Cross Lutheran Church

Cross Lutheran Church June 2015 Newsletter

Pastor Michelle’s Corner

GET UP, GET OUT, GET BUSY! June is a very special month as it reigns supreme for celebrations for Graduation, Men’s Month, Safety Month, and the end of school for so many. It also is a time to say good-bye to spring and hello to Summer. It can usher in stormy weather as the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun, the days grow longer and warmer. That extra dollop of solar heating signals more than T-shirts and barbecues. Spring and summer warmth also fuels the high season for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, carefree and whimsical attitudes and chili pepper tempers rising to 100 degrees. Summertime also presents very real challenges for every church. People are very busy and mobile in the summer time and, sadly, some families will disengage from their local church from Memorial Day Sunday until the beginning of school or even waiting until after Labor Day. All of these matters combine to become one enormous challenge for the leaders of a church. As a pastor of Cross Church, this becomes a personal and spiritual challenge for me. I know by the time June comes: People need celebration, People need refreshment, People need a vacation, as do I. Yet, the ministry of the church marches forward. The Lordship of Christ and the call to the Great Commission does not give any believer a “pass” for the summer time. This always poses a big question for the Finance Committee and its “Big” question is: How do we survive the 15 weeks from Memorial Day to Labor Day and not fall behind and go broke? 2 Well, I decided I would take a stab at this before we hit the 3rd week of June for the council meeting. Yes, every ministry does take dollars and cents to fund it, even when the people are not here. During the summer, we have very specified ministries in the community, camps for students and children, and the list continues. As well, the normal ministries continue and we prepare for the fall. So how can Cross survive financially? I will remind you that the ministries of the church continue even while we are away; therefore, we need to remain consistent in our giving during the summer time. Before you go away or upon your return, you should make up for the Sundays you miss. Better yet, our church does offer an online option which I use and if you are like me where you may get side tracked by varying from your routine, I encourage you to give online so your giving can remain consistent. Then there are no worries—God is always FIRST. I want you to just think about what I get to experience practically every day as a pastor here at Cross, I have the privilege to give every day of my life to seeing the lives of people changed. Some people can touch a life by selling them some kind of apparel to wear. Some can affect a person’s day by giving them food to eat. Another can alter a person’s future by teaching them about economics. But I as a pastor get to do many of those things but, moreover, I can see a life changed today and forever when I lead someone into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I realized that God has let me give every waking hour of my life to leading a ministry and an entire church towards the common goal of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with every person in the world and to making disciples of all the nations. That is a pretty awesome thing to experience and to be able to stay without faking the funk, if you know what I mean. If this does not fire you up, wet your whistle, light your jets, and help you get up each morning with a greater passion, then it is time to rethink your life, reignite your walk, get a thump on the head, swift kick in the bottom or perhaps simply renew your calling. While you are out enjoying the longer days this summer, strolling down the street or in the park, eating al fresco at restaurant:  Get away one day. 3  Draw aside to Jesus.  Confess where you are.  Open God’s Word.  Lay before Him.  Open your spiritual ears & heart.  Plead for a Word.  Journal your thoughts. Then act on His Word and return with a resolve. Share with others what God has said. After all, we are the priesthood of all believers. We are in this together and there is no time like the present and now you don’t have the weather as your excuse—make it the reason to get out there and get busy! You will be happier, healthier and we’ll all be blessed! Summer Tidings, Pastor Michelle Save the Date! Cross Community Picnic Sunday, August 30 Details to Follow

Are you hard of hearing? Would a telephone that amplifies the sound and the tone be for you? If so, the Public Service Commission has a FREE program to help you obtain that phone. The program is called the TEPP – Telecommunications Equipment Purchase Program. It is a great way to get telephone equipment that you need for little or no cost at all. Sometimes when people hear about the program, they wonder what the catch is. There is NO CATCH. The phones are paid for by the Wisconsin Universal Service Fund (USF) established by the Public Service Commission. Here are the requirements: 4  You must be a WI resident  You must be a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired, or mobility or motion impaired  Would benefit from special equipment in the home to use the telephone There is no age limit or income limit, however, an individual can only get a TEPP voucher once every three years for the same type of disability. I know a vendor for this program who would love to come and conduct a session regarding this great program. She would be willing to meet people here at Cross, explain the program to you, and most of you, if you qualify, would be able to go home with a new phone of your choice that day. Please let me know if this program is something that would be useful for you. If we have enough interest, we will set up a date and time for the representative to come and explain more about the program. Please register for this program by calling me at the church office at 414-344-1746 and if I do not answer, please leave a voice message. I recently offered this at the Adult Center and on the day we offered it 20 people went home with new phones that have helped them hear better, it was truly amazing! Looking forward to hearing from you if you are interested or if you have any questions.

