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 info@diomil.org so that we may include them in the E-NEWS.
Barbara Klauber, Editor
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E-NEWS to Switch to TUESDAY publication in New Year
 Starting in January, 2016, E-NEWS will begin publishing on Tuesdays rather than Fridays. We hope that Tuesday will work better to have information shared in parish newsletters / bulletins, etc. We ask that you submit all materials that you wish to have published in E-NEWS at least one week in advance. We try our best to accomodate last minute submissions -- but no guarantees! Please continue to e-mail all materials for E-NEWS to info@diomil.org . Thank you! |
 A Christmas Message from The Bishop of Newala, our Companion Diocese
Dear Friends,
Warm precious Christian greetings from the Diocese of Newala!
Flemming Rutledge wrote,
"It is not impossible to convey, even to young children, the sense that the real meaning of Christmas lies precisely in the combination of magical ceremonies and the grown-up message that, in the very midst of our human selfishness, the way-laying love of God has broken through to us unconditionally."
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Pilgrimage to Israel . . . there's room for one more!
by The Rev. Debra Trakel
In February there is a hardy group of Episcopal pilgrims who will be going to the Holy Land (February 17-26, 2016). We will celebrate the Eucharist at the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, renew our baptisms in the River Jordan, worship in the Cathedral of St. George in Jerusalem, visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and visit the sites of Jesus' crucifixion, his boyhood home in Nazareth, and other places where he preached in the Galilee. We will pray our way together through the Holy Land.
Due to a last minute cancellation we have an opening on the pilgrimage. If you have always wanted to visit the place where Jesus was born, ministered, and died, think about coming with us. The final date for those who might want to go is December 31, 2015.
So, if you have a current passport, and a yearning to go to the Holy Land, contact the Rev. Debra Trakel, Rector at St. Christopher's in River Hills and she will be glad to talk with you about costs and other things you might want to know. You can reach Debra at revdebra@aol.com or call her at 414-352-0380.
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Here & There . . . Photos from around the Diocese
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Meet Beth Engel, the new Administrator at All Saints' Cathedral, Milwaukee. With Beth is Kiki, whom Beth says is a Yorki mix, as well as being a rescue dog who came to her through the offices of the Milwaukee Humane Society. Kiki has taken on some guard dog duties at the Cathedral.
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Sunday morning, December 6th, during the 10 AM Holy Eucharist, Bill McLemore awarded diplomas to the parishioners who successfully completed the 124 lessons on the Outline of Faith (Catechism) of the Episcopal Church. Photograph courtesy of Don Wehrenberg, Parish Photographer.
Left to right: David Baker (receives certificate for his father who was home ill), Lynelle Gramm, Shirley Phillips, Bob Hill, Gary Shine, Don Cook, Doris Frentress, Holly Starck, Fr. McLemore, and Fletcher Coolidge. Not shown, but also completing the course, is Ina Alikhan who has moved to Willowbrook, Illinois, and studied on-line.
The course began June 15th and ended a few weeks ago. Lessons were e-mailed (or given in paper form) every weekday morning and consisted of the catechism question and answer and brief reflections by Bill McLemore. All in all, 22 persons took or audited the course, with these 10 receiving certificates of completion.
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E-NEWS would love to receive photos showing what's happening in and around YOUR parish or in the lives of its members and clergy. Please send to info@diomil.org in JPEG format. Thank you!
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ADVENT SERVICES AROUND THE DIOCESE
 Trinity Episcopal Church, Janesville is pleased to offer their 21st Annual Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Service on Sunday, December 20th at 7pm. The Choir will be accompanied by organ, piano, fife & drum, and string quartet. The service will involve readers as well as carols sung by the congregation.
All are welcome at this beautiful and wondrous service, which derives its pattern and strength from the Lessons and not the music. The main theme is the development of the loving purposes of God seen through the windows and the words of the Bible.
Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 409 E. Court Street. Parking is available on side streets, in the church lot on Atwood, and in the lot behind the Rock County Courthouse across the street from the Sanctuary.
Lessons & Carols at St. Paul's, Milwaukee
Decem ber 12th at 4pm
A long-standing tradition of the Advent and Christmas season for hundreds of Milwaukeeans is the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols held at St. Paul's Church, 914 East Knapp, Milwaukee, 53202. This year's Festival, the 42nd annual, will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2015, at 4PM.
Be sure to join hundreds of other Milwaukeeans at one of the areas premiere holiday traditions to reflect upon the season in Scripture, music and prayer in the beauty of St. Paul's Church.
