supporting congregations
creating disciples
building community
nurturing growth
|
|
|
|
| Upcoming Events |
October 8 and 9
Diocesan Convention Youth Event!
November 19-21
Happening #87
St. Matthias, Waukesha
December Adult Advent Retreat February Nightwatch
May
Ministry Fair
June
Episcopal Youth Event
|
Camp Webb 2011
| We are pleased to announce the dates for Camp Webb 2011!
June 29 - July 6
Staff Training
July 7-8
Counselor-in-Training and Volunteer Training Days
July 10 - 15 Session 1
July 17 - 22 Session 2
July 24 - 29 Session 3
|
| Resource Center |
If you are looking for ideas, curricula, books or videos, please visit our online database for our Resource Center which is kept up to date, so as soon as we get a new resource, you will see it online! We have the full collection of NOOMA videos. You can find out more about them at http://nooma.com
You can search through book ISBN, by DVD or VHS or by curriculum.
You can also find online resource links there. If you would like more information or if you would like to check out any materials, please let us know! Kate McKey is the Resource Center Coordinator and you can find her at diomilformation@gmail.com.
|
Visit us on the web at |
|
|
| |
Welcome to the Christian Formation eNews which has resources, events and information in order to assist you in your formation efforts on a parish level.
Please forward this on to any and all who you think might be interested, including your teachers, volunteers, parishioners, lay leaders and friends. |
| Diocesan Youth Event at Convention |
"and the young people shall see visions" - Jeremiah 2:28b
HOW CAN YOUR VISION IMPACT THE FUTURE?
Come and see, discover and learn.
October 8 and 9
- meet the Presiding Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Katharine
 Jefferts Schori
- talk with the Missioner for Youth in the National Church, Bronwyn Skov
- help us cast a vision for youth ministry
Join Bronwyn Skov, Youth Missioner for the National Episcopal Church, and youth from all over the Diocese as we look at how we can:
Invite, inspire and transform,
respond to the needs of the world,
transform society,
proclaim God's love in what we say and do,
& safeguard, sustain & renew creation.
There will be food, discussion, fun, fellowship, prayer, reflection, games and more.
Please think of at least one or two kids from your parish that you can send!
Friday
*2:00 Bible Study with Bishop Miller
*3:00 Workshops
*4:00 Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori addresses Convention
5:30 Youth Reception at the Convention Center
7:00 Banquet
8:00 Jazz Compline
9:00 Head to Hotel for pool, snacks and sleep!
Saturday
8:00 Breakfast at the Hotel
8:30 Head to Convention Center
9:00 How can your vision impact the future? Come and see, discover and learn through games, discussion and fun!
Help create a vision for YOUR Church
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Convention Eucharist
2:30 Departure
Please Note: * = Optional sessions for Friday
HOTEL: If you are staying with us overnight, we will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express near the airport. There will be gender and age appropriate sleeping arrangements with a adults to keep an eye on the kids. If you would like to chaperon, please sign up. We'd love to have you!
Registration Note: You can register for Friday and Saturday OR JUST Saturday.
For more information, contact The Rev. Shannon Kelly at kelly@diomil.org or 414-272-3028 x114. |
| Christian Formation Info at Convention |
 Wondering what the Christian Formation Office can do for you? Stop by our booth at Convention and check it out!
November 8 and 9 is our Diocesan Convention and we hope you will come and be a part of it.
The Christian Formation booth will have samples of: - curricula
- a list of all the resources in the Resource Center
- information and registration forms for upcoming events and much more.
Come check us out and let us know what questions you have for us. |
|
|
|
|
Interfaith - Come and Explore with us
| Christ Church, Whitefish Bay invites you to come and explore Christianity, Islam and Judaism. http://www.christchurchwfb.org/
Christianity,
Islam, and Judaism collectively claim 3 billion followers (depending on
the source used), with Islam growing the fastest.
The major question becomes how well each of the aforementioned groups
understands the basic tenets of the other faiths. Christ Church is going
to launch an exciting and informative program that focuses on
developing our collective understanding of these three
faiths. Discussions will provide a high level overview of the central
tenets of the three Abrahamic faiths, designed to highlight areas of
similarities while respecting and appreciating areas of doctrinal
difference. The discussions will occur during the
Adult Forum time slot as follows:
� Judaism: October 3 and 10.
� Christianity: October 17
� Islam: October 31 and November 7
� Concluding Panel
Discussion: TBA
In
addition to the intellectually stimulating Adult Forum presentations,
this comprehensive Interfaith program will also involve
the women's reading group, youth group, field trips, and multi-media
vehicles (i.e. DVD's and Books). All members are encouraged participate
in this exciting program, as we attempt to develop respect and
understanding for alternate faith systems. Come and
explore with us!
|
| Catch the Spirit, It's Happening! |  HAPPENING Youth Event #87
in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
November 19, 7 p.m. - November 21, 3 p.m.
