Homes & Services are blessed to share in ministry to older adults with you and many of the faith communities in our area. We want to alert you to a great challenge and ask for your spiritual support.
We hear every day about the shortage of qualified workers, including many who are needed to serve the growing population of older adults. Many older adults are anxiously waiting to receive the services they need as providers and family caregivers are stretched thin.
Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS) and other faith-based senior living organizations continue to rise to these challenges, moving forward to recruit, retain and develop dedicated employees for this purposeful work. Along with our best efforts and creative initiatives, we also turn to God in faith and trust.
We want to ask you and your members to join us in prayer for the senior living workforce, beginning on Sunday, September 18. As Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38)
Please share this need with your congregation and members and ask them to be in prayer with us. To support your participation, we are providing a toolkit on our website at PresHomes.org/get-to-know-us/people-of-prayer. Sample prayers, a newsletter article, social media posts and more are available to download and use.
We thank God for those who provide care for older adults. They are remarkable people who bring their skill and love into their work every day. They are shouldering increased workloads yet continue to give of themselves with dedication and joy.
We believe they deserve every effort we can offer to bring relief to this current workforce shortage. We want to give them hope that others will join them in this vital ministry. The kind words and prayers they have received from residents, family, friends and their home congregations, are significant and sustaining to their good work.
We’re grateful to all who have and will join this great circle of prayer. Will you join us?
Together in faith,
The Rev. Erin Hittle
Campus Pastor at Avalon Square, Waukesha
|
|
BLACK ELK SPEAKS BOOK STUDY
|
Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies sponsors a virtual Native American book study. They will begin their next book, "Black Elk Speaks" by John Neihardt, on September 26th, followed by discussions on October 17 and October 31. Two sessions are offered for each date, 1:30 PM and 6:30 PM (Central). Everyone will need to register with Marilyn Stone by emailing your name, presbytery, cell #, and identify which session, 1:30 or 6:30 PM (Central), works best for you.
Please feel free to share this information with others. This book study is open to women and men across our synod. A promotional flyer can be found here for your convenience in promoting this book study.
Please consider joining in this virtual discussion to learn more about racial injustices and to increase one's understanding of Native American/Indigenous Peoples' traditions, customs, and historical and generational trauma! Let Marilyn Stone know that you are planning to attend and she will forward the Zoom link to you.
|
|
FAITH PRESBYTERIAN'S ANNUAL SPAGHETTI DINNER |
Faith Presbyterian Church invites you to their annual spaghetti dinner catered by That's Amore on Saturday, October 1st, 4:30-6:30 p.m.The annual event you have come to know and love is drive-thru only again this year. Enjoy spaghetti with meat or marinara sauce, salad, bread, and a cookie at this affordable night-in that supports the work of Faith's Deacons. Tickets are $12. Pre-order your tickets and pay online at franklinfpc.org, or pay cash at the door.
|
|
AMAZING FAITH PROJECT: FAITH AS THE ARTIST'S MUSE
October 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
|
Come together at the Milwaukee Art Museum with people of different spiritual beliefs and philosophies for a conversation on art, faith, and gathering. The Amazing Faiths Project is a discussion series organized by the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee to create a more hospitable and connected society.
|
|
TEACH THE TRUTH WI
October 9-15
|
Around the country, the forces of white supremacy and racism are confronting school boards, demanding they prevent teaching the true history of racism, slavery, sexism, and violence against marginalized communities that is part of the founding of our country.
As people of faith, we believe it is the responsibility of each person to do their part to address the systemic inequities and injustices in our society and to create a world where every human being can live a life of dignity and respect. Our children need to be prepared to take on their share of this task when they grow up. Yet, without knowing the true history of how our nation came to be, they cannot understand the underlying causes of the issues we face, and therefore, will be ill-equipped to meet the challenges they will confront as adults.
|
|
CHOOSING A LIFE OF GRATITUDE
A retreat for women in the Presbytery of Milwaukee
|
Women in the Milwaukee Presbytery are invited to attend a spiritual retreat for reflection, prayer, inspiring messages, and fellowship October 28th, 4:30 p.m. - October 29th, 3:30 p.m. Registration for the retreat at Schoenstatt Retreat Center is limited to 25 participants and the registration deadline is October 12th.
Retreat leader Rev. Danelle Crawford McKinney is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota Oyate. She is the first Dakota woman (fifth Native American woman) to be ordained in the PC(USA). She currently serves Native American students at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS.