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AROUND THE DIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE
 St. Mark's, Beaver Dam Annual Cookie Walk on Dec. 12th - Doors Open at 8am - runs 'til 11am This is a Cookie Walk! Cookies, cakes and much more -- mix and match for $8.00 per pound! Check it out . . . all are welcome! The parish supports a local charity with a tithe of the proceeds. St. Mark's is located at 700 Mill Street, Beaver Dam, WI 53916.
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HELP WANTED
Interim Organist: Grace Episcopal Church, Madison, WI, has an immediate opening for an interim organist to start as early as 1/04/2016 and e nd on 5/30/2016. The position is 10 hours a week at AGO rates. Duties include accompaniment during Thursday evening choir rehearsals, 7:15 pm.- 8:45 pm., and organist for Sunday Worship at 8 am. and 10 am. For a detailed Position Description and/or to submit resum� with references (by 12-16-2015), contact: gracechurchmadison@charter.net. For info about Grace Church and the music program, visit http://www.gracechurchmadison.org/. For info about the Grace Casavant Fr�res organ, visit http://www.casavantfreres.com/new_temp/anglais/Recent/PDFs/3639.pdf.
The Wisconsin Conference of Churches (WCC) publishes a monthly jobs/employment opportunities bulletin. Click HERE to access it.
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 Bach Chamber Choir presents "The Spirit of Merry Olde England on January 3, 2016 The Bach Chamber Choir & Orchestra Brian McLinden, Music Director presents "The Spirit of Merry Olde England" featuring Britten's Ceremony of Carols, Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols, and other traditional English carols on Sunday, January 3, 2016, 3:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Chapel 1501 South Layton Blvd. (South 27th Street), Milwaukee (parking lot at 29th & Orchard; enter the building at the Alexia Circle entrance in back on South 29th Street; a receptionist will then direct you).
Tickets
$17 in advance, $18 at the door, $10 for students, $1 senior discount (cash or check only, please)
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United Thank Offering Board presents December challenge to benefit Episcopal Migration Ministries
Deemed Advent: Journey from Gratitude to Hope, the UTO board is challenging Episcopalians to support refugee welcome in the United States through its 2015 Ingathering Challenge.
"Jesus was part of a refugee family," commented Sandra Squires, President of the United Thank Offering board. "We should be able to relate to the upheaval of today's refugees through our love of him. For Advent and Christmas 2015, Episcopalians are asked to express gratitude with increased prayers of thanksgiving and daily giving to their Blue Boxes in remembrance of Jesus and today's refugees."
United Thank Offering will match the first $30,000 given by December 31, 2015 that is marked "EMM-UTO." The challenge, which kicks off immediately, will continue throughout December 2015.
TO DONATE
Checks or online donations should have UTO-EMM in the memo line/comments section. Mail to: United Thank Offering
DFMS - Protestant Episcopal Church US
P.O. Box 958983
St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
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 Prayers for Parishes
The diocesan Commission on Mission and Development has prepared a cycle of prayers for the congregations of the Diocese of Milwaukee.
December 13, 2015 - Grace, Madison
Loving God, we pray for the outreach ministry and service of Grace Episcopal Church-Madison. May they continue to share the love of Jesus Christ, provide a welcoming place for blending tradition and contemporary thought, and extend good will to their neighbors through the Grace Food Pantry. We ask these things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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CYCLE OF PRAYER for NOV 2015 - NOV 2016
The new cycle of prayer for the Diocese of Milwaukee, prepared by the Commission on Mission and Development (for the period November 29, 2015 - November 20, 2016) is available HERE.
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Catechism Challenge 2016 -- GET READY!
Catechism Challenge 2016! Starts Jan 1, 2016! Join us on Diocesan Formation Facebook page  (https://www.facebook.com/DioMilFormation/?ref=bookmarks) - every day we will have opportunity to read and respond to a Quick Catechism Clip. The Rev. Bill McLemore, Priest at Holy Communion, Lake Geneva, wrote these reflections on our BCP Catechism. Together we can deepen our learning about our Episcopal faith during the early part of 2016!
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 Applications available for 2016 UTO Grants to Youth/Seminarians
In connection with the above article about UTO's Challenge collection, UTO is offering grants for 2016 to youth and seminarians. More information is available on the UTO website (scroll down toward the bottom of the page to the 2016 Grant Forms box for applications and guidelines).
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 CAMP WEBB 2016 - REGISTER NOW!
Camp Webb is filling up FAST for 20 16 -- almost half the slots are already filled.
Don't miss out . . . REGISTER NOW!
CAMP WEBB 2016 Registration runs
 from October 17, 2015 - January 15, 2016
Early registration is $375 beginning Oct 17th to January 15, 2016.