For Youth 9-12th Grade and adults who work with them
St. Matthias Church, 111 E. Main St., Waukesha, WI 53186
Come join us for HAPPENING - a youth event led by youth!
Happening is a renewal retreat designed and run by youth for youth with adult support and it is open to all youth grades 9-12. It challenges youth to find their own spiritual realities based on the love of Jesus Christ. The purpose is not only to have a fantastic weekend, but to build a foundation for a lifelong commitment to Christian living - a life based upon Christian values, beliefs and actions. HAPPENING is a weekend full of fun and fellowship, but it is also a weekend full of learning, sharing, growing, loving and experiencing the gifts of God.
Why should I come?
HAPPENING offers alternatives to the pressures and problems that youth face in today's world and builds a foundation based on Jesus Christ. During HAPPENING, youth staff members and adults share their own personal faith as examples of how Jesus is alive and working in the world today. HAPPENING is designed to be relaxed and open and permeated with the love of Jesus Christ. Following the weekend, participants carry forward renewed commitments to live their lives in a Christian manner.
What do we do?
Everyone who comes to Happening will discuss a variety of subjects that are relevant to life today through group gatherings, small groups, reflections, fun and more. It is designed so all are given the opportunity to discover more about themselves, their world, their families and their Lord.
Registration and Information
The deadline for registering is Thursday, November, 4 2010.
If you need to register after that, please call us!
If you would like more information about HAPPENING, would like to receive more application forms, or if you have more questions, etc., please contact: Wayne Pike - Lay Director Mobile phone: 262-672-9901, Email: goalstopper@gmail.com Jen Gilow-Rivera - Co-Lay Director Mobile phone: 414-334-0861, Email: jenrivera@hotmail.com
|
Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) This Summer!
|
COME TOGETHER: Intimately linked in this harvest work
REUNAMONOS: Entrelazados Intimamente en esta Cosecha
Save the dates! Episcopal Youth Event will take place
June 22-26, 2011, on the campus of Bethel University in St. Paul, MN
Registration is anticipated to begin January 3, 2011, and will be first come, first served until the event is filled.
Look for more information about how to apply to be one of the youth
that comes from the Diocese of Milwaukee in the next few weeks. For
more information, contact The Rev. Shannon Kelly at kelly@diomil.org. Matthew 10:40-42 (The Message) "We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who
accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who
accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger
of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is
as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you
into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a
cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest
act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose
out on a thing."
Three Days of Mission
Following EYE, June 27-30, the Diocese of Minnesota will
offer "Three Days of Mission". Youth groups will have opportunities to
engage in urban mission in the Greater Twin Cities Area, or deploy to
rural locations throughout the diocese and province. Plans and
coordination efforts are under way and opportunities will be announced
as they are identified.
About the Event
The 2011 Episcopal Youth Event will feel similar to past
events in many ways, yet it is shaping up to be a very different
experience. There will be three very full days of worship, sharing,
praying, learning, singing, and working, calling participants into a
greater awareness of and commitment to God's mission in the world. It
will be followed by Three Days of Mission, an opportunity for youth groups to engage in urban or rural mission.
The Core Values of EYE
created by the Provincial Youth Ministers in February 2010
Focusing on Jesus Christ and his presence in our
lives, EYE will provide an opportunity and create an environment where
our young people and the adults who accompany them can continue to grow
on their journey in faith.
Striving to be a
uniquely Episcopal Community and acknowledging that each person is a
child of God and that we are called together into a full relationship
with God and God's Creation, we claim that we are a sacramental people
of common prayer with diverse understandings and cultural contexts, all
of whom work together as the Body of Christ.
Celebrating
our mission and our ministry as the Body of Christ in Community, we
will offer training for young people and adults and equip them to be
faithful servant leaders in their local and diocesan communities.
Embracing
the "Anglican Marks of Mission" as our charge, we will strive to engage
the passion and energy of faithful youth, to embrace their call to
ministry and to empower them to put their faith into action.
|
| Safeguarding God's Children Training Dates |
We continue to plan trainings for Safeguarding God's Children!  For the latest information and to register for a training, please click here. If you would like to schedule a training in your parish or if you have a number of people who need to be trained, please let me know so that we can schedule an event at your church or in your area. You can call, email or click here to request a training.
We are creating a team of trainers so that we can hold events throughout the Diocese all year long.
Please make note of all who need to be trained in SGC, such as: vestry, Vacation Bible School Teachers and Volunteers, Youth Group Leaders and Volunteers, and those going on trips with youth.
Are you wondering who needs to be trained? Click here to find the Diocesan Policy as well as a link to the chart of who needs what training (which is found on page 42 of the Diocesan Policy Manual.) If you have any questions please let me know.
