The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee

 

 
domseal1E-NEWS 
May 08, 2015  
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In This Issue
Mothers Day blessings
Diocesan staff members attend National Church's conference on insurance and pensions
The Rev. Pedro Acosta Zapata ordained to priesthood
POVERTY FORUMS Wisconsin Conference of Churches (WCC) invites clergy and lay to forums
Want millennials back in the pews? Stop trying to make church 'cool.'
Planned Giving Conference set for September 26, 2015
Disaster chaplaincy training offered
Parishes receive grants from diocesan Commission on Mission and Development
"Surprised by Joy"...The 39th Miniweek for Women August 13-16
Follow the work of the Diocese of Milwaukee's deputation to the 2015 General Convention.
Camp Webb - 2015
Safeguarding God's Children on-line training offered
Four Chosen as Nominees for Presiding Bishop: Election to take place June 27 at General Convention
AROUND THE DIOCESE
Attention! Informational Meetings to be held by Commission on Ministry
Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project NEWS
St. Mark's, Milwaukee Announces Thirteenth Annual Flower Sale
St. Mary's, Dousman needs your USED BOOKS!
T.E.N.S.
Julian of Norwich Gathering
Prayers for Parishes
 
 
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 [email protected] so that we may include them in the E-NEWS. 
Thank you!

Barbara Klauber, Editor
Mothers Day blessings . . .
Mothers Day blessings from Bishop Miller and the staff
of the Diocese of Milwaukee. 
Diocesan staff members attend National Church's conference on insurance and pensions in Texas
Two members of the Diocese of Milwaukee staff, Patty Jaffke (Office Coordinator) and Marlene Udovich (Finance Officer) have been spending this week in Texas at the Camp Allen conference center.  They made the trip to take part in a week-long conference sponsored by the Church Pension Group/Church Insurance Company, entities of the national Episcopal Church.  They will be returning to the diocese with lots of new  information that will equip them to better serve clergy and lay employees with their health insurance and pension needs.
Marge Udovich (L) and Patty Jaffke took time out from a busy schedule at Camp Allen to pose for a picture
The Rev. Pedro Acosta ordained to priesthood 
The Rt. Rev. Steven A. Miller (L) and The Rev. Pedro Acosta Zapata

The Rev. Pedro Jose Acosta Zapata was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests by Bishop Miller on Saturday, April 25 at St. Mark's, South Milwaukee.  The Rev. John Allen preached the sermon and the parish hosted a reception after the service. 

The new priest is greeted and applauded by the congregation!

The new priest surrounded by well-wishers.
The Rev. John Allen, who preached, is on left in back row.


POVERTY FORUMS Wisconsin Conference of Churches (WCC) invites clergy and lay to forums 

[from the Wisconsin Conference of Churches]  Last year over 700 local faith leaders throughout our state met in five regional forums (Madison, Milwaukee, Appleton, Stevens Point and Eau Claire) to discuss the scope and shape of poverty in Wisconsin and the role of the religious community in alleviating poverty long term.

This year, the four original sponsors of the 2014 forums-the Wisconsin Council of Churches, WISDOM, the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, and the Citizen Action Education Fund of Wisconsin - are planning to host a second round of forums for local faith and community leaders. Five poverty forums are planned for the greater Milwaukee area (see below).

The spring 2015 forums will seek to engage a broader spectrum of faith community voices, to include those that were not a major part of the forums last year, especially Wisconsin's evangelical community, along with other local partners beyond the faith community. Our desire is to have a reasonable, faith-and-values-driven conversation about issues of poverty and public policy in communities with a diversity of political views. Each spring forum is envisioned to be 2.5 hours. 

 

Want millennials back in the pews? Stop trying to make church 'cool.'
By Rachel Held Evans in The Washington Post

Bass reverberates through the auditorium floor as a heavily bearded worship leader pauses to invite the congregation, bathed in the light of two giant screens, to tweet using #JesusLives. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafts in from the lobby, where you can order macchiatos and purchase mugs boasting a sleek church logo. The chairs are comfortable, and the music sounds like something from the top of the charts. At the end of the service, someone will win an iPad.

