FROM RACHEL YATES, PRESBYTERY EXECUTIVE
IT'S GOING BACK INTO THE CLOSET
A couple years ago, I bought black t-shirts for the four adults in our family.  Each had a silly message appropriate to that family member.  I got to choose my own, of course.  Because I'm a science dilettante - I enjoy science but dabble at best - I chose something that played on Einstein's famous equation E=mc 2.  The message reads:  "You matter.  Unless you multiply yourself by the speed of light squared.  Then, you energy."  Two years later, it still cracks me up.  I love the use of science and the grammatical twist.

This weekend, I donned my funny black t-shirt.  Then, it struck me.  A black t-shirt that begins with "You matter." is going to be read ...( READ MORE )
PRESBYTERY PULSE
THE MINOR LEAGUES: A SERIES ON THE MINOR PROPHETS
Welcome to The Minor Leagues: A Series on the Minor Prophets, the final week!
This link  will take you to Presbytery's webpage for this series which includes resources for worship and Bible study.
 
This week's worship centers on the prophet Zechariah with a message by Mark Fraley. Mark is a third-year seminary student from Wauwatosa Pres., and recently became a candidate under care of the Milwaukee Presbytery. The complete online service as well as separate sermon text and video link will be available on the presbytery website tomorrow, Thursday, July 30th.
 
Meet this week's players:
Zechariah, the coach, offers a message of hope in the face of despair.
Jonah, the water boy, hopefully no explanation needed.
Malachi, the umpire- this whistle blower condemned the abuse of power and religious hypocrisy.
 
Movies of the week:
Zechariah - Trouble with the Curve. While the film centers around a baseball scout (Clint Eastwood) and not a coach, like Zechariah Eastwood's character studies the lay of the land, looking for potential and pitfalls when it comes to prospective players.
Jonah - The Sandlot. In this coming of age film, Scotty, an unlikely player, joins the neighborhood sandlot baseball kids. Whereas Jonah, the unlikely and unwilling prophet, had to face down Nineveh; Scotty faces the beast, a ferocious dog that snagged his Babe Ruth autographed ball.
Malachi - Signs of the Times. This documentary explores the innovative methods of umpires like Bill Klem who umpired from 1905 to 1942 and devised signs so that fans could know what was happening on the field.
UPDATED PULPIT SUPPLY LIST
The Presbytery of Milwaukee has updated the Pulpit Supply list with new information you can use when you need help filling your pulpit (digital or physical).  Congregations should discuss ahead of time with the pulpit supply additional compensation for non-traditional technological services, such as recording or editing or online worship.  
View the Pulpit Supply list here.
COVID-19 PRESBYTERY RELIEF GRANTS AVAILABLE
The Presbytery of Milwaukee Council and Commission on Congregational Vitality are working together to provide relief aid and support for our congregations in response to COVID-19.   Please see this  grant application form for details.  Grants are available to both individual ministers and congregations.   If you have any questions, please contact   Ann Gibbs , Associate for Ministry Vitality.

We continue to hold you and your ministries in prayer.
NEW PASTORS SERVING OUR PRESBYTERY
WELCOME TO GLEN REICHELDERFER
Glen Hall Reichelderfer joined the Presbytery in June, serving his first Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Waukesha on June 22. Prior to serving in Waukesha, Glen ran a boarding house for men in Madison for 16.5 years, served as the Associate Minister at Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison for 15 years, and resided for 27 years in La Samaritaine - a Christian community centered on Taize. He has also served three Interim calls.  
 
Glen is married to Christine and is the father of three grown daughters. He is currently reading a lot about white supremacy and the policing of Black bodies and loves reading anything that Jason Reynolds, Louise Penny, or Wendell Berry has written. His favorite childhood book was the 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss and his favorite fair food is a brat with kraut. As a three-year-old, Glen serenaded his mother with the song Old Joe Clark. Glenn finds John 4: 1-45 and Luke 12: 22-32 to be major heart passages.
ANYTHING BUT COVID-19 NEWS
HELP SPRECHER SET WORLD RECORD
Aug. 6 is National Root Beer Float Day, and to celebrate Sprecher Brewing Company and Cedar Crest Ice Cream are attempting to create a new Guinness World Record. The Wisconsin fixtures are hosting a drive-thru with free root beer floats, while following social-distancing best practices.

Sprecher says it will have the supplies to provide up to 50,000 free floats from noon to 8 p.m. at its 701 W. Glendale Ave. location
MIKE TYSON TO RETURN TO RING
Boxing legend Mike Tyson announced on Thursday that he will be climbing back into the ring for an exhibition bout against another all-time great boxer Roy Jones Jr.

