The latest news for you

From Rachel Yates, Presbytery Executive

HER STORY

With deep breaths, sobs, and shaky sips of water, she shared her story with us. In turn, she asked me to share it with you. Her name is Susan, and this is not an easy story to hear. If you’re looking for a cute story from me today, set aside my article until you’re ready for something weighty.

Susan began her story with the rockiness of her childhood and the home she discovered in her local Presbyterian church as a teenager. The pastor for youth took her...(read more)

Presbytery Pulse

Join us for the May 23 Presbytery Gathering featuring Rev. Dr. Melanie Harris as we celebrate the vital mark of Spirit Inspired Worship

"To encounter Rev. Dr. Melanie Harris is to experience a woman who operates out of the fullness of her gifting. Her brilliance and ensuing wisdom are matched by her graciousness and genuine kindness. Her scholarly examinations of womanist theological perspectives at the intersection of race, gender, class and environmental ethics, as impressive as they are, are always held in context with regard to her abiding concern for developing – and even caring for - effective leaders. Melanie brings her intellectual disciplines into direct contact with the Holy Spirit and she truly pastors us as she teaches us.

It is a profound gift in my life to call her sister, prayer-partner and truest friend. What a joy it will be for our Presbytery to hear a word from her as she challenges us to examine what Spirit Inspired Worship can be for us today."

Rev. Lisa Lynne Kirkpatrick is Associate Pastor for Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church.

CONGRATULATIONS TO REV. NIKKI BLANKS

After receiving word from Father's House Orphanage in Kiev, Ukrane about a necessary $10,000 to repair their facility from war damage, Rev. Nikki Blanks (Delafield) jumped into action. Rev. Blanks organized more than a dozen baskets to be raffled and several 50/50 drawings, created glassware and pins unique to this cause, held an online auction, and hosted an evening at an establishment in Milwaukee. Not only did Rev. Blanks raise the full $10,000 needed for Father's House to safely continue their ministry, she surpassed that goal.

Thank you to everyone in the Presbytery who participated in these efforts and especially to Rev. Blanks for all of her organization and hard work.

Building Ministry Vitality

Through Matthew 25

Ecclesial Health:

"So far as it depends on you,

live peaceably with all"

BUILDING TOGETHER: THE HEART TO HEART HUMAN STUFF OF BEING A CHURCH TOGETHER

A conversation with Shavon Starling Louis, co-moderator of the PC(USA) asking the question "Who should I be talking to?" and acknowledging the ongoing reality that "the Lord shows up in faithful ways."

SPIRIT INSPIRED WORSHIP

We need you! We are celebrating the vital mark of Spirit Inspired Worship at our coming Presbytery gathering.

Please video yourself responding to one of the following prompts, which will be put together into a Spirit Inspired video.

I feel the Spirit of God move in worship when...

The hymn/song ____________ means a lot to me because...

My most in inspired moment in worship was...

Send the video to agibbs@pbymilwaukee.org. Videos should not exceed 30 secs. Those chosen will be put together and a copy provided to each person/congregation selected.

Thank you!!

News From The Denomination

TUNE IN! THE PC(USA) WILL BE ON PBS!

The PC(USA) partnered with the Viewpoint project — viewpointproject.com— producer of high-quality social and educational documentaries for public television with the mission of positively impacting our communities and the world to produce and share a short video documentary. Our educational segment focuses on the denomination’s Matthew 25 commitment to creating healthy, just communities and a radically inclusive world.

In May, households across the U.S. can view this segment via their local public broadcasting station. Your local PBS station will have the opportunity to show this documentary between broadcasts. A shorter version of the segment will also air across a myriad of cable networks like CNN and HLN.

Click here to check out the videos, learn more about the program and get some tips on how to prepare your congregation.

Invitations

INSIDE PUNISHED FOR DREAMING

a message from Bettina L. Love

I am starting to prepare for the release of my next book, Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal, and I need your help. Punished for Dreaming serves as the prequel to The New Jim Crow. It offers a blistering account of the last four decades of educational reform through the lens of the people who lived it. I interviewed 25 Black Americans to expose the devastating effects of school reform. I argue that when Black folx dream and believe in school integration, school reform, crime reform, and democracy, we are punished. So, with input from leading U.S. economists, I offer a roadmap for repair, arguing for educational reparations with transformation for all children at its core.

My goal–my freedom dream–is that Punished for Dreaming places education and educational reparations in the national spotlight. As I promote Punished for Dreaming, I would love your voice. Read more about how to help Bettina L. Love on this journey.

HONING YOUR PREACHING (FOR MINISTERS AND ELDERS ALIKE)

For the preacher in all of us, the Synod of the Covenant invites you to preaching workshops to help you with seasons and themes for preaching and wisdom from renowned preachers. The Synod of the Covenant’s Preaching Workshop at 10:00 am Eastern on May 3 is Craig Barnes, President Emeritus of Princeton Seminary, who will be leading a workshop called “Caring for the Preacher’s Soul.” You can learn more and register here: Caring for the Preacher’s Soul - Synod of the Covenant.

On June 7, Wes Avram, pastor of Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Ph.D. in rhetoric from Northwestern University, will lead a workshop called “Acceleration, Amplification, Accumulation, Alienation: Preaching in Times Like These.” If you want to get ahead of the curve, learn more and register now here: Acceleration, Amplification, Accumulation, Alienation: Preaching in Times Like These - Synod of the Covenant.

To see the schedule for the whole year, visit Explore these Opportunities to Train and Strengthen Preachers - Synod of the Covenant

PROVIDE LUNCH AT HEPHATHA CHURCH

Hephatha Church (ELCA) in Milwaukee's central city is looking for churches to provide lunch after their weekly service and Sunday school. This involves serving lunch to approximately 50 people. They appreciate any meal (there are A LOT of kids). Lunches could also be bagged for take home. Lunch providers would arrive before 11:00 to set up. They have several dates in 2023 still available. Pastor Mary Martha can be reached through the Hephatha website or contact Michelle Henrichs for more information.

INVITE WCC STAFF TO YOUR CONGREGATION THIS SPRING AND SUMMER!

Did you know the Wisconsin Council of Churches has staff all over the state who would love to visit your church? They are available to preach, lead classes, or help support your ministry and can focus on a variety of topics. They can offer support during pastoral vacation Sundays or just bring a new perspective on issues your congregation is passionate about. Click here to learn more about our staff and the topics they are available to cover.

What You See in '23

APRIL 2023

A special thank you to Ann Gibbs, Erin Hittle, Meagan Ludwig, Cathy Manthei, Rose Mary Muller, Fiona Nicolaisen, Alice Schmitz, Melanie Stevens, Carol Taylor, and Rachel Yates for sharing excellent pictures from April with us!

Let us see What You See in '23! Send Kate photos of what you see in May!

COVID-19 News & Information

GOOD BYE AND ALL THAT, SORT OF

a message from Rev. Daniel Schultz, WCC Community Health Program Director

The World Health Organization has ended its global public health emergency declaration for COVID, as of May 5th. The WHO cited “reduced rates of COVID-related deaths, increased immunity and less overcrowding in hospitals” as reasons for its decision. Likewise, effective May 11th, the U.S. state of emergency will come to an end.

There are some reasons to see these moves as a positive. It means that health officials see COVID as moving from a pandemic disease to an endemic. That is: one that’s normal, more or less predictable, and not requiring emergency measures. “We fully expect it will become a seasonal virus much like influenza,” says Dr. Robert Citronberg of Advocate Aurora Healthcare.

But we’re not there yet. And not to put too fine a point on it, ending the public health states of emergency now leaves a lot up in the air...(read more)