Dear Friends in Christ,

Last night we heard again of another senseless act of violence, a hate crime that resulted in the death of the Rev. Clementa Pickney, pastor of Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and seven members of the congregation. They were shot while they were gathered for bible study and prayer. I ask you to join me with Christians across Wisconsin and the nation in interceding for all those effected by this tragedy by offering this prayer from the Wisconsin Council of Churches.

Gracious God, when there is no peace, not even in a house of worship, we pray for the violence in this land and the divisions in our lives. We pray for the grieving at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. And we lift our prayers for all of our AME brothers and sisters who are weeping this day. We pray in Christ's name.  Amen.  

On Monday, I along with those you have elected as lay and clerical deputies, will travel to Salt Lake City for the 78th General Convention of our Episcopal Church. While I am there, I will be participating in a public witness sponsored by Bishops United against Gun Violence. My hope is that other members of our deputation will join me. The time is now to enact sane gun laws that both protect the rights of law abiding citizens to own firearms and keep them out of the hands of criminals. The best way to do that is through finger print background checks which are proven to reduce "straw man" purchases of weapons. (The purchase of weapons by someone with a clean record for someone who would be prevented from purchasing a weapon.) This is one small thing we can do to reduce the culture of violence in which we find ourselves.

There is, of course, so much more. Violence comes from so many places. Feelings of frustration and powerlessness, a desire to dominate, and unresolved anger are just a few of them. Addressing it begins by addressing the seeds of violence that live in each of us and the resolve to not let them germinate and grow.  

Perhaps now is the time, more than ever, to add to our daily prayers the Prayer of St. Francis, which begins, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace."

Yours in the Prince of Peace, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Rt. Rev. Steven A. Miller

Bishop of Milwaukee 

Thanks to all who made the St. James' Milwaukee Open House on June 14 a successful party! Our congregation and visitors and employees had a grand time meeting and greeting and showing off the refurbished sanctuary.

As our banner said, we're "still kicking" at 833 W. Wisconsin Ave. We will be having our St. James' Day picnic in the courtyard on July 26, and anyone who reads this is invited to join us (and bring a dish to pass) around 11:30 a.m after church. You are also invited to join us for "Mass in the Grass" August 9 at 10:00 a.m. in Washington Park, Picnic Area 2. Our Joyful Noise Ensemble will provide the music that day.

Retreat project

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Christian Ministry for children aged 3-12 years that is based on the Bible and liturgy of the church; it is inspired by the principles of Montessori education. This Ministry provides:

• An opportunity for children to fall in love with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, in a child-friendly space called an atrium - located in a church or school.
• Guided play to aid meditation on Bible scripture and the mysteries of the Christian faith once a week - in small groups, facilitated by trained adults (catechists).
• That each child's unique spiritual needs and abilities are respected and nurtured.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 

 READ MORE 

Special thanks to the parishes who responded to the Bishop's Lenten Appeal for Haiti  

Your faithful support funds St. Marc's School in rural, Jeannette, Haiti.  Your gifts go towards the cost of education for grades preschool-high school; provide access to a health clinic with qualified nurses; nourish children with school lunch 8-10 times a month; and provide school supplies. Mesi anpi. Bondye bon. (Many thanks and God is good in Haitian Creole).   

Milwaukee Bucks donate 30 basketballs for Haiti Project summer recreation in Jeannette 

Jim Brown, a volunteer for the Haiti Project received 30 new basketballs from the Milwaukee Bucks. Teachers and parents in the community of Jeannette have been eagerly awaiting the completion of a basketball court. In July, a group of Haiti Project volunteers will transport the Bucks basketballs and lead basketball drills with local Haitians as a way of expanding summer recreational options for young people in the village.

Join a Haiti Project trip to Jeannette

Fall Haiti Project trip is being planned Oct. 23-Nov. 1.  Please contact Mary Alice Eschweiler at sheppatch@aol.com for an application.

Change in day for Haitian Creole classes at St. Andrew's Madison

Haiti Project Creole class taught by Clarel Algere, a Madison College student from Oaunaminthe, Haiti is being offered on Sundays from 5:00-6:30 pm at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church 1833 Regent St. June 14, 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 27 and Aug. 2. Drop in any week. $10 per class. Questions? Contact Heidi Ropa at (608)235-9393 if you would like to join or email info@haitiproject.org.

Participants in Haiti Project's March 2015 trip

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.  

Singing Rooster Coffee is looking for a Coffee Coordinator for the Diocese assisting parishes with coffee purchases for parish use or coffee sales to individuals in each parish. This person would also help get the word out to all churches in the Diocese about supporting the economy of Haiti through coffee sales.  Each bag of this delicious coffee pays Haitian farmers at greater than Fair Trade rates and a portion of the sale goes to the Haiti Project to help fund St. Marc's School in Jeannette, Haiti.

Interested?  Contact Heidi Ropa, Haiti Project director, at:

haitiproject14@gmail.com  

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 martha.branson.berger@gmail.com if you would like to sign up to attend.

Please keep staff and campers in your prayers during this summer's camping sessions.   

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

Click HERE for info on donating to Camp Webb.  THANK YOU! 

"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  feltedsoaplady@gmail.com.  

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 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:

Saturday, 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.