The two are set to duke it out in an eight-round exhibition match on September 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
The former Heavyweight World Champion is considered one of the most feared boxers of all time, often referred to as "the baddest man on the planet." 
ROCK 'N' ROLL, COUNTRY, AND R&B LEGENDS AS MARIONETTES
George Miller, a Glasgow-based artist, singer, musician and iconic pop figure who's better known as the front man to the legendary Kaisers and more recently the New Piccadillys, has spent the past few months making a set of beautiful marionettes featuring some of the biggest stars of rock 'n' roll, country, and R&B.
NEWS FROM THE DENOMINATION
STATED CLERK URGES CHURCHES TO STAY THE COURSE ON COVID-19

Stated Clerk urges churches to stay the course on COVID-19
As states across the U.S. report record numbers of new COVID-19 cases, the PC(USA) is urging churches and presbyteries to continue to put safety first.
NEWS FROM SYNOD SCHOOL
Having as much fun as they could via Zoom, more than 330 Presbyterians gathered from across the country and across borders for the opening night of Synod School Monday.  They were treated to a childhood faith story from the Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka and laughed with -- not at -- a Synod School mainstay, the Rev. Burns Stanfield and his online band of tie day-clad musicians.  Read more about Synod School.
BOP SUMMER LETTER
The Board of Pensions has issued a summer letter addressing updated to BoP benefits for 2021 and other relevant information in lieu of a live visit from regional BoP staff during COVID-19.
PRESBYTERIAN PLANNING CALENDARS
The denomination is now accepting orders for the Presbyterian Planning Calendar.  Here is the link to order.  Remember that each church will receive one free calendar directly from the denomination. The current year calendar runs through December, so there is some time to determine if and when you will order calendars.  Due to our "Safer At Home" practices, the Presbytery's normal distribution system of submitting a bulk order and handing out the calendars is not possible this year.  So, every church will need to order their calendars directly from the denomination. Thank you for your understanding.  We all look forward to a safer and healthier world.
INVITATIONS
YOGA WITH ANN OTTE
You are invited to join Ann Otte, a member of Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Mequon and Yoga Teacher, who offers daily yoga classes via Zoom as part of Crossroads' Yoga Ministry. The classes are free and open to everyone; a freewill offering is collected to benefit one of Crossroads' mission partners (for June, July, and August the beneficiary is Family Promise).
 
Zoom Yoga Class Schedule
Tuesdays @ 9:00 - 10:00AM & 5:00 - 6:00PM
              Wednesdays @ 8:30 - 9:30AM for a NEW Very Gentle Yoga Class
              Thursday @ 9:00 - 10:00AM
              Thursday @ 5:00 - 6:00PM for a NEW Very Gentle Class
              Saturdays @ 8:30 - 9:45AM
 
All who are interested are encouraged to participate -- in recent weeks Ann has welcomed students from Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and California. Find more information about this mission opportunity, class information, and Zoom participation links in this letter from Ann.
BEAT YOUR GUNS INTO PLOWSHARES
Saturday, August 15 at 4:00 p.m.
Tricklebee Cafe is hosting a gun-beating event called Revival in the Garden in collaboration with Peace Garden Project MKE and RAWtools.  The purpose of this event is to pound guns into garden tools and it will take place at Alice's Garden Urban Farm at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15th.  By transforming weapons into garden tools, we seek to transform a world full of violence and death into a world where love is triumphant and the tools of destruction are turning into tools of life.

WE RACE AHEAD: A DAY OF REPENTANCE AND SOLIDARITY
Wisconsin State Fair Park, Saturday, August 23rd, 3:00 p.m.
The Day of Repentance and Solidarity is an initiative fueled by an alliance of city and suburban churches/organizations to grow a more unified church that is a tangible witness of God's love through justice and equality. This is done by the acknowledgement of the church's past and present roles in systematic injustice, repentance, forgiveness and intentional steps of growing diverse relationships across the city and suburbs.  This event will take place at the Milwaukee Mile Grandstand on Saturday, August 23rd, at 3:00 p.m.; however, online viewing will also be available.
Visit WeRaceAhead.com for complete details and to take the pledge to commit to study, prayer, and action to become an anti-racist individual in an anti-racist church.

