March 4th News & Notes Interactive Question

Sharing Mr. Rogers with the Community

What happens when you realize your church's giant blank wall could be a billboard to share a message of love? You share that message! Pastor Matt Sauer of First Presbyterian Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, let the community create a mural on the side of the church. Watch this short video in honor of Mr. Roger's day on March 20.

Originally written for and featured in Presbyterian Foundation's Stewardship Ministry News

Seven Last Words of Christ, Featuring the Pro Arte Quartet and Community Speakers

Spencer LaJoye Concert, Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church

Presbytery Project Grants Available

Each year the Bergstrom Endowment Grant Committee within the First Presbyterian Church Neenah is charged with awarding a portion of the church's unrestricted endowment fund as grants to applicants from various global mission projects, theological seminaries, projects within Presbyterian Synods, our local Presbytery, local non-profit projects, and toward college scholarships for church members.  

While there is never a shortage of needs to be considered, we want to be sure that needs within our own Presbytery are considered along with other requests. Grants may be requested for "projects" (not toward general programming or annual budgets) within individual churches or toward a more general Presbytery project.  Applications for the 2024 grants are available now (email firstpresneenah@firstpresneenah.org) and must be returned to the First Pres Neenah church office by March 31.  

Samaritan Counseling

The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticism, April 18 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Samaritan is a resource for you to lean on for support. We offer small groups, clergy coaching, and events like Creating Hope to the entire faith community to deepen our connection and strengthen our resolve as a collective.

We hope you will join us on April 18 from 8:30-11:30am at Samaritan’s office in Menasha to explore Anthony’s Root’s latest book, ”The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms.” Rev. Dr. Kevin Mundell from Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ in Ripon will facilitate the presentation and Q&A. He highly recommends reading this gem before the workshop to allow for a lively discussion with your peers. A copy of the book is included in your registration fee and will be shipped to you as soon as you register.

Seating is limited to 48, so don’t delay … register here today. Continental breakfast will be served. Scholarships may be available. Please contact Jane Frantz to discuss.

United Church Camps, Inc.

A Wisconsin Retreat for Pastors on the Enneagram

April 8-11 at Cedar Valley - 1 of 3 Locations of United Church Camps, Inc.

How much does it cost?

• The registration fee includes lodging and meals.
• Participants from the OPSF region: Double occupancy is $200. Single occupancy is $350.
• Participants from outside the OPSF region: Double occupancy is $250. Single occupancy is $400.
• Are you a PLR participant or alum? For full PLR participants, this event was included in your PLR registration cost. For PLR alums — double occupancy is $100, single occupancy is $250.
• Are you serving a Micro Church or find the cost prohibitive? Contact OPSF’s Director of Programs, the Rev. Tricia Dillon Thomas, at programs@opsf-omaha.org for scholarship information.

How do I register?

• Find more information and register at omahapresbyterianseminaryfoundation.org/winging-it/.

For more information, view the complete flyer here!

Wisconsin Council of Churches

Upcoming Event: Brian McLaren in Wauwatosa, Saturday, March 16, 2024 2:00 p.m., Underwood Memorial Baptist Church

Underwood Memorial Baptist Church is thrilled to welcome author, speaker, and Christian leader Brian McLaren to Wauwatosa for the first time! Brian McLaren is one of today’s leading authors and speakers on Christianity, faith, doubt, deconstruction, and the future. Brian speaks with a pastor’s care and a prophet's passion about the issues that make it hard to keep faith in the 21st century. At once realistic and clear-eyed about the challenges facing Christianity, Brian is also hopeful about what is possible in the future of faith.

If you are struggling to hold onto your faith or struggling to understand why anyone has faith. Or, if you want to think about your faith in new and vital ways, don’t miss this day of conversation with Brian McLaren.

Tickets are limited, and all are welcome.

Co-sponsored by Underwood Memorial Baptist Church, Wisconsin Council of Churches, American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin

Register Here

Register now for The Art of Transitional Ministry Training, Week I & II. May 22-26, 2023 at the beautiful Mercy Center, St. Louis, MO

Anyone interested in learning how to walk through change alongside your church is invited to join in. Basic Transitional Ministry Education consists of 60 contact hours plus a practicum. The contact hours are divided equally between two residency weeks: Week I (30 hours) and Week II (30 hours), separated by a practicum that combines reflection on, and experience in, some aspect of interim/transitional ministry. For more information and to register go to: http://synodma.org/transitional-ministry-education.

Millions in Medical Debt Erased by John Knox Presbytery

John Knox Presbytery raised over $30,000 and sent it to RIP Medical Debt. Just found out the result…$3,906,533.98 in medical debt wiped out for 2,167 families in North Carolina, Indiana, Texas and Idaho!

Hmmm…how to explain what almost $4 million looks like? It’s like taping $20 bills end to end for about 18 miles…from Postville to Waukon…or from Reedsburg to Wisconsin Dells. What an amazing ministry!

Exploring the Legacies and Lessons of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. South: May 28–June 6, 2024

Apply by Feb. 23 and join the Peacemaking Program as we embark on a pilgrimage to Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, Jackson, the Mississippi Delta and Memphis. In this travel study seminar, we will visit historically important sites of the Civil Rights Movement, learn about the lives of the people who made up the movement, meet with leaders and those who can share stories of those times, and wrestle with the legacies of racism and white supremacy even as they reappear in our communities and nation today. Click here for details.

2024 Worship & Music Conference

Join the Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) in Montreat, North Carolina, this summer for the annual Worship & Music Conference. This year’s dynamic programming for musicians and worship leaders alike centers around the theme “Lead Us Homeward.” PAM will offer two sessions of workshops, seminars, voiced and handbell choirs, and engaging community-building activities June 16–21 and June 23–28. This conference should not be missed. Registration and housing are open now. More information about the conference can be found here, or you can see all of the resources offered by PAM here.