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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 Lenten meditation from Bishop Miller
Awake my soul stretch every nerve, and press with vigor on;
A heavenly race demands they zeal and an immortal crown. (Hymn 546)
Dear Friends in Christ,
As I prepare for this holy season of Lent the words of this hymn come to mind. Perhaps that is because the word lent comes from the old English word for lengthen. One way to look at Lent is that it is a season in which we offer ourselves to be stretched and shaped to become more and who we are to be in Christ. Lent invites us to be stretched as was our Lord, who stretched out his arms upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself.
The epistle readings for the Daily Office from Paul's letter to the Philippian's for the last two days show us that this stretching entails self-emptying. The biblical word for this is kenosis, from the Greek word keneo to empty. Paul describes this in two ways. First, he speaks of Jesus who did not count his equality with God as something to be exploited but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. This is what God has done for us in Christ's incarnation and it is made explicit by Jesus offering himself to death on the Cross. Secondly, Paul speaks of his own kenosis how he counts everything he possesses as rubbish because of knowing Jesus as Lord. He desires to be found in Christ that he may know the power of Jesus' resurrection.
It is to this process that we are called to give ourselves in Lent - to be empty that we might be filled. Perhaps we can begin by cleaning out the overfilled inbox of our hearts filled with past hurts, false hopes, unhelpful desires, mistaken ideas, and so much more that gets in the way of receiving the message that we are loved and we are sent to be ambassadors of love to a broken world. And having heard this message, let us decide to share it by our words and actions to a broken and hurting world beginning with those nearest to us.
May God bless you as we walk the pilgrim way of Lent.
Yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Steven Andrew Miller
Bishop of Milwaukee
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 A message for Lent from the Presiding Bishop
Clarence Jordan of the Koinonia Movement many years ago wrote this:
Jesus founded the most revolutionary movement in human history, a movement built on the unconditional love of God for the world, and the mandate to those who follow to live that love.
The season of Lent is upon us. It is a season of making a renewed commitment to participate and be a part of the movement of Jesus in this world. You can see some of that in the Gospel lesson for the first Sunday of Lent where Luke says that after the Baptism of Jesus he went into the wilderness, there to be tempted of Satan.
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 Parishes - the Diocese needs your help to make sure your new Wardens, Vestry and Lay Deputies receive E-NEWS!
Now that parishes have held their annual meetings, the diocesan office looks forward to receiving each parish's list of 2016 officers, vestry members, and lay deputies to diocesan convention, so that we can add them to the E-NEWS mailing list so that they are in the communications loop!
Forms were sent out to parishes in early January and are available on the diocesan website HERE. And remember, your parishioners can add themselves to E-NEWS mailing list by going to the E-NEWS page. It only takes a minute to sign up!Questions? Need help? Call or e-mail Barb Klauber, Administrative Assistant, at the Diocesan Office. She will be happy to help! THANK YOU! Phone: (414) 272-3028/ext. 111 / E-mail: info@diomil.org info@diomil.org
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A SCHOOL FOR THE LORD'S SERVICE
Leadership Lessons from The Rule of St. Benedict will be offered
Sundays in Lent from 6:30pm -8:00pm at Christ Church, Delavan (located at 503 East Walworth Avenue, Delavan, WI 53115).
Join Christ Church, Delavan as Bishop Miller kicks off "A School For The Lord's Service."
Six teachings on discipleship and leadership whose purpose is to help us better lead ourselves and others for Jesus' sake: whether you lead a congregation, a team, a family, a ministry or coworkers.
The Rule of St. Benedict was written in the 5th century in uncertain times, not unlike our own. Much of our Anglican Heritage was formed by "The Rule", which is considered the second wisest piece of western literature, only to the Bible. Benedict of Nursia wrote these 73 short chapters to organize the Gospel of our Master Jesus into a brief, yet potent Discipleship Guide for men and women to live a radical commitment to Him.
