Cross Lutheran Church JANUARY 2016 Newsletter PASTOR’S CORNER Last year, our national Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, called us out as Lutherans on our silence, participation and complicity with Racism and reminded us it is Sin. "Racism still exits. One webcast or one call for a conversation about race in our church and society will not address this reality. We must continue our work as a church even when some other issue has grabbed the headlines. The Jan. 14, 2016 live webcast keeps the conversation going and provides an opportunity for members and congregations to go deeper in our listening and in building relationships," said Eaton. It clearly is important that we press on together and individually as we confront our own actions and behaviors that contribute to fueling this ugliness that continues to divide us and destroy the reality of building the “beloved” community God has intended for us all. Please consider joining Cross and our partners as we take a courageous step toward dismantling and eradicating Racism in our lives and greater community as we get real with ourselves and gain greater awareness of how we perpetuate systems that continue to oppress than liberate our fellow brothers and sisters. Prayerfully consider what you can do and choose to embark on this journey with us with Anti-Racism training. (Please read the excerpt below from Tina Lifford as viewed on Huffington Post.) If you want to really make the world a better place, I recommend you stop thinking about racism. Racism is inescapable, and it is time to stop 2 trying to distance ourselves from this truth. Instead, we must face racism. See it. And, call it by its name. Einstein said you cannot change a problem with the same thinking that created it. Likewise, when it comes to racism, we cannot change it by thinking about it in the same old ways; too often we get caught up in the intellectual debate -- discussing injustice, assigning blame -- and trying to prove, sometimes desperately, that we are NOT racist. However, we as individuals can start deconstructing racism -- not by attacking it in the world, but rather by becoming aware of our everyday unconscious behaviors that fuel racism, and all the other -isms that corrupt our personal humanity. This is the "What can I do," action that CITIZEN suggests. We must accept that racism is intricately woven into the human experience and American culture. We all are both victims and perpetrators. Once we understand this truth, we can stop wasting our time with blaming. Instead, we can learn to take pride in catching ourselves in the act of old behavior, and make new choices. As we learn to see and change our behavior, we can each experience a sense of accomplishment. This becomes a profound way to take both responsibility and new, effective action. Such accomplishments are the byproducts of developing inner fitness-- the strength and ability to change and manage life from the inside. It is easy to see racism when it shows up as it did in South Carolina, Auschwitz, or as Japanese-American Internment. It is not as easy to see the subtle practice of racism that is represented by the surprise that a black person is articulate; a Latin person drives a nice car; an Asian person struggles with common emotional issues; a white person uses food stamps. Generalities are a breeding ground for racism. As a starting place for real change, let's take our attention off of the intellectual debate. Instead, as Einstein instructs, think differently. 3 Make a pact with yourself to observe yourself in the next week and month. Throughout each day, see how often you generalize, lump together, and collectively label people. When we experience one person from another race and assume that they represent their entire race, it's not just racist. It is also profoundly insulting and dismissive. Lumping people together means you don't care about who they really are. You are not interested in getting to know them. If we don't take time to engage with one another, we can never dispel the erroneous assumptions we constantly make, based upon our ignorance of other people and cultures. Nor can we confront our irrational fears of others. Lumping people together robs you of intimacy and humanity. The cost we pay is the development of a shallow heart. Shallow hearts do not have the strength and resilience necessary to make a difference. Once we learn to take charge of what takes place inside of us, we each become a more powerful, capable and effective force in the world. As we go forward from here, my intention is to suggest ways we all can make a difference by thinking differently, changing our hearts, and making our own lives more emotionally rich and free. For now, you can start by not thinking about racism and instead paying attention to the assumptions and generalities you carry in your heart. Living Into A Changed World, Pastor Michelle 4 Good health is one of the most precious assets any person or family can have. The Bible frequently talks about God’s great desire to bless and heal his people. The parish nurse ministry at Cross of health and wholeness is God’s way of using me to bring another dimension of caring to our congregation. This work is intended to be a support in the day-to-day work of the ministerial staff. My role is to help you realize and to have confidence in God’s healing