supporting congregations
creating disciples
building community
nurturing growth
Please forward this on to any and all you you think might be interested, including teachers, volunteers, parishioners, vestry, lay leaders and friends! |
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| Upcoming Events |
Family Fun Saturdays
February 16, 2013 9am-3pm St. Dunstan's, Madison
Women's Lenten Retreat
Saturday, March 9th
Redemptorist Retreat Center, Oconomowoc
9am-3pm
Camp Webb
Open House, June 2, 2013 10am-2pm
Camp Webb Camp Week
June 16-21, 2013
Summer Mission Trip
June 30-July 6
Irvine, Kentucky
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church and Appalachian Ministries
All Soul's Youth Event
Nov 2-3, 2014 at Zion, Oconomowoc |
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Camp Webb 2013 | |
For more information go to http://www.diomil.org/ministries/christian-formation/camp-webb/
Intersted in being on staff?
2013 Staff Applications are available. See website link above.
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| Resource Center | |
If you are looking for ideas, curricula, books or videos, please visit our Resource Center which is located at 804 E Juneau Ave, Milwaukee.
If you would like more information or if you would like to check out any materials, please let us know! Rev. Carla McCook is the Resource Center Coordinator and you can find her at mccook@diomil.org .
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Find us on Facebook!
Visit us on the web at |
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| Famiy FUN Day presented by Diocesan Christian Formation |
All Kinds of Family FUN Saturday!
Fun and family time for Parents, Grandparents, Teens and Children - Any ages, size, or shape of family! Take this day to spend some quality family time together, learn together, play, eat and make lasting memories together!
Sat, Feb 16, 2013 - One Day Only!
9AM-3PM: St. Dunstan's, Madison,
University Ave, Madison, WI, 53705
Register on-line at:
http://dioceseofmilwaukee.wufoo.com/forms/family-fun-day/
"Spend a day exploring how to live out our faith in one of the most familiar and most challenging contexts: our family life. During the day, kids, youth, and parents will explore central themes as separate groups; then come together as families to eat, share, play and create.
In the morning session, we'll explore the voices we use in our household: How do we talk to each other? How well are we connected? Who gets a say? How well do we listen? In the afternoon session, we'll look at the concept of "discipline" and how it relates to "discipleship" - everyone in our family is learning and growing; how can we do it together, in love?
We hope you'll end the day with some new tools and new ideas for daily life!"
Sample schedule:
9am - Gathering together
Family Puzzlers
Break-Out Session one: Parents' Group, TEENS' Group, and Kids' Group
Family Style Lunch
Family Craft - creating a conversation starter
Family play time - bring your winter gear to play in the snow
Break-Out Session two: Parents' Group, TEENS' Group, and Kids' Group
Closing Gathering
Each day is limited to ten (10) families. Register early! Registration begins November 30, 2012. Registration for January date is due by Jan. 7th. Registration for February date is due by Feb. 4th. Registrations will close when the event date is full, so early registration is encouraged.
Register on-line at:
http://dioceseofmilwaukee.wufoo.com/forms/family-fun-day/.
Cost is $10 per person or $33.75 per family.
Send check, payable to Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, to 804 E Juneau Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202, Attn: Rev. Carla McCook. All checks due one week prior to event date.
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A Concert to Shelter - Support Hebron House | |
A Concert to Shelter
A musical event in support of Hebron House
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When: |
Where: | |
Sunday, February 17, 2013
3:00 PM |
First United Methodist Church
121 Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha |
Participants include the Choirs and Handbell Choirs from:
St. Joseph's Catholic Church St. Luke's Lutheran Church
St. Matthias Episcopal Church First United Methodist Church
The Children's Choir of Waukesha Women's Choir and featuring:
First Methodist's Trombone Choir
Grand finale including all performers.
Become a founding sponsor with a gift of $100 or more by February 1st.
Make Checks Payable to FUMC - memo "Hebron House"
A free will offering will be collected.
All proceeds go to Hebron House
and their efforts to shelter.
Sponsored by:
First United Methodist Church 
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Women's Lenten Retreat - Sat, Mar 9, 9am-3:30PM, $45 | |
 PRAYING AS THOUGH YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT...
...BECAUSE IT DOES!
A Women's Retreat
Exploring the impact of women's prayers, answered prayer & unanswered prayer, through the example of Hannah.
Saturday, March 9th, 2013
9AM - 3:30PM
Cost $45 (includes lunch)
Held at the Redemptorist Retreat Center 1800 North Timber Trail Lane, Oconomowoc, WI 53066-4897
Join us for a one day retreat. We will study and pray together as women, discovering how we pray as women. How do we expect to receive answers to prayers, how do we respond to unanswered prayer and sharing our prayer experiences with one another. Space is limited so register early.
Hosted by St. Mary's, Dousman and the Diocesan Office of Christian Formation
Retreat Leaders: Rev. Carla McCook, Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation, and Mrs. Sandi Smith, Masters of Theology, Sacred Heart Theological Seminary.
Registration Form: Please make check payable to the Diocese of Milwaukee, memo: women's retreat. Mail check and Medical Release Form to Diocese of Milwaukee, Attn: Rev. Carla McCook, 804 E Juneau Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202. All registrations due by February 28, 2013.
Name: _______________________ Phone: _________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
Email: ___________________________Mobile: _________________________
Parish & City:_______________________________________________________
Medical Information and Release Form
Name: ___________________________________
Doctor's Name: ________________________ Phone: ____________________________
Medical Conditions: [physical/emotional] Yes or No If yes, please explain:
________________________________________________________________________
Currently taking any medications: Yes or No
Please list current medications: ______________________________________________
Allergies to medications [include over-the-counter drug allergies]: __________________
________________________________________________________________________
Please list all dietary restrictions [vegetarian/vegan, gluten intolerant, food allergies, etc.]:
________________________________________________________________________
Allergies (other): _______________________________________________
Emergency Contact: _____________________________________
Relationship: _____________ Phone Numbers: (h) ____________ (c) _______________
Insurance Information:
Company name and address: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Group number: ____________________ ID number: ____________________________
Participant's Authorization:
I understand that The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee and the Redemptorist Retreat Center does not provide medical/accident insurance coverage for me, and I accept the responsibility to provide any needed coverage. Further, in the event an injury should occur and require medical assistance, I give permission to any physician to render appropriate medical care, hospitalize and order anesthesia and/or surgery as deemed necessary. I give permission for the information on this form to be shared with any necessary parties for my health. The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee and the Redemptorist Retreat Center qualifies as charitable immunities.
Participant's signature: _________________________________ Date: ____________ |
| CAMP WEBB: EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION BEFORE APRIL 1st | |
Camp Webb 2013: Living the Adventure with Living Compass
Summer Camp is just around the corner!
Camp Webb 2013will be held June 16th-21st for all age groups at Lutherdale Camp, Elkhorn, WI
N7891US Highway 12, Elkhorn, WI
Get the Early Bird Rate for Early Registration!
Register before April 1st and camp is $375.00
This summer join the adventure at Camp Webb! All campers, ages entering 3rd grade through 12th grade can attend this exciting week of outdoor diocesan ministry. We will be on adventure quests with maps and compass to discover the treasure we have in Christ: Our Strength, Our Minds, Our Hearts and Our Souls. {"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, with all your mind and all your being; and love your neighbor as yourself." Paraphrase from Deuteronomy 30:6 & Luke 10:27}. YOU can give Camp for Christmas! You can send you money to send a grandchild or a child from your congregation or simply give so that we can give scholarships to kids who need help to get to camp. Send you checks, payable to the Diocese of Milwaukee, to 804 E Juneau Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202, Attn: Camp Webb. Early Registration for Camp begins Dec 1, 2012 at http://www.diomil.org/christian-formation.
You can check out all the information, day schedule, registration and deadlines on the website http://www.diomil.org/ministries/christian-formation/camp-webb/
Camper Registration Here
NEW Camp Staff Application Here
RETURNING Camp Staff Application Here |
| Diocesan Mission Trip to Irvine Kentucky, Appalachian Missions | |
Diocesan Mission Trip to Irvine, KentuckyAppalachian Ministries,
June 30-July 6, 2013 Cost: $325.00
30 Teams Members
Intergenerational TeamOpen to Youth & Adults (youth must be age 13 & 7th grade in fall of 2013).
Applications now online!
We will be serving the Appalachian community of Irvine, Kentucky. We leave Sunday, June 30 and arrive that evening at our housing facility.Monday we begin work. We have TWO work project focuses. Our first will be leading a children's day camp at our housing facility for the children in the community. Our second project will be to repair roofs, and make house repairs for the community. We will also be collecting school supplies throughout the diocese to take with us to give to the children of Irvine. After devastating tornadoes in 2012 many of the supplies were wiped out. We have a chance to help the children and schools start 2013 on the right "note-book".
We also need Prayer Partners throughout our diocese. These are people who cannot go on the trip but are willing to make a commitment to pray for our team members and the Irvine community we will serve while the team prepares to go and during the trip and our return. To be a prayer partner, contact Rev. Carla McCook at mccook@diomil.org .
This is a Diocesan trip. We, the people of the Diocese of Milwaukee and all participate in many ways. We would like to see as many involved as possible.
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What's New in the Resource Center | |
Living Compass Booklet
Lent 2013
This book can be used by individuals, small groups, or congregations to help make their Lenten season more meaningful.
Download FREE
Single Page Format: 28 pages that you can view on your computer, mobile device, or print out for reading. click here
Booklet Format: This file is for individuals or congregations with printing capabilities to print in booklet format. It will need to be folded and stapled.
click here
Permission is given to distribute and print as many copies as needed.
2."Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor" by Jana Riess. This is available for a Lenten study on your Kindle.  Check it out! |
| Childrens' Worship Bulletins - Epiphany Bulletins Are Ready for your Printing!" | |
We are trying something new on our new website with our Children's bulletins. The bulletins are on the page, Children, and listed for the liturgical season.
This will be a trial phase. If you are using the bulletins and would like to see us continue we NEED your response. Email Rev. Carla McCook and let her know, mccook@diomil.org, to keep the bulletins coming.
If this is not a helpful ministry let Rev. Carla know this, too.
Christian Formation Office wants to hear from you! |
| Safeguarding God's Children & Safeguarding God's People In-Class Trainings and On-line | |
Safeguarding God's Children
The First Training for 2013:
Sat, Feb 23 - 9am-Noon
St. Matthew's, Kenosha
Use the REGISTER HERE link above to register for ALL trainings - classes and on-line! It's Quick and Easy!
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.
SGC is also available for renewal of certificate on-line!
Please make note of all who are required to have certified SGC training : clergy, vestry, Vacation Bible School Teachers and Volunteers, Youth Group Leaders and Volunteers, Sunday School Teachers, Church Staff, and those going on trips with youth.
SAFEGUARDING GOD'S PEOPLE is now on-line! This is mandatory for all cleargy, vestry, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, church staff and volunteers who work with adults. On-line is the only way to take this SafeGuarding portion. |
| REGS' WRITINGS: | |
As Lent approaches I start to plan want is going to be my Lenten discipline? When I was in college I did fast during Lent, my fellow religious students would tease me and say that giving up dorm food should not count as a sacrifice. After I was married I gave up eating popcorn during Lent, this was a snack I had every night. My wife complained that giving up popcorn was what I choose to give up, why should she have to give it up also, her discipline was giving up chocolate. So I switched to french fries. We continue to follow meatless Fridays during Lent, but we enjoy Fish fry's, and seafood so it really is not a sacrificial discipline.
Several years ago I was talking to my spiritual director and she suggested instead of giving something up during Lent I should take something on. She even suggested that maybe I could choose something that I may want to continue after Lent. That first year I decided that I would reread the Sunday Gospel at least twice the following week and pray a short prayer that went like this. "Dear Lord show me why this reading should speak to my today, 2000 years after it was written." That lent started me on a discipline I use every time I prepare a sermon or a Bible study class.
Over the years I have followed the practice of adding a disciple during Lent, and then continued using it after Lent. Some example are adding breath prayers to my prayer life, adding vesting prayers before a service, reading a book or author that I just never seemed to have time for. These are just a few examples of things I have done in the past.
Last year I a read a 10-volume set on the History of the Church, which had been sitting on the bookshelves in my office for about 5 years. This year I plan to read a book on the different religions of the world, this book is in the resource center, and the author of the book is Robyn Lebron, the wife of Rev. Robert Lebron, priest at Trinity, Janesville. The good news is my wife will not have to go popcorn free for Lent.
As Lent approaches consider adding something to your Lenten discipline. If you find this to be a beneficial of spending your Lent, I would like to hear from you about it.
Your servant in Christ,
Dcn. REGScheeler
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Websites, Facebook and Twitter. OH MY!
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In today's social media age we at the diocesan office are trying to be more social media savvy. The Diocese is in the process of developing a new website which is schedule to go "live" November 2012. Christian Formation is excited that we are already using Facebook and Twitter to get the Formation Message out!
Please like our Facebook page 
and our Twitter feed is here: 
These medias not only provide us a place to talk about what is happening in the Christian Formation office but it also gives us a space to give you many new resources that are not talked about in our e-News.
Follow or Like us today!
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| Send your articles into the Christian Formation E-News |
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 Carla at mccook@diomil.org . ALL ARTICLES MUST BE IN NO LATER THAN THE 7TH OF EVERY MONTH. Thank you for your ministry, for your commitment to Christian Formation, and for sharing your gifts with the church. |
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Christian Formation Staff | 
Rev. Carla McCook is the Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation. She works in conjunction with clergy, laity, parishes and convocations to create, promote, sustain and formation and education. Her mission is to resource, equip and empower formation leaders of all ages throughout our diocese. Diocesan Christian Formation has oversight for Resource Center, Safeguarding God's Children & People, Education for Ministry, Camp Webb and Outdoor Ministries, Life Long Christian Formation Commission, Youth & Family Commission, Youth@Convention, teaching & preaching around the diocese. She is available to lead a teaching series or preach on request. She is passionate about partnering with you for Christian Formation. She is available at McCook@diomil.org or (414)272-3028 ext 116.
 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 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. He can be reached at dnregs@wi.rr.com or (262)827-9378. |
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The Rev. Carla McCook Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee McCook@diomil.orgBishop's Deacon for Christian Formation
The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
414-378-7390
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