supporting congregations
creating disciples
building community
nurturing growth
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| Upcoming Events |
December 11Adult Advent Retreat
9-Noon, St. Francis House
December 18 Episcopal Youth Event Applications Due
February 11& 12 Nightwatch
All Saints Cathedral, Milwaukee
March 4 & 5
Middle School Youth Event
St. Luke's, Madison
May 7
Ministry Fair
All Saints and St. Paul's, Milwaukee
June 22-26
Episcopal Youth Event
June 27-July 29 Camp Webb! For more information,
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| 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
For more information go to www.campwebb.org.
Intersted in being on staff?
Click here for information!
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| 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.
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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. |
Advent Retreat
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December 11, 9 a.m. - Noon
@ St. Francis House, 1001 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53715
 Spend the morning in quiet as we meditate on the coming of Christ with prayers, reflections, meditations, and quiet activities to help you continue your journey into the season if Advent. Create the space that you need within different areas of the church. Read in front of a fire, walk the Stations of the Nativity, create Anglican Prayer Beads, reflect with a Mandala or meditate in the chapel.
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| Nightwatch Youth Event | |
February 11 and 12
All Saints Cathedral, Milwaukee, WI
Join us for an overnight stay at our Cathedral where you will have a chance to meet youth from all of over the Diocese and reconnect with friends, tour the Cathedral and learn some of its history as well as the Christian traditions woven into the design of the building, celebrate the Eucharist with our Bishop, meditate, pray, create and discover as we encounter God in a variety of ways, take time out of your busy lives during this season to discover new holy ground with God and one another. |
Ministry Fair | |
Ministry Fair for Adults, Youth and Children
May 7 at All Saints Cathedral, St. Paul's and Nicholson House
. . . so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient,
equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:17)
Bring a team from your parish, come one, come all to the Ministry Fair! There will be workshops on a wide variety of things to benefit and enhance ministries throughout the parish! Stay tuned for a listing of all the workshops and if you have a workshop you would like to give that you think would benefit others in the Diocese, please contact The Rev. Shannon Kelly. We are hoping to have workshops for children's ministers, youth ministers, young adult ministers, adult education ministers, stewardship committees, outreach and mission committees, welcoming and incorporating newcomers, confirmation leaders, acolytes, parish administrators and more.
To help us create the Ministry Fair, we are asking for your input! Please take a few minutes and fill in this survey that will help us know what kinds of workshops, teaching and experiential learning you would like to see and if you can help with the day!
Click here for the survey. (You are invited to share the survey with others so we can get as much information as possible.)
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| Happening! | |
If you want to feel the Holy Spirit moving, look no further than Happening. Around 30 youth plus adults from around the Diocese gathered at St. Matthias in Waukesha on November 22nd-24th to worship together and to feel Christ in their lives. Happening is a weekend that is put on by youth for the youth. The adults are there to supervise but almost all of the weekend is run by the youth. It is an amazing thing to see so many youth feeling the Holy Spirit and taking time out of their lives to worship together. Many friendships were made over the weekend and a lot of fun was had. Please take the time to think about participating in the next Happening in April. It will be a weekend you won't soon forget. |
| St. Dunstan's Advent Retreat | |
Watching & Waiting for Jesus:
Advent Readings and Reflections
You are invited to an Advent Quiet Day at St. Dunstan's on Saturday, December 4, 9 am - 3 pm. This retreat will be led by The Venerable Susan R. Mueller, Archdeacon. Lunch, snacks, coffee and tea will be provided. There is no charge for the day. Please RSVP to the office, 608-238-2781, office@stdunstans.com (by Monday, November 29 -- if at all possible) so we know how many to provide for. Please feel free to bring a meditative activity: a journal, knitting, walking shoes etc. Also we will have a basket to collect non-perishable food for Middleton Outreach Ministries for the holiday season. St. Dunstan's is located at 6205 University Ave., near the border of Middleton and Madison. The entrance to the parking lot is on the south side of University Ave., just west of Allen Blvd. For more information call Susan Fiore, AOJN, at 608-845-2413 or email her at lento@chorus.net. We would be blessed by our presence! |
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| 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 Click here for more information about how to apply to be one of the youth that comes from the Diocese of Milwaukee. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE DECEMBER 18!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.
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Advent Resources
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 Advent began on November 28. Here are a few suggestions for some resources that may help you during the season.
Online Daily Advent Reflections
Forward Movement Online Prayer Chapel Following the Star Following the Star is part of the d365.org series, which offers meaningful experiences and resources. It is written for youth and young adults but is meaningful for anyone. d365.org provides fresh, new devotions 365 days a year. It is sponsored by The Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Text 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.htm Jessie Tree Print and Other Resources |
| Youth Event at Convention - Mission, Vision and the Future |
 The 162nd annual Diocesan Convention had a few new faces in the mix. For the first time in recent years there was a group of teenagers attending and participating in our convention. We had youth in attendance from all over the Diocese; from Beloit to Madison to Milwaukee. The youth and their leaders met the Presiding Bishop, talked about the future of the church, and were candle and banner bearers, and read during the Eucharist to name just a few.
We were blessed to have Bronwyn Skov, Youth Ministries Officer for The Episcopal Church, with us to help lead our discussions on how the Episcopal Church functions and what the Church feels is our mission. There was a large focus on the power that is given to the youth and that they have a say in who are our leaders and how the Church is run. We looked at the Five Marks of Mission that the Episcopal Church has laid out for us and how we are to invite people into these missions, how to inspire others through these missions and how this work will transform us. The youth analyzed ways that we can involve friends, family, and congregations into the Church and the education and love that needs to be involved in that process.
I think the most poignant part of the whole youth presence at convention was a half hour question and answer session they had with the Presiding Bishop. I was in awe of the insight and forthrightness of the youth. There were questions such as "Why is your hat shaped like that?" and "What is your favorite superhero?" (by the way, it is Superman). On the other side of the spectrum, though, there were questions such as "How do I talk to my friends about my faith when they think the being Christian means that I am close minded and mean?", "Why should I be an Episcopalian?", "What are our views on LGBT issues?". I felt the youth saw that even though the Presiding Bishop has an authority over our church, we are all Christians and no one is higher or lower in ranking. We are all member of the body of Christ and we are all dealing with similar issues.
Bronwyn spoke in her workshop on youth in the Episcopal Church about having the youth have a voice and honoring that voice. Our youth have a lot to say and, if we listen, we can learn a lot and also feel confident that the next generations to lead our church are some amazing individuals.
Written by Kate McKey, Christian Formation Assistant and Youth Minister at St. Andrew's
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| Camp Webb 2011 |
 Camp Webb is an outdoor ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. Everyone who comes to Camp Webb is given the opportunity to learn more about themselves and others, to discover more about the Episcopal Church, to develop a greater spiritual awareness, and to encounter Christ through living and learning in God's creation. Campers will learn new skills, make new friends, create lasting memories and explore who they are and who God is in their lives. For more about Camp Webb, please see the enclosed flier AND go to www.campwebb.org. Registration will be open soon!
Staff
For Job Descriptions and Applications for being on staff, click here.
Dates
June 29-July 6 Staff Training
July 7-8 Counselor-in-Training Camp and Volunteer Training
July 10-15 Leadership Camp (9th - 12th Grade)
Intermediate Camp (3rd - 6th Grade)
July 17-22 Mixed Age Camp (3rd - 7th Grade)
July 24-29 Middle School and Senior High Camp (7th -12th Grade)
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| 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. Upcoming Training: January 22 at St. Thomas of Canterbury in Greendale 9 a.m. - Noon 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.
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.
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Godly Play Training in the Diocese of Fond du Lac
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 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). |
| 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. |
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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, |
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The Rev. Shannon Kelly
Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation
The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
414-272-3028 x 114
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