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 ON THE ROAD

To make ourselves more accessible, your Presbytery staff (Ann, Kate, and Christian) have scheduled some remote office days.  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 Stree, Lake Geneva, 53147

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

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!

SYNOD MEETING SUMMARY

On September 28-29, 2025, the Synod of Lakes and Praries held its Fall stated and annual meeting via zoom. You can find the meeting summary here. If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Prouty, Stated Clerk at pprouty@lakesandprairies.org.

A NOTE FROM ANDY HOLMES, SYNOD COMMISSIONER

One of the things I most love about serving as synod commissioner is being challenged by different perspectives. Our synod is composed of Presbyterians from seven states in the upper midwest / great plains region. This includes large swaths of rural America and indigenous lands throughout. Working with people of great faith from backgrounds other than the Milwaukee metropolitan area grounds my wider understanding of the Body of Christ.

This fall our synod is encouraging every congregation to pick a date and celebrate Synod Sunday where churches pray for and learn about the larger church. You can find resources for Synod Sunday here: https://www.lakesandprairies.org/s-projects-side-by-side

--Andy Holmes

TE Synod Commissioner

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

FIRST KENOSHA IN THE NEWS

First Presbyterian Church in Kenosha has been collecting 100 (or more) specific items every month to celebrate its 100th birthday. The items are then donated to local non-profit organizations. Check out this newsreel from CBS 58: Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Kenosha church donates gifts to celebrate 100th birthday.

"TELL ABOUT A TIME IMMANUEL HAS INSPIRED YOUR FAITH"

Last weekend Immanuel had the privilege of hosting internationally acclaimed author, photographer, and peace advocate John Nolter. Our time together was full of connection, community, and celebrating the bonds of peace that hold us together. 

On Saturday afternoon Immanuel members and friends were invited to respond to the prompt “tell about a time Immanuel has inspired your faith.” Responses and portraits were collected and turned into a video shared during Sunday’s closing keynote.

Click below to watch the video.

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.

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. 

ONE MONTH AWAY...IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER FOR ALREADY & NOT YET

NEXT Church National Gathering, November 11-14, 2025

A gathering for Church leaders committed to transformation, NEXT Church will host its next National Gathering this fall, next door, in Michigan. The gathering of approximately 250, mostly Presbyterians (all are welcome!), from around the country will include meaningful worship and five leadership pathways (pick one for the whole conference) --

Community Organizing: Building Movements for a More Just World

More Than Good Intentions: Aligning Your Mission Ministries for Impact

Leading Through Communal Trauma: Proclamation and Public Ministry Amid Traumatic Overwhelm

Art as Resistance: Awakening Imagination

Relentlessly Communing:  Cultivating Communities of Resistance

NEXT Church is a growing community of leaders — church members, ruling elders, youth leaders, educators, ministers, seminarians, mid-council leaders, and church professionals — who believe the Spirit is moving powerfully in the Church today, even as what it means to be Church is changing. Founded in 2011, Rev. Rob Ater (Milwaukee: Immanuel) has served on the NEXT Church Vision Team and Board since 2023. Learn about NEXT at:  https://nextchurch.net/. National Gathering details and registration at:  https://nextchurch.net/national-gathering/.

Would you like to attend with a group from our presbytery? Fill out this form or contact Rev. Ann Gibbs (agibbs@pbymilwaukee.org), to express an interest in carpooling and/or sharing expenses. There is a reduced registration rate for folks who do not have continuing education or professional development funds!

Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee seeks NURSERY WORKER

Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee seeks MISSIONS LEAD ASSOCIATE