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Your Weekly News & Updates

From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive

BUCKS IN SIX!

And on the seventh day, God rested. I’m doing the same.

In these days of pandemic and division and climate crisis, it’s good to rest. It’s good to practice self-care. For a change, I’m taking my own advice today.

See you next week!

Presbytery Pulse

WE'RE OPEN!

The Presbytery staff has returned to the office and is continuing to work "in building" throughout the summer on the Monday - Thursday schedule.

While the Presbytery staff has been fully vaccinated, portions of the building require visitors to wear masks. Please follow the latest CDC guidelines when visiting the Presbytery Office.

PLANNING CALENDARS

The Presbytery office is now taking orders for the 2021-22 planning calendars. The calendars begin with the month of September 2021 and go through December 2022 and will be printed on matte paper (not glossy paper like was used in 2020-21). We order in bulk, making the calendars a considerably cheaper price. Place your order before August 5th to be included in this price break.

Planning calendar order form

UPDATE YOUR ONLINE WORSHIP INFORMATION

Early in the pandemic the Presbytery began publishing available worshipping opportunities in the COVID-19 pandemic resources. Recognizing that summer worship schedules sometimes change, as do worshiping opportunities with vaccination numbers climbing, we want to make sure the most accurate information is reflected on the Presbytery website. Please take a moment to check your church's worship information and email Kate Hopta with any updates.

PRESBYTERY STAFF EVALUATIONS -- DO YOU HAVE FEEDBACK?

In August, the Presbytery Personnel Committee will be conducting evaluations of all our Presbytery staff. If you would like to provide a comment or concern about or celebration of any of the Presbytery Staff, please reach out to the Moderator, Rev. Jenny Gleichauf at jenny@covpres.org.

COVID-19 News & Information

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT

Lisa Allgood, our trusted immunocytochemist and Executive Presbyter for Cincinnati Presbytery offers another update for us:

I’ve gotten notes or spoken to several pastors who are dealing with upcoming Session meetings about masks and the Delta variant and vaccines. A few things to consider:

The Delta variant is in all 50 states and currently makes up more than 50% of new cases in the US and 80% of new cases in the Midwest
The Delta variant is 60% more infectious than the original variant Alpha, and about twice as infectious (200%) as the original virus. That means it has and will continue to spread very rapidly, particularly in unvaccinated people.
Those who have both doses of an mRNA vaccine are more than 80% covered against Delta. Those who only have one shot are about 30% covered. The J&J shot is also effective at about...(read more)

COVID-19 VACUNACION INFORMACION EN ESPANOL

Spanish-language answers to questions about COVID-19, information about other vaccine-preventable diseases, and resources for vaccines during pregnancy can be found at: https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/en-espanol/ . You can also find a series of videos in Spanish to share information about COVID-19 vaccinations with Spanish-speaking workers. The videos, produced by WI DHS in cooperation with Dr. Javier Rincon of Family Health La Clínica, address frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

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

MILWAUKEE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ANNOUNCES NEW BUILD AND FUTURE HOMEOWNER

The Presbyterian Coalition (congregations in the Presbytery that build Habitat homes together in Milwaukee) will be joyously working alongside Shaquita Mitchell, the new future homeowner on the coalition’s 22^nd home. Learn more about her story. If you would like to be part of the Presbyterian Coalition (individually or as a congregation) or learn more about the opportunities, please reach out to Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive.

SINSINAWA MOUND REOPENED FOR IN-PERSON GATHERING

Sinsinawa Mound will be reopening for in-person gatherings on August 15th. After the 15th they offer both in-person and online retreats, workshops, talks, and other gatherings, including weekly in-person organ concerts are happening on Wednesdays this summer. For a full schedule of events that are always being added to, please go to: www.sinsinawa.org/moundcenter/events.

