The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee

 

 
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E-NEWS

December 18, 2015  

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In This Issue
E-NEWS to Switch to TUESDAY publication in New Year.
rovince V Young Adult Retreat 2016
Vestry Resource Guide - updated version in Spanish and English
St. Lucia Celebration at St. James', Milwaukee
St. Thomas of Canterbury shares joy with community
Christmas Greetings from St. Francis House (SFH)
ADVENT SERVICES AROUND THE DIOCESE
Bach Chamber Choir presents "The Spirit of Merry Olde England on January 3, 2016
Applications available for 2016 UTO Grants
Prayers for Parishes
Catechism Challenge 2016 -- GET READY!
CAMP WEBB 2016 - REGISTER NOW!...Camp Webb is filling up FAST for 2016
Leadership Days in 2016 for Clergy and Lay leaders...PLEASE SAVE THESE DATES!
Safeguarding God's Children on-line training offered
 
 
Not quite gone!
In the deep of  Advent and December, one last brave summer flower glows with color in the churchyard at St. Mary's, Dousman
(photo by Fr. Scott Leannah, rector)
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. 

Barbara Klauber, Editor
A message for the Christmas Season from Bishop Miller 
 
"The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."

My favorite Mass of the three Christ Masses for the feast of the Incarnation is the Mass on Christmas Day. (Like Easter, Christmas has three Eucharistic Propers from the ancient custom that priest were allowed to celebrate three masses on this day, rather than just one.) One of my earliest memories in worship was a Christmas Day service in my Grandpa and Grandma Miller's church. It was the first time I had ever seen a church so richly decorated with torches and garlands on each pew.
 
As I get older, I find I am most feed by the quiet simplicity of a service on Christmas Day and the more reflective nature of the lessons appointed. Instead of the birth narrative from Luke, the Gospel for this third mass is the prologue from John's Gospel, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God...." a Johannine echo of the creation story from Genesis written in the light of the Christ event, that is Jesus incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension.
 
The verse that speaks to me most deeply is verse 5, "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." I cling to that verse most especially this year. I cling to the confidence and the assurance it offers of God's reign in a year that seems more violent that any before. 

continue reading
The Rev. Carla McCook, Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation & Ministry, accepts call to Sarasota, Florida parish 
The Rev. Carla McCook, presently serving as  Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation in the Diocese of Milwaukee, has accepted a call to a parish in Sarasota, Florida. Please join Bishop Miller and the diocesan staff in wishing our colleague in ministry every happiness in her new ministry and thanking her for sharing her  many talents with us these past several years.

Click HERE to read letters from Bishop Miller and The Rev. Carla McCook.
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 [email protected] .  Thank you!  
Province V Young Adult Retreat 2016 

The Province V Young Adult Retreat is taking place in Chicago this year, from February 19-21 (Friday evening to Sunday morning). Last year, over 55 young adults, ages 18-30, came together from across the Midwest. This year, we're exploring themes of music and improvisation, and what these themes show us about living the life of faith in the world. This is a great opportunity to make available to young adults, especially those eager for opportunities to explore the Christian faith with other young adults. Registration will be up soon. In the meantime, interested individuals and communities can contact me at [email protected]

Dr. Larry Hurtado
SAVE THE DATE
Pere Marquette Lecture in Theology April 10, 2016 
The 47th Annual P�re Marquette Lecture in Theology,"Why on Earth Did Anyone Become a Christian in the First Three Centuries?" presented by Dr. Larry Hurtado, Professor Emeritus, University of Edinburgh
The lecture will take place on SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016 - 2 P.M. in ECKSTEIN HALL, APPELLATE COURTROOM at MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL at 1215 W. Michigan St., Milwaukee.  Reception to follow.  Click for FLYER with more information.
Vestry Resource Guide - updated version in Spanish and English  
The Vestry Resource Guide: updated edition available in English and Spanish
Vestry recruitment. Burn out. Budgeting. Incorporating new vestry members and 'bringing them up to speed' on strategic goals. Making vestry meetings 'an uplifting experience.' All recent responses to the question "what could your vestry use help with?"
Whether you're a new vestry member or a seasoned veteran, the Episcopal Church Foundation's newly revised Vestry Resource Guide is essential reading. With a deliberate focus on the importance of lay and clergy leadership teams, you'll find comprehensive information and advice about the ministry of the vestry, leading faith communities, stewardship, and navigating clergy transitions.
Vestry Resource Guide is available in both English and Spanish, in both print and e-book formats. Visit Forward Movement for more information and pricing.
St. Lucia Celebration at St. James', Milwaukee 
Dec. 13th is the Feast of St. Lucia and is celebrated in many Scandinavian Communities.This year St. James celebrated this Sunday with the sharing of Norwegian Krumkake ( a 5" wafer-thin crisp cookie) and brightly colored sugar cookies. Amanda Smith, who is part Swedish,  played the part of the Lucia Day Bride and distributed the cookies to the congregation , as the organist played  the " Santa Lucia Song". Fr. John wore his priest collar from Denmark . This was a Nordic Celebration of the 3rd Sunday in Advent and celebrated diversity.
St. Thomas of Canterbury shares joy with community 
The choir of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Greendale performed concerts at 2 local Assisted Living and 2 Senior Living complexes throughout December as part of their Outreach goal to look around for needs the parish can fill inside their community. They started rehearsing for the hour long concerts the very first week in September, and hope to be able to continue to share the gift of music to other facilities throughout the year.
Christmas Greetings from St. Francis House (SFH) 
 