Regular registration fees are $400 (Jan 16-Mar 1).
Registration fills up fast. Register early and get the discount!
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Leadership Days in 2016 for Clergy and Lay leaders
PLEASE SAVE THESE DATES!
Leadership Days in 2016 for Clergy and Parish lay leaders/Vestry members
Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Nashotah House Seminary
This leadership day will feature Dwight Zscheile speaking on the changing culture of the church.
Dwight Zscheile is an Episcopal priest and associate professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also serves part-time as associate priest at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in St. Paul. He is author of The Agile Church: Spirit-Led Innovation in an Uncertain Age (Morehouse Publishing, 2014), People of the Way: Renewing Episcopal Identity (Morehouse Publishing, 2012) and The Missional Church in Perspective: Mapping Trends and Shaping the Conversation (with Craig Van Gelder, Baker Academic 2011) and editor of Cultivating Sent Communities: Missional Spiritual Formation (Eerdmans, 2012). A graduate of Stanford University (BA), Yale University (MDiv) and Luther Seminary (PhD, Congregational Mission and Leadership), he previously served congregations in Virginia and Connecticut. Dwight's experience growing up in a secular home in California has shaped his commitment to helping the church cultivate Christian community with new populations and generations in today's changing world.
Please let Peggy Bean, Canon for Congregations, know if you are interested in attending:
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 DOES YOUR PARISH NEED A JUMP-START?
Saturday, April 16, 2016 (9am-3pm) - Location TBA
LOCATION to be announced as it depends on how many plan to attend. It is hoped that all parishes will be represented by both clergy and Lay leaders/vestry members. Locations to accommodate these numbers are being investigated by those planning this session.
Please e-mail Peggy Bean, Canon for Congregations, if you plan to attend: bean@diomil.org .
Does this describe your church?
- Preserving the building has become your mission
- Finances are tight
- Too many empty seats on Sunday
- Tired and worried leadership
Hear examples of how other churches are solving their building dilemmas.
Discussions will be solution focused. Thinking will be outside the box.
$25 will buy you lunch and a lot of hope.
For more information on JUMP START!
contact: Peggy Bean, Canon for Congregations
bean@diomil.org 414-272-3028 / ext. 158
Please share this information and flyer with your parish. THANK YOU!
Click here for a FLYER with this information. ________________________________________________________
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Holiday Concert on December 13, 2015 - 1:30PM
St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in River Hills
Holiday Concert
December 13, 2015-1:30PM
St. Christopher's Episcopal Church
7845 N. River Road
River Hills, WI 53217
St. Christopher's is once again delighted to host a benefit concert for Casa Maria featuring the Collegium Ladyes singing a cappella seasonal music. All are welcome to come and hear music that is well suited to our church season, sung by outstanding choral singers. A reception will follow the hour-long concert.
A free will donation will be received to benefit Casa Maria.
Casa Maria is a home on N. 21st street which offers shelter to homeless women and children. Families stay at the shelter for approximately one month while efforts are made to find them an apartment and perhaps employment. This facility is always filled to capacity.
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About the Collegium Ladyes: The Collegium Ladyes was founded in2010 as a part of UWM's Collegium Musicum, an early music performance program. Many of the Ladyes are professional soloists, music teachers, or choral musicians; all are experienced choral singers who share a love of a cappella vocal music and will present music from a medieval, Renaissance and modern repertoire.
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Suggested Reading . . .
Yankee Bishops: New book by one of our own, The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Henery
The office of bishop in the Episcopal Church in the United States has long begged attention from historians.Yankee Bishops: Apostles in the New Republic, 1783 to 1873 is the first collective examination of the American episcopate and offers critical insight into the theory and practice of episcopal ministry in these formative years. In this period, one hundred men were elected and consecrated to the episcopal order and exercised oversight. These bishops firmly believed their office to mirror the primitive pattern of apostolic ministry. How this primitive ideal of episcopacy was understood and lived out in the new republic is the main focus of this study. Yankee Bishops is also the first book to scrutinize and analyze as a body the sermons preached at episcopal consecrations. Yankee Bishops will be a primary source in Anglican and ecumenical studies and of general interest to the reader of American religious and social history.
Charles R. Henery, sometime Professor of Church History and Homiletics and Sub-Dean at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Nashotah, WI presently serves as a supply priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee and has recently returned to St. John's Northwestern Military Academy to serve as the interim priest.