Update on Safeguarding God's People
We are trying to work with Church Pension Group to schedule to have our trainers trained in Safeguarding God's People. Once we have some trainers in the Diocese we will begin holding these trainings as well.
|
Godly Play Training in the Diocese of Fond du Lac
|
 February 25-27, 2011Godly Play TrainingDiocese of Fond du Lac
St. Peter's, Ripon, Wisconsin
Information can be found at
http://diofdl.org/event.asp?page=gptraining20101105
St Peter's, Ripon is hosting a Godly Play training February 25-27 (Friday to Sunday). Caryl Menkhus will be the trainer, and training will be available in Spanish.
Both the theory and practice of Godly Play
will be addressed, with multiple opportunities for participants to
practice a variety of stories. We begin each day at 8:30 am and finish
at 5:00 pm. (On Sunday we'll break for worship!).
Ripon Welcome Inn & Suites (240 E Fond du
Lac St, Ripon, WI 54971; 920-748-2821) is an easy walk to St Peter's
(0.2 miles) and is offering a rate of $69/night Nov 4-6. Mention "Godly
Play" or "St Peter's" when you book to receive this rate.
Since the training starts at 8:30 am, we encourage arriving on February 24.
If you wish to share a room, let us know and we'll attempt to put
people together.
As for meals, Ripon Welcome Inn & Suites provides a continental
breakfast; lunches are provided; Ripon has a range of good restaurants,
some within walking distance of St Peter's.
We are looking forward to our time together.
Should you have any questions, feel free to contact Fr Tom at St Peter's
(920-748-2422 or
rector@stpetersripon.com). |
Curriculum Resources
| |
Curriculum Overview Charts
Below are charts that overview of variety of curricular resources for using with children, youth, young adults and adults. While by no means 100% comprehensive, you can view who the publisher is, its purpose, content, age level, teacher support available and price range. These charts are excellent tools for your committees who plan programming and choose what materials will be used to enhance education. But always remember - the most important curriculum you use is YOU - the leader, teachers and mentors who share they faith and love of Christ with others.
Resource materials for Youth
A process for selecting curriculum with a committee or task force RiteFormation - Online Curriculum BuilderNew ideas for creating custom session plans, faster Draw
from an online library of easy-to-search, classroom-tested materials to
create custom lessons that enhance faith formation for your learners. Features: Scripture, song, prayer, response, lecture, ritual, arts and crafts, movement, drama, games, discussions and more
Published content from well-known currriculum publishers
Mix and match elements to build customized lessons.
Easy-to-use, search and download formatted lesson plans.
Just $1.99 per item, $9 per session. Annual Access starts as low as $99 per year. Weaving God's PromisesWe now have a sample of this in the resource center. Contact Kate McKey if you are intersted in looking at it. Weaving God's Promises is
a new, exciting, innovative Episcopal curriculum for children ages 3-11
(Preschool - Grade 5). Arranged seasonally (Fall, Winter, Spring),
Weaving God's Promises broadly follows the Church year by focusing on
the biblical story of salvation as told in the Old Testament and New
Testament. Lessons also connect to the seasons of the church year, with
Episcopal prayers, history, sacraments and traditions woven though out
the materials each week. Special sessions are also provided to further
explore the Episcopal perspective of reading scripture and worship in
community. A three-year, downloadable curriculum,
lessons follow the pattern of Episcopal liturgy: Gathering, Story,
Prayer, Sharing, Activities and Dismissal. While usable in churches of
all sizes, Weaving God's Promises is especially pleasing for small
churches that can begin each week together in a multi-age group followed
by breaking into age-appropriate groups for specific activities.
Activities are designated for Preschool (ages 3 & 4), Primary
(Kindergarten & 1st grades), Elementary (2ndand 3rd grades) and
Intermediate (4th & 5th grades). |
|
Speaking of Faith Study Series
| |
 Speaking of Faith for small groups, a new study series by Morehouse Publishing, is a unique way for youth, young adults and adults to launch conversations about God. It is designed as a four-part study which is published in conjunction with Speaking of Faith (now called Being) with Krista Tippet. It's designed to open hearts and minds, to help find the links between faith and an expanding, complicated world, and to foster community and conversation.
Each module is downloadable from Church Publishing and includes participant guides in PDF format and related audio files.
|
|
Fall and Advent Seasonal Resources
|
Fall, Halloween and All Saints Day
Sharon Pearson from Church Publishing reminds us that there is much more to this season than just costumes and candy.
"The stores are full of costumes, decorations and candy as Halloween approaches. For the Christian community, it is a time to celebrate the harvest and the celebrating of the saints who have gone before us and live among us today. It is a time to celebrate the light (even in a jack o'lantern) as a reminder that Christ is with us, even as the days grow shorter and darkness seems to envelope our nights."