Find more information, including registration materials, here. Share this with your congregation! The retreat is open to all women in the Presbytery.
|
|
COVID-19 News & Information |
|
THE NEW CDC GUIDELINES EXPLAINED
by Rev. Dan Schultz, WCC Community Health Program Director
|
The federal Centers for Disease Control recently issued new guidelines for how to stay safe from COVID—and how to keep others safe.
How shall we put this? They're, um complicated, at least in the details. The broader strokes are easier to understand:
- You don't have to stay six feet apart from other people. But it's a good idea to avoid crowds for extended periods of time. In-person church is okay, as long as you're not shoulder-to-shoulder with people you're not related to. An indoor concert, or a large sporting event, isn't a good idea.
- Wear a mask in public in areas of high transmission. (That's pretty much everywhere these days.) If you're someone with a compromised immune system, or otherwise vulnerable, wear a mask when levels are medium. You can check levels for your county in English or Spanish on the WCC website.
- Here's where things get a bit complex: If you've been exposed to someone with COVID, you can go out in public, as long as you're not positive yourself. Wear a mask in public for 10 days, and test yourself.
- What if you test positive? There are some exceptions, but in general, plan to stay home and away from other people for five days, and to wear a mask in public for ten days after that.
- Always, be kind to one another. Err on the side of caution, act to protect vulnerable people, and respect others who are doing their best.
The federal program offering free test kits ended last week, but the state of Wisconsin has just announced that residents can order a set of five test kits through their website. Do it today!
|
|
Disaster Preparedness & Response Taskforce |
|
GETTING STARTED: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLANNING
Written by Catherine Neal
|
There are two things we usually don’t plan for as we live our lives, emergencies, and disasters. What is the difference? Emergencies are things that happen to us or our communities, but there are enough resources that can handle emergencies (if you have access) and bring us/communities back to a sense of normalcy fairly quickly. Disasters over run communities and those communities reach beyond in hopes of finding resources to support and help them get back on their feet. This can take weeks, months, or even years. Communities affected by disaster may never return to what they once were.
How can one plan for something that you don’t know is coming? We do this all the time for...(read more)
|
|
DISASTER PLANNING -- GETTING STARTED |
September is National Preparedness Month. Here are some quick tips and easy-to-navigate resources compiled by your Disaster Preparedness and Response Taskforce in a handy bulletin insert. Please share this information with your congregations -- having a plan in place can help save funds and utilize the appropriate resources while returning to normalcy.
|
|
BELARUS, UKRAINE, AND RUSSIA MISSION (BURM) NETWORK MEETING |
The Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia Mission (BURM) Network are so excited to have a meeting in person! These are definitely difficult times but there are many people in the region are responding to the need. Join BURM to learn about these initiatives and how we can help. There are many speakers from the region who will be joining the meeting.
The BURM Network especially encourage outreach to students and youth. They can attend the conference live or virtually for free! Please DO register so you have all the information you need for this weekend in October.
|
|
WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES SEEKS REFUGEE ASSISTANCE |
Resettlement of Afghans from processing centers abroad continues through the organized system of resettlement, managed by the federal government. Prior to the beginning of this second wave, there were about 50,000 Afghans from the August '21 evacuation still being housed in military installments overseas, known as "lily pads." They are now arriving in Wisconsin via the normal refugee pipeline, but are still being resettled through the separate Afghan Placement and Assistance Program. Consider how you and your church can assist the nearest agency in meeting these needs. Reach out to The WCC if you need help facilitating those conversations.
Dental Care is such an important component of our overall health, and many Afghans have had serious dental needs upon resettlement. Unfortunately, Badgercare reimbursement rates are so low for emergency dental services that this care has been difficult to get. WCC donated $5,000 to a dental fund at LSS last Spring and is exploring further support to this important cause. Please consider making a gift to this program or holding a fundraiser at your church to help cover emergency dental care for Afghans in Wisconsin. Your proceeds can go directly to the nearest resettlement agency or through our Afghan Refugee Response program.
|
|
Good Shepherd Trinity in Milwaukee seeks PART-TIME DESIGNATED PASTOR
Please contact Rachel Yates to learn about ministry opportunities at the joint Presbyterian-ELCA congregation
|
|
Future Presbytery Gathering Dates |
|
2022 PRESBYTERY GATHERING DATES
Crossroads Presbyterian Church
- Saturday, November 19 @ 9:00 a.m.
Living Hope Presbyterian Church
- Saturday, February 11, 2023
|
|
|
APCE - Association of Partners in Christian Education
Grapevine - April 2022 Presbyterian Women's Newsletter
The Sower - May 2022 Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
|
|
|
|
Presbytery of Milwaukee
414-292-2740
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