A list of upcoming indigenous-themed programs - Listening to the Land w/ Dakota Artist & Writer Gwen Nell Westerman (July 27^th⁾, Indigenous Book Discussion Series: Linda Hogan (Chochtaw), Dwellings (August 10th), Settler Capitalism and Indigenous Dispossession on the Upper Mississippi (August 17), Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change - Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples (September 11th), Native Sacred Lands Tour (Weekend of September 25th)

News from the Denomination

WORKSHOP: IS YOUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICE COPYRIGHT COMPLIANT?

Tuesday, August 10, at 1:00 p.m. (CST) the Presbyterian Communicators Network, will host a workshop to provide information enabling you to make sure your church is taking the necessary steps to help make your livestream event copyright compliant. PC(USA) staff attorney, Andrej Ajanovic, will discuss the dos and don’ts of copyrights and licenses for performances on various Social Media platforms and other mediums.

NEW AUDIO AND VISUAL WAYS TO ENJOY PRESBYTERIANS TODAY

As part of Presbyterians Today’s newly-updated digital edition, you can now enjoy the publication's audio technology on any computer or mobile device. Select any article from the magazine, press the sound icon, and the article will be read aloud to you.

The Presbyterians Today digital edition also lets you read articles in a simple "contents view." This gives you a very clear black-type-on-white paper view of all of the stories. Just double-click on any article to start reading. If the print seems too small, you can easily enlarge it. And it’s easy to switch back to the magazine view if that’s your preference.

Try "read-to-me" and see contents view option

CHRISTIAN FORMATION WEEK CELEBRATION RESOURCES -- A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF CHRISTIAN FORMATION

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) planning calendar recognizes a Week of Christian Formation in churches and faith communities. This week begins the Sunday after Labor Day, but churches may choose different weeks depending on their particular calendars and practices. When considering all the ways in which formation happens in our faith communities, we can use this time to kick off a new program year for Christian education, to commission faith formation leaders, and to highlight and start ministries. Here are resources to help you plan for this celebration.

ABUSE PREVENTION POLICIES

The PC(USA) partners with the Insurance Board on issues related to abuse prevention in our ministries. The most recent newsletter of the Insurance Board has helpful advice for your practices and policies.

REGARDING RULING ELDERS

Leaders Speak

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

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, TAKE ACTION

The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention Program is asking you join with other congregations across the United States on Sept. 4 by hosting a disarming event at your church. Invite persons in your church or community to safely surrender guns that they no longer want. Pray with or listen to the story of the person bringing the unwanted gun. You need a chop saw and an outside concrete area near a power source to disarm unwanted guns. Send the scrap parts to RAWtools to be made into garden tools or art. Spurred into action by the 2012 shooting at the Sandy Hook school, RAWtools has been implementing the vision of Isaiah by beating "swords into plowshares" and guns into garden tools for nearly ten years.

The Guns into Gardens project can utilize the skills of many in your congregation, from publicity and outreach, to pastoral care for those who donate guns, to correctly operating power tools, to securely handling the guns themselves. These initial September events in congregations can be small, even one firearm. Sign up HERE to learn more about how your church can become a disarming church.

PPF will provide training resources and support for Guns into Gardens and will help congregations share and learn from each other's experience. For questions, contact Rev. Deanna Hollas, new owner of a chop saw and Coordinator of the PPF Gun Violence Prevention Ministry, at deanna@presbypeacefellowship.org

FREE AT-HOME FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN

The PC(USA) is offering free resources specifically selected to help households with younger children engage in Scripture and story books that highlight the vision of being a Matthew 25 faith community. While the offer is intended for smaller congregations, it is open to all. Apply by filling out this survey; chosen congregations will receive an email that they've been selected, followed by a shipment of the resources. Surveys will be reviewed every two weeks beginning July 16.

