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From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive

CROSSING THE LINE

It’s a fine line, I realize, between “draft” and “daft.” One keystroke separates them. The more I rush, the more likely I am to send out a Daft Agenda, or email Daft Guidelines. It holds more truth than most of my typos.

Both adjectives reflect the incompleteness of the work product and the fact that it is subject to change. The daft version lets us know wholesale changes might be in order. In other words, it’s not our finest work, but we’re going to let it out there and see what it stirs up. In brave spaces, drafts can stimulate our thinking and creativity. Even a daft idea can ...(read more)

Presbytery Pulse

TRIGGER: THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF GUN VIOLENCE

"VIRTUAL" VIEWING AND DISCUSSION

The traumatic impact of gun violence can be seen in almost every community. We may hear briefly about the victims of these shootings, but what happens after the media attention moves on and the wider public becomes numb to 'just another shooting'? Drawing upon conversations with ER chaplains and trauma surgeons, police officers and ATF officials, survivors and victims' families, students and school counselors, and others, TRIGGER: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence shares the story of how gun violence impacts individuals and communities and examines the 'ripple effect' that one shooting has on a survivor, a family, a community and society.

We’ll gather via Zoom on Thursday, July 15, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM to watch the award-winning film from Presbyterian director, David Barnhart, and then have guided discussion around the film.

As the content is powerful, you will be invited to join from somewhere comfortable and view the film with your computer’s camera off. We’ll make space for some silence when it ends and then turn on our cameras as desired and enter into our discussion time with prayer.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtdO2hpzsjG93V3ha76b8_oOff_GgTb5vL

Share this flyer with your congregation

PRESBYTERY TREASURER SEARCH

The Presbytery of Milwaukee is currently in search of a treasurer. Bookkeeping skills and comfort with numbers are required and computer skills to quickly be able to adapt to the financial software (ACS) will be a plus. This is a volunteer position of about 8-10 hours per month. If you know of someone who has the necessary skills and interest in serving the presbytery in this way, please have them contact the presbytery office. The sooner we have someone in this position the more time they have to train with Gail, our current treasurer. Thank you for helping us in this important matter.

Lance Loveall

Nominating Committee

Matthew 25: I needed clothes and you clothed me...

LIVING HOPE AND FOREST PARK SIGN ON AS MATTHEW 25 CONGREGATIONS

Congratulations to Living Hope and Forest Park for signing on as a Matthew 25 church! Living Hope and Forest Park join Heritage, Tippe, Calvary, Southminster, and Covenant in making this commitment.

Jesus calls us to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned and poor. By joining us on this journey, we are uniting in common mission to become a more relevant presence in the world. To learn more and sign on, please visit the Matthew 25 website.

RESOURCES FOR MATTHEW 25 STUDY AND WORSHIP

New resources from the Office of Theology and Worship will help those curious about or engaged in the work of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Matthew 25 invitation make a stronger connection between the three foci of the vision and the biblical passage — particularly in Matthew 25:31–46, which is known as the “Judgment of the Nations” passage. You can also download “A Guide to Engaging in Matthew 25 Resources and Studies” for some ideas on how to best use these new — and other — Matthew 25 resources.

News from the Denomination

POST PANDEMIC PONDERING AND PLANNING - A RESOURCE FOR FAITH RE-FORMATION

Are you pondering and evaluating how your faith community will move into post-pandemic relationships and programs? This resource, created in collaboration with the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators, provides guided opportunities to brainstorm, reflect, act, and pray about how to re-form into your community’s future using a creative format.

REGARDING RULING ELDERS

Leaders Breathe

Rodger Nishioka has written the most recent installment of Regarding Ruling Elders, a monthly resource of the Office of the General Assembly.

FOR DEACONS AND RULING ELDERS - PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE FOR LEADERS

As a part of the “Year of Leader Formation: Investing in Ruling Elders and Deacons,” a series of webinars will be offered. The second of these events, Parliamentary Procedure for Leaders, will be offered July 14, 7:00–8:30 pm (EDT).

PC(USA) ruling elders and deacons have responsibilities as leaders in Christ’s church. Whether you serve as a moderator or as a participant, your call will involve meetings conducted by parliamentary procedure—usually Robert’s Rules of Order. Most Presbyterians have learned about parliamentary procedure through observation during meetings. During this Year of Leader Formation webinar, you can expect to learn more about the theological connections between parliamentary procedure and our Book of Order and gain skills to help you participate more confidently and effectively. You will have an opportunity during the registration process to name questions you would like to see addressed.

