Southeast Association
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Here are just a few of the things that congregations around the Association are doing to serve even when we cannot be together in worship.

(Let others know what you are up to by submitting information to sewaucc@gmail.com. )
Summer Meal Program for UWM Students
University Christian Ministries (UCM) is an inter-denominational campus ministry serving the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) campus. UCM is a partner ministry representing the United Church of Christ. The campus ministry
offers a variety of programs, including a meal ministry which assists students who are food insecure.

When the pandemic hit mid-March, classes were switched from in-person to online. The dorms were emptied and most students returned home to
complete their spring semester. However, not all students were so fortunate. Some were required to remain in the area, including international students who were “temporarily exiled” from their home countries due to travel restrictions and border closings. Students employed by UWM lost their jobs and were finding it difficult to survive.
In response, U CM applied to the Mission Team of the Southeast Association Wisconsin Conference and received a $250 grant to help provide meals for UWM students who are still in the area and in need of assistance. Each week students come to UCM to carryout pre-made meals and sack lunches to help them survive
this pandemic. Students have been so grateful for the support, and UCM is very thankful for the generous gift from the Mission Team and the many churches who support such efforts in the conference.

Rev. Alan McCalister
Executive Director and Campus Minister of University Christian Ministries


The Mission Team of the Southeast Association Wisconsin Conference offers grants of up to $250 for programs/projects related to the UCC Three Great Loves campaign (Love of Neighbor, Love of Children, Love of Creation). This could include mission outreach programs or projects connected to a congregation’s local community; congregations engaged in conversations about race and privilege, including the Doctrine of Discovery; and/or congregations engaged in creation care. This grant can be either for a current program/project or a startup program/project. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are reviewed at our bi-monthly committee meetings.

Congregations may apply for more than one grant. Grantees are encouraged to submit an article to the SEA Currents describing each program for which they receive a grant. For more information or to download the application see the Changing Lives Grant Application below. Past grant recipients may apply again
St. John's Fill the FIt
St. John's UCC in Merton gathered for in-person worship - outside on June 21. We filled Pastor Mary Jane's FIT with over 300 grocery items and several hundred dollars that went to provide food for families who are dealing with the adverse affects of COVID-19 on the economy.

This FIT has previously been filled with school supplies, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, men's underwear, and beauty supplies (for shelters). It is a car FIT for ministry!



What can you fill and for whom?
BCC Supports RUBIES
Brookfield Congregational Church had a
collected feminine hygiene products for RUBIES on Saturday, June 27th.

The mission Team from BCC will deliver the items to RUBIES.

RUBIES MISSION AND PURPOSE

RUBIES is grounded in our mission to reach at-risk girls through prevention education in order to reduce the vulnerabilities that traffickers and sex- abusers seek to exploit, while restoring those who have been affected by unimaginable trauma.
Our program is designed to reach girls wherever they are at in their journeys, through empowerment and love; teaching them how to identify sex trafficking, giving them the tools to create healthy relationships in their lives, preparing them for their bright futures as world changers, and more!

April P. Bentley is a Milwaukee native who learned the twisted art of the streets at an early age. Her soul-stirring testimony started in the early millennium as God shed light on her dark past, her shady present, and her glorious future. April was delivered from a crippling lifestyle designed to destroy her destiny. A victim of child sex trafficking, the once drug and alcohol addicted call girl is now a free agent full of passion and purpose. 

You can witness her freedom through her book, Don’t Rush To Get Old , written with the audience of her youth in mind, yet, profitable for everyone. Don’t Rush To Get Old is pieces of April’s memoir told through the story of the main character, Olivia Jackson. April began telling her story through the community of Milwaukee for her own healing as well as a way to raise awareness about the realities of sex trafficking.

In 2016, she founded RUBIES with the focus on prevention and educational programs for young girls and women. She currently serves as RUBIES
Executive Director. Additionally, April sits on the clinical committee at Exploit No More, is part of the speakers bureau and mentor with Women Inspiring Youth Network, and previously consulted at Redeem and Restore as well as the Human Trafficking Task Force of Greater Milwaukee.


Faith Under Construction - VIrtual VBS!
Are you interested or looking for a virtual VBS you can offer to the children of your church? Join us at our “Faith Under Construction” site each month as we look at how we can build on our faith and become stronger disciples of Christ. Currently we are all “Under Construction” and have been forced to find new ways to continue the work of the church and to “be the church” through new platforms and even having to go out of our comfort zones. Not just us as adults but our children and youth have had to do the same. With many of the children and youth having to do virtual school the past 3 months many families are virtually checking out. Many do not want to participate in another virtual experience like VBS. 

This VBS is designed to have a little online learning and having more activities that the children can do on their own, with siblings, cousins, or friends, and/or as a family.  


This is meant to be done at home, at the family’s pace with check-ins from the director to continue to build relationships. Hopefully, this will spark some ideas and give you an option to offer to your children in the church. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Amy Drewa at  amydrewa@oconomowocucc.org

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Companions in Ministry at Marquette University
Companions in Ministry (CiM) is an ecumenical support program that brings together Christian pastors and ordained deacons from diverse denominations, ethnicities, cultures, ages, and socio-economic backgrounds. The program provides opportunities for pastors to build peer relationships and accompany one another in their ministries, both online and in person. CiM aims to improve their sense of well-being spiritually and professionally, and to foster a supportive, ecumenical ministry network in southeast Wisconsin. In light of COVID-19, some of our present and future programming will take place online.
"It's an amazing gift to have this program bring together a diverse group of pastors that would not have easily found themselves together. We learn so much from the power of sharing our stories. This safe space is extremely important and rare for clergy. Just being able to share openly with one another is healing." (Cohort Two participant)

The Deadline of August 26 for the next Cohort.
Quick Links

Newsletter submissions
are due the first and third Wednesday of the month.
Send pulpit supply updates to  Terri Allen .

Mission Team Grants
Changing Lives Mission Grants are AVAILABLE

The Mission Team of the Southeast Association Wisconsin Conference is offering grants of up to $250 for programs/projects related to the UCC Three Great Loves campaign (Love of Neighbor, Love of Children, Love of Creation). This could include mission outreach programs or projects connected to a congregation’s local community; congregations engaged in conversations about race and privilege, including the Doctrine of Discovery; and/or congregations engaged in creation care. This grant can be either for a current program/project or a startup program/project. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are reviewed at our bi-monthly committee meetings. Congregations may apply for more than one grant. Grantees are encouraged to submit an article to the SEA Currents describing each program for which they receive a grant. For more information or to download the application see the  Changing Lives Grant Application  or  click here  for the online application. Past grant recipients may apply again this year.

Southeast Wisconsin Association UCC
Moderator:  Mr. Mike Mallwitz mikemallwitz@wi.rr.com
Vice Moderator: Rev. Brittany Barber f cw.pastor@gmail.com
Newsletter Editor: Rev. Mary Jane Huber sewaucc@gmail.com