NEW RESOURCES FOR POST-PANDEMIC REFLECTION

As we move post-pandemic, with most, if not all, congregations returning to the sanctuary and building, we may find ourselves asking questions such as: What’s next? Where do we go from here? What needs to be left behind? What new opportunities do we have? The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators in partnership with the PCUSA Office of Christian Formation has created “Post-Pandemic Pondering & Planning: A Resource for Faith Re-Formation” to assist sessions, committees, church leadership, individuals, and others to consider and evaluate the ministry of faith formation, including Christian education, worship, and mission, as we begin to move beyond the pandemic. There are opportunities for brainstorming, reflection, and action around the themes of Identity, People, What’s Next, Self-Reflection, Capacity, and Program.

Have Some Fun In '21!

BUCKS PARADE IN DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE

Fifty years ago, there was no championship parade for the Milwaukee Bucks.

That's not going to be the case this year. After Milwaukee defeated Phoenix on Tuesday in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, 105-98, this year's team will indeed get that parade celebration. Though some details are still being worked out, Bucks president Peter Feigin told WTMJ on Tuesday that it would take place Thursday, July 22.

RACINE STARVING ARTIST FAIR

The Racine Art Guild’s Starving Artist Fair will be held Sunday, August 1st. This juried fair features the work of over 110 artists. Always a showcase for Racine’s well-known status as an arts community, nearly a third of the artists now come from outside the community—generally the Midwest. Nearly every medium of original art is represented in show, ranging from painting, photography, ceramics, glass, mixed media, metalwork, fine jewelry making and more.

The Dekoven Center Grounds, 21st Street & Wisconsin Avenue, Racine

Invitations

SOUTHMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOOD PANTRY

The Food Pantry at Southminster Presbyterian Church is full!!!

Come and shop, no questions asked, for fresh, healthy food. The Food Pantry is open every Thursday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Additional shopping times may be made through the SEWIESG website.

Volunteers are also appreciated as the Food Pantry moves from feeding 300-700 people each week to more.

Southminster Presbyterian Church, 200 Richard Street, Waukesha

In partnership with SE WI Emergency Support Group, Inc and Feed America.

HYBRID CHURCH -- COMBINING ONLINE AND IN-PERSON COMMUNITIES

TODAY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. (CST)

Creating a hybrid church extends beyond Sunday morning. Bringing online and offline worship attendees together is only one step. To align your church with digital culture through hybrid experiences, we must find more creative practices than providing a dial-in for our events. In this hybrid webinar, New Church Ministry will

Explore what it means to bridge offline and online in faith formation and spiritual practice
Help participants deepen faith formation with technology
Support spiritual practice and authentic connection across multiple platforms
Discover good ideas with attendees to blend in-person worship with an online component — permanently
Form diverse teams and make mission plans more efficiently

The current featured guests include Danielle Kosanovich DeNise (Director for Evangelical Mission, North Carolina Synod of ELCA), Jose Martinez (Associate Minister of New Church Strategies for New Church Ministry) and Rebecca Davis (Associate Professor of Christian Education for Union Presbyterian Seminary).

Learn more and register here

PRESBYTERIANS FOR EARTH CARE ANNOUNCE WORKSHOPS

Starting on Sunday, August 1, everyone is urged to attend “Creation Care Buffet: Come to the Table” which is the Presbyterians for Earth Care’s online national conference on Sundays, August 1, 8 and 15. Worship and Bible study will be from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. CDT, followed by a dinner break, with workshops from 6:00 - 7:30 pm CDT. Preachers will be the Rev. Dr. Claudio Carvalhaes, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson and the Rev. Dr. Neddy Astudillo (formerly with San Jose fellowship in Beloit). Musicians will be hymn writer Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, folk singer David LaMotte and jazz pianist Bill Carter. 12 workshops include top scientists sharing latest science news on the Climate Crisis, a spiritual director teaching about spiritual practices for activists, food waste and composting, worship ideas for creation care, ideas for involving young adults, farming and justice concerns, environmental racism and uranium mining in the Navajo Nation, creation care faith formation, Introducción al Cambio Climático, and carbon dividends. The cost is only $20 per Sunday or $50 for all 3 Sundays with scholarship available.

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