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Welcome to E-NEWS, the diocese of Milwaukee's weekly electronic newsletter. If you are not already a subscriber or wish to add or change e-mail addresses, please click on the "Join Our Mailing List" icon. We invite you to send articles, photos, and news to info@diomil.org so that we may include them in the E-NEWS.
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A message at Thanksgiving from Bishop Miller
We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine and soft, refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for all his love.
Dear Friends in Christ,
Fans of musical theater will recognize the words above as one of the songs from the musical Godspell, which is currently in revival on Broadway. Episcopalians will also recognize them as words from our rich tradition of hymnody. (Hymn 291, The Hymnal 1982)
As I drove in to work one day I heard a recording of this song from the recent revival of the play and then not liking the next song that came on the radio turned to NPR and heard a report on how more stores were planning to open on Thanksgiving Day this year. As I heard this, in the back of my mind was a conversation I had the day earlier with some clergy about Thanksgiving services both in parishes and as ecumenical occasions. Part of the discussion was on how few people attended these services and how many Community Thanksgiving services had also decreased in attendance over the years. I began to think that perhaps this was because, for many of us, the challenges of agriculture, and gratitude for a fruitful harvest on which our life depends, is something that is not a part of our experience. While many of us enjoy home grown vegetables, our life does not depend on the harvest of our own agricultural labors.
Recently, I read a book entitled, "Cultivating Reality; How the soil might save us" by Ragan Sutterfield. It was one of the best theological works I have read in quite some time. What struck me most about the book was . . . read more
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Please Help Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) respond to Super Typhoon Haiyan
 | In the midst of devastation, hope is born
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(from ERD) On the morning of November 8, 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the central Philippines, causing widespread damage and knocking out power and communications lines. Episcopal Relief & Development's local partner, the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, is assessing needs and determining how best to respond. Your donation to the Philippines Fund will enable Episcopal Relief & Development to support the Episcopal Church in the Philippines as they respond to Super Typhoon Haiyan. Read more - Bulletin insert
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Minutes of 2013 Diocesan Convention available
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Pictured at the 2013 Convention are (L-R) Deacon Marge Kiss, Canon David Pfaff (behind podium) and Bishop Steven Miller .
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Read all about it! Minutes of the 2013 Diocesan Convention, prepared by Deacon Marge Kiss, official recorder of minutes, have been posted on the diocesan website. You may also view photos and other convention materials on the website's Convention page.
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A gathering of bishops: (L-R) The Rev. Jeff Barrow; The Rt. Rev. Steven Miller; The Most Rev. Jerome E. Listecki. (Karen Buker photo)
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Ecumenical partnership celebrated
On November 3, 2013 The Rev. Jeff Barrow, Bishop The Milwaukee LARC Community (Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic) joined The Rt. Rev. Steven A. Miller, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee; The Most Rev. Jerome E. Listecki, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee; and The Rev. Jeff Barrow, Bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, for Evening Prayer at All Saints' Episcopal Cathedral in Milwaukee in recognition of their ecumenical partnership and commitment to one another. T
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You are invited to attend the next Madison area  Julian Gathering on December 11, 2013
Madison-Area Julian Gathering
Wednesday, December 11, 7:15 - 9:00 PM
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church
6205 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53705
We welcome everyone who is interested in learning more about contemplative spirituality in the Christian tradition. We meet monthly for contemplative prayer for twenty-five minutes, after which we discuss a reading from Julian of Norwich, a 14th Century English mystic who has been called "a theologian for our time." These gatherings are supported by the Order of Julian of Norwich, a contemplative monastic order in the Episcopal Church. We would love to have you join us. If you have questions, call Susan Fiore, AOJN at (608) 845-2413 or e-mail at slfiore@mac.com
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 | Canon Garvey
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Homosexuality, Theology, and the Bible: A day with Canon Victoria Lynn Garvey
Last summer our church's General Convention approved for trial usage a provisional rite to bless same sex unions. This summer the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. Currently, thirteen states and the District of Columbia legally recognize same-sex marriage. In many of our churches there are interesting discussions going on about these issues. Have you ever wondered what people mean when they talk about what "the Bible says" about issues of homosexuality?
Have you ever wondered what Jesus said about homosexuality? Have you ever wondered how our Baptismal promise to "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves" applies to people who are gay or lesbian? Have you wondered what the Episcopal Church has to say about gay and lesbians to gays and lesbians?
