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. We wish you all every happiness in this New Year!
Barbara Klauber, Editor
(Please Note: E-NEWS will be published the week of Christmas)
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 Lenten Study on Line with Bishop Miller
Join Bishop Miller on a journey into the 4 passion narratives this Lent. Bishop Miller will lead a live on-line discussion Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. (2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/25). The study will be webcast from All Saints' Cathedral. Joining Bishop will be a guest scholar. Dean Kevin Carroll will be the moderator and take questions live via Facebook and Twitter. You can join in via Google Hangout. Email Dean Carroll at Kevin.Carroll@ascathedral.org for an invite and more information.
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Haiti Project - Lenten Opportunities
Bishop Miller will be asking parishes to keep our brothers and sisters in Haiti in their prayers and in their hearts during lent.
It will also be a time to learn more about the good work of the Haiti Project, and to raise much needed funds for the work to continue
A number of parishes have already begun thinking how they can focus on Haiti. Resources to support these efforts will soon be available on our newly reconstructed website.These include:
Lenten Meditations - Water for our Spiritual and Physical Life , These are weekly medita tions based on scripture that were compiled by parishioners at Christ Church Whitefish Bay and graciously shared with the Haiti Project.Through the focus on water, Christ Church has raised over $3100.00 which was used to repair badly leaking cisterns.
Lenten Calendar - This daily walk through lent offers specific ways to better understand how life in Haiti differs from that here. This is especially helpful for children, but adults will learn as lot as well!
Craft templates and instructions - these are helpful materials for children and include instructions for constructing a tap-tap box. Tap-tap is the term Haitians use for public transportation vehicles and can work much like the UTO offering boxes.
Ideas for special events - Maybe your parish would like to hold a rice and beans diner, to raise money for clean water. Resources will be available, but your parish may have it's own ideas. Feel free to be creative and then share your ideas and success with others!
Speaker forum - invite a missioner who has traveled to Haiti to come present at your education hour or speak during a service or special event. Contact Heidi Ropa, Haiti Project Coordinator at haitiproject14@gmail.com to schedule.
Sell Singing Rooster Coffee - The Haiti Project receives $3.00 from every bag of Singing Rooster coffee sold in the diocese. If you already sell coffee - commit to selling more! Use it as a gift for friends, sell at your workplace, serve at coffee hour., etc. Contact singingrooster.org and Molly Nicaise will send you materials needed to promote sales for this important source of income to the project
We ARE making a difference in Jeannette. We can all be a part of this meaningful ministry.
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CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS
 Leadership Day & Treasurer's Day March 7, 2015
Make sure your parish is represented at the Diocese of Milwaukee's "Leadership Day" for Vestries, Treasurers, and Clergy which takes place March 7, 2015. A representative from Church Pension Group will be on-hand to answer questions for treasurers and best practices for Vestries will be presented. Click HERE for REGISTRATION FORM / MORE INFO. Questions? Contact Peggy Bean at bean@diomil.org .  Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) Winter Webinars for parish Lay Leaders and Clergy As part of ECF's on-going efforts to assist congregations in developing their leadership and financial resources, they are offering a wide range of web conferences for clergy and lay parish leaders this. There is no cost to participate in ECF's web conferences and all lay and clergy leaders are welcome to participate. Topics include vestries, team leadership, capital campaigns, endowments, stewardship, and more. Click HERE to check out their offerings!
Conflict Management & Reconciliation course offered at Nashotah House as part of 2015 Winter Symposium
 | The Frances Donaldson Library at Nashotah
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Nashotah House Theological Seminary offers continuing educational opportunities that are open to the public as well as to Nashotah House students.
Among the courses offered in 2015 is a Winter Symposium on 'Conflict Management & Reconciliation' February 27 and 28, 2015. Facilitators: David Lee Jones, ThD and Peter Steinke, ThD. For more information and to register, please visit Nashotah House's web site at:
http://www.nashotah.edu/academics/winter-symposium-2015/
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 Trinity Institute 2015: Creating Common Good
You are invited to attend Trinity Institute (TI2015) - an annual conference that takes place in New York City -- but you can attend at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Dousman! All the elements of the NYC conference will be brought to you via webcast. This year's conference takes place on the pervasive, overwhelming issue of economic inequality. TI2015 speakers include The Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed. They have real-world experience making change happen. They will provide us with hopeful, practical tools we can use to make a positive economic impact.
There will be two opportunities to attend via webcast:
February 7 (9am-Noon) and February 9 (6pm - 8:30pm)
Cost $25/participant. For more information and to register click HERE.
Questions? Contact The Rev. Carla McCook, Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation & Ministry at mccook@diomil.org.