This, in the view of many churches, is what millennials like me want. And no wonder pastors think so. Church attendance has plummeted among young adults.  continue reading 

Planned Giving Conference set for September 26, 2015  
The Diocese of Milwaukee's Trustees of Funds and Endowment  have announced a Planned Giving Conference to be held at St Mary's Dousman on September 26. The conference will feature Jim Murphy from the National Church Endowment Board.  More details will be forthcoming a bit later but those who work with planned giving in their parishes will want to put this date on their calendar now!
Disaster Chaplain training  offered 
The Beecken Center, in partnership with the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN), invites clergy and spiritual caregivers of The Episcopal Church and religious leaders of all faiths to take this two-day disaster chaplain training.  Participants who complete this certification can volunteer in their own diocese or faith community-or with NDIN and its national partners. NDIN can also assist unaffiliated volunteers in finding disaster spiritual care volunteer opportunities in local communities across the United States.  more info
Parishes receive grants from diocesan Commission on Mission and Development 
by Peggy Bean, Canon for Congregations 

The Commission on Mission and Development is pleased to announce the 2015 Spring Grants awarded:

  • All Saints Cathedral for their work in providing meals in the Community Meal Partnership
  • Lake Country Churches to help defray costs for the continuation of their local Lecture Series
  • St. Aidan's in Hartford for further development of their Community Garden
  • St. Luke's in Bay View for creating a Community Garden
  • St. Paul's in Watertown is sprucing up their welcome area to invite newcomers and community members into the building.
  • St. James in Milwaukee's grant is to buy additional Sundries for people in need in the Milwaukee area.
  • Zion in Oconomowoc is continuing their outreach to the local area during events and festivities in the town.
  • St. Luke's in Racine is planning on participating in the City of Racine's First Friday events during the summer. They are bringing awareness to the wider community.
  • St. Dunstan's in Madison is in the third year of a new worship opportunity called the Sandbox. The grant is helping to support this weekly worship where people can be relaxed and have a bit more open space for spiritual connecting.

We thank all of these leaders for sharing with us these ministries of connecting their mission with their wider community. We are happy to provide some financial support for these efforts. Another cycle of grants will be awarded in November. The second due date is October 15th. Look for the application in the E-NEWS in the coming weeks.

 

"Surprised by Joy"  

The 39th Miniweek for Women August 13-16

The 39th annual Miniweek for Women will be held at Camp Lakotah, Wautoma (center of the state) from evening meal Thursday, August 13 through brunch Sunday, August 16. 

This event is open to all women with the theme this year being "Surprised by Joy". The weekend contains presentations, workshops, entertainment, good food, beach time, worship, naps, conversation, laughter. The participants can go to everything - or nothing - it is your weekend. There are a variety of housing choices from rustic cabins to inside facilities with amenities. Scholarships are available.

The chaplain will be The Rev. Anna Doherty from St. Aidan's, Hartford. The keynoter is Mary Fran Crist, Province V health ministry committee member speaking on the theme. There will be some new workshops including opportunity to learn how to play bells, making fingerless mittens, overview of General Convention, and archery. The labyrinth will return, along with choir, book study, exercise to music, Taize and talent show. And much much more.

Go to www.womensminiweek.org, for registration and other info.

THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT DEADLINE IS MAY 15, 2015. Gift certificates in any amount for Mother's Day available from Barb McFadden at  [email protected].  

Follow the work of the Diocese of Milwaukee's deputation to the 2015 General Convention  

The General Convention is the governing body of the Episcopal Church. The Convention is a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies, which has more than 800 members, and the House of Bishops, which is comprised of nearly 300 active and retired bishops. The Convention meets every three years and has the authority to amend the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church; adopt the budget for the church for the next three years; authorize liturgical texts and amend the Book of Common Prayer; adopt communions and covenants with other churches; set qualifications for orders of ministry and office-holders; elect officers of the General Convention, the Executive Council, and members of boards; and delegate responsibilities to the committees, commissions, agencies, and boards of the Episcopal Church.

Follow the work of the Diocese of Milwaukee's deputation to the 2015 General Convention at the deputation WEBSITE  and  FACEBOOK page.  If you have questions, concerns, or ideas you wish to communicate to the deputation, you may do so on their website's  Contact page.  

In addition, members of the diocese are invited to attend two information sessions that the Milwaukee Deputation and Bishop Miller will conduct in the diocese in June to present topics, potential legislation and events scheduled for the convention. Come to meet some of the deputies and to learn what they and the Bishop will be working on this summer in Salt Lake City. Note, information sessions are identical, so there is no need to attend both.  The two sessions are set for:

 

   June 1 at St. Dunstan's Madison at 6:30 PM  

June 3 at Trinity Wauwatosa at 6:30 PM  

 

Camp Webb - Summer 2015 Session 

Camp Webb Summer 2015 registration is closed. We are looking forward to a terrific summer!

