From Your Presbytery Staff | | OPENING NEWSLETTER ARTICLE | | |
While the Presbytery of Milwaukee is in this current season of change, lead articles for the newsletter will be less frequent. The newsletter will continue to share events and information from your congregation and beyond. Please continue to send Kate upcoming events, invitations, and Churches Thrive in '25 photos and text.
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SAVE THE DATE: MAY 13
IN-PERSON ONLY PRESBYTERY GATHERING
4:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Kenosha (no Zoom)
| | FROM THE PRESBYTERY PLANNING COMMISSION | | Due to technology and staffing restrictions, we will not be meeting in a hybrid fashion in May or August. Our next two presbytery meetings will be in-person only. The Presbytery Planning Commission will be presenting a plan for the next year’s meetings at the May Presbytery meeting. | | |
REGISTER FOR PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH TRIENNIUM!
July 28-31 in Louisville, Kentucky
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Triennium is a triennial gathering of youth from across the PC(USA) open to rising high school freshmen through graduated seniors and their adult leaders. The cost is $650 per youth, which covers the entire cost of the event, including transportation, lodging, and registration. Fill out the registration form by following this link. Reach out to registrar Andy Holmes (rev.andrewholmes@gmail.com) for more information. The deadline to register is April 25.
| | News from the Denomination | | |
71st ANNUAL SYNOD SCHOOL
July 20-25, Storm Lake, IA
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Synod School is a multi-generational learning and personal enrichment experience designed for laity and clergy and for individuals and families. Held at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, lowa, Synod School has something for everyone! Find the most up-to-date information, the Synod School catalog (with 85 class offerings!), and registration details here.
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FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY SEMINAR SERIES
SESSION 2: COMPOSTING
Wednesday, April 30, 4:00 p.m.
| | MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP AT CALVARY | This Holy Week, Calvary Presbyterian Church (935 W. Wisconsin Ave.) will be continuing our new tradition of Maundy Thursday worship on Thursday, April 17. This service is a simple meal of soup and bread, discussion, Communion, and a Tenebrae service of shadows that explores the Passion of Jesus in a moving and intimate way. Please join us in Calvary's sanctuary for the meal at 6:00 p.m, with worship to follow (on Zoom as well) at 7:00 p.m. | | 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.
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2025 PW SYNOD TRIENNIAL GATHERING
June 12-15, Watertown, SD
| | CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH LABYRINTH | | |
Labyrinths are used worldwide to quiet the mind, to find balance, and to encourage reflection, insight, and celebration. They are open to all people as a non-denominational, cross-cultural tool of well-being.
You are warmly invited to walk Calvary’s labyrinth for prayer or meditation in the beautiful and tranquil interior of this historic landmark building in downtown Milwaukee.
Calvary's labyrinth was created in the style of the 13th-century labyrinth at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres, France and is one of only a few permanent indoor labyrinths in the country.
Calvary hosts labyrinth walks by appointment only at this time; schedule your walk by completing our online Labyrinth Form or by contacting Calvary’s church office (calvarychurchMKE@gmail.com, 414-271-8782)! In addition to welcoming confirmation classes and church groups, we also invite organizations including teachers, health care professionals, police officers, and other groups who wish to schedule a private staff retreat.
| | A FREE WORKSHOP FOR ORGANISTS AND KEYBOARD MUSICIANS: HYMN AND SERVICE MUSIC PLAYING INSIGHTS | | |
The AGO Milwaukee Chapter is pleased to announce a workshop on hymn and service music playing, led by James Kennerely, on Saturday, May 3rd, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 914 E. Knapp Street in Milwaukee. The AGO Milwaukee Chapter offers this workshop free of charge to organists and church musicians of all denominations.
Workshop Topics Include:
- The tempo of hymns and service music is adjusted for room acoustics.
- Accompanying and leading chant-style hymns and service music.
- Appropriate organ registrations and keyboard techniques for hymns and service music regarding congregation size and age.
- Suggestions for playing hymns are sought for funerals and weddings, where singing is often absent in the congregation.
- How do you register the organ or play the piano for leadership when a cantor is involved?
- Use tone colors and swell expression pedals to highlight verses or text phrases. Use of organ mixture stops.
- Repeat seasonal hymns and effective pedagogy for congregational music.
- Using hymn and choral arrangements, descants, free harmonizations, and improvisation.
The church's main doors on E. Knapp Street will open at 10:00 a.m. The ADA ramp and entrance are in the courtyard on the east side of the church building. Parking is available in the church lot on the north side of the church and on the street.
| | FREE ORGAN CONCERT FEATURING JAMES KENNERLEY | | |
The American Guild of Organists-Milwaukee Chapter and Saint Paul's Episcopal Church invites you to an extraordinary organ concert featuring acclaimed organist James Kennerley on Sunday, May 4 at 3:00 p.m. in historic Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, 914 E. Knapp Street, Milwaukee.
Experience an unforgettable afternoon filled with a captivating blend of Kennerley's organ transcriptions of John Williams: Star Wars Theme and Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter. Kennerley performs Silent Film Accompaniment for Two Scenes from Walt Disney's Fantasia and Leonard Bernstein's Overture to Candide. Rounding out the concert's first half are classical masterpieces J. S. Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565, and Maurice Durufle: Prelude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain, Opus 7. Following intermission, Kennerley performs the monumental Sonata on the 94th Psalm by Julius Reubke.
Set in the magnificent Saint Paul's Church, renowned for its remarkable Tiffany stained glass windows, main chancel, and nave antiphonal organs, this concert is a must for both seasoned fans and newcomers to the world of organ music. The first half of the concert program is suitable for families with younger children. A professionally staffed childcare center is available throughout the concert.
The concert is free. A free-will offering will be received. The doors open at 2:15 PM, so arrive early to secure the best seats! Free parking is available in Lincoln School Center for the Arts. Enter from N. Marshall Street.
Don't miss the chance to be part of this enchanting musical experience. For more details, visit www.jameskennerley.com or www.youtube.com/@jameskennerley, or contact the AOG Milwaukee Chapter at 414-276-6277 or SubDean@agomilwaukee.org.
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If you’ve never considered serving in Wisconsin, read this to learn what makes this a special place to call home.
On Wisconsin!
| | Future Presbytery Gathering Dates | | |
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2025 PRESBYTERY GATHERING DATES
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Tuesday, May 13 @ 4:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Kenosha (in-person only, no Zoom)
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Tuesday, August 26 @ 4:00 p.m., Grace Presbyterian Church, Beaver Dam (in-person only, no Zoom)
- Saturday, November 8 @ 10:00 a.m., TBD
| | Contact Your Presbytery Staff | | | | |
