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ST. MATTHEW'S

Mission Trip information

Jambo Rafiki! - Tanzania Mission Trip soon!
In just a few short weeks we leave for Tanzania, Africa - to visit our brothers and sisters at Sing ‘isi Lutheran. The trip is Monday, August 16 through Tuesday, August 31. As we visit we wish to bring gifts of partnership and support. These gifts not only represent our friendship and love, but also our desire to help some of the poorest people of the world [more].

Interested in going to El Salvador in January? Sign up now!
We are excited to be planning another congregational trip to El Salvador from Jan. 6–15, 2011. The purpose of the trip will be to continue the relationships and further the partnership that we are building with the Lutheran Synod in El Salvador. If you have an interest in being part of this trip, please talk to Pastor Chris or Gretchen Haugse [more].

Blue Ridge Mission Trip photos [here]

Summer at St. Matt's

• Do you sing? Would you like to?
Attention All Singers! You are invited to be a part of St. Matthew’s Summer Choir on the following remaining dates:

• Sunday, July 25
• Sunday, August 22

Here’s how it works: Come to the Choir Room at 9:30 a.m. on one of the dates listed above. We learn one song and sing it at the 10:15 service. (On Aug. 22, we sing for the 11:00 Worship in the Park service.) Youth welcome also. Questions may be directed to Dave Mohr (414-774-1775).

• Serving in the Summer: Thanks to all of our Sunday morning volunteers who faithfully assist with worship, greeting, ushering, serving coffee and providing childcare in the nursery. You represent our church every Sunday and we are grateful for your service. Email lists are now sent with schedules to assist with contacting a sub when needed [more].

• St. Matthew’s Tuesday Night Softball season is underway. The remaining schedule is [here].

• Be part of summer music! Would you like to share a musical offering with the congregation during worship this summer? We would love to hear the talents that God have given you to share with all, vocal and instrumental. See John Paradowski to sign up for a time to share your gift with the congregation and give praise and thanks to God through your music.

• Canning Classes: Canning classes offer a great way to eat local and enjoy the produce of the coming season all year round. All classes are held at St Matthew’s beginning at 6:00 p.m. Classes scheduled include Tomatoes - August 24 and 31 and Pickles - September 14 and 21. Each class has a cost, and you can sign up for one or all of them. Details are and a brochure to download [here].

• Paraments to be woven for Lent 2011: The parament committee has begun planning new paraments for Lent. We hope to have the loom assembled near the east entrance to the church by July 1. Marge Crawford and Sandy Cristan will warp the loom over the summer and we will begin to weave around September 1. See Marge or Sandy if you would like to help with weaving.

Heart of the City Outreach Ministry

• Reformation Garden
The garden is planted and with all the rain we have much need for weeding. St Matthew’s will be helping with the gardens on Monday evenings from 5:30–7:00 p.m. Join us on any Monday. The gardens are located on the south Reformation (2201 N. 35th St.) and in the block south of Reformation (about 2/3 of the way down the block)

• Can you sponsor a child in Reformation’s Summer Work Program?
Just as St. Matthew’s supports the educational costs of children in Tanzania and El Salvador through annual sponsorships, we are continuing our support of children much closer to home by again offering the opportunity for you to sponsor kids who participate in Reformation Lutheran Church’s Summer Work Program [more].

• Photo album: Reformation Youth Summer Project [here]

• Snacks needed for Reformation Summer Work Program
During the month-long Summer Work Program at Reformation Lutheran Church this summer, 750 lunches will be packed for the 50 kids who are involved in the program [more].

Care for Creation events this summer:

• Reformation/St. Matthew’s partnership to grow with local garden
Join us to prepare and plant the St Matthew’s/Reformation garden. This year the garden is moving to Reformation. Watch for planting dates. We are in need of plants. Please contact the church office [here] if you can help us with plants and in any other way [more]. On Saturday, April 17, members of St. Matt's worked with members of Reformation Lutheran on the start of their garden. Photos are [here].

• New: Altar flowers to be locally grown
St Matthew’s will be trying a new approach to altar flowers. While signup and bulletin recognition will continue in the same way, our plan is to use native and garden flowers during the months when flowers are available. Sunday, May 16 through Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010, altar flowers will be arranged from flowers donated from members gardens and from the St Matthew’s/Reformation garden [more].

• Eating local = caring for creation
Eating local, organic and lower on the food chain (when possible) is an important part of the movement to Care for Creation. Farmers around Milwaukee are responding to this trend. Known as CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) there are a number of sites around Milwaukee the offer “shares” in their farm in exchange for boxes of produce throughout the summer. More information [here]. The home of Kristen and John Charlson will again be a drop off site for TIPI Produce CSA. More [here].

See the Care for Creation section for more [here]

Events of interest

• Register now for Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend
Have you signed up for your summer Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend? Now is the time to register! The weekends is designed to enrich ALL MARRIAGES. The weekend is July 16-18 at the Country Inn and Suites, Brookfield. The weekends run from Friday night at 8 p.m. to Sunday at 5 p.m. [more]

• Divorce Care group
Are you (or someone you know) coping with the difficulty of separation or divorce? St. Matthews’ Divorce Care group meets twice a month and is open women, both within and outside of St. Matthews. This group provides a combination of 1) support to help you move forward and 2) friendship/social time. For details, contact Aleta Norris (aletanorris@sbcglobal.net or 414-708-1472).

• Family Camp, Friday-Sunday, August 13-15
Sign up now to reserve your family’s spot for FAMILY CAMP. We have once again reserved the entire facility of Imago Dei Lutheran Camp for the weekend of August 13-15, 2010. Look for a bright orange brochure and sign up with your deposit now. (Weekend is led by Pastor Chris and Donna Gardner Manke.) [more]

• Toy Swap!
A St. Matthew’s Toy Swap has been scheduled for Sunday, November 7. Based on the Clothing Swap model, the toy swap will allow parents to donate outgrown toys and choose more age-appropriate ones. Watch for more details to come.

More events of interest [here]

It's happening at St. Matt's

• Leave for Camp Erickson, Monday July 19, 12:45 p.m. [more]
• Return from Camp Erickson, Tuesday, July 20 [more]
• Besto Pesto Making, Thursday, July 22, 6:00 p.m.
• Besto Pesto Sale, Sunday, July 25
• Vacation Bible School, Monday-Friday, Aug. 2-6, 8:45-11:45 a.m. [more].
• Men's Ministry golf outing, Friday, Aug. 6 [more]
• 7th Grade Confirmation Information Session, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 7:00 p.m. [more]
• Family Camp, Friday-Sunday, Aug. 13-15 [more]
• Tanzania Mission Trip, Monday, Aug. 16-Tuesday, August 31 [more]
• Outreach for Hope Family Bike Ride, Saturday, Sept. 11 [more]
• Toy Swap, Sunday, Nov. 7 [more]
• Sustainability Fair, Saturday, Nov 20
• Congregational Mission Trip to El Salvador, Jan. 6–15, 2011 [more]
• Women’s Retreat at Cedar Valley, Friday-Saturday, April 1 & 2, 2011
• More news and events here

Contact the Church Office for more information