November 4 Presbytery Meeting

LAST CHANCE! REGISTER FOR THE NOVEMBER 4 PRESBYTERY BUSINESS MEETING

ZOOM ONLY, 7:00 PM

Friends,

I pray this fall finds you well and able to take advantage of the beautiful days. We have been blessed by the bountiful harvests all around us. As November approaches, it is time for our next business meeting of the Presbytery, which will take place on November 4th at 7:00 pm on Zoom for all participants.

At this November meeting, we will be hearing from the Transition Team about their progress, and the second reading of the budget for next year will be presented and voted on. We will also have a report to vote on from the Nominating Committee for positions of leadership across the work of the Presbytery. Nominating always welcomes nominations, so if you know of a gifted someone willing to serve in the presbytery, please contact them.

As Presbyterians, our work is representative of the whole, meaning we function better when the voices of all our congregations and clergy are present. Sessions, please check that you have an elder available to attend. Clergy, please remember that attendance at Presbytery meetings is part of our commitment to our calling. All participants must register, as only registered participants will be admitted to the meeting. There will be an additional email coming soon with reminders and instructions about how to most effectively navigate Zoom for these meetings. I look forward to seeing you on the 4th!

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Kim Trimboli

Moderator, Presbytery of Milwaukee

From Marilyn Stone, Disaster Preparedness & Response Task Force Chair

LOCAL FLOOD RELIEF NEEDS CONTINUE...

It's now been 2.5 months since the August flooding occurred in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha Counties and temperatures are dropping as winter approaches. One might think that everyone who experienced flooding has now received assistance with removal of damaged items and has had mold remediation. This might be true if one has insurance or has funds to pay for professional help or has family and friends to help. If none of these are possible for you, then you are reliant on volunteer help. Just yesterday, it was reported that 5,000 households in these three counties still have not received assistance! Why the huge number of households not receiving assistance? This is largely due to the lack of volunteer organizations coming to the Milwaukee area with their volunteer base and the number of disasters across the U.S. needing volunteers.

Often at times of a disaster, it is the faith community that steps forward to assist the most vulnerable! Who are these volunteers from the faith community who help our most vulnerable neighbors? It’s you and I. The Disaster Preparedness and Response Task Force is helping connect you to local needs. Contact Marilyn Stone at mmstone52@att.net if you are able to help.

Volunteer opportunities:

Work with an experienced team lead to remove damaged personal items and/or apply mold treatment. Teams are working every day, so you can work according to your availability. All training, supplies and equipment are provided. Ages 18 and up.
Make phone calls to verify current needs from those registered with Crises Cleanup.
Notify us if you know of local organizations or businesses who may be able to help financially with long term recovery which will enable rebuilding assistance for those with greatest needs. Building supplies, a construction manager, etc. will be needed.
Donations of furnaces and hot water heaters to replace those destroyed by flooding.
Donations to the Presbytery’s “Flood Relief Fund” through online giving or by check to “Presbytery of Milwaukee” clearly marked for flood relief.

REMINDER: The application deadline for FEMA assistance due to the recent flooding is November 12^th

Residents can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 1-800-621-3362. In person assistance is also available at the following two FEMA Disaster Recovery Center locations: West Allis Senior Center at 7001 W. National Ave., West Allis, WI 53214, open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and McNair Elementary School at 4950 N. 24th St., Milwaukee, WI 53209, open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 pm. If you are not sure that you qualify for assistance, contact FEMA to find out. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Presbytery Pulse

PRESBYTERY ON THE ROAD

To make ourselves more accessible, your Presbytery staff (Ann, Kate, and Christian) have scheduled some remote office days. Tomorrow, Thursday, October 30th, your staff will be at Inspired Coffee in Lake Geneva from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Stop by for some conversation and a beverage or snack - our treat! We hope to see you!

Inspired Coffee, 883 W. Main Street, Lake Geneva, 53147

AVAILABLE FOOD FOR FOOD BANKS

The Interfaith Council of Greater Milwaukee has been made aware that the UMOS food pantry has an excess of food that UMOS would like to donate to other food pantries and food banks. Much of UMOS's food supply comes from corporate sponsors and will not be effected by government funding.

