The Rev. Debra Trakel, Rector of St. Christopher's in River Hills, is going to take a group of folks on pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel) next February (2/15-2/24)  We will see the land where Christianity began and explore Jesus' Jewish world.  Estimated costs, air inclusive, are $3,050-$3,300.  The price depends upon how many people choose to go.  The cost includes the on site tour guide, two meals a day, transfers to and from the airport in Israel, and more.  Debra has been working with a professional Israeli travel agent to craft a tour.  She has already been to Israel twice and knows what kind of pace she'd like, and what she wants to be sure people get to see and experience.  We will go on pilgrimage to pray in the places where Jesus prayed, and worship where He worshipped.

If you are interested in this possibility, please talk to Debra soon so that she can save you a space and give you more information.  revdebra@aol.com  414-339-9266 (cell)

Theology Pub, a St. Mark's program,met on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the usual place, Paddy's Pub, due to St. Patrick's Day being on the 3rd Tuesday in March, when Paddy's special room was not available.

Deacon Michelle Mooney of St. Mark's sends the following report on the first months of Theology Pub:

"The evenings have been just great! What better place to talk about church and theology than a nice cozy pub. We have served pizza or Mexican snack food for all and it's really been a hit. Our response continues to be active and a good mix of St. Mark's folks and new friends from the neighborhood. The time of the event remains 6-7:30pm".

On Tuesday, March 24 from 4:30 - 5:30 pm The Rev. Steve Kuhl will be continuing a Crossings Text Study on the upcoming Sunday's Text.

The study group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the Month. An ordained minister in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), The Rev. Steve Kuhl is rector of St. Mark's, South Milwaukee.

Crossings has developed a visual model for organizing the message of a particular text
based on the simple idea of distinguishing law-gospel, the same insight that unlocked the
meaning of Scripture for St. Augustine, Luther and countless other key figures throughout
Church History, both before and after them.    

The study group meets at Ascension Lutheran Church (In the Main Lounge of the Church) at 1236 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215 on Tuesday, March 24 from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. The Crossings Method will be learned by using it on the texts that everyone will hear on Sunday morning. ALL are welcome . . . clergy, lay, preachers or listeners!

Questions? Email The Rev. Steve Kuhl at skuhl1@wi.rr.com or call him at 262-642-6303

For more Info on Crossings go to www.crossings.org 

Some 41 campers are now  registered for Camp Webb's Summer 2015 sessions - we have to extend our cabin space!!  Spaces left for registration: Four (4) for girls and Four (4) for boys. Camp is open to all rising 3rd graders to HS Seniors. Our rising HS Seniors will be Counselors in Training (C.I.T.)  Don't delay -- register your child NOW for this wonderful experience.  Cost:  $450/week; act now . . . we anticipate a waiting list!  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!! 

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. Click here for more information or to join the Lenten Study program on Thursdays during Lent at 7pm!

Sojourner Family Peace Center is the largest nonprofit provider of domestic violence prevention and intervention services in Wisconsin, serving over 9,500 clients each year. Sojourner provides an array of support aimed at helping families affected by domestic violence achieve safety, justice and well-being.  They are seeking volunteers and have asked their network of Milwaukee-metro congregations and community organizations to share the following information in their newsletters.

Volunteer Opportunities: Sojourner Family Peace Center

Women and men are needed days, evenings and weekends to volunteer at Sojourner Family Peace Center.  We offer opportunities to volunteer on the Domestic Violence Hotline, with battered women and their children at our shelter, Sojourner Truth House, with children at Belle Resource Center, and various other opportunities.  A minimum of three (3) hours each week for 6 months is requested.  a 16.5 hour evening training program begins on April 14 and continues on April 16, 21, 23, 28, and 30, 2015 from 5:30 - 8:15 PM.  All 6 evenings are required.  Please call the Sojourner hotline at (414) 933-2722 by April 3, 2015 for further information.  

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 May 2, 2015 at St. Boniface, Mequon; class begins at 9am and ends at Noon. Remember that all Vestry and Clergy are required to complete all SafeGuarding Children/People courses.   FALL Classes with Trainer:

Sat, Sept 19th, 9am-Noon at 2 locations: St. Luke's, Madison and St. John the Divine, Burlington.  

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.

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 begun thinking how they can focus on Haiti.

Lenten Meditations - Water for our Spiritual  and Physical Life , These are weekly meditations 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.

Please 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. 

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