Your Parish Nurse Linda In Recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month… The Cross Mental Health Advocacy Ministry plans to offer peer support sessions after Sunday Worship, beginning June 7, 2015.

The Cross Mental Health Advocacy Ministry involves a team of sisters and brothers in Christ working to support well-being and quality of life. A component of this work involves offering support service to youth and adults who might be experiencing emotional or 5 coping challenges. Often, because of stigma associated with mental health, those with coping or emotional challenges are reluctant to share their needs with others, even friends. This can result in the unfortunate experience of carrying burdens alone, even when surrounded by friendly faces. In order to address these concerns, we are organizing weekly opportunities after Sunday Worship for youth and adults to meet with those who have peer counseling or mentorship experience in a welcoming, non-judgmental atmosphere. We have the following aims in this service:

 We will promote opportunities for mentorship, a friendly person to call on, check in or just talk about life!

 We plan to provide support for those going through a tough situation.

 We intend to provide longer-term guidance sessions (though not formal therapy) if needed.

 We aim to help those in need to link up with outside resources.

 We will encourage opportunities to gain support from a group of those at church who, through their own experiences, truly understand.

We are planning to hold these sessions after Church each week either in the Children’s Room in the back of the church, the balcony, or in rooms on the second floor of the Cross building. Those identified as having more traditional pastoral care needs will be referred to Pastor Michelle. Those who may benefit from formal counseling will be referred to trusted professionals, either through their insurance access service, the Bread of Healing Clinic at Cross, or to resources affiliated with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

6 Those who are interested in learning more about this service may contact either the Church Office, or Czerda Riley. We appreciate the opportunity to provide service to the Cross family through our ministry!

4rd Annual Partners of Cross Golf Outing Golf Event to Benefit Cross Youth Programs and Bread of Healing Empowerment Ministry

Friday, June 19, 2015 Willow Run Golf Club N12W26506 Golf Road Pewaukee, WI 53072 262-544-8585

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Registration Shot Gun Start @ 1:00 p.m. Scramble Format

$75 per golfer Entry Fee includes: 18 Holes of Golf, Dinner Buffet, Silent Auction, Raffles, and Prizes

$40 per golfer Entry Fee includes: 9 Holes of Golf and all of the above

Dinner Buffet only @ $15 per person

Here are the ways you can support this Golf Outing:  Put together a foursome of golfers and join us June 19th  Become a hole sponsor. Sponsorship levels are on the registration form  Attend the dinner buffet @ $15 per person  Donate to the raffle and/or silent auction. Possible donations could include theme baskets, gift cards, or a “treasure” you were gifted but haven’t used. You could ask a business you frequent to donate a gift card, an item, or a service they sell.

7  Buy a raffle ticket. $25 a ticket and only 120 tickets will be sold. o 1st Prize is $1000 or 33% of the total sold o 2nd Prize is $500 or 15% of the total sold o 3rd Prize is $250 or 5% of the total sold

Another feature of the outing this year will be a Father's Day Banner-- Honor and Remember Father's Day. This year you can make a donation to honor and remember your Father, Grandfather, Husband, Brother, or Uncle. All names will be posted on a Special Banner and acknowledged at the Cross Golf Outing. Please submit names by Monday, June 15.

Please extend this invitation to your family members and friends. A registration form is available on the Cross website.

For donations or questions, please contact Lisa Quam or Ann Hogan @414.571.0999 or quam.lisa@ att.net Adult Center Summer Program The Adult Center regular programming ends on Tues., June 16, and the summer programming begins on Tues., June 23. “Living Well with Chronic Conditions” is the theme of the summer programming and there is room for 2 or 3 additional parishioners. It will last 6 weeks and run through the end of July. Please contact Parish Nurse Linda if you are interested.

SAVE THE DATES for VBS

“CATCH THE BUZZ” Vacation Bible School

Cross Lutheran Church August 3-7, 2015 8 5:15 - 8:30

HOW YOU CAN HELP! This is an important Cross ministry for our children and the children in the neighborhood. This ministry depends on volunteers to help with planning, meals, lesson leaders and helpers, activity leaders and helpers, etc. If you are able and willing to help in any way, please talk to or call Cheryl Evans at 414-393-7237 or Carolyn Jackson at 262-569- 6070 or 414-852-1394.

Lutheran Volunteer Corps Fundraiser Join current volunteers, alumni, placement organizations and friends of LVC at Cookout for a Cause! Sunday, June 14, 2015: come and go from 12 pm to 3 pm at the LVC House (5511 W. Lloyd, Milwaukee, WI 53208). All are welcome, suggested donation is $15. We’ll have a kid’s corner, games, prizes, and plenty of food. To RSVP contact Regional Director Hannah Klaassen, [email protected], 773-832-9426.