Please keep staff and campers in your prayers, especially June 7-21.

Parishes and individuals - thank you for your scholarship gifts. Many of our campers depend on camp scholarships and you help make that possible!

Staff can still apply - http://www.diomil.org/forming-disciples/camp-webb/ 

 
Safeguarding God's Children/Safeguarding God's People 
REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND MAY 2 CLASS WITH TRAINER  

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).sgclogo

Our next class with a trainer will be in the fall - see dates below.

Online classes - registration due on or before June 30th. There will be on online registrations accepted in the month of July. Registration begins again in August.

 

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.

Four Chosen as Nominees for Presiding Bishop: Election to take place June 27 at General Convention in Salt Lake City 

Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop
May 1 announced the names of the bishops it will nominate this summer to succeed Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

The four names will be formally submitted to the General Convention during a joint session on June 26, the day prior to the day set for the election by the House of Bishops of the 27th presiding bishop.   The nominees are: 

read  more 

AROUND THE DIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE

Music at St. Mark's, Milwaukee features classical guitar

 A series of classical guitar concerts will be held at St. Mark's, Milwaukee (located at 2618 N. Hackett Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin) during the month of May.  The public is invited and welcomed to attend.  The concert schedule is:  

 

May 11 at 7 p.m.-Hector Alfonso Torres

Solo Concert by Hector Alfonso Torres, St. Mark's Classical Guitar Artist in Residence and part of the UWM Classical Guitar Department

 

May 15 at 7 p.m.-Hector Vazquez

Solo Senior Recital by Hector Vazquez who is part of the UWM Classical Guitar Department

 

May 22 at 7 p.m.-Jone Ruiz

Solo Masters Recital by Jone Ruiz who is part of the UWM Classical Guitar Department    

  

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Save the Date! Strawberry Fest June 28 at St. Mary's, Dousman benefits Haiti Projec
St. Mary's, Dousman Strawberry Festival will take place on June 28th from 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM.  Please help publicize the date of this popular annual event, a major fundraiser for the Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project.     

 

CHORAL EVENSONG for ASCENSION DAY

All are invited and welcomed to attend a Choral Evensong for Ascension Day at 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 14 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Madison (1833 Regent St.  Madison, WI  53726). For more information contact the parish at 608-233-3249

The service of Choral Evensong is one of the glories of our Anglican heritage.  It creates a spiritual and musical space in which we can offer thanks and praise to God after the noise and distractions of the day. Join us on this important day of the church year for prayer, reflection and stirring choral and organ music.    

 

Special Events at St. Mark's, Beaver Dam during the month of May

St. Mark's, Beaver Dam invites members of the diocese to their May special events.  The parish tithes on all funds raised by these events; the 10% goes to various community programs and the remaining funds are used to support the parish's general fund. 

  • MAY 8/9 (Friday/Saturday) 8AM - Noon both days   Rummage Sale 
  •  MAY 17 (Sunday)  9AM   The Asbury Clowns make their annual visit  to St. Mark's.  This has been an annual event at the parish for some fifteen years now. The Asbury Clowns will preach the Gospel lesson for that Sunday during the 9:00 a.m. Service. 

St. Mark's, Beaver Dam is located at 700 Mill Street, Beaver Dam, WI 53916.  Please contact the parish for more information about these events at  (920) 885-3536 

 

Sophie Parker paintings on display at  

St. Mark's, Milwaukee Art Gallery 

An exhibition of paintings by Sophie Parker will be featured in the Art Gallery of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Milwaukee from May 10 through June 28, 2015.  An opening reception will be held on Sunday, May 10th from Noon - 2pm.  Public is welcome!  St. Mark's address is 2618 North Hackett Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53211.    

 

Kathy Thome

Schubert lecture/recital at DeKoven Center features Pianist Kathy Thome

Pianist Kathy Thome will present a lecture/recital on the life and music of Franz Schubert at the DeKoven Center on Tuesday, May 12 at 10:30 a.m. Mrs. Thome, a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Milwaukee, is a life-long educator and student of literature, religion, and music. The program at Taylor Hall is preceded by refreshments and conversation at 10:00 a.m., with the Eucharist celebrated at noon. Free-will offerings are gratefully accepted. The DeKoven Center is located at 600 21st St. in Racine. For information: 262-633-6401, x100 or www.dekovencenter.org


Attention!  Informational Meetings to be held by Commission on Ministry  

Attention!  Informational Meetings for those interested in discerning a call to ordained ministry, professional chaplaincy, or to clarify a call to lay ministry. 

