FROM RACHEL YATES, PRESBYTERY EXECUTIVE
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK
This past week, I helped my in-laws move to a senior living center and put their home up for sale.  We hired movers to pack and gently transport decades of belonging from one home to another.  My mother-in-law was careful to write notes and provide information to my husband and me that we would need for the sale of their home.  She carefully set aside papers that she didn't want to get lost in a box.  The day before the movers arrived, she showed me a plastic sandwich bag in which she'd placed a labeled carpet sample for matching purposes and a syringe/tube combination needed for the water dispenser.  Like me, she worried these would get lost in the shuffle.  In a moment of inspiration, she put them...(READ MORE)
PRESBYTERY PULSE
WHEN GOD CREATES
This is the final week of our When God Creates worship series. You can find the entire series and additional resources on the Presbytery website. The liturgy and sermon, Chipped and Broken, are from the Rev. Katie Ebel, pastor of Faith Springs Presbyterian Church in Pewaukee. Katie takes us to the beloved promise in Revelation of God's new heaven and new earth but cautions, "This new wonderful place is not somewhere out there. Our new life is not in the clouds or in the cosmos, but rather here, on the earth. Among the masses of humanity, among the plants, among the animals. It is in the world. For God is not making new things; God is making all things new."

The complete service along with sermon text, liturgy, and sermon video link will be available on the Presbytery's webpage later this afternoon.

Faith Springs is certified by the PCUSA as an earth care congregation, one of two in our Presbytery. For more information on how you can become an earth care congregation visit: https://presbyearthcare.org/earth-care-congregations/.
COME JOIN US
Milwaukee Presbytery begins collaborative effort to develop  
Christian Education Resources
Monday, August 31st, 1:00 p.m.
Has your congregation been struggling over what to do with Christian Education (whether online or in person)?
Do you want to reach out to children and youth and support parents but aren't sure how?
Do you hunger for adult faith formative resources?
Do you have the desire for more but lack the budget or people resources for Discipleship opportunities that positively impact members beyond worship?

We hear you and believe there is a great opportunity to create meaningful, impactful, and faithful resources for our congregations that don't bust already taxed budgets or overwork the few, if we work together. Come join us, August 31 at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom.  

Please contact Ann Gibbs to participate or for more information
NEW PASTORS SERVING OUR PRESBYTERY
WELCOME TO KIM TRIMBOLI
This photo is of Kim, her spouse Tony, and their three sons, who make her feel short even though she is not.
Milwaukee Presbytery welcomes Kim Trimboli, pastor of Forest Park Presbyterian Church in New Berlin.  Kim and her family recently moved to the area due to a job change for her spouse Tony and, through the grace of God, Kim found a good fit with Forest Park.  Kim was ordained in 2012 but served the Church as a Director of Christian Education for 20 years prior to attending seminary.  She has also done some curriculum writing and church consulting over the years.  Kim is looking forward to getting connected in the presbytery as circumstances allow.  She misses congregational singing in worship and her youngest who just left for his first year of college.  Kim's favorite childhood book was A Wind in the Door by Madeline L'Engle (anything by her, really) and her favorite fair food is funnel cakes.
NEWS FROM THE DENOMINATION
PC(USA) WEEK OF ACTION
August 24-30 
The 224th General Assembly (2020) called the PC(USA) to action in confronting our complicity with white supremacy, and many Presbyterians are seeking to learn, repent, and be transformed. The whole church is invited to join staff of national agencies August 24-30 to proclaim in word and deed that BLACK LIVES MATTER. Details are being added as they become available; one day or seven, make these PC(USA) community activities part of your justice journey.
  • Wednesday 8/26: Liberation Bible Study and Twitterstorm: #WeekofActionPCUSA
  • Thursday 8/27: BLACKOUT Day and COVID-19 Memorial
  • Friday 8/28: National #Give828 Day supporting giving focused specifically on Black-benefitting organizations; Trouble the Water: Conversations to Disrupt Racism and Dominance documentary premiere (2:00 p.m. CST), and a Young Adult Roundtable on engaging and processing faith in the midst of racial and health pandemics (12:00 p.m. CST)
  • Saturday 8/29: Rally/Public Action
  • Sunday 8/30: Day of Service
SYNOD OF LAKES AND PRAIRIES PANDEMIC SUPPORT GRANTS
Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic could materially diminish income streams and threaten staffing and ministries across presbyteries, churches and camps, the Synod has identified approximately $251,000 to date which can be used to support the staffing needs of affiliated organizations.
 
Grants will be offered on the basis of need and for a maximum of $10,000 or one month of a church's average operating costs for:
  • Churches whose vitality would be threatened by disruption to staffing and ministry programs;
  • Churches and ministries in need which serve historically marginalized communities; and
  • Camps, particularly as they seek to maintain programs staffed by college students.
 In all cases, the Presbytery would apply for grants on behalf of churches whose vitality or critical ministries are threatened by financial impacts of the pandemic. If you believe your congregation or ministry qualifies for and has a need for these grant funds, please notify Associate for Ministry Vitality Ann Gibbs at agibbs@pbymilwaukee.org.
 