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Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project invites you to sponsor a schoolchild in Jeannette, Haiti
In the next few weeks current sponsors of schoolchildren at St. Marc's School in Jeannette, Haiti will receive a renewal letter from the Haiti Project asking them to prayerfully consider renewing their commitment to primary and secondary education in the rural, mountain village of Jeannette. The faithfulness of sponsors to the 30 year partnership with Jeannette is making a significant difference in the lives of many young people; indeed, Jeannette is now seeing young adult leaders returning from their professional studies to serve their community.
Not a sponsor? If you would like to sponsor a child, there are 46 first graders in need of sponsors. The Haiti Project would love to find a sponsor for each one of them by Christmas. You can give the gift of sponsorship! Email info@haitiproject.org to arrange for a special Christmas sponsorship for a loved one or go to the https://haitiproject.org/donate/sponsor-a-child-for-school/ website to sponsor today!
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 An Advent Challenge to Parishes from the Diocesan Multicultural Team A special request/challenge from our Diocesan Multicultural Team: As reported at convention this team has been meeting for over a year to discuss ways to encourage our Diocese to build and strengthen relationships with All People. As the Body of Christ we together come to know and serve Jesus yet what we have found is we often don't know too many others who don't look like us or think like us. We live in a changing world and each church says they want to invite others and to be open to all so how do we do this? Over the next few seasons we as a team will be inviting you to have conversations together in your church community. The first conversation is perfect for the Holidays. This advent as you gather together for events or conversations steer the discussions to ethnic and family customs. What have we brought into your family celebrations from your ancestors? What foods, traditions, and stories? Share these stories together - what are the same, similar or really different? We know stories are a wonderful way to build and strengthen community so we hope this Advent Season you all get to know each other better and perhaps this can be a way for you to include new people in a fun and inviting way to get to know your church community. Questions? Contact Peggy Bean, Canon for Parishes at bean@diomil.org . She will be happy to help and / or refer you to a member of the committee. |
 Safeguarding God's Children/Safeguarding God's People
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).
Spring CLASSES with Trainer dates are being set now. If your parish wants to host a spring training contact Deacon Terry Garner soon at dcnterry.g@gmail.com .
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Cultural Exchange Opportunities at SJNMA
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SJNMA cadets include international students
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At this year's diocesan convention, hosted by St. John's Northwestern Military Academy, in Delafield, deputies learned that the academy has a number of international students who are unable to return home for school breaks and holidays. SJNMA would love to hear from members of the diocese who may be interested in cultural exchange/hosting an international student. More information HERE. |
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For those wondering about Ordination . . .
Wondering about ordination?
Commission on Ministry Informational Meeting
Saturday, January 9, 2016, 10 a.m. - 12 noon at St. Mary 's, Dousman
For those discerning a call to
- the diaconate
- the priesthood
- professional chaplaincy
along with their sponsoring rector.
Those wishing to attend need to register with the President of the Commission on Ministry, The Rev. Martha Berger, at martha.branson.berger@gmail.com (deadline Dec. 31).
The New COM Manual, with the discernment timeline and responsibilities, can be found on the diocesan website's COM page under the Strengthening Congregations tab at www.diomil.org
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 Education for Ministry (EfM)
EfM is a distance-learning program for adult Christian formation through theological education and reflection offered by the Beecken Center of the School of Theology at the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee ( http://efm.sewanee.edu/ ). Through study, prayer, and reflection, EfM helps participants move toward a new understanding of the fullness of God's kingdom as they better apprehend the connections between their faith and their lives.
Most of our EfM groups meet weekly (Sept-June) in various churches around our diocese. There is also an EfM Online program you can join if you have time constraints. Our Diocesan EfM coordinator is Mr. Bill Stotts, wmnmex@aol.com . You may email him with updates about your EfM group and facilitator contact, to find a group meeting in your area, or for more information. This intense opportunity for study can be life changing and transformational!
OPENINGS IN EfM CLASS
The EfM class sponsored by St. Mark's-Milwaukee at St. John's on the Lake still has openings in all four years. The group meets on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 3:00 PM in the 3rd Floor Library at St. John's. Tuition is $350 for the year and includes all texts, study materials, and Continuing Education Units.
NEW EfM Group to being in Madison - The St. Luke's, Madison EfM group is scheduled to begin on Thursday March 3 at 6:30 pm. There are openings in this group and people interested in joining or just seeking more information should contact Gloria Alt at altmode2@gmail.com or 608-235-3817).
For more information on EfM, contact William Stotts, EfM coordinator for the Diocese of Milwaukee, at wmnmex@aol.com or on Facebook at the EfM page, or at 414-456-0847. |
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 info@diomil.org ! See you next week! Sincerely, Barb
Barbara Klauber
Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
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