Family Affair 2015

Tha nk you Jud y Ell wan 9 ger for arra ngin g suc h a pow erfu l witn ess of tale nt. You r enth usia sm and hard wor k to pull off this eve nt was ama zing ! We look for war d to

10 cont inue d way s you con nect our chil dren , yout h and adul ts with thei r dive rse gifts for the Glo ry of God .

CELEBRATION OF LONGEST ATTENDING MEMBER On Sunday, June 7, 2015 members and others are invited to Luther Manor at to celebrate the life of our longest member, Betty Marx. The program will 11 begin promptly at 1 p.m., so please plan on arriving early as it is a surprise and we want to be mindful of time for Betty. The Caregivers Committee, led by Gloria Wright & Aroma Riley, wanted to honor the elder of our congregation. It will be a wonderfully rich intergenerational recounting of memories past and the making of new ones to carry on in the future. CONGRATULATIONS!!! We are so happy to share in the High School graduation of Ciara Torrence-Sims-- Milwaukee Lutheran High School, Freddie Love--Nicolet High School, D’Asia Williams-- Pius XI Catholic High School as the class of 2015. All have been a blessing to the Cross family and I am sure to their schools as well. Cross Summer Enrichment Camp Please look for registration forms and flyers in the church bulletins and church office beginning June 8, 2014.

GET READY! Info meeting for parents and kids after church on June 14, 2015

2015 Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) July 12 – 15, 2015

Theme: Love Does (Mark 12:30-31) Location: Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan The Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) is a pre-event to the ELCA Youth Gathering and exists to empower young people of 12 color and those whose primary language is other than English to claim their story as a part of God's story in order to move toward healing and wholeness as transformational leaders in the church and in the world. National Youth Gathering July 15-19 Detroit, here we come . . .

Book Club Update The book we are now reading is An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff. We will be discussing the book on Fri., Aug. 15, at 1:00 p.m. at Paulette Barrr’s home, N55 W17190 Ravenwood Dr., Menomonee Falls. All are welcome. Please join us and bring a dish to share. Walnut Way Link If you’d like to keep up on the events and programming of Walnut Way Conservation Corp., please click on the following link: http://walnutway.org/newsletter/spring-2014-newsletter-health- wellness-issue

Tues., June 2 Adult Center, 9:30 a.m. Wed., June 3 BOHEM, 11:45 a.m. Sat., June 6 Trustee meeting, 9 a.m. Elders meeting, 10 a.m. Last Cross Youth Praise Team practice until school resumes in the fall, 10 a.m. Cross Comm. Gospel Choir practice, 11 a.m. Cross Praise Choir practice, 12:30 p.m.

13 Sun., June 7 Worship, 9:30 a..m. Last day of Sunday School/Adult Forum. Celebration of Betty Marx, Luther Manor, 1 p.m. Tues., June 9 Adult Center, 9:30 a.m. Wed., June 10 BOHEM, 11:45 a.m. Sat., June 13 Quilting Ministry, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cross Comm. Gospel Choir practice, 11 a.m. Cross Praise Choir practice, 12:30 p.m. Sun., June 14 Worship, 9:30 a.m. Scholarship presentations. Mon., June 15 Finance Committee, 5:45 p.m. Tues., June 16 Adult Center, 9:30 a.m. NO BOHEM volunteer meeting NO BOHEM advisory committee meeting Wed., June 17 BOHEM, 11:45 a.m. Fri., June 19 Golf Outing, 1 p.m. at Willow Run Golf Club Sat., June 20 Cross Comm. Gospel Choir practice, 11 a.m. Cross Praise Choir practice, 12:30 p.m. Sun., June 21 Worship, 9:30 a.m. Mon., June 22 Church Council, 5:30 p.m. Tues., June 23 Summer Adult Program begins with “Living Well with Chronic Conditions,” 9:30 a.m. Wed., June 24 BOHEM, 11:45 a.m. Sat., June 27 Quilting Ministry, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cross Comm. Gospel Choir practice, 11 a.m. Cross Praise Choir practice, 12:30 p.m. Sun., June 28 Worship, 9:30 a.m. Tues., June 30 Adult Center, 9:30 a.m.

Cross Lutheran Church A Reconciling in Christ ELCA Congregation 1821 N. 16th Street Milwaukee, WI 5320 Phone: 414-41746 Fax: 414-931-0537

14 Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.crosslutheranmilwaukee.org

Michelle Townsend de López, Pastor Pastor Michelle’s Email: [email protected]

Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Forum: 11:15 a.m. Office Hours: Monday--Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.