Grants within each program will be awarded within two award periods:
 
Award Period                 Application Deadline              Award Decision           Award Distribution
Fall                                   August 31, 2020                      September 15, 2020   September 30, 2020
UPCOMING PEACE & GLOBAL WITNESS WEBINARS
September 1st, 11:00 a.m. CST
Leaders and volunteers advocating for the Peace & Global Witness Offering are invited to join the Special Offerings team to review the theme and purpose of the Offering, as well as the host of resources and opportunities that will enhance engagement.  All of this will be done with an eye on the realities of the world during the COVID-19 pandemic: namely, how to celebrate this season and receive the Offering while maintaining the social distancing policies each community has established.

Congregation Leaders are invited to register for the September 1st webinar
SUBSCRIBE TO SEASON OF PEACE
This year's Season of Peace resources are designed to help participants explore practices for building peace on every scale.  From the personal level to global issues, these reflections and prayers will help grow the faith and witness of the whole church.  Throughout the 29 days of the 2020 Season of Peace, you are invited to reflect upon:
Week 1 September 6-12: Peace Within
Week 2 September 13-19: Peace in Relationships
Week 3 September 20-26: Peace in Community
Week 4 September 27-October 3: Peace in the World
Final Day October 4: Holistic Peacemaking
REGARDING RULING ELDERS:
A MONTHLY SERIES FOR SPIRITUAL LEADERS

Miguel A. Rosa Morales has written the most recent installment of Regarding Ruling Elders, a monthly resource of the Office of the General Assembly.
ANYTHING BUT COVID-19 NEWS
ICONIC PAINTINGS REIMAGINED WITH BILL MURRAY'S FACE
Actor Bill Murray has played a lot of roles in his life, so it's no surprise that he could be a shoo-in for any number of historical figures.  Need proof?  Look no further than Redditor Eddy Torigoe.  He has created a series that reimagines famous artworks with Murray's face in place.  From Rembrandt to Frida Kahlo, the beloved celebrity is a convincing stand-in for the faces we're used to seeing in iconic self-portraits.
REALTOR LISTS BIGFOOT'S HOME FOR $1M 
Bigfoot fanatics can finally stop searching -- the hairy beast has been hanging out at his 5-bedroom home in the Redwoods this entire time.  His location was recently discovered online after he listed his Felton, California home for sale on Zillow.  In the photos, Bigfoot is seen to be just like the rest of us.  He's captured baking cookies, doing yoga, reading books, video calling his friend, gardening, and, in one image, he's even wearing a face mask-good to know that even Sasquatch is doing his part to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
INVITATIONS
THE ART OF TRANSITIONAL LEADERSHIP
Learning Ministry Skills for Today's and Tomorrow's Church
Online, October 12-15, 2020 
Whether it is a change in leadership or a changing community, leading a congregation through change is both challenging and rewarding. It takes knowledge, skill, resilience and spiritual strength to navigate the waters of change in a way that leaders and congregations thrive. This training is for individuals who are considering ministry in temporary settings (as an interim, transitional or designated pastor) or are experiencing ministry in these transitional times. Materials presented will include the basics of transitional ministry and will be of value to all congregational pastors regardless of their ministry setting. Best practices in transitional ministry include ways to enter the congregation and community, how to analyze a congregation's strength and growing edges, and how to assist a congregation in moving toward a vibrant future. This training will delve into navigating change, the pastor as a spiritual interpreter of transition, family systems, mission focus ministry, conflict mediation, and building resiliency.
BETHESDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH'S 175TH ANNIVERSARY

This August marks the 175th anniversary of Bethesda Presbyterian Church (which started life in 1845 as a Sunday School of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist denomination -- see https://bit.ly/2EewMeJ).  Bethesda Presbyterian Church invites its brothers and sisters in the Presbytery of Milwaukee to join with them in celebrating the fact that, though Bethesda (like many of our churches) may have changed names and buildings and many other aspects of its ministry over the years, they are still alive and worshiping and bearing witness to the love of Christ today, in the midst of pandemic and other painful challenges. 

MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
A LETTER FROM REV. DR. LAURIE KRAUS, DIRECTOR OF PDA
Dear Friends in Christ,
In the wake of the horrific explosion that devastated Beirut, Lebanon earlier this month, we are writing to let you know how our Lebanese partners are responding to this catastrophe, and what your Church is doing to support that response and show our solidarity with the Lebanese people in concrete and helpful ways.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a long-standing familial relationship with the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). We have worked together in building...(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 -  August 2020 Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
FUTURE PRESBYTERY GATHERING DATES
  • TUESDAY, September 29, 4:00 p.m. 
  • THURSDAY, November 12, 4:00 p.m.
  • TUESDAY, March 9, 2021
  • SATURDAY, May 22, 2021
  • WEDNESDAY, September 22, 2021
  • THURSDAY, November 18, 2021 

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