Interested pantries should contact Gigi at UMOS' main number, 414-389-6000. Please share this information widely with the local food pantries that you support.

Additionally, in seeking various funding resources to help shore up our food security issue, UMOS has entered a conversation with CACSCW, which will be applying for the DATCP Food Security and Wisconsin Products Program Grant Application, and they want to include UMOS in this application to serve Milwaukee. This is an excellent opportunity to apply collectively and, more importantly, access more food.

While UMOS will be included in this application, the intention is to include food pantry programs represented by churches/parishes from the interfaith Steering Committee.

Below is the information needed by 10/29/25 to include the locations in the application.

Background: UMOS is applying to become a partner of the Community Action Coalition of South-Central Wisconsin (CACSCW), which will be the lead applicant on this grant. The entire project will serve a majority of the state of Wisconsin. The grant funds can be used SOLELY for the purchase of food products, and at least 51% of food purchased must be from Wisconsin producers, processors, or local food distributors. The food must be distributed at no cost to community members. The anticipated project start date is 2/1/2026, and the end date is 12/1/2026 (10 months).

The fine details of how UMOS will implement the project are being worked out, but generally speaking, UMOS will purchase all food and store it until other food pantries pick it up. Each pantry will be responsible for tracking the number of households it serves and reporting those numbers back to UMOS monthly.

For the application, UMOS would like the following information by the end of Wednesday, 10/29/25 (email to Jose.CabreraSandoval@umos.org).

Name of food pantry and confirmation of participation.
A description of the community served by the food pantry
An estimate of the number of households their food pantry serves annually
Their agreement to be able to pick up food from UMOS or its storage location(s).
Their agreement to track the number of households served
Types and volume/amount of food needed
Estimated dollar amount of food they need per month

UMOS sincerely apologizes for the short notice and for the consideration of being included in this endeavor.

Your time and prompt consideration of this matter are greatly appreciated.

From The Denomination

ON THE ROAD TO GA, ISSUE 4

The 227th General Assembly (2026) will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Click here to read the latest issue.

2025/2026 STATISTICAL SEASON SCHEDULE AND DEADLINES

December 20, 2025: Last day to submit missing EIN through email to PCUSA staff (ogarecords@pcusa.org)

December 1, 2025: Statistics entry option available for presbyteries opens.

January 2, 2026: Statistics entry access opened for churches.

February 20, 2026: Last day the statistics entry option will be available for churches.

BRIDGING THE GAP: LOVE GOD-LOVE SELF-LOVE NEIGHBORS

APCE's Annual Event, January 21-24, 2026, Pittsburgh, PA

Registration is now open for this event. The Association of Partners in Christian Education is part of the PCUSA Christian Formation Collective. Leadership for the event includes Theresa Cho, MaryAnn McKibben Dana, Evan Moffic, Daniel Heath, and Paul Timothy Roberts Sr. In addition, there are dozens of workshops, a vendor marketplace, and wonderful pre and post events. Join the event in person or online. And look for additional information soon for Annual Event online in Spanish.

"GUN VIOLENCE AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS"

This new adult educational video series, presented by the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Office of Public Witness, brings together leading Christian academics from around the United States to think about how Christians might think about the uniquely American problem of gun violence as people of faith. What might our faith might say about gun violence? How might it counter the cultures of fear, civil distrust, and alienation that make guns attractive? And how it might move us to engage in ministries of prophetic advocacy and tender reconciliation that help to end gun violence in the United States?

Click here for all the videos in the series

LET SPECIAL OFFERINGS HELP PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING

Special Offerings has a great slate of resources to meet congregations' unique needs as they prepare for this Advent season.

Download Advent resources for Christmas Joy today!

The 2025 resource page offers:

Bulletin Inserts

Worship Liturgy

Coloring Sheet

PowerPoint Slides

Social Media Kit

...And more!

Check it out!

Churches Thrive in '25

ABRAM NEUMANN TO SPEAK AT GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

November 19, 9:30 a.m.

The Reaching Out committee of Grace Presbyterian Church invites you to a presentation by Abram Neumann, pastoral leader and Director of the Iglutheca (Lakota word meaning “make yourself new”) Ministry. Located in Pine Ridge, SD, the Iglutheca Ministry paves a pathway of support for those of the Lakota Nation who are home insecure, immersed in the darkness of addiction and impoverished.