These meetings are the required first step for individuals and their parish priest.

Meetings will be held on Thursday, June 4th at 6:30 pm at Trinity, Wauwatosa and St. Dunstan's, Madison.

Please notify The Rev. Martha Berger, President of the Commission on Ministry at [email protected] if you would like to sign up to attend.

Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project NEWS . . .  

Read about the Haiti Project:  April 2015 Haiti Project E-News link: http://p0.vresp.com/EiWt2x   

Go to Haiti Project website to sign up to receive Haiti Project E-News: http://www.haitiproject.org/newsletter.html  

 

Students at the school supported by Haiti Project 

 

Would you like to schedule a Haiti Project visit at your church?  Please contact Heidi Ropa at [email protected] or [email protected] for scheduling. 

 

Next Haiti Project trip: July 24- Aug 2.  An October trip is being planned.   

Contact Mary Alice Eschweiler for information 414-614-6564.

Healing Service on Wednesdays at St. Bartholomew's, Pewaukee 

Seventy percent of Jesus' ministry was Healing.  Luke 9:12 states that we are to preach the Kingdom and Heal the sick.  Healing ministries offer listening, love, anointing and prayer for our body, mind and spirit.  The laying on of hands and anointing with Holy Oil can be a powerful part of healing prayer.

St. Bartholomew's has a Healing Service every Wednesday evening at 6:15 P.M. (please note New Time).  The service lasts approximately one/half hour.  

The Healing Ministry of Jesus is to make people whole, not just physically, but spiritually, mentally and emotionally.  The healing Ministry was such an essential part of Jesus' Ministry that I believe He imparted that responsibility to us in the Church who continues His work.

As a Chaplain at Waukesha Memorial Hospital I have the opportunity to serve Our Lord by helping patients to heal through listening, prayer and anointing.   Read more
Order Now!  St. Mark's, Milwaukee Announces Thirteenth Annual Flower Sale! 

Mark your calendars for Sunday,  

May 17, 2015. St. Mark's, Milwaukee, will be having its 13th Annual Flower Sale. The Spring Flower Sale benefits the Outreach Ministries of St. Mark's Church, including Common Ground, Eastside Senior Services, Episcopal Relief and Development, The Gathering, Haiti Project, Hunger Task Force, Our Next  Generation,  and Sojourner Family Peace Center.  

The sale will feature the usual assortment of high quality annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets from the Flower Source in Germantown. New this year will be vegetables and herbs from Northern Sunset Perennials.  

 

Order forms are available now -- click HERE for form and more information! You may print the form, complete your order, and return it to St. Mark's office. Orders are due by May 1, 2015. Flowers and plants will be ready for pick at St. Mark's, 2618 N. Hackett Ave., on Sunday, May 17, 2015, from 9 a.m. to noon.

St. Mary's, Dousman needs your USED BOOKS!

Thanks to all of you who have donated books.  Please think about "spring cleaning" your book

shelves and donating more to St. Mary's.   Bring them to the church OR Sandie Perkins: 262-470-8750 and Carol McConnell: 262-965-4104 will pick them up.  Sale is in June and time is fleeting!

 

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/     

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Password: generously 

Madison area Julian of Norwich Gathering resumes meeting on May 13th   

Wednesday, May  13, 2015 
7:15 - 9:00 PM 
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church 
6205 University Avenue 
Madison, WI  53705

St. Julian of Norwich: 14th Century feminist?  14th Century heretic?  No, although a reader might at first think so.  14th Century psychologist?  Sort of . . . she understood the human heart and, through her sixteen revelations of Jesus, she understood the heart of God.  Thomas Merton called her "the greatest theologian for our time."  Come to one of our monthly meetings and find out why -- and learn about contemplative prayer.  We meet the second Wednesday of each month.  We'd love to see you.  For more information, contact Susan Fiore, ObJN at [email protected] or (608) 845-2413.
        Prayers 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. To view the second installment of the series (March - May 2015) please click HERE.

May 10 - St. John the Divine, Burlington 

Almighty and loving God, we pray for the faithful people of St. John the Divine in Burlington. Grant them your strength and guidance as they continue in the ministry you have called them to do: Feeding God's People, Body, Mind, and Spirit. In the name of your son Jesus Christ, Amen.   

 

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. 

  


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 [email protected] !
  
See you next week!
 
Sincerely,
 
Barb

Barbara Klauber
Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee