The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee 

 

 
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E-NEWS

 June 22, 2012

       
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E-NEWS

 
 
In This Issue
St. Francis House calls new chaplain
Strawberry Fest & Used Book Sale at St. Mary's, Dousman on Sunday, June 24
Lois Mallach receives Lions Club Award for Hospitality Center work
Benedictine Retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery September 21-23
Madison-Area Julian Gathering at St. Dunstan's...on Wednesday, July 11th
Planned Giving Workshop at 2012 Diocesan Convention
A Season of Civility
"Chillin with Jesus" Women's Miniweek August 16-19, 2012
St. James, Milwaukee to offer adult English classes & summer camp for children
Community of Hope Training Coming Soon
Third Annual Interfaith Day at Miller Park
Women of Faith - October 5-6, 2012
The Long Silent Retreat
WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING?...A Note from the Commission on Global Reconciliation
2012 Parish Challenge Grants
 
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Welcome to the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee's weekly electronic newsletter.  Please  send your articles, photos, and news to [email protected] so that we may include them in E-NEWS.
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St. Francis House calls new chaplain 
The Rev. Jonathan Melton
The Rt. Rev. Steven Miller, Bishop of the Diocese of Milwaukee, and the Board of St. Francis House are pleased to announce that The Rev. Jonathan Melton has accepted the call to be Chaplain of St. Francis House Episcopal Student Center on the UW-Madison campus. In late July he and his wife and their two young children will be moving to Madison from Texas.

 

Jonathan has been rector of St. Christopher's by the Sea, Portland, Texas, since October, 2009. He previously served as Assistant at St. Helena's Episcopal Church, Boerne, also in the Diocese of West Texas. Jonathan is a graduate of Wheaton College, BA (2003) and of the Duke University Divinity School, M. Div. (2007). He was ordained to the priesthood on September 18, 2007. Jonathan's interests include his family, hiking, reading, knitting, and blogging.

 

From Jonathan's blog, Chasing Yoder: "I am very excited for the opportunity to work on a daily basis with university students at a uniquely formative time in their lives; I believe college ministry holds tremendous potential for the development of young, missional leaders committed to following the cross-shaped way of Jesus. My move to St Francis House comes in response to nudges of the Spirit toward campus ministry that Rebekah and I have been sensing in various ways for going on six years now. It's an exciting, unknown step for us."

 

The St. Francis House Board and staff are excited about working with Jonathan.  Weekly St. Francis House services will resume at Grace Church at 5 pm on Sunday, August 26. The meet-the-new-chaplain semester kickoff will be on Sunday, September 9. We can hardly wait!

 
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Strawberry Fest & Used Book Sale at St. Mary's, Dousman on Sunday, June 24 

            

The Strawberry Fest and Used Book Sale at St. Mary's, Dousman on Sunday, June 24 (Noon - 4:30 pm) will also feature Haitian Arts and Crafts, delicious homemade goodies and Live Music, plus Tours of both the Historic and New Church buildings!  ALL proceeds go to The Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project, which supports a parish, elementary school, trade school and medical clinic in Jeanette, Haiti. For more information contact the parish at www.stmarys-dousman.com or call (262) 965-3924 or view flyer .

    

St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Corner of Hwys 18 & 67 in Dousman, WI 53118

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Lois Mallach receives Lions Club Award for Hospitality Center work 
by The Rev. Kevin Stewart

I am delighted to share that Lois Mallach was presented with the Outstanding Community Service Award by Racine Lions Club on Tuesday, June 19.

The award is in recognition of her remarkable contributions to the greater Racine community through her extraordinary leadership, commitment, service and care for the community of our sisters and brothers considered as "the least among us" at the Hospitality Center, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, born and housed at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

 

It has been said that Lois is the "heart" of the Hospitality Center. All at the Hospitality Center see Lois give her heart to God each day. Lois opens her heart to everyone and she lifts our hearts every day.

 

On behalf of all at the Hospitality Center, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Lois and for her ministry in our midst!

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Benedictine Retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery September 21-23
 
Holy Wisdom Monastery invites you to the Benedictine Retreat with the Rev. Dr. Jane Tomaine which takes place  September 21 - 23, 2012.

Reconnect with what is truly important to you as you explore with others how the Rule of Benedict and Benedictine Spirituality can give you tools to meet life's challenges with grace, joy and hope. Learn ways to center your heart in Christ through your day-to-day routines. Take a break from the normal fray of daily responsibilities to refresh and renew. You will receive practical tools that will help you to live in the present moment, create a healthier balance of activities in your daily life, let go of thoughts that frazzle, and connect with God through creative ways during the day.

See the retreat flyer for more information and registration information or contact the monastery at [email protected] or 608-836-1631. 

 

Madison-Area Julian Gathering at St. Dunstan's on Wednesday, July 11th

Madison-Area Julian Gathering

Wednesday, July 11, 7:15 - 9:00 PM

St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church

6205 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53705

  

Julian of Norwich, ca.1342 - 1416, lived in terrible times: the Black Death (bubonic plague) and repeated famines ravaged the English population; Lollards (then considered heretics) were burned at the stake just outside Norwich; the Hundred Years War with France, the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 and other civil strife meant continual warfare and conflict.  Many people and even the Church believed that God was punishing them.  How could anyone who lived at the time believe in the unconditional love of God?

  

"In a medieval church which emphasized God's condemning wrath, Julian wrote, 'There is no wrath in God....It is the most impossible thing that can be that God would be angry, for wrath and friendship are two opposites.'"  (from the Order of Julian of Norwich's website: http://www.orderofjulian.org/julian_of_norwich.html

 

Join us in reading and discussing Julian's "Revelations of Divine Love" and practicing contemplative prayer together.  Our next meeting is July 11.  For more information, contact Susan Fiore, AOJN: [email protected]; (608) 845-2413.

 
Jim Murphy, ECF Senior Program Director

Planned Giving Workshop at  2012 Diocesan Convention 

      
Trustees of Funds and Endowments will sponsor a workshop on planned giving at this year's diocesan convention to be held October 12 & 13, 2012 at the Madison West Marriott Hotel in Middleton, Wisconsin. The workshop is scheduled for Friday, October 12 at 2:00 p.m.

 

The workshop will be presented by Jim Murphy, Senior Program Director for the Episcopal Church Foundation and is described by Jim as follows:

 

Setting Up a Planned Giving Program for Your Parish (for parish leaders attending convention)

  

Take the mystery out of planned giving for your parish. Learn in easy to understand terms how planned giving differs from annual stewardship and capital campaigns, and how your parish can build endowments through wills and life income gifts. After a review of the planned giving instruments, you will learn about the importance of a parish vision, protecting and growing your endowment, and how to invite others to remember your parish through estate and financial planning. You will leave the workshop with a plan of action.

 

Anyone may attend the workshop without cost or registration for convention. We hope to have broad attendance from parishes within the diocese to hear Jim's informative and important presentation.

 
A Season of Civility

      Are you weary of the increasing polarization in our public discourse at the very time we need government leadership to address our biggest problems?

       You can help begin a different kind of conversation in our congregations and communities. We should neither remain silent nor go along with the prevailing bitterness in our politics. We must create "safe spaces" for respectful conversations across the partisan divides. And we must move beyond the walls of our congregations include everyone in our local communities in this dialogue.

      The Wisconsin Council of Churches, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee and other partners are sponsoring a "Season of Civility." Go to the Wisconsin Conference of Churches website on to learn about some of the components of this program and how you and your congregation can participate.

 
"Chillin with Jesus" Women's Miniweek August 16-19, 2012 

"Chillin' With Jesus" is the theme of the annual Women's Miniweek August 16-19. The weekend starts with dinner Thursday (you are welcome to arrive after work on Friday) and finishes with brunch on Sunday.

   

Workshops will include journaling, making a labyrinth, book study, several crafts and many more. Worship will include Eucharist, Taize service, Stations of Creation and much more. Activities will include swimming, pontoon rides, hikes, games, puzzles and many more. Food will be bountiful with no preperation or cleanup required. Our chaplain will be the Rev. Deb Woolsey, St. Alban's, Sussex, who will explore the theme "Chillin With Jesus" throughout the weekend.

brochure    registration form

 

Women's Miniweek is hosted by the Women's Miniweek Team 2011-2012

at Camp Lakotah in Wautoma, Wisconsin.

 
St. James, Milwaukee to offer adult English classes & summer camp for children

St. James Episcopal Church, Milwaukee is seeking ways in which it can continue to serve members of the greater area of Milwaukee. Our community is going to implement a summer camp for kids, as well as English Classes for adults in the fall. English Classes will begin on September 17th, 2012; the program will take place every Monday and Wednesday in the evening. Child Care will be available for adults that are participating in the class. St. James is in need of various resources in order for these programs to effectively serve its participants.

