Our Ridiculously Awesome Acolyte Festival was a terrific day, with nearly 100 participants! We would like to thank everyone who came, especially Bishop Miller, Rev. Tom Warren, Bryce Boddie and Rev. Dr. Jonathan Grieser. Thank you to everyone who came and made our day Ridiculously Awesome!

See below for a few pictures from the Festival, but you can see many more in our Facebook album, or find others (or post your own) using the hashtag #DioMilAF14

Diary of a Spring Break
(The St. Francis House Trip to Austin)

The Rev. Jonathan Melton

We arrived in Austin late Monday afternoon and settled into our accommodations for the week at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. The Taiz� event didn't begin until Friday, but our trip the year before in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, had taught us that Taiz� gatherings are about reconciliation. Living with the Lakota in Pine Ridge for four days, it was not hard to see both the wounds and the place for reconciliation in our common life. Texas would be more difficult, I thought, not because there wouldn't be wounds, but because there would be so many, some prominent, others less obviously visible. So we came to Austin early to learn a context for reconciliation.

Weeks before our arrival, a friend of mine who lives in Austin had listened patiently as I explained our group's desire to put reconciliation in context. "Immigration, incarceration, and homelessness," she said after some thought. My friend has experience working in a couple of the downtown ministries; she helped us begin to piece together a plan.

Read more on Jonathan's blog

Opportunity for Young Adults: Camp Webb Staff

Staff Needed For Camp Webb 2014: "Feed My Sheep"

Camp Webb brings together kids ages 8 -18 for a week of fun and formation, en- countering Christ by living and learning in God's creation. At Camp, we worship and grow together in faith, and have fun on the camp's lake, archery range, rock wall, and ropes course. This year's theme will teach campers about poverty and hunger and send them back to their communities inspired to take action.

We're looking for energetic, creative high-school graduates who love kids and are comfortable taking on a leadership role to join our staff. Staff will be compensated for their two-week commitment, which includes one week of training and team building as a staff.
Camp Dates Staff Week: June 15-21 Camp Week: June 22-27
To apply, complete the Staff Application and Reference Form, which can be found at: http://www.diomil.org/forming-disciples/camp-webb/

Living a Holy Lent: Diocesan Lenten Study Concludes

Thank you to all our speakers during Lent: The Very Rev. Kevin Carroll, The Rev. David Simmons, The Rev. Carol Smith, The Rev. Dr. Paula Harris, Mrs. Heidi Ropa, The Rev. Dr. Miranda Hassett and The Rt. Rev. Bishop Steven A. Miller. Thank you to all the individuals and congregations who participated with us during this season and study. We'd love to hear from you about your experience with the study, or if you have pictures from your parish gatherings, please send them to Rev. Carla McCook at mccook@diomil.org

You can view the videos, including the Bishop's video for Holy Week, at http://www.diomil.org/forming-disciples/living-a-holy-lent/, or on our Christian In-Formation Blog.

Vibrant Faith:
21st Century Faith Formation Training Program

Learn how to develop Christian faith formation for all ages and generations in a digital, connected world.
Join more than 1200 church leaders - pastors, faith formation leaders, and denominational leaders - who have participated in 2012 and 2013.
Join us in creating the future of Christian faith formation where all ages and generations can embrace a life-transforming faith.

April 28-30 Raleigh, NC - Fairfield Inn RDU Airport/Brier Creek (Only 5 spaces left)

May 5-7 Tampa, FL - Host: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Largo

May 13-15 Minneapolis, MN - Park Plaza Hotel Bloomington

June 12-14 Bozeman, MT - Hilton Garden Inn Bozeman

July 8-10 Dayton, OH - Marriott Courtyard
University of Dayton

July 15-17 Kansas City, MO - Hampton Inn Country
Club Plaza

July 29-31 Princeton, NJ - NJ Health Association
Conference Center Princeton

August 5-7 Avon, CT (Hartford, CT) - Avon Old Farms Hotel

More information and registration at Vibrant Faith's website.

Women's Mini Week 2014 Registration

Registration has been posted for 2014 Women's Mini Week, an annual retreat for adult women, offering refuge, friendship, relaxation, and fun. Women's Mini Week is held at Camp Lakotah in Wautoma, WI. This year's retreat will be held August 7 - 10.
Register here:
http://www.womensminiweek.org/Registration.html

Send In Your Articles For 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 . We love to receive the "before" announcements and also the "What Happened" after the event.

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.

Christian Formation Staff

The Rev. Carla McCook is the Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation. She works with clergy, laity, parishes and convocations to promote and sustain formation and education. 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, and Youth at Convention. She is available to lead a teaching series or preach on request. She is passionate about partnering with you for Christian Formation. Contact her at McCook@diomil.org or (414)272-3028 ext 116.

The Rev. REGS Scheeler is a deacon of this diocese 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 he tries to incorporate into all he does.
He can be reached at dnregs@wi.rr.com or (262)827-9378.

Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee | | info@diomil.org | http://www.diomil.org
Milwaukee, WI 53202