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 Rest in Peace
Many will remember The Rev. Harry Walsh, who served for over a decade as rector of Christ Church, Delavan. Fr. Walsh died last week and The Rev. Bill McLemore (Church of the Holy Communion, Lake Geneva) has kindly provided the following obituary:
The Rev. Harry Joseph Walsh, Jr., Rector of Christ Church, Delavan, 1987-1998, died January 17th, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Fr. Walsh was born November 1, 1935 to Harry J. and Gladys (Carlson) Walsh, Sr., in Chicago, Illinois. He served as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church from 1950-1962, and was received into the Episcopal Church in 1978. Before coming to Delavan, Walsh served parishes in Prospect Heights, Palatine, and Pontiac, Diocese of Chicago. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis (Drazine) Walsh of Elkhorn and six grown children. Fr. Walsh, late in life, affiliated with the Bread of Life Charismatic Episcopal Church in Dousman, Wisconsin, and the Most Rev. Michael Davidson, it's bishop, conducted the Mass of Christian Burial in this parish, Thursday, January 22nd, 11:00 A. ________________________________________ We have also learned of the recent death of The Rev. Don Kuhlman, a deacon of the Diocese of Milwaukee. He died Sunday night, January 18, 2015 after being in failing health for some time. He was ordained by Bishop White in 1998 and served at Trinity, Janesville, with Fr. Bob Bramlett. After spending a number of years in Rockford, IL he returned to this diocese where he assisted at Trinity on occasion. He was deeply interested in contemplative prayer and founded Trinity's contemplative prayer group. A memorial service will be held at a later date yet to be determined. Please pray for the repose of Don's soul and for his family. (Thanks to Deacon Evelyn Payson for providing this information)
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Public invited to Lenten Series at Nashotah House
 Lenten Soup and Study Series: Bach's Passion OratoriosPlease join us on Wednesdays during Lent, from 6-8 PM, for warm fellowship and enlightening instruction. Gather at 6 PM in the Breck Refectory for a simple dinner of hot soup, fresh bread and a beverage before proceeding to Adams Hall for the evening's lecture and musical selections. (Both venues are located in Nashotah House's DeKoven Commons, where ample parking is provided on the north side of the building.) Presented by the Rev. Dr. Daniel Westberg, Professor of Ethics and Moral Theology, each week's lesson will delve into background and analysis of the biblical narratives which provide the framework for Bach's St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion oratorios. For more information and to register for this event (free to the public) click HERE. Help publicize with bulletin insert. |
 A Christmas movie at St. Alban's, Sussex!
As planning began in early November for our traditional Christmas pageant, something ventured a little out of the ordinary. Conversations began to develop about doing something different, something bigger, something more fun than dressing up and dragging themselves down the center isle of our sanctuary. The kids of St. Alban's have shown themselves to be pretty amazing. They decided they wanted to make a movie...and a commercial. They wanted to tell the story of Christ's birth in a different way, from a different point of view. And they did!!!
Each of the kids chose an animal they thought may have been present in the stable at the time of Christ's birth and then wrote three lines for their character. The lines had to include something their animal would say, and a question and answer about what was happening. They wrote the script together, decided to go on location to a parishioner's barn, chose costumes and then did an amazing job acting out the message of the Gospel. Come Christmas eve instead of all the chaos of getting dressed and on "stage", our kids walked the red carpet, literally! They sat down to watch the premiere. At the time of announcements, Fr. Steve Capitelli welcomed them back to the red carpet to receive their "Albans", (which interestingly look just like mini Oscars) for their work sharing the Gospel. These incredible kids shared not only what happened in the stable, but why. They shared who the tiny baby would become and what it would mean to us generations later. They shared the Good News!!!
You can view this charming interpretation of the Christmas story at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsJCqb0uJo8 . What are the kids of St. Alban's up to now? A Pentecost Pageant!! They are supported by a dedicated group off teachers, parents, clergy and other adults who helped them make their Christmas movie a reality - and found themselves truly blessed by the experience.
(Thanks to Kathy Sonier of St. Alban's for this story)
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 | Children of Emmanuel Church, Ramleh, Israel prepare to process
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Presiding Bishop urges parishes to support Church in Jerusalem through Good Friday Offering
Note: Click HERE to download the following letter from the Presiding Bishop, bulletin inserts, and other "Good Friday Offering" resources
Epiphany 2015
My brothers and sisters in Christ:
The Episcopal Church has been in partnership with the Diocese of Jerusalem for a very long time. Since 1922, we have taken an offering in our churches on Good Friday to support the work of the gospel in the
Land of the Holy One. That Land is still the place of deep division and
conflict, more than 2000 years after the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. He and his earthly family suffered under threat of oppressive regimes, fled as refugees to another land, labored to supply their bodily needs in the face of dire economic realities, and he himself was executed as an enemy of the state. All of those realities are present today in the Anglican/Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.
The offering we collect on Good Friday carries on the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, through support for the many ministries of healing, feeding, and teaching among the dioceses of the Province. Refugees are cared for, the sick and injured are healed, the dead are buried, children educated, women empowered by these ministries - and all are welcomed with open arms, like Abraham and Sarah's guests. Jesus cared for all in need, without regard for nationality or creed, and these ministries do the same. It is the work of shalom and salaam, building peace in the hearts of suffering individuals and communities.
I urge you to learn more, to pray for the people of the Land of the Holy One, and to give generously this year. I would encourage us all to use the fast of Lent to focus on the hunger (both spiritual and physical) of these peoples, and contribute out of our abundance and our poverty.
May our offering this year strengthen the bonds among all God's people, and bless each one with concrete and eternal signs of more abundant life.
Your servant in Christ,
Katharine Jefferts Schori (The Most Rev.)
Presiding Bishop
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 Parishes! Now is the time to apply for a Mission and Development grant
The diocesan Mission and Development commission is offering grants to help support parish projects that meet one of the following criteria:
- strengthens the congregation's identity and purpose
- deepens the congregation's engagement with the local community, or
- fosters healthy and effective organizational dynamics within the parish
Click HERE for an application! Questions? Contact Peggy Bean, Canon for Congregations, at bean@diomil.org . |
AROUND THE DIOCESE . . .
Marriage Renewal Event FEB 14 at St. Luke's, Madison Celebrate Valentine's Day Differently... Wonder what you're doing for Valentine's day with your spouse? Consider investing a practical and joyful day to renew your marriage. Renew your vows with an evening service. Conclude the day with a festive slow food dinner. The trainer is Dr. Gayle Reed, who teaches the enhancement of relationships through forgiveness. St. Luke's | 4011 Major Ave | Madison, WI 53716 | 608.222.6921 | stlukesmadison.org To register, click HERE.  Harp Twins to be featured at St. Peter's, Fort Atkinson concert at 4pm on Jan. 25
We are so privileged to have "Harp Twins" Camille and Kennerly Kitt here at St. Peter's to open our 2015 Concert Series. This delightful duo performs original arrangements of traditional and contemporary compositions on acoustic and electric harps. To find out more about them, go to their website at: www.HarpTwins.com. You won't want to miss this unique concert!
 Saint Andrew's, Madison visit to the Saint John's Bible on February 22 Pages from the Saint John's Bible, a handwritten, illuminated (illustrated) bible are currently on display at the Chazen Museum in Madison. At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, Chazen docent and parishioner Donna Peterson, along with the Rev. Dorota Pruski, will lead a private tour of the Saint John's Bible for members of Saint Andrew's and friends. Members of the Diocese of Milwaukee are most welcome to join us. The tour will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. and will end by 2:00. We will meet inside the Chazen Museum, just outside the exhibit hall. Participation will be capped at 30 people, so please sign up in advance by emailing or calling the Rev. Dorota Pruski at associate@standrews-madison.org or (608) 233-3249.  Healing Event in Janesville March 20-21 sponsored by The Order of St. Luke
A Christian interdenominational healing event will be held in downtown Janesville at Trinity Episcopal Church Friday evening and Saturday, 20/21 March 2015. Leader/speaker of the event is Nigel Mumford, who is renowned for his personal approach during his teaching. For more information see: byhiswoundsministry.org Registration of $35 includes Saturday lunch. The first session begins at 6PM Friday evening on 20 March with three sessions planned from 830AM through 5PM on Saturday, 21 March. Additional highlights include praise music with healing prayers specific to needs of attendees. Members of Trinity Janesville Order of St Luke (OSL) chapter have seen Nigel at Geneva, IL last year and felt it important for his message to be shared in southern Wisconsin. Click HERE for registration information and poster. Contact Adel Smith adelsmith1939@gmail.com
/ 608 754 3402 for additional information.
 How Does your Faith Inspire you to Treat the Stranger? Conference addresses question on January 25th
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is partnering with the Brookfield Elm Grove Interfaith Network (BEGIN) to offer an exceptional program on Sunday afternoon, January 25, on "How does your faith inspire you to treat the stranger?" We expect to have presentations of four to five minutes each from representatives of several faith traditions, including: Baha'i, Buddhism, Evangelical Christian, Islam, Islamic Sufism, Judaism, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), Sikhism, Unitarian Universalism and Zoroastrianism. Then people will break into small groups for lively discussion. The event, which is free and open to the public, will run from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church West, 13001 W. North Ave., Brookfield. It will include light refreshments. Reservations are not necessary. For more information, call the Interfaith Conference office at 414-276-9050 FLYER
 Celebrating African Heritage Month at St. Paul's, Milwaukee All are invited to attend Adult Education at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Milwaukee, which takes place at 9:00 AM Sundays in the Community Room. St. Paul's is located at 918 East Knapp Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. February is African Heritage Month and the adult education offerings celebrate this theme.
FEBRUARY 1
LaToya Sykes, Director of Our Next Generation
Since its founding in 1992, Our Next Generation has provided academic tutoring, enrichment programming, and social support to thousands of students in the heart of one of Milwaukee's most challenged communities, with tangible results: better grades, higher high-school graduation rates, improved self-esteem, and positive attitudes toward the future.
FEBRUARY 8
Parishioner Mark Purnell is a descendant of United States Colored Troups (USCT) soldier Louis Purnell, a veteran of the Civil War. Mark will describe the 25 year journey of his "free born" ancestor, repeating a program he gave at the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum in Washington DC last August.
FEBRUARY15
Parishioner Cathy Simpson will present "Reflections: Heritage and History through Prose and Poetry."
 Epiphany with Harry Potter
During the season of Epiphany, the Christian Education program at St. James, Milwaukee will be magical. We will combine our Children's and Adult Education programs for four Sundays to look for God as revealed in popular culture through J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. Led by our own Professor McGonagall (Loraine Garner), we will look at the themes of choice, change, prejudice, and sacrificial love with comprise the heart of the series, as well as literary alchemy and the classic hero's journey. We'll also have some fun with the character names, fantastic magical beasts, and spells. Want to know the meaning of "Expecto Patronum"? Bring your want and prepare to be Sorted! The classes will be held AFTER 10:00AM Service (approximately 11:30AM) on January 11, January 18, February 1 & February 15. St. James is located at 833 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233.
THEOLOGY PUB Sponsored by St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Come and enjoy an evening of food, drinks, friends,
and a little theology. All are welcome.
Enjoy a Christian experience in an informal setting.
Where: Paddy's Pub, 2339 N. Murray Ave.
When: 3rd Tuesday of every month, starting January 20
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/theologypubmilwaukee
Notes: Snacks will be provided, but feel free to bring dinner! |
 IRS Mileage Rates for 2015 One of the most frerquently asked questions received at the diocesan office is, "What's the mileage reimbursement rate?" As of January 1, 2015, the IRS standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck are:
- 57.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, up from 56 cents in 2014
- 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down half a cent from 2014
- 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
For more information, see the IRS website's detailed information on mileage.
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 Camp Webb - Summer 2015 Session
There are still openings in the summer 2015 Camp Webb sessions. Don't delay -- register your child now for this wonderful experience. Cost: $400 / week; some assistance may be available. Click HERE for more information or contact The Rev. Carla McCook at mccook@diomil.org .
Those who do not have children of camp age may wish to consider making camp possible for children who need financial assistance . . . click HERE to donate. Your donation will help us live out our belief that NO child should miss out on camp because of lack of money!
To all who support Camp Webb, whether by attending camp, donating, or volunteering -- THANK YOU!!
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Buying Singing Rooster Coffee Supports
the Haiti Project!
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Haitproject.org, Singing Rooster.org and Peapod.com and St. Michaels' church Barrington, are collaborating to fight poverty in Haiti by expanding the sales of Singing Rooster brand Haitian coffee in the United States.
The test market of Singing Rooster Haitian coffee on Peapod.com will start January 15 and will last approximately one month. The coffee will be available through Peapod in the Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C. metro areas, and will retail $10.50 - $11.80. Over 60% of each bag's price is returned to Haiti: $4.80-5.80 to the Haitian farmers' cooperatives; $0.50 to the HaitiProject.org's education mission in Jeanette Haiti, and $1.00 to the Red Cross's Haiti mission donated by Peapod.
It is important that the test market be successful so that the Haiti mission can maintain adequate funding, so please invite your friends who use Peapod to order. The coffee will be available January 15 - February 15. Please consider supporting this worthy cause by ordering Singing Rooster for your home or church via Peapod.com. Even better for those of us in the diocese of Milwaukee is to buy Singing Rooster through your parish - that way the Haiti Project gets $3.00 per bag! If your parish does not currently sell Singing Rooster Coffee and you would like to consider, please contact Molly Nicaise at haitiproject.org/coffee .