 

Please click for more information on how you can help make these important programs happen and a bulletin insert so you can share this info with your parish.

 
Community of Hope Training Coming Soon 

Community of Hope (COH) is an opportunity to create a Christian community of lay pastoral care givers equipped for pastoral ministry. Pastoral care is when a per-son is being "present" in a listening, compassionate, non-controlling manner to an individual or group for the purpose of consciously or unconsciously representing God to them and seeking to respond to their spiritual needs. COH is united in prayer and shaped by Benedictine spirituality. The 12-week training session includes an annual retreat and continued support for the lay chaplains.

 

St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church is a training center for COH. The next session begins in September on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00p.m. Applications, interviews, and recommendations from pastors or priests are part of this process.  more info

 

       Third Annual

Interfaith Day at Miller Park

  JULY 17, 2012

Join us for the 3rd annual Interfaith Day at Miller Park on July 17.  It's easy for your family, friends, co-workers, congregation or faith community to sign up and sit together.  Bulletin inserts to help you promote participation are attached to this message.  Act now for discounted tickets & T-shirts.

 

For more information, go to www.interfaithconference.org  

 
Women of Faith - October 5-6, 2012
 Gayle Radavich, Director of Christian Education at St Thomas of Canterbury in Greendale, saysYou've never seen Women of Faith like this before!  We all experience good times and bad days, triumphs and tragedies. But no matter what life throws at you, this is what matters: God loves YOU. (Always has. Always will.) You're invited to be part of a very special celebration. Compelling stories, Bible-based teaching, world-class music, unstoppable inspiration, and a few surprises combine for an experience like no other. God loves you! And that means there is always a reason to celebrate.

Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Psalm 33:20-21 NKJV

My friends and I from St Thomas will be attending for the third year. It has been great fun and has brought us closer to one another as a church community, as well as building stronger friendships. I strongly urge you to go to the website, www.womenoffaith.com and watch the video, see the line-up, and order your tickets! There are standard and premium seats, along with discounts for 10 or more people.

Bradley Center - 1001 N Fourth Street, Milwaukee, WI 53203

Friday: 7pm - 10p      Saturday: 9am - 5pm

 

The Long Silent Retreat

 

For CSM Associates and all Friends of DeKoven

June 17-21, 2012

Sunday evening at 5:00 through the Holy Eucharist and Brunch on Thursday

 

Retreat Conductor The Rev. Brian Hastings

Rector, Church of our Saviour, Chicago

Spiritual Director and gifted Retreat Leader

 

The New Monastery: YOU

 

The DeKoven Center

600 - 21st Street, Racine, WI 53403    (262) 633-6401

 

Click  for more information - registration details

 

WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING?

A Note from the Commission on Global Reconciliation

 

Each year our diocese allocates 0.7% of the diocesan budget to support work done to achieve MDGs by parishes and entities within the diocese.    The Eight Millennial Development Goals are  

  1. ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY & HUNGER
  2. ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION
  3. PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN
  4. REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY
  5. IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH6.
  6. COMBAT HIV/AIDS, MALARIA AND OTHER DISEASES
  7. DEVELOP A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT
  8. ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Last year, contributions were sent to 5 projects that are supported by congregations within our diocese. It's time again to consider distribution of the 0.7% to projects that work toward the achievement of the MDGs.

If your congregation is involved in such a project, you may apply for additional funding from the diocese. Applications are due July 1, 2012. For more information, please see our "Letter to Parishes" on the Diocesan website or contact: Deacon Carol Smith at 608-230-6888 or [email protected]    

 
Information on 2012 Parish Challenge Grants 
Parishes in the Diocese of Milwaukee:  Don't forget the 2012  Challenge Grants. The deadline for applying is July 1st! Please see the 2012 Challenge Grant application for detailed instructions on developing a plan to engage an area of 'abundance' stewardship not currently being addressed in your parish -- as well as instructions for applying for funding to help your plan become a reality. The application also lists a number of very helpful resources to help you get started!  Questions?  Contact Peggy Bean, Bishop's Assistant for Congregational Development at [email protected] or (414) 272-3028/ext. 158 or (800) 236-3208/ext. 158.
 

One more time . . . THANK YOU for forwarding this newsletter to parishioners and others who may be  interested and for sending YOUR news/events / photos to [email protected] !
See you next week!
 
Sincerely,
 
Barb

Barbara Klauber
Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee