We are living in a time that presents both great challenges and enormous opportunities to our Church, to our diocese, and to our congregations. In our diocesan leadership positions, now more than ever we need  clergy and laity who are gifted with the ability to face the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities ahead of us.  

Diocesan Convention takes place on October 17th at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy. The deadline for nominations for positions being elected at Convention is August 17 and I am asking both clergy and lay members of the diocese to take part in the very important  work of securing qualified nominees.  

Please see the nomination form for a list of positions being elected and information on how to make a nomination. It also contains a brief "job description" for each position. You may also obtain the nomination form and information by calling the diocesan office at (414) 272-3028. 

Please -- take a few moments to acquaint yourselves with the positions for which nominees are needed and then prayerfully consider whether you may be called to serve in one of them.  If there is a clergy or layperson known you to you that you feel would serve well in one of these positions -- please speak with them about it!   

If you have questions about Nominations, please contact Barbara Klauber, Administrative Assistant, at the diocesan office at info@diomil.org or (414) 272-3028/ext. 111.   She will be very pleased to assist you.   

Thank you for your help! 

Madison-Area Julian Gathering

Wednesday, August 12, 7:15 - 9:00 PM

St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church

6205 University Avenue

Madison, WI  535705

We welcome everyone who is interested in learning more about contemplative spirituality in the Christian tradition.  We meet monthly for contemplative prayer for twenty-five minutes, after which we discuss a reading from Julian of Norwich, a 14th Century English mystic who has been called "a theologian for our time."  These gatherings are supported by the Order of Julian of Norwich, a contemplative monastic order in the Episcopal Church.  We would love to have you join us.  If you have questions, call Susan Fiore, ObJN at (608) 845-2413 or e-mail at  slfiore@mac.com.

WANTED: Part-time Short - Order Cook

to work at

St. John's Northwestern

Military Academy

Location: SJNMA Campus - Student Recreation Center

Job Responsibilities: Short- order cooking with some cashiering duties, stocking, and light cleaning. Apply if you are dependable/reliable, conscientious, trust worthy and can work 12-15 hours per week.

We are looking for someone to work 2nd shift - beginning at 4:00 p.m. weekdays and 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (normally closing approx. 8:00 p.m.).

Pay Scale: Based on experience.

Contact: tcourtney@sjnma.org  or jmazurek@sjnma.org to apply

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Mission and Development is interested in helping 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

For more information and for an application form to apply for a 2015 Fall Ministry Development Grant, click HERE.

Questions?  Please contact Peggy Bean, Canon for Congregations, at bean@diomil.org or by calling (414) 272-3028 / ext. 158.  

by Susan Fiore

JulianFest 2015 group picture

That's how Affiliates of the Order of Julian of Norwich arrived, from fifteen states and two Canadian provinces, for the 33rd annual Julian Retreat and JulianFest, held at the Redemptorist Retreat Center in rural Oconomowoc.

The Rev. Dr. Holly Ratcliffe, ObJN led the retreat, presenting her well-researched thoughts on how Julian's personal history may have led to her face-to-face encounters with the crucified Jesus. We were in silence, except during the Divine Offices and the Eucharist.

JulianFest began Saturday. Professor David Carlson of Franklin College in Franklin, IN spoke movingly about his research on how monastic orders responded to 9/11 -- a very different response from what we all saw in the media and heard on the streets. Prof. Carlson makes a strong case that only monastic wisdom can bring peace to the world.

Saturday evening we were treated with entertainment provided by -- what else? -- Julian Affiliates!

 What are Julian Affiliates?

Julian Affiliates are men and women, Oblates and Associates, who respond to the Holy Spirit's invitation to draw nearer to Jesus. The monks and nuns of the Order are the still point at the center of a worldwide network of lay and ordained people who have chosen to live under a rule of poverty, chastity, obedience and prayer, bringing spiritual renewal to the Church through contemplative witness.  

What draws a person to undertake such a demanding rule of life?

"At the time of my affiliation, I was wrestling with my faith (or lack of it) in God. I was tired of running from God and sought direction and faith in my life."   

     READ MORE . . .  

Is it time for your church to run a stewardship campaign?   Only if you can demonstrate a few clear components first.  For instance, you need a clear, compelling vision that  demonstrates the long-term benefits of the giving campaign.  A survey found that 72% of donors look for that clarity of vision.  In addition, do you have a healthy stewardship culture to begin with? Don't put the added pressure of a campaign on your congregations unless  you know they're already financially invested.   - RSI Stewardship from Church Finance Today.

Check out this graphic from Church Finance Today on this question - Does your church have a written strategy for inspiring people in biblical generosity?  

The Commission on Mission and Development along with the Finance Committee will be happy to help you continue this conversation.

Peggy Bean, Canon for Congregations    Marlene Udovich, Finance Officer 

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 Fall dates for classes with a trainer 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.

Haiti Project Matching Campaign for Water and Electricity

by Heidi Ropa, Haiti Project Exec. Director 

There is a proverb in Haiti that goes like this..."The rocks in the water do not know the pain of the rocks in the sun."  This saying was made real to me in March when I visited Jeannette, Haiti, a community this Diocese has had a partnership with for 28 years.  All water in this community comes from water catchment and is held in cisterns  -- large holding tanks of rainwater. People walk with their buckets for long distances to fill them and return to their homes with their water supply for the day.  Currently, there is no purification system for the water at St. Marc's School, therefore, there is no access to safe drinking water.  The parish priest, Pere Jean Lenord Quatorze reported to me that after each rain, at least 20 students come down with water-born illnesses like diarrhea or intestinal worms.  The way of Christ, invites us to respond to such needs.  All children deserve to grow up with safe water to drink.

Through Labor Day Weekend, the Haiti Project is seeking to match the $35,000 given by two generous donors who seek to address issues of water and electricity at St. Marc's School and Health Clinic.  We, the rocks in the water, may not understand the pain of the rocks in the sun -- what it is like to walk for a bucket of water each day hoping our children will not become ill from drinking it.  We can, having learned of this problem, respond with generous hearts.  Please follow this link to make a contribution to the Matching Campaign for Water and Electricity:  http://haitiproject.org/?page_id=290 .  Questions?  contact Heidi Ropa at (608)235-9393 or email info@haitiproject.org.

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.

Contact Heidi Ropa at (608)235-9393 or email info@haitiproject.org.

Participants in Haiti Project's March 2015 trip

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  

"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.