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From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive

THE TIME IN WHICH WE LIVE

“Calls come at the least opportune time,” she reflected. Ellen Smith, Regional Liaison for Eastern Europe, was packing for a return trip to the United States when the phone rang. Upon answering it, she received an invitation to visit Davydovo, a Russian village. Though the timing was wholly inconvenient, she made the trip, and her ministry was profoundly expanded. There she met with the Orthodox priest Father Vladimir, who had begun a ministry for special needs children and their families.

His story, too, involves an unexpected phone call. While restoring the Orthodox church building in this tiny village, Father Vladimir received a call from...(read more)

Presbytery Pulse

LOOKING FOR A PARTNER MINISTRY SITE!

Carroll University and the Presbytery of Milwaukee are excited to announce our Chaplain Residency Partnership for the 2021-22 academic year. The Chaplain Residency will bring an emerging faith leader to our Presbytery, who will serve halftime in a local congregation and halftime on the Carroll University campus. This recent seminary graduate will receive mentorship, continuing education, and vital ministry experience. Drawing on our shared Presbyterian heritage and Reformed commitment to education, Carroll University invites your congregation or ministry setting to consider joining us in this innovative program. Applications for ministry sites are due June 1, 2020.

This program is made possible through the generosity of Carroll University’s donors and the support of the Presbytery of Milwaukee.

For more information, please contact:

Carroll University: The Rev. Elizabeth McCord, Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Life, 262-524-7336

The Presbytery: The Rev. Ann Gibbs, Associate for Ministry Vitality, 414-292-2740

FROM NICOLE FARLEY, PRESBYTERY MODERATOR

In March, I wrote encouraging "all of our faith communities to condemn anti-AAPI violence, in word and in deed, and to seek ways to support and show up for the AAPI community" and provided some resources. A new, robust resource, called the Honor Asian Women Syllabus, has been developed by PC(USA) pastor and educator Rev. Mihee Kim-Kort and her colleague Monica Heilman. It includes 19 pages of resources in a great variety of areas, including Cultural Studies, Activism, Law & Politics, Religion, and Literature & Poetry. May our learnings bear fruit for all of our siblings.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MQG1JrhffvdABAstCFf06Vbf2s1wCS0l/view?fbclid=IwAR1m8dPIio41PKfs_amrmDhqtKdsjklwE6QLSx0IGdw0vWTIZA9-eNf2tIo

MANY BLESSINGS (OR NOT)

Just a reminder than none of your Presbytery staff will ever request money or gift cards from you by email. Rachel Yates has been the recent subject of hacked emails (“Many Blessings" and “Serving Christ Together”) that look like our Presbytery email address, but isn’t. We do not use gmail for our official email. Any solicitation from us (mission support, per capita, or special initiatives) will request that you mail a check to the Presbytery office. Please disregard any other emails, or call the sending staff member to confirm, especially if the email says not to call them.

CELEBRATE WITH US!

The Commission on Pastoral Ministries sends a shout out to these pastors, celebrating their ordination anniversaries this month:

Jim Fisher 63 yrs

Terry Hennesy 38 yrs

Bonnie Stafford 29 yrs

Lance Loveall 23 yrs

Matt Lee 21 yrs

Bill Zieche 20 yr

Kim Trimbolli 9 yrs

Susi Stoll 6 yrs

CPM also sends congratulations to Candidate Mark Fraley who graduates this week from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago and Inquirer Lisa Lynne Kirkpatrick who graduates next week from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston.

JOIN THE NEXT GHANA MISSION NETWORK MEETING

Last year, the Presbytery renewed its covenant with our Ghanaian partners. We have kept connected with our Dangme-Tongu Presbytery partners through Facebook and What’s App, and an occasional email. We also connect with the Ghana Mission Network (GMN) through virtual meetings and a quarterly newsletter. You can read our latest newsletter and join our next GMN virtual meeting scheduled for Saturday, May 8. Join us and meet and greet some of our friends from the US and Ghana.

PRESBYTERIAN 101: EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PRESBYTERIAN

Maybe you are a brand new Presbyterian, or maybe you are a lifelong Presbyterian, or maybe you have recently been elected a deacon or elder. However you come, Presbyterian 101 is for anyone interested in learning about all things Presbyerian. This fun, light-hearted Zoom "class" is hosted by life-long Presbyterian and Milwaukee Presbytery Associate Stated Clerk, Chris Halverson, on Monday, May 24, from 3:00-4:30 p.m. Register now to receive the information about how to join the class.

OFFERINGS FOR COVID-19 RELIEF RESOURCES FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES IN GHANA

Ongoing offerings are being received through the Ghana Mission Network to assist rural communities in the prevention and protection against the Covid-19 virus. Donations may be given in the USA electronically at: https://pbylakeerie.org/ (Click on GIVE NOW. Choose GMN Registration. Create a Profile, complete.); or by check made payable and sent to: Presbytery of Lake Erie, 2816 Elmwood Ave, Erie, PA 16508 (memo: Ghana Mission Network).

MILWAUKEE PRESBYTERY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

The Commission on Congregational Vitality is pleased to remind members of the Milwaukee Presbytery of grant opportunities.

Congregational Vitality Grants are available year round (as funding allows) to individual congregations or congregational clusters engaged in the work of vital ministry. Grants may be awarded for one-time projects or as part of a focused effort over time. Please see the grant description and application form for more information.