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 "Holiness" is focus of Potluck Dinner/Discussion Series starting Feb. 16 at St. Peter's, Ft. Atkinson
The last couple years, St. Peter's Episcopal Church has hosted a series of potluck discussions led by various church leaders from the Diocese of Milwaukee and nearby seminaries. Each year focused on one word topics (the last two topics were judgement and salvation) with 4 discussion meetings throughout the year. The 2016 series topic is Holiness: What It Is, What It Isn't, and Why We Might Want It More than We Realized. The first discussion meeting is Tuesday evening, February 16 at 6:00 pm. It will be held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church at 302 Merchants Ave. in Fort Atkinson. All sessions begin with a pot luck dinner followed by the presentation with time for questions afterward. This year, all four of the sessions will be led by Dr. Garwood P. Anderson, professor of New Testament and Greek at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Nashotah, WI.
Additional sessions will be held May 17, Aug. 23, and Nov. 15. Each meeting will start at 6:00 pm at St. Peter's with a pot luck dinner. All are welcome! Call the church office at 920-563-3889 with any questions. |
 Reconciliation: A Silent Retreat for Lent at The DeKoven Center
March 4-6 at The DeKoven Center in Racine, Wisconsin
Led by The Rev. Matthew Buterbaugh. Cost: $200
Reconciliation is the act of repairing damage done to relationships. Christ's life, death and resurrection are acts of reconciliation with God's creatures. Reconciliation is a sacramental act of the Church and part of the life of a Christian. Particularly during the season of Lent, we are called to "self-examination and repentance." These are ways in which we participate in the divine act of reconciling our lives with God, others, and ourselves. During this retreat, we will look at many ways that we can understand and practice reconciliation. The retreat begins with a reception on Friday followed by dinner, and goes through brunch on Sunday.
For information, please call Sarah Bussell at The DeKoven Center at 262-633-6401, x105 or e-mail her at sbussell@dekovencenter.org
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 Hospitality Center Executive Director Sought
The Hospitality Center in Racine, Wisconsin (a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee) is seeking an executive director to succeed Leif Peterson, currently serving as director in an interim capacity. For more information or to apply, contact The Rev. Kevin Stewart at Kevin Stewart clerickevin@me.com .
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Refugee Resettlement effort asks for help with furnishing apartments in Milwaukee area for refugees. 
The Refugee Resettlement Services run by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is All Saint's Cathedral in Milwaukee, Outreach Project for the 1st Quarter of 2016. Catholic Charities, which has been in existence since 1975, is one of 5 social services agencies in Milwaukee that are providing refugee resettlement services. Refugees referred to the resettlement program come from Somali, Burma and Iraq. The goals of the resettlement program are for the refugees to become economically self-sufficient by obtaining a job and to learn about accessing services for getting their basic needs met. Case managers assist refugees with apartment set up, coordination of health services, enrolling in English as a Second Language classes, obtaining a social security card, enrolling in school, finding and retaining employment.
Good condition items for furnishing an apartment are needed by Catholic Charities and they will accept your donations of furniture, beds, dressers, kitchen tables, bedding and dishes. Please call Catholic Charities at 414-771-2881 to schedule the pick up of furniture. You can also call if you have furniture to drop off. Checks can be made out to All Saint's Cathedral with Migrant & Refugee Services on the memo line. Call Steven Xiong, Director, of Refugee Resettlement Services at 414-771-2881 ex. 221, if you have questions on other household items that are accepted.
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Recognizing God's Voice: Lenten Retreat for Women
Recognizing God's Voice: Lenten Retreat for Women
The Rev. Paula Harris, rector at St. Luke's, Madison and an active Spiritual Director, will lead this retreat for women, which will take place March 5th (Saturday) from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, 670 East Monroe Avenue, Hartford, WI 53027.
To register send $25 payable to Dio. Milwaukee ECW along with your name, phone #, address, and parish affiliation to:
Micki Hoffmann c/o 53 E. Rogers Street, Hartford, WI 53027.
See FLYER for more information
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Diocese of Milwaukee Lay & Clergy Leadership Days
Winter / Spring 2016
Vitality + Innovation + Connection + Mission
These two Leadership Days are amazing opportunities for lay and clergy leaders from our parishes to reflect together on who we are, what we have, and what God is calling us to become. Please plan to send a team to EACH event - with a cash incentive rebate for those who attend both.
Reason we want teams to come ready to talk, investigate and plan real next steps!
On-site childcare will be provided, free of charge. Please RSVP if you will be bringing a child.
The Rev. Miranda Hassett, rector at St. Dunstan's, Madison, offers this comment about Dwight Zscheile, speaker at the February 27th Leadership Day:
"I've been working with Dwight Zscheile through a program out of Luther Seminary, and I'm really excited to have him coming to speak with us in the Diocese of Milwaukee. I think Dwight's message for us is threefold: One, Yes, it's hard to be church right now; the landscape has changed around us in some confusing and scary ways. Two, Yes, our churches have to change too, in some deep and important ways - and one of the most important tools of change turns out to be the work of identifying what's at the core of our way of being as Episcopalian Christians, so that we can hold that at the center even as we innovate and explore. Three, Yes, that work of change can be life-giving and exciting, and can connect us more deeply with God and neighbor." - The Rev. Dr. Miranda Hassett, Rector, St. Dunstan's, Madison
People of the Way: Renewing Episcopal Identity
Saturday, February 27, 9am - 3pm, location Nashotah House
with the Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile
Once upon a time, the Episcopal Church was grounded in its identity as the church of the elites, the de facto "national church" of the United States. Those days are gone. But if the Episcopal Church is no longer the church of the establishment, what is the heart of Episcopal identity and mission? Scholar and Episcopal priest Dwight Zscheile will help us reflect on the massive shift in cultural and religious landscape, ground ourselves in Scripture to recall how God has acted among and through God's people in other times of change and struggle, and offer us stories, tools, and practices for the vital and collaborative work of re-imagining what it means to be Episcopalian in America today, carrying forward the best of our heritage while adapting to connect with new populations and generations.
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JumpStart: Mission, Purpose, and Financial Sustainability
Saturday, April 16, 9am - 3pm, location Nashotah House
Ready to take a hard look at your parish's finances? Not sure what the future holds for your congregation? Need a way t
o start figuring it all out? For congregations ready to face their fears about finances,
buildings, and the future of their parish, the Episcopal Church Building F
und's JumpStart program is a way to help congregations get started in their own evaluation and exploration at their own pace. JumpStart is a one-day event aimed at parish leaders
who are ready to take a hard look at the challenges many congregations face over their future. Developed by the Episcopal Church Building Fund, JumpStart workshops are an exciting and compelling way for parishioners to "jump start" their parish into new and revitalized ministries and mission. JumpStart encourages congregations to understand the need for relevance and taking calculated, informed risks, both in building membership and in creating financial stability.
REGISTRATION FORM Questions? Contact Peggy Bean, Canon for Parishes, at bean@diomil.org  Note: Those who attend BOTH events will get
$10 back on their $30 registration fee at the second event (in cash!!)
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 Ash Wednesday and Racism: A Prayerful Coming Together at St. Francis House on February 9 & 10
Do people of faith talk about race and racism at UW-Madison? How can we do that together in a respectful way? You are invited to listen in on a panel discussion between faculty, administrators, and students as they share how their faith perspectives inform their experiences at UW-Madison on this issue. Eighteen organizations on campus have come together to create a space for breaking down walls of division and learning what it looks like to love all our neighbors. This event is free and open to the public.
Schedule:
5:45 pm - Welcome 6:00 pm - Panel Discussion with Q & A 7:00 pm - Dinner Together to continue the conversation
This event takes place at Pres House (731 State Street, Madison, WI). Please click HERE for more information, including a list of panelist and sponsors.
On February 10th at 7pm, St. Francis House (SFH) is hosting an ecumenical Ash Wednesday service, do-sponsored by Pres House and the Lutheran Campus Center, in which Christians are invited to come together from across different communities to voice lament, repentance and hope. The event takes place at SFH at 1001 University Avenue, Madison, WI. All are welcome. Additional details are HERE.
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Iconography Classes at St. Luke's, Madison
Learn to write icons: $250 Master iconographer Drazen Dupor is offering a painting class in the ancient art of iconography. Drazen was trained in both Serbia and Greece by famous Orthodox iconographers. For $250 a month, you can receive personalized instruction in this spiritual art. Fridays, 6-7:30 pm
St Luke's Episcopal Church 4011 Major Madison, WI 53716
Call parish for more information: 608-222-6921
Click here for a POSTER for your parish bulletin board!
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LENT IN THE DIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE
Nashotah House Theological Seminary's  Lenten Program "Reflections on Building a Christian Worldview" presentation schedule has been announced. The Program is free and open to the public. The presentations will be held at Nashotah House, 2777 Mission Road, Nashotah. The Schedule of Events begins at 5:00 pm with Evensong in St. Mary's Chapel, followed by a Soup Supper at 5:45 pm and Presentations at 6:30 pm in the DeKoven Commons. Click HERE for information on specific presentations. Map / directions to Nashotah House Theological Seminary
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 Lenten Worship at St. James Church of MilwaukeeSt. James of Milwaukee will emphasis our personal relation with Jesus this Lenten season. The preaching themes on the Sundays in Lent will stress the to opening our hearts and hands to God and our service to the neighbor. The preaching themes will be " The Heart believing in Love, The Heart of Transformation, The Heart that Waits, The Heart of Forgiveness and The Heart of Costly Love." These themes will be based on the Gospel Lessons with practical applications.
On the 1st Sunday of Lent there will be an Intergenerational Event for adults and children, which is designed to be interactive. The book " Rediscovering Jesus" by Matthew Kelly will be given to all families in the Parish. This book sets forth these questions: Who am I? Who is God? What am I here for? What matters most? What are my unique talents and abilities? What will my contribution be? We will discover the answers to these questions most completely by encountering Jesus.
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 Lenten Soup Supper & Service
Wednesdays at 6pm during Lent at Trinity, Janesville Every Wednesday during Lent at 6pm (February 17, 24 & March 2, 9, 16) Trinity's Ortmayer Hall - Corner of Court & Atwood Street in Janesville. All are welcome!
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Altar Guild Adventure 2016 set for May 18th
The Diocesan Altar Guild would very much appreciate it if you would put the message below in your Sunday bulletins for the next couple weeks and in your newsletters. Specific details will follow soon. Thanks!
-- Micki Hoffmann (Diocese of Milwaukee Altar Guild)
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 Parish input sought on distribution of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) funding . . .
Please click HERE to read the Commission's letter and then make sure that your parish provides its input. Questions? Contact The Rev. Carol Smith at: |
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Apply now for a 2016 UTO Grant!
UTO Grant Applications available The criteria for the 2016 grants are for items from the 5th Marks of Mission: "to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth". More information on this criteria and the application itself can be found HERE .
There are several items that will appear including the criteria, the application and other information regarding the procedure.
The schedule for presenting a grant for the Diocese of Milwaukee is to complete the application and send it to Barb Klauber at the diocesan office - info@diomil.org - no later than Monday, Feb. 15th. The Diocese can submit 2 applications each year, one for programs within the diocese and one for our companion diocese Newala or for Haiti because of our Haiti Project. If you have questions regarding the criteria, the application or about United Thank Offering itself - please contact Connie Ott at 608-798-3688 or cott@chorus.net with UTO in the subject line.
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AROUND THE DIOCESE
 Pipe Dreams Organ Concert at Trinity, Janesville February 7th
On Sunday, February 7th, from 2-3:30 PM Trinity Episcopal Church, Janesville presents "Pipe Dreams"--an organ concert, Sing-A-Long, and Social Event. Phillip Becker will be the MC. Jane-Syme, Rev. Kathy Monson Lutes, Thelma Wilcox, Jaret Schroeder, Sue Whitford, and Katie Cossman offer their talents to entertain. All are welcome and admission is free to the public. Patrons are asked to donate a non-perishable food item for the E.C.H.O. and MIlton Food Pantry or Cash donations will be utilized for the maintenance of instruments. After the concert, snacks and treats will be provided. A special thank you to Thrivent Financial for their generous support. Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 409 E. Court Street. Click HERE for map/directions. ___________________________________________________________
Grace Presents: Music of Bach, Schumann and Mozart on February 20th from 12:00 Noon - 1:00 pm
Sonat as for Violin and Piano
Music of Bach, Schumann and Mozart
Kangwon Kim (Violin) and Seungwha Baek (Piano)Kangwon Lee Kim is a versatile violinist with repertoire ranging from baroque to 21st century using both Baroque and modern violins. Kangwon Kim earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and also holds degrees from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and Temple University.  A native of Seoul, Korea, pianist Seungwha Baek is currently working towards the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in collaborative piano at the University of Wisconsin-�Madison under Professor Martha Fischer.
Grace Church, Madison is located at 116 West Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703.
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A Call to Local Artists . . . 
ART AS PRAYER SHOW
Wednesday, MARCH 9TH - SUNDAY, MARCH 13TH. HELD AT CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, DELAVAN, which is located at 503 E. Walworth Avenue. * 262-728-5292. Creating art, as well as viewing art, can be an exercise
in prayer, & has long been a way people have tapped into the divine & experienced God. We invite artists, of all ages, & all mediums, to submit their creative works, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that help us experience God. Deadline for Artists Entries is February 29th.
More information and an artist entry form is available HERE.
"Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art."
~ Leonardo da Vinci
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Ministry Development Grants available to parishes
Again this year, the Diocese of Milwaukee's Mission and Development department is offering grants that 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,
- fosters healthy and effective organizational dynamics within the parish
Click HERE for an application. Questions? Contact Peggy Bean, Canon for Parishes, at bean@diomil.org . Application deadline is APRIL15, 2016. |
 RESOURCES for Vestries
Parishes -- as you prepare to hold elections at your annual meetings, remember there are many resources for parish vestries available through the Episcopal Church Foundation at the Vital Practices link below!
Looking for additional information or resources, contact Peggy Bean, Canon for Congregations, at bean@diomil.org . She will be happy to help!
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Catechism Challenge 2016 -- JOIN THE DISCUSSION!
Catechism Challenge 2016! Starts Jan 1, 2016! Join us on Diocesan Facebook page  - every day we 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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 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 jonathan@stfrancisuw.org.
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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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 Safeguarding God's Children/Safeguarding God's People
All registration information and links are found on our diocesan website on the Safeguarding God's People page, www.diomil.org. |
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Living Compass offers Lenten resource
Living Compass would like to offer all congregations within the Diocese of Milwaukee complimentary copies of their Lenten resources: LIVING WELL THROUGH LENT 2016 Letting Go With All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind and VIVIR UNA CUARESMA DIFERENTE EN EL 2016 Dejando con todo el coraz�n, lo que nos impide crecer.
Please visit their website online store and order booklets with your special discount code at check out MILWAUKEE LENT and pay only shipping costs.The theme for the Lenten booklet is Letting Go with All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind. The weekly themes include "Letting Go of Normal," "Letting Go of Shoulds," "Letting Go of Control, "Letting Go of Perfectionism," and "Letting Go of What We Have Known." The booklets will be ready for shipment on January 11, but you can order them now. There will also be a free leaders guide available on the website. The Leaders Guide provides a format for using the devotional as the basis for a Lenten program.
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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.
February 14, 2016 - St. Simon the Fisherman
Almighty God, we pray for the faithful people of St. Simon the Fisherman Episcopal Church in Port Washington. May they live into their calling as a vital church family of all ages, and help them to care especially for the children in their midst. In the name of your son Jesus Christ, 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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Education for Ministry (EfM)
Most of our EfM groups meet weekly (Sept-June) in various churches around our diocese.
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 wmnmex@aol.com
NEW EfM CLASS
A Milwaukee EfM class welcomes new or returning students at St. Paul's. The group meets Monday evenings. Please contact Mentor Lela Joscelyn for more information: lelajoscelyn@sbcglobal.net
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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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