Saturday, April 18, 2015

St. Paul's Milwaukee  

(The Rev. Steven Teague, Rector)

9:30 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Topic of Reflection:  SHARING OUR FAITH STORIES

Retreat Preparation:  Prior to arrival, think about the time in your life when "God" became more than a word for you.

The agenda is as follows:

9:30 a.m.            Registration

10 a.m.               Program

12 noon              Order of Service for Noonday

12:15                   Lunch

12:30                   Business Meeting

1:15 p.m.            Holy Eucharist and Healing Service

2:15 p.m.            Adjournment

Cost:  $15 for program and two meals. Scholarships are available.

Registration:  Mail registration and check to Treasurer Liz Mustin at N70W236344 Prides Road, Sussex, WI 53089

Training, Encouraging, Nurturing, Supporting  (TENS)

TENS' vision is to provide training and resources for stewardship leaders across The Episcopal Church and beyond, around the following core competencies:

• Training clergy and lay leaders in the spirituality of money, and the skills required to address questions of money in the congregation;
• Providing targeted stewardship leadership training for clergy and seminarians, at seminaries and at the diocesan level, including both the theology and the practice of stewardship;
• Mentoring a new generation of stewardship leaders, with special attention to youth, young adults, Generation Xers, and newly ordained clergy;
• Developing and utilizing methods of providing resources using web-based and other electronic techniques.

The Diocese of Milwaukee is a member of TENS and you can participate and obtain resources by clicking on the link:

http://www.tens.org/resources/member-resources/     

Login:  living

Password: generously 

What do the numbers really mean?  I encourage you to read this report and think about your own numbers and trends regarding growth and decline.  What are the numbers saying and what are they missing? Hopefully they start the conversation on this important subject, rather than ending it. 

In talking about what is going on in your church and how you are living into your mission, be sure to ask how you are being a good neighbor?  Do you know what is changing in the neighborhood?  So many of our churches talk about how people drive in to church and that is great but I also challenge you to look at what it would mean to be a neighborhood church.  Would it look the same?

These conversations are great for the vestry to have while addressing  mission and looking at how connected the congregation is to the wider world, community and neighborhood.  I encourage you to keep records of Worship on Sunday AND how the building and grounds are being used during the week AND what activities, events, teachings etc. the congregation is involved in away from the building.  What are these numbers and trends telling you about:

• church and the community
• people and the community
• people and the church   

Questions?  Please contact me at bean@diomil.org or (414) 272-3028/ext. 158 or (800) 236-3028/ext. 158.  

Spring is here! That means it's time again for Good Shepherd's largest outreach program to benefit Sunshine Place, who serves the entire Sun Prairie area as a food pantry, provides beds for needy families, provides kids clothing, provides food home with students from school on Fridays (so they know they have food to eat throughout the weekend), helps those who are job-hunting to write resumes and locate jobs.. . that's just the tip of the ice berg! But they are 100% donor funded, and dependent on the community to support them, and is why we focus to support them!  Our annual "Sunshine Ball" will be held on Friday, May 1 from 6-10:30 at The Oaks Golf Course at 4740 Pierceville Rd, Cottage Grove, WI  53527. Tickets are available online at www.sunshineplace.org (under Sunshine Ball), or call Good Shepherd office at 608-837-3308 and make arrangements to order before April 15.  Alternatively you may send an email to GSECcommunity@gmail.com (fundraising email address) and we will be in touch.

Its not "just a ball"!  The evening begins with softly played dinner music (violin and piano) as you snack on butlered appetizers and check over and bid on the many silent auction tables. This year we have many unique and awesome items! At 7 PM we seat you for a gourmet prepared dinner, as dinner music continues in the background. After you make a few stops at the dessert and coffee bar, its time to swing yourself around the dance floor as you dance to the award winning Sun Prairie HIgh School Jazz band, who are well known all the way to New York for their fine musical skills! Also a wine pull, and of course, the raffle of a stunning one of a kind yellow sapphire and diamond pendant and necklace, valued over $5200. Raffle tickets are available at B's Jewelers and Sunshine Place in Sun Prairie for $15 each, or 4/$50.  Or call Good Shepherd at 608-837-3308, or email the fundraising email address at GSECcommunity@gmail.com  

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Ed. Note:  This article was written by Shirley Foerster of Good Shepherd, Sun Prairie.  The parish's hosting  of the Sunshine Ball grew out of a project originally focused more on supporting the parish rather than the community at large.  It was developed through Good Shepherd's involvement with CDI (Church Development Institute). bjk  

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)

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.

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".

Some 41 campers are now  registered for Camp Webb's Summer 2015 sessions - we have to extend our cabin space!!  Spaces left for registration: TWO (2) 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!! 

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