Camperships are available to children and youth of the Milwaukee Presbytery participating in a church camp. While many camps are re-opening this summer, many are also providing virtual camp opportunities. Camperships are available for either. Please see grant description and application form.

Matthew 25: I was in prison and you came to visit me...

PRESBYTERY ANNOUNCES NEW MATTHEW 25 INITIATIVE FOR CASH BAIL RELIEF

Thanks to the churches and individuals already donating to the Joshua Glover Justice Fund! At our May 22 Presbytery Gathering, we hope to announce the total raised for cash bail relief, so please send your donation or pledge to the Presbytery Office or chalverson@pbymilwaukee.org by May 18, if possible. This letter explains why we’re called to act and answers questions about how cash bail works. Thank you for helping make our criminal justice system fairer!

WISCONSIN'S PROPOSED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS

Wisconsin’s Legislature created a Task Force on Racial Disparities, which includes stakeholders from law enforcement, advocacy groups, and community organizations. They have begun to share their recommendations. You can read the task force's report on law enforcement policies and standards here. Some of the recommendations include:

Whistleblower protections for law enforcement officers reporting alleged excessive use of force
Statewide prohibition on the use of "choke holds" except in life-threatening situations or self-defense
Establishing an independent use-of-force advisory board to investigate and review specific incidents
Increased and standardized data collection on use-of-force incidents, including "no-knock" search warrants
Strengthening training in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques

Do you agree or disagree? Let your representatives in the state know.

TOUGH QUESTIONS TO PEOPLE WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED

Can you forgive yourself? Is the justice system fair? Are you fearful about re-entering society? This quick segment from Spectrum shows the surprising answers from six men who were previously imprisoned.

Warning: An answer to the final question contains explicit language.

News from the Denomination

PRESBYTERIAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSICIANS ANNUAL CONFERENCE SET FOR SUMMER

June 20-25 and June 27-July 2 in person at Montreat Conference Center (virtual option available for week 2)

This year, PAM's annual Worship & Music Conference will offer both in-person and online options for participants. It is an intergenerational event for pastors, directors, organists, pianists, guitarists, percussionists, ringers, worship leaders, choir members, and anyone who loves and takes part in the worship and music of the church. Offerings include six worship services, the 2021 Routley Lectures, Adult Choir with Phillip Shoultz, handbell ensembles for all levels, a seminar on copyright law for churches, and evening concerts. In-person cost is $350 for PAM members, $525 for non-members, and $280 for youth; virtual cost is $175 for members and $250 for non-members, with group rates available.

Have Some Fun In '21!

10 YEARS OF RESEARCH REVEALS THAT LISTENING TO NATURE CAN IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL HEALTH

Have you ever found yourself in a meditative state, listening to the calming sounds of nature, only to have an aircraft pass by overhead? It can be an instant stresser. Man-made noises like this can interfere with your overall experience out in nature and cause hyperarousal, impacting your behavior, physiology, and fitness. Additionally, jarring noises can lead to high blood pressure and other ailments. These negative effects are also true for animals—their ability to communicate, survey their environment, and find food and mates is impacted. A growing number of studies explore noise’s negative effects on animals and humans alike, but could the same be true for the opposite? Could natural sounds actually have a positive impact?

TAKE A LOOK AT SOME POSITIVE NEWS FROM 2021

Every new day seems to bring horrible news with it but instead of focusing on all of the bad, let’s look at some of the positive news that has come out of 2021 so far! This collection of 31 photos is from the instagram account @thehappybroadcast.

Invitations

MAY MEDITATIVE SONG CIRCLE

Join the Living Waters Contemplative Life Center this Friday, May 7, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. for "Singing Kindness and Mischief into the Universe." Lean into the Holy Hush guided by a sharing of simple melodies, poetry, and tenderness. Listen or sing along. Please bring a candle and an open heart. Pastor Karen will guide, opening with reflective sharing, honoring the light each brings. She will move into the embrace of holy hush and sung meditations and close by sending participants into their lives with the shared light of this shared holy time.

For more information call (414-702-7997) or email.

FESTIVAL OF HOMILETICS TO REMAIN VIRTUAL

Preaching for the Future Church is the theme of this year's Festival of Homiletics from Luther Seminary, which is online from May 17 to 21. The event invites participants into conversation around how the promise of the Gospel might shape hope and ministry for the future church and what the role of preaching is in forming the church of the future. Over five days, there will be more than 50 speakers, including Kate Bowler, Diana Butler Bass, Brian McLaren, Neichelle Guidry, Matthew L. Skinner, and Rebekah Lowe and Adam Walker Cleaveland of Illustrated Ministry. You can register for free or purchase a recording package ($75) for full access to all sessions, which you can watch on your own schedule, plus bonus material like additional speaker presentations and live workshops/lectures

COIVD-19 News

COVID-19 VACCINE OUTREACH PROJECT

As we move from Easter into Pentecost, we know your church is eager to respond to Jesus' call to ministry in the world. The Wisconsin Council of Churches wants to help you touch lives in this post-COVID world. We are seeking:

Churches willing to host vaccine clinics
People willing to transport community members to vaccine clinics
Medically-trained individuals to help administer vaccines
People willing to lend an empathetic ear to those hesitant or resistant to receiving a vaccine

This is a particularly urgent opportunity for churches in rural Wisconsin. For more information, see this brief overview of the program, or reach out to danschultz@wichurches.org.