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 Living Compass offers Lenten Resource
Living Compass is pleased to announce our Lenten resource, Living Well through Lent 2015: Practicing Resilience with All Our Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind. Over the last few years, our seasonal devotionals have become an integral part of Living Compass' work of encouraging and supporting congregations in their mission and ministry. Our Lent 2015 edition is filled with thoughtful reflections from leaders across the Episcopal Church, including an introduction by our Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Dr. Katherine Jefferts Schori.
This resource can be used by individuals as a devotional companion for their Lenten journey, and it can also be used as a parish-wide Lenten program. A free program guide, written by the Rev. Shannon Kelly, is available to assist you in your planning and can be used for individual devotions, small groups, a congregational Lenten program, and/or a retreat.
Preview a free sample of the resource or download the free Program Guide on our website
Please note: if there is a financial hardship that would prevent ordering copies of this Lenten resource for your congregation, we have a limited number of devotionals available at no charge. Please contact Edith Braeger (edith@livingcompass.org) at our office for further assistance.
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Pray  ers for Parishes
The following prayer is taken from the first installment of a cycle of prayers for the parishes and ministry clusters of the Diocese of Milwaukee. It was prepared by the diocesan Commission on Mission and Development. To view the complete first installment, including an introduction by the Commission, please click HERE.
January 25- St. Paul's, Beloit
Loving God, we pray for the people of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Beloit. Grant them grace and courage to fulfill their mission of following Christ's teachings, growing spiritually, and serving the needs of their neighbors. Walk with them on every road, familiar or new. Guide, guard, and strengthen them as your people. We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Note: The Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, compiled by the Order of Julian of Norwich, which includes both Diocese of Milwaukee and Diocese of Newala parishes and ministries, is also posted on the diocesan website, along with the Commission on Mission and Development's "Prayers for the Parishes of the Diocese of Milwaukee". Parishes are encouraged to make use of both these resources in their weekly prayers and Services.
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 Commission on Ministry - Important Dates for 2015! Those in the process for ordination or in the process of beginning to discern a vocation will want to note these dates announced by the diocesan Commission on Ministry for 2015:
April 18, 9 - 3 - Applicant interviews for candidacy and ordination to the diaconate, St. Mary's, Dousman June 4, 7 pm - General Information Meeting for those considering discernment, location(s) TBA September 12, 9:30 - 1 - PMDC (Parish Ministry Discernment Committee) training, St. Mary's, Dousman October 23, 5pm - 24, 1pm - MDW (Ministry Discernment Weekend), The DeKoven Cente |
 Mission trips to Haiti . . .
The Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project is organizing mission trips to Jeannette, Haiti, for 2015. The dates for the trips will be March 13-22, tentatively April 17-26 and July 10-19. If there is enough interest, we will plan a fall trip. If you or someone you know is interested in going, please contact Mary Alice Eschweiler, sheppatch@aol.com. Application forms may be found at www.haitiproject.org and should be mailed to Mary Alice at 32022 W. Hwy. K, Hartland, WI. The 9 day trip will include a work program designed around the talents of team members, worshipping at St. Marc's Church. The cost of the trip is $800 plus airfare. More information may be found on the website or by calling 262-367-6564. |
 EFM Mentor Training at DeKoven Center in March
The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee is pleased to announce an Education for Ministry Mentor Training at DeKoven Center in Racine. The training workshop is scheduled to begin on March 12, 2015 at Noon and conclude on March 14 at 1:00 PM.
All sessions will take place at the DeKoven Center located at 600 21st Street in Racine, Wisconsin. Double-occupancy rooms are available for $190 and Single-occupancy rooms for $210. The price of the workshop includes Thursday dinner, all Friday meals, and Saturday breakfast and a bag lunch.
Anyone who has completed the four-year EfM program is eligible to take Mentor Training. All Diocesan Coordinators and current Mentors can be recertified at this training. To register please contact William Stotts at (414) 350-6305 or by e-mail at wmnmex@aol.com
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 Safeguarding God's Children and God's People
Click HERE to register online to take a class or any of our online trainings offered by our diocese in Safeguarding God's Children (SGC) and Safeguarding God's People (SGP). Our next class with a trainer is scheduled for February 28 2015. There are two locations: St. Mark's, Milwaukee and Church of the Good Shepherd, Sun Prairie. Both locations begin at 9am and end at Noon. Remember that all Vestry and Clergy are required to complete all SafeGuarding Children/People courses.
L.E.V. are required to complete SGP and anyone who is in ministry with children and youth are required to complete SGC. All certificates need to be renewed every 5 years. See our website for details on trainings, to register for trainings and to see the Master List of all who have completed trainings since 2003.
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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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