Join Grace for a time of fellowship and refreshments while learning how God is working through this ministry, bringing hope and healing to the Pine Ridge community.

215 Gould Street, Beaver Dam, 53916

HERITAGE HOME DELIVERS, HERITAGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

From Glenn Kozicki, Heritage Home Delivers Coordinator out of Heritage Presbyterian Church. We continue our furniture ministry serving those recently housed, previously homeless. 501 households have received beds with new sheets & pillows, dressers, couches, tables, lamps, microwaves and home goods to help turn their place into a home.

SAN JOSE GIRLS' GAMES & JEWELRY MAKING AFTERNOON

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AT FOREST PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

November 15, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Grieving Through the Seasons, a discussion guided by Melissa Minkley

Like the changing seasons, the grief process is natural and cyclical. Join us as Melissa Minkley of the Grief Wellness Center integrates the patterns of the grieving experience with the rhythms and changes of the seasons. She will also offer helpful suggestions to assist in finding one’s way during the holiday season.

Melissa Minkley of the Grief Wellness

Center is a licensed social worker with over

25 years of experience supporting

individuals, families, and communities as

they navigate a life-altering diagnosis, end

of life transition and grief.

2300 S. Sunny Slope Road, New Berlin

WHAT IS YOUR CHURCH UP TO IN 2025?

Taking a break from the photo collages we've all grown to love, we want to share what your church is doing in 2025! No matter the size of the event, if it is coming up or has already happened, send Kate information about what's happening at your church! Have a great photo from the event? Please send it in, too! Just make sure to include a description to go along with the photo so everyone knows what's happening in the picture.

These events will be shared in Fresh Impressions on a rolling basis and can be sent to Kate at any point during the month.

Invitations

SOPHIA'S RELIGIOUS LEADERS CAUCUS 2025 ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL EVENT:

Brief Overview of Current Issues in immigration

Wednesday, November 12, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. via Zoom

NEW PARTNERSHIP RESOURCE: DIGITAL JUSTICE E-COURSE

WCC, WACC, and the Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany have launched "Just Digital: Taking Control, Making a Difference" - a comprehensive 6-lesson course for digital advocacy.

Key learning outcomes:

→ Media literacy and misinformation detection

→ Understanding digital surveillance and privacy

→ Environmental impact of digital technologies

→ Building inclusive digital communities

"Our everyday lives have simultaneously become our digital lives with all the rapidly arising ethical issues that accompany the online world," notes WCC director of communication Marianne Ejdersten.

This free resource empowers organisations to:

✓ Train staff on digital ethics

✓ Develop advocacy strategies

✓ Create safer online spaces

✓ Build community resilience

Ideal for NGO coordinators, policy advocates, and faith-based organisations seeking evidence-based approaches to digital justice.

More info:

https://www.oikoumene.org/news/next-level-just-digital-e-course-will-explore-ethical-issues-of-our-digital-lives

Access to Course:

https://ccrvoices.org/courses/just-digital/

ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914

by Peter Rothstein

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 by Peter Rothstein

Directed by Jill Anna Ponasik with Music Direction by Paula Foley Tillen

Performing 12/11-12/22 at Calvary Presbyterian Church

Vanguard Milwaukee presents their fourth annual production of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914. All is Calm tells the incredible true story of the WWI Christmas Truce, in which English, German, and French soldiers laid down their arms, met in No Man's Land, and celebrated the holidays together. An a cappella concert event unlike any other, All is Calm is told through rich men's choral arrangements of songs such as "Will Ye Go To Flanders?", "Stille Nacht", and "Auld Lang Syne", with dialogue composed completely of letters, journal entries, and other first hand accounts of the truce. All is Calm is a night of music, camaraderie, and hope. Playing 12/11-12/22 at Calvary Presbyterian Church.

All is Calm runs approximately one hour and fifteen minutes with no intermission and is suitable for audiences ten and older. Group rates are available for parties of eight or more by request. More info and tickets can be found at vanguardmke.com/tickets. Any questions or inquiries can be sent to info@vanguardmke.com.