ways so that you can find spiritual healing, grace to endure an illness or infirmity, and advice/information on physical healing, care, and cures. The past several months I have tried to explain the different roles of the Parish Nurse. The final role I want to discuss is that of Program Facilitator and Leader. As a program facilitator and leader, I am challenged to assist our congregation in mobilizing the many gifts and talents the congregation has, so that our members realize they can and should contribute to the health and healing mission of our congregation. Volunteers are organized and trained in visitation, support groups, program planning, and implementation. Members with special gifts are empowered to share their knowledge and skills. I often get involved with the liturgical life of our congregation assisting with healing services, children’s sermons, reading of the lessons, and teaching during vacation bible school. I am able to: Develop and/or facilitate support groups based on identified needs and resources. Identify available support groups in the community that could be resources to the congregation. Refer and document parish member participation in designated support groups. It is my hope to try and touch the entire congregation with information, knowledge, and skills that raise awareness of the relationship between health and spiritual wellbeing; to remind each person that health is a gift and that each person is responsible to be a good steward of the gifts they were given. Hopefully you have been touched by some program or service that I have provided – health education, support, or programming – so that you can make healthy lifestyle choices for yourself and your families. Perhaps with your new knowledge you can touch another person’s life. That is my goal as your Parish Nurse. Please contact me at the church office with any questions or issues you may have. Blessings always, 5 Linda MARDI GRAS Attention, Attention !! The Annual Mardi Gras Ball is scheduled as follows: 7th FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016 SHERATON MILWAUKEE BROOKFIELD 375 S. MOORELAND ROAD BROOKFIELD, WI Doors open at 5:30 PM. Please note the above Brookfield location is a change from the past six years. We are looking forward to another fun-filled evening with dinner, great conversation, a silent auction and of course dancing!! What is lacking is all of YOU! Tickets remain at $75 and are available through committee members, online or the Cross Church office, (414344-1746. We look forward to seeing all of you on February 5, 2016. 6 Bridges Tutoring Program If you have a child entering 4th grade - 12th grade and would like to have individualized tutoring, please contact Pr. Michelle or the office with the age & grade of your child. We offer a meal, fun activity and emphasize reading proficiency, math and science. Vocational career field trips are part of curriculum. A nine month commitment is necessary and participation is limited, so don't wait. Register now! Tutoring begins on Tues., Sept. 29, at 6 p.m. and will continue through May every Tuesday and Thursday. Book Club Update The book we are now reading is Me Before You. By JoJo Moyes. We will be discussing the book on Fri., Dec. 4, at 1:00 p.m. at Sandy Adams’ home, N68 W15463 Tartan Circle, 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: www.walnutway.org. 7 Tues Jan 5 . Wed., Jan 6 Thurs., Jan 7 Sat Jan 9 Sun., Jan 10 Tues., Jan 12 Wed., Jan 13 Thurs., Jan 14 Sat., Jan 16 Sun., Jan 17 Tues., Jan 19 Wed., Jan 20 Thurs., Jan 21 Sat., Jan 23 Sun., Jan 24 Tues., Jan 26 Wed., Jan 27 Thurs., Jan 28 Sun., Jan 31 Adult Center,closed! Bridges tutoring, 6 p.m. BOHEM , 11:45 a.m. Bridges tutoring, 6 p.m. Cross Youth Praise Team, 10 a.m. Cross Comm. Gospel Choir practice, 11 a.m. Cross Praise Choir practice, 12:30 p.m. Worship, 9:30 a.m. Annual meeting will follow the service. NO Sunday or Adult form after church today! Adult Center, 9:30 a..m. Bridges tutoring, 6 p.m. BOHEM, 11:45 a.m. . Bridges tutoring, 6 p.m. Quilting ministry meets at 10 a.m. Cross Youth Praise Team practice, 10 a.m. Cross Comm. Gospel Choir practice, 11 a.m. Cross Praise Choir practice, 12:30 p.m. Worship, 9:30 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Forum will follow the service. Adult Center, 9:30 a.m. BOHEM volunteer meeting, 1:30 p.m. Bridges tutoring, 6 p.m. BOHEM, 11:45 a.m. Bridges Tutoring, 6 p.m. Cross Youth Praise Team practice, 10 a.m. Cross Comm. Gospel Choir practice, 11 a.m. Cross Praise Choir practice, 12:30 p.m. Worship, 9:30 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Forum to follow the service. Adult Center, 9:30 a.m. . Bridges tutoring at 6:pm BOHEM. Meets at 11:30 Bridges tutoring at 6:pm Standard regular activities/Sunday Services 8 Sun., Jan 31 Cross Youth Praise Team, 10 a.m. Cross Comm. Gospel Choir practice, 11 a.m. Cross Praise Choir practice, 12:30 Worship, 9:30 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Forum to follow the service. Cross Lutheran Church A Reconciling in Christ ELCA Congregation 1821 N. 16th Street Milwaukee, WI 5320 Phone: 414-344-1746 Fax: 414-931-0537 Email: clc@crossltheranmilwaukee.org Web Site: www.crosslutheranmilwaukee.org Michelle Townsend de López, Pastor Pastor Michelle’s Email: revmichelle@crosslutheranmilwaukee.org 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. 9