Members of the diocese are encouraged to visit St. Francis House on the UW-Madison campus when their travels take them to the area! Although the Chapel and Student Center are now closed until January 4th, your visit will be welcomed when they re-open to visitors from 1 - 5 PM, Monday to Friday.  Sunday services, which are held in the SFH chapel on Sundays at 5pm,  will resume January 17th and all are invited and welcomed to participate.  
View SFH's year-end newsletter HERE.
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  [email protected] or call her at 414-352-0380.
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS  SERVICES AROUND THE DIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE 
 
Christmas Day Service at The  DeKoven Center 
The Rev. Travis DuPriest will celebrate Christmas Day Eucharist on Friday, December 25 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Chapel in Taylor Hall on the campus of the DeKoven Center, 600 21st St. in Racine. The diocesan community and friends are cordially invited to join in this joyful celebration! A reception will follow the Eucharist; sweets and savories will be gratefully accepted for the enjoyment of all. RSVP not necessary; for directions, please visit www.dekovencenter.org or call 262-633-6401.
 
Lessons and Carols at Trinity, Janesville December 20 
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.
For more information contact the parish at 608-754-3402 or visit the parish website:   www.trinityjanesville.org.
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.
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Christmas Services at St. Paul's, Beloit . . . all are welcome 
St. Paul's Episco
pal Church, 212 W. Grand Ave., Beloit, invites everyone to celebrate Christmas with us. Join us on Christmas Eve for a service
featuring our children's pageant (service with incense) at 7:00 p.m. and for our Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. (no incense).  Both services will include Holy Communion. 
 
Education for Ministry (EfM)
Most of our EfM groups meet weekly (Sept-June) in various churches around our 
Education for Ministry adult formation classes are powerful groups for promoting life-long Christian growth, but many parishes are concerned about what is needed to start one. Simply put, you must have someone who has successfully completed the four-year EfM program who is willing to mentor a group. They must complete a mentor training course that usually takes a weekend of their time. The course may be paid for by the sponsoring parish or the mentor being trained.
The Diocese of Milwaukee will host a mentor training weekend in September 2016 at The DeKoven Center in Racine. Current and new mentors receive training there in facilitating the four-year program in Biblical Studies, Church History, and Theology. Training is also available year-round at Sewanee and selected sites throughout the country. Please go to the EfM web site for a complete listing:
http://efm.sewanee.edu/mentor-training/efm-mentor-training
Please contact the Diocesan EfM Coordinator, Bill Stotts, for more information at  [email protected]
 
NEW EfM CLASSES FORMING 
A new Madison EfM class is forming in March, sponsored by St. Luke's and St. Dunstan's in Madison. Please contact Mentor Gloria Alt for more information: [email protected]   
A Milwaukee EfM class welcomes new or returning students in January in at St. Paul's. The group meets Monday evenings. Please contact Mentor Lela Joscelyn for more information: [email protected] 
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 end 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:  [email protected].  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.
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)
bachchoirmilwaukee.com ~ 414-319-9816

utologo 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).
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 20, 2015
Christ Church, Whitefish Bay

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, we pray for the people of Christ Church, Whitefish Bay, that God may be glorified by their worship and made known as they joyfully welcome all people; that they may embody Christ's love in works of justice, service, and mercy; that they may continue to nurture children in the knowledge and love of God; and that they may provide a place for the people of the North Shore of Milwaukee to address today's concerns in the rich body of Christian tradition. All this we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
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!
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 
Camp Webb logofrom 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!
 
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
 
The Changing Culture of the Church with Dwight Zscheile
Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Nashotah House Seminary
This leadership day will feature Dwight Zscheile speaking on the changing culture of the church. 
The Rev. Dwight Zscheile
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: 
(414) 272-3028/ext. 158 or   [email protected] .
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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: 
[email protected] .

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 
[email protected]   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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Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project invites you to sponsor a schoolchild in Jeannette, Haiti 
St. Marc's student
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  [email protected] 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!
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 [email protected] . She will be happy to help and / or refer you to a member of the committee.
 
SGClogo 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 [email protected] . 
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 [email protected] (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

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