 Become a Partner 
Partnering allows you to invest in unifying city and suburban churches across ethnicity to bridge racial gaps and further work against injustice in our communities. As a partner, you invest in the resources dispatched to see the challenging, yet rewarding work of hosting the Day of Repentance and following efforts for uniting communities for change.

 Participate in a Shared Sermon Series
Sharing a sermon series across city and suburban churches promotes unity, while allowing variious communities to wrestle with topics needed for tangible changes.  Each week pastors will have access to the sermon content to prepare and offer to their congregations.  Individuals will also have the opportunity to participate through small cluster groups onsite and online platforms to study the small group content together as a diverse unit.  Churches can host at their locations or meet online with other churches across the city/suburbs.

We Race Ahead Invite
We Race Ahead Invitation
STATEMENT ON VOTER REGISTRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee has issues a Statement on Voter Registration and Encouragement that notes the first section of the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights to emphasize the value and dignity of every human being and of a government that reflects those values.  ICGM supports all efforts acting in a non-partisan way to encourage voter registration, participation, and turnout during this and future elections. 
FAITH+LEAD RESOURCES
The COVID pandemic has meant fast learning and switches to online ministry. This has meant new challenges and opportunities in our understanding of what it means to "be the church." The team at Faith+Lead out of St. Paul, Minnesota is cultivating resources and cohorts to help pastors and congregations find their way. Here are a few of the resources they are offering:
Online classes:
Engaging the Community beyond Zoom - 2 sessions starting August 13, $25 

And see these articles for insight into how our culture has shifted and the need for the church to be relevant:
MEDIATION SKILL TRAINING INSTITUTE
Registration is now open for both sessions of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center's  Mediation Skills Training Institute.    Two sessions are scheduled for this fall: October 5-9 and November 16-20, 2020.  This popular and practical workshop helps clergy and other church leaders deal more effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict.  Registrants will attend remotely via Zoom.  A $200 discount is available to those who register by the discount deadline.  To register online, go to https://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/720852 . 
Questions?  Email  the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center or call 630-627-0507.
A WORSHIP SERVICE FROM THE TWIN CITIES
Our friends from the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area developed a full worship service that can be used next week or whenever it fits into your church's worship schedule. Please view this service as a way to support your congregation by caring for yourself though respite. 
 
Worship service intended for use August 2  will be led by PTCA chaplain Kate O'Brien Soltau; a reflection on the Word will be brought by the Rev. Gregory Bentley, pastor of Friendship Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama, and co-moderator of the 224th General Assembly.  It can be downloaded here:
August 2 Worship Service
Link to YouTube:  https://youtu.be/NV4rWfECzUQ
*Closed captioning for this service is still in progress.
 
Two Minute for Missions are available and can be downloaded for use. 
The Minute for Mission from Rev. Joshua Heikkila, PC(USA) Mission Co-Worker in Ghana is here: 
 
The Minute for Mission from Rev. Paula Sanders for her work with Angry Tias and Abuelas is here: 
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
INVITE A MISSION CO-WORKER FOR A VIRTUAL VISIT
There has never been a better time to invite mission co-workers to visit your congregation virtually than right now.  Through technology, mission co-workers can visit congregations in various ways, such as online worship services, mission committee or session meetings, Sunday school or Vacation Bible School.  Learn more about ways mission co-workers can participate with your congregation and how to connect with mission co-workers here.
TAIWAN HAS BECOME A ROLE MODEL IN FIGHTING COVID-19
Living relatively close to China with three young children, mission co-workers Jonathan and Emily Seitz feel comfortably safe in Taipei, Taiwan.

With only seven deaths in the entire country, Taiwan lifted many of its stringent restrictions on June 7, after the country had gone two straight months without a local transmission.  The Seitzes are, however worried about...( READ MORE).
HOT LINKS
A Year in Zambia  - YAV Emily Teerink's Blog - Relief and Development
Grapevine - Presbyterian Women's Newsletter
Keeping In Touch  - Newsletter from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies 
Life in the Labyrinth - Inspirational Website by Michelle Henrichs
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Current Information
The Sower -  May 2020 Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
FUTURE PRESBYTERY GATHERING DATES

2020 Presbytery Gathering Posters are available for download and distribution!

  • TUESDAY, September 29, 4:00-8:00 p.m. - Apostle Presbyterian Church, West Allis
  • THURSDAY, November 12, 4:00-8:00 p.m. - Covenant Presbyterian Church, Racine 

Presbytery of Milwaukee
414-292-2740
khopta@pbymilwaukee.org
http://www.pbymilwaukee.org