Some resources:
AdventAdvent begins on November 28 and now is a good time to be thinking about what resources you want to have on hand to enhance people's journey through Advent. A great way to do that is with take home resources. Here are a few suggestions (by all means this is not an exhaustive list )of where you might find some resources. Candle Press has some great take home booklets and table cards that cost from $.50 to $7.00. http://www.candlepress.com/site/Seasons.aspxAnglicans Online has a good list of possible resources for Art, Calendars, Music and more. http://www.anglicansonline.org/special/advent.htmlText Week, an online information source for anything in the church has a wonderful section for Advent which includes Advent Wreaths and Candle Lighting, Worship Planning, Devotionals and more. http://www.textweek.com/advent.htmLift Up Your Hearts has a TON of links for a wide variety of ideas and services for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. http://www.worship.ca/christmas.htmlCreative Communications has calendars, bulletins, banners and more. http://www.creativecommunications.com/If you have any resources for Advent, Christmas or Epiphany that you would like to share, please email them to The Rev. Shannon Kelly at kelly@diomil.org. |
|
Advent Quiet Day for Women
|
THE UNCLUTTERED HEART:  AVAILABILITY AS TRANSFORMING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE Saturday - November 13, 2010 A program presented by The Rev. Holly Whitcomb at Cedar Valley Retreat Center To all women of the diocese and their friends - Enjoy a day away before the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Prepare for the holidays in the ways that count. The young girl Mary has always been a model of Advent availability. Sue Monk Kidd says, "The opposite of availability is not unavailability, but an overcrowded heart." How do we unclutter our hearts and cultivate availability as a spiritual practice? Come explore how we might live -available to God, to ourselves, to others. You can download the brochure with more information here and if you have questions, please contact Connie Ott at cott@chorus.net. Sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Milwaukee and an anonymous donor. |
|
Curriculum Survey from Church Publishing
|
From time to time, I like to do a curriculum survey to get a pulse of
what churches are using with children, youth and adults. It is helpful
to see if there are any trends and learn what kinds
of resources churches are looking for. The last time I conducted such a
survey was in the Spring of 2009, so thought this might be a good time
to do another one. This survey will close on November 1st and I will
share the results in my December newsletter
issue, offering a comparison from then and now and determine any trends
if I see any. We can have a better sense of the whole church if we
spread the word, so share the link with your colleagues!
Take the survey now! |
| Christian Formation Staff | |
 The Rev. Shannon Kelly is the Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation. She is responsible for overseeing, creating and nurturing formation throughout the diocese "zero to grave." I work in conjunction with parishes and convocations to create, sustain and promote education and formation by helping parishes with resources, coaching and trainings, by holding events that are held regionally and diocesan wide, by supporting and assisting those doing the work of formation, and by making resources available for all people. This includes, but is not limited to children, youth and adult ministries, including Camp Webb, youth events, vacation Bible schools, adult retreats, and trainings for those in leadership positions. She can be reached at kelly@diomil.org or 414-272-3028 x114.
 Kate McKey is the Christian Formation Assistant. She works part-time with Shannon in the Christian Formation Office organizing and keeping up with the Resource Center, managing the office and assisting Shannon in planning, implementing and running various programs throughout the year. For those of you who came to camp last year, you will recognize Kate as one of our conselors. We are blessed to have her continuing to serve in the diocese. Kate is also serving part-time as the youth minister at St. Andrew's in Madison and leading the Madison Area Youth Group once a month. She can be reached at diomilformation@gmail.com or at 608-257-1533.
 The Rev. REGS Scheeler has been a deacon of this diocese of many years, serving us in many different ways. Throughout his time, his passion and focus on formation and education for youth and their leaders has not changed. REGS is a non-stipendiary staff person who is available to help congregations move through transition, assist them in discernment or challenge them as they move forward. He can make visits on Sundays and some weekdays. If you think a visit from him would be of use to you, don't hesitate to call and discover the ways in which he might help your parish. He is also in charge of the New Beginnings weekend and is assisting with other formation events throughout the year. He has a gift and call for cooking ministry which we try to incorporate into all he does. |
|
If you have formation news, events, or resources that you think would be of interest to the Diocese at large and that you would like to see in this electronic publication, please do not hesitate to email me at kelly@diomil.org. If you want to be removed from this list, you may do so. If you have missed an issue or if you would like to look at old issues, links to the archives can be found on the Christian Formation Pages at http://www.diomil.org/christian-formation. Thank you for your ministry, for your commitment to Christian Formation, and for sharing your gifts with the church. Please let me know if there is anything that you would like to see in this eNews in the future and don't forget to pass this along!
Peace, |
|
The Rev. Shannon Kelly
Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation
The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
414-272-3028 x 114
|
|
|
|
|