This is a day to bring your questions, an open mind, and a willingness to learn, to explore and to share. Please plan to
spend the whole day if you come.
Where: St. Christopher's Episcopal Church (there is ample parking) located at 7845 North River Road, River Hills, WI 53217.
When: November 16, 2013 from 9:30AM to 3:00PM
Cost: $20 to cover the cost of lunch and materials
Register: Fill out the slip below with a $20 check made out to St. Christopher's with "Garvey" in the memo line. more info
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Help the Hospitality Center make a difference
 The Hospitality Center, a ministry of the Diocese of Milwaukee at St. Luke's, Racine, is holding an open house from 8am on Saturday,December 7 to 8am Sunday, December 8, 2013. Walking tours (30 minutes in length) of the Center at 9am, 12 pm, 3pm, 6pm and 9pm will give visitors a chance to see and hear how the homeless survive in our midst.
This is the Center's primary fundraiser and Thrivent Federal Credit Union has generously agreed to match financial contributions received, dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. You can help by sending a check payable to Hospitality Center to The Hospitality Center, P. O. Box 250972, Milwaukee, WI 53225. Checks may also be dropped off at the Center during the 24-hour fundraising event.
Donations of bottled water, ground coffee, non-perishable food items, hats, mittens, gloves, socks, coats, etc. are also needed and will be gratefully received.
Your support of the Hospitality Center's 24-hour fundraiser will allow the Hospitality center to continue caring for those who are hungry, thirsty, tired, cold, ignored, passed by and too often forgotten.
Questions? Contact the Center's director, The Rev. Kevin Stewart at clerickevin@me.com or (414) 405-5619.
The Hospitality Center's location is 614 Main Street, Racine, WI 53403.
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 "Ask A Theologian" is back! The Rev. Wayne Fehr publishes new book answering questions about the Christian faith
Tracing the Contours of Faith is a collection of brief essays written in response to specific questions about the Christian faith-vision of reality. It is addressed to Christian believers who are feeling the ambiguities and challenges of a life of faith. Many of them are uncertain about the meaning of the faith which they profess. The familiar words that they hear in sermons and prayers seem to belong to a reality far removed from the actual world they live in. They need to discover a meaning that seems related to their own life experience and their general knowledge of the world.
To meet this kind of need, Dr. Fehr wrote between 1999 and 2006 a monthly column called "Ask A Theologian" for the newspaper of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. Readers were invited to send in specific questions about the beliefs, doctrines and practices of the Church, and he would attempt to answer them.
This material was originally written for members of the Episcopal Church, but most of it is equally relevant to Christians of other traditions. The author has selected the best of these columns and revised them for publication in the belief that they are worth preserving and making available to a wider readership.
Wayne Fehr has been a priest for many years. He is also an academic theologian with a doctoral degree in systematic theology from Yale University. These two vocational commitments-as priest and as theologian-have come together for him in a life-long involvement with the interpretation of Christian faith for the benefit of his fellow believers. At present he serves as Priest Associate at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wauwatosa.
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 DeKoven Center Silent Advent RetreatThe DeKoven Center Silent Advent Retreat on November 22-24, 2013 features Canon Katherine Clark. The Retreat begins Friday at 5 PM with a reception followed by dinner and Compline. Silence ends at Sunday's brunch.Suggested donation is $200 for the retreat. To register for DeKoven events, contact Julia Peyton at 262, 633-6401 ext. 101 or email jpeyton@dekovencenter.org.
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Surviving mural at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-au-Prince
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Bishop Miller joins with Presiding Bishop to ask assistance for people of Haiti rebuilding their earthquake-damaged cathedral
In her letter asking Episcopalians to aid the people of the Diocese of Haiti in their struggle to rebuild their earthquake damaged cathedral, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori notes that "Many Episcopalians, particularly in the United States part of our Church, have wondered aloud about the priority of building a cathedral when a number of Haitians are still hungry, un-housed, and without funds to send their children to school. Yet the people of Haiti are asking for this Cathedral. It is their priority." Bishop Miller explains in his letter supporting the Presiding Bishop's appeal, "The Cathedral Church of our largest diocese is much more than a center of worship. It is a center of ministry and a sign of presence."
Please take a few moments to read both Bishop Miller's letter and the Presiding Bishop's letter. They are available in a combined pdf document by clicking here. |
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 info@diomil.org ! See you next week! Sincerely, Barb
Barbara Klauber
Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
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