Reformation Summer Youth Program - July update
Today, Thursday, July 15, we finished another week in the summer work program. We were blessed to have Pastor Margaret lead us in devotions on Tuesday and Wednesday (July 13-14) mornings. Then, the older kids (14 and up) spent time with Pastor Margaret working in the garden as well as some inside time working on job skills. They worked on filling out applications and then, Thursday, July 15, they had mock interviews. The younger kids spent the week cleaning up the Family Dollar parking lot and working in the neighborhood. Some of the younger kids went to the bee farm yesterday with Marge and Pastor Steve. Another busy, but terrific week. The pictures below are from the mock interviews on July 15. The kids looked great and did a wonderful job! [Thanks to Jill Hughes for the photos!]

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Additional photos of the 2010 Reformation Summer work program are [here].

 

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.

Can you sponsor a child for $10, $25, $50, or more? Please see our display in the Commons, and take a tool tag with the level of support that you wish to provide. Checks can be left in the collection box at the display or placed in the offering plate with “Reformation Summer Youth Program” written on the memo line.

Children in the Summer Work Program attend morning sessions at Reformation during the month of July. Each session includes devotions, community service, and lunch. The approximately 45 children who attend all sessions earn $250 at the end of the summer to help them buy school clothes and supplies. This program could not operate without contributions from Reformation’s partnership churches.

Through our partnership ministry, our St. Matthew’s family continues to grow – in Milwaukee, in San Salvador, and in Arusha, Tanzania. Thank you for opening your hearts to children who need your support and for being consistently willing to find room for one more child in our large and expanding family!

 

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. We are being asked to provide snacks for the lunches. Please note that very specific snacks are being requested:

• Quaker Oats Chewy Granola Bars
• Hunts Snack Pack Pudding
• Austin Cracker Packs

If you can help provide these snacks, please bring your donation to the box outside the office.

 

Summer Needs at Reformation’s Food Ministry
Reformation’s ministries will be especially busy this summer. The need for nourishing food is high now, and will be doubly needed when school is out in June.

Summer Pantry Needs:

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cereal and Instant Oatmeal Canned Ravioli/spaghetti Microwave or boxed macaroni & cheese

Fruit cups and applesauce Hygiene items Household cleaning and paper products

 

Reformation’s Neighborhood Store Summer Needs:
Neighborhood Store “10 Most Wanted List”

• Appliances, in working order
• Bedroom furniture beds, cribs and dressers
• TVs, radios, CD players, DVD players
• Spring clothes in large sizes
• Swimwear in all sizes
• Kitchen/dining room sets, living room sets
• Towels and bed linens, comforters
• Pots and pans, cookware
• Jewelry & watches
• Tableware in sets of four, silverware sets

Items you wish to donate can be brought to the Education entrance off the parking lot to the metal shelves there. Roger Wedel transports these items to Reformation weekly.

 

Photos of St. Matt's-Reformation Garden Day, Saturday, May 22

A project of the Care for Creation team is a joint garden with our partner congregation, Reformation Lutheran. Last year we had a garden at the county grounds but decided to plant a city garden closer to Reformation. On Saturday, April 17, we put in four raised beds next to the church on church property and have an application in to the city of Milwaukee for a city lot a block away (see below [here].

A group from St. Matt's continued working with Reformation on May 22. Photos from that day's activities are below. Thanks to Jill Hughes for the pictures!

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Photos of St. Matt's-Reformation Garden Day, Saturday April 17

A project of the Care for Creation team is a joint garden with our partner congregation, Reformation Lutheran. Last year we had a garden at the county grounds but decided to plant a city garden closer to Reformation. On Saturday, April 17, we put in four raised beds next to the church on church property and have an application in to the city of Milwaukee for a city lot a block away.

If that goes through, we will put many more beds there. We are also hoping to put in walk ways and benches as part of “beautification.” We will be planting vegetables for Reformation to have – they can give away fresh veggies in their food ministry. The two students you