Korean and Spanish interpretation will be available. The webinar will also be recorded, and will be posted in English on the Year of Leader Formation website in the week following the event.

AMENDMENTS TO CHILD/YOUTH/VULNERABLE ADULT PROTECTION POLICY

On May 20, 2021, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation approved amendments to the Child/Youth/Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy and its Procedures. This Policy applies to entities of the General Assembly, such as the national agencies of the church, and is a sample or model policy that church councils are welcome to use as they draft and update their own child and youth protection policies.

All councils of the PC(USA) are required to “adopt and implement a sexual misconduct policy and a child and youth protection policy” (Book of Order, G-3.0106). The Stated Clerk reminded all councils of this obligation in a letter dated January 9, 2020, that you can find on the Creating Safe Ministries webpage on the PC(USA) website.

The May 2021 amendments to the Policy added a section concerning how to protect minors in virtual meetings. All congregations and councils are welcome to review the Policy and its virtual meetings section and determine if they should amend their child and youth protection policy to include a virtual meeting section.

PC(USA) INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION 2021

Excitement is building for this year’s Presbyterian Week of Action, which takes place August 23-29. It will lift up not only Black Lives Matter but other marginalized groups, such as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who have been the target of hatred and discrimination.

“Shades of Oppression, Resistance and Liberation” is the theme of this year’s event, which is being coordinated by the Rev. Shanea D. Leonard with the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Bearing Witness team and other interested parties.

Find out more about the Week of Action, including daily foci, here.

Have Some Fun In '21!

DIY SLIP-N-SLIDE

For all you crafty types that would like to offer a new way to combat the heat of summer, here is a do-it-yourself guide to building a giant size slip-n-slide!

https://www.allthingsthrifty.com/how-to-build-a-huge-slip-n-slide-fun-for-all-ages/

GET RID OF YOUR HAZARDOUS WASTE, FINALLY!

If you are looking for a great time to clean your garage or basement and get rid of all your paint, cleaning, and other unidentifiable waste, here is a link to Hazardous Waste Collection sites in Milwaukee County!

FARMERS MARKETS IN 2021

Please support your local farmers and merchants at your local farmers market. Click below to find a market near you!

https://farmfreshatlas.org/

Invitations

CIVIL RIGHTS PILGRIMAGE: NOVEMER 5-13

Join this 9-day pilgrimage from Atlanta, GA to Memphis, TN to remember, study, and be inspired by key moments in the Civil Rights Movement. The pilgrimage is organized by Progressive Pilgrimage, a small travel ministry led by Presbyterian pastor Heather Prince Doss. Stops on this journey include the King Center in Atlanta; Montgomery and Selma, AL; Jackson and Money, MS; the Lorraine Motel in Memphis; and more. The group size is limited to 26 participants. For more information visit http://progressivepilgrimage.com/civilrights2021 or contact heather@progressivepilgrimage.com.

SEWING MACHINES NEEDED

Presbyterian Women in our Presbytery are seeking 3-5 sewing machines to donate to PDA/CWS Gift of the Heart Kits Distribution Center located on the grounds of Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, a PC(USA) facility near Little Rock, AR. These sewing machines will be used by volunteer teams to make school bags for the Gift of the Heart School Kits. If you have a sewing machine to donate or have questions, please contact Marilyn Stone at mmstone52@att.net or 262-492-7921, no later than June 30th. Arrangements will be made for pick-up.

INTERFAITH EVENSONG FOR PEACE SERVICE

Please join the Wisconsin Council of Churches, First Congregational UCC Madison and the Interfaith Peace Working Group for a monthly Evensong service. In response to the needs of the world, we are hosting evenings of prayer, song, learning, and discussion. We hope that these services inspire faithful spiritual, social and political engagement. People of all faiths or of no faith are welcome.

Join the Evensong tomorrow, June 24th, at 7:00 p.m. with David Schultz leading the homily, Paula Hirschboeck making a presentation, and John Leonard providing music. Prajnatara Paula Hirschboeck is a Soto Zen priest and teacher who guides Sophia Zen sangha in Madison and SE Wisconsin. Paula was also a Sinsinawa Dominican sister for 25 years and was a member of the Philosophy Department of Edgewood College from 1994-2010. During those years she and Sr. Maureen McDonnell founded “Wisdom’s Well” to offer support for interfaith contemplation and action.