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PRESBYTERY INVITATION
| | We are excited to offer a chance to meet with our November presbytery meeting keynote speaker, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, at a gathering the evening before the presbytery meeting. We hope you can join us!
GATHERING OF THE PRESBYTERY OF MILWAUKEE Friday, November 21st, 2014 "Risking Mission - Joining In Advocacy" 6:30 p.m. Hospitality
7:00-8:30 p.m. Program
Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church
121 W. Saveland Ave.
Rev. Nelson reflects on the risks and joys of local mission and advocacy, including a time of informal conversation together. Open to Commissioners and Non-Commissioners,
especially open to those involved in local missions. Please RSVP to the presbytery office if you are planning to attend, 414-292-2740 or [email protected]
Saturday, November 22nd, 2014 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
9:00 Registration
9:20 am Amendment Conversation - NEW
9:50 am - Announcements
10:00 am - Business Meeting
11:25 am - Keynote
12:15 - Lunch
1:15 pm - Public Worship
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
"The Call to Social Justice" with the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson
from the Office of Public Witness, PC(USA)
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If you weren't able to participate in the
Webcast on the Proposed Amendments to the Constitution, you can view the 33 minute recording here. We will be voting on these proposed amendments at the presbytery meeting on November 22nd, so please watch this to be informed! Here are some other helpful documents as you prepare for the vote. Belhar Confession Amendment 14-F Here is the link to download the amendment booklet.
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SHARING THE MINISTRY
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Tweet Tweet!
The upcoming Presbytery meeting on Saturday at Immanuel in Milwaukee has many exciting items on the agenda. We will be voting on constitutional amendments, approving the 2015 budget, receiving new committee members and electing a Stated Clerk and Treasurer, hearing about an exciting mission partnership opportunity with Common Ground, and examining Beth Patton for ordination. What a full and exciting agenda!
In addition we will feature a new way of experiencing presbytery. For the first time, we will be able to have live tweets (140 characters or less) of the meeting (#pbymke). This means that Presbyterians, and those interested in Presbyterians will be able to read and respond to what we do in our business session, workshop, and worship. They will participate in our learning from J. Herbert Nelson, and be inspired by our worship, just as we are learning and being inspired. Twitter means that what happens in Milwaukee can become a national conversation- instantly.
Nicole Farley, the chair of our Leadership Development Task Force, came up with the Twitter idea. However, we are not the first presbytery to move in this direction. Presbytery of Chicago already has a twitter feed. The Presbytery Mission Agency, our head denomination, is looking into having a twitter feed and Facebook post during the national meeting in 2016. Twitter is a powerful medium because the information flows in two directions: from the individual user to the community, and from the presbytery to the community. Through twitter, we can create ideas today that will be tomorrow's innovation.
The ability to tweet is on the heels of our first webcast from last week. It was exciting learning about the technology, and to be able to have a meeting across five counties without everyone driving into one location. New technology can be fun and frustrating. The webcast was not perfect, but the idea opens doors for many possibilities including satellite meetings and distant training and education.
I have a message on my whiteboard in my office. It reads, "Create a presbytery that will lay the foundation for the future church." I believe the future church will have technology in its bloodstream. We will be able to conquer geographic limitations, hear and explore new idea as they occur, and attract people who respond to our message of hope, faith, love and possibility. As it is written, "But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a tweet or blog?" (CHV- Craig Howard Version).
Rev. Craig M. Howard
(To respond to Craig, go to [email protected])
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DISCOVERY DAY - FEBRUARY 21, 2015
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The Milwaukee Presbytery's 2015 Discovery Day will be held on Saturday, February 21st at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Mequon from 9:00am to 4:00pm in conjunction with the February Presbytery Meeting. The theme for the day will be "Communicating Faith in the 21st Century." Registration will soon be available.
Setup help - This year, we are asking churches in the Milwaukee Presbytery, especially those in closer proximity to Crossroads Presbyterian Church, to help with the setup for Discovery Day. Our brothers and sisters at Crossroads graciously provide their facility for the event, but we need help during the event as well as both preparing for and cleaning up after the event. Setup will begin on Friday, February 20th at 9:00am and will end when setup is complete. We ask that all those who are able to help come in the morning at a time that works best for you. Following the event, help is also needed to restore the building ahead of Sunday worship. Many hands make light work! Click here to volunteer
Common Mission Offering - The 2015 Discovery Day Common Mission Offering will support Presbyterian Disaster Assistance gifts of the heart kits - specifically, the School Kits. Items needed for each kit include:
1 - pair of blunt scissors (rounded tip)
3 - 70-count spiral notebooks or notebooks
(total 200-210 pages/no loose-leaf or filler paper.)
1 - 30-centimeter ruler (12")
1 - hand-held pencil sharpener
6 - new pencils with erasers
1 - large eraser
1 - box of 24 crayons
1 - cloth bag, 12" x 14" to 14" x 17" finished size, cotton or lightweight canvas, cloth handles Instructions
All items must be packed into the cloth bag. The value of the kit is approximately $15. Please encourage your congregations to begin collecting items for the Common Mission Offering. Cash donations will also be accepted. For a printable half sheet bulletin insert click here.
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| THE PARKING LOT |
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Appeals Court Ruling Preserves Clergy Housing Exemption - A federal appeals court has thrown out a lower court ruling that the federal income tax exemption for clergy housing allowances is unconstitutional. The appeals court directed the U.S. District Court in Wisconsin that ruled on the suit November 21, 2013, to dismiss the complaint.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled on November 13, 2014, that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the constitutionality of Section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code, which provides the exemption. The Freedom from Religion Foundation and two individuals filed the suit. The appeals court did not address the constitutionality of Section 107.
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Congratulations to Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church, which has been certified as a PC(USA) Earth Care Congregation! Want to learn more? Click here. ========================
Minutes - The minutes from the September 20th and October 14th presbytery meetings can be found on our website or by clicking here.
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HIGHLIGHTED CONGREGATION
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We lift up one of our congregations each week in Fresh Impressions, inviting you to learn more about your sister congregations and keep them in your prayers. This week we are lifting up:
Forest Park Presbyterian Church
in New BerlinClick to see their website
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| INVITATIONS |
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 It is that time of year we think about Christmas and all it means to us and the children God has given us to care for. With your help, we have been able to make the lives of many children a little brighter through, Christ Presbyterian Church Children's Christmas Toy Store for 45 years. The Children's Christmas Store this year will be on Saturday December 20, 2014, 9:00am - until 2:00pm, and serves children through the ages of 10 years old. New items needed for the store includes: toys, games, coloring books, crayons, markers, stuffed animals, balls, mittens, gloves, hats, scarf's, school supplies, dolls, cars/trucks, puzzles, etc. Your donations of money help in meeting ongoing needs of the people we serve. Checks should be made out to "Christ Presbyterian Church" and can be designated to Children's Christmas Store. It would be helpful if all items are here by Tuesday, December 16th, 2014. The church office hours are 9:00am- 12:00pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. If you cannot make it during these hours, please call (414)933-4887 to make special arrangements.
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WI Council of Churches Announces their
2015 Winter Forum:
Another Way of Doing Life
2015 Winter Forum with Shane Claiborne
February 27-28, 2015 in the Wisconsin Dells
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
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Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Mequon is seeking a part-time (32 hour/week) staff accountant.
Responsibilities:
- Prepare and process all accounting transactions and financial statements including A/P, A/R (cash contributions and mutual funds/stock transactions) and outside payroll service.
- Prepare journal entries, account analysis, month-end and year-end financial reports for multiple funds.
- Maintain proper audit trail documentation.
- Create reports using specialized financial system and Excel.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field, preferred;
- Five years of experience with bookkeeping, accounting, financial reporting and analysis.
- Proficiency in MS Word/Excel and various accounting software.
- Accuracy and attention to detail essential.
Qualified candidates may send their resume to Mary Schigoda, Church Administrator, at [email protected].
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Covenant PC, Racine, has an opening for an pianist to play two Sundays each month. Scheduling is flexible. The pianist will play at two Sunday services during the regular church program year and at one service during the summer months. Planned musical selections may include a prelude, offertory and postlude, in addition to the hymns, and responses at each service. Pay is negotiable. If interested, please contact Eddy Huffman by email [email protected] or phone (262) 639-8301.
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 Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church has openings for Director of Choirs, Pianist and Organist. These rolls might be filled by several persons, or one, depending on a number of factors. If interested, please send a resume to the church at 1455 S. 97th St., West Allis, WI 53214 or [email protected]. Any questions, please free to call Pastor Kevin Tarvid: 414-588-0159.
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| LOOKING AHEAD | | |
Nov. 21st - Gathering with J. Herbert Nelson - Milwaukee,
Tippecanoe
Nov. 22nd - Presbytery Meeting - Milwaukee, Immanuel
Feb. 21st - Discovery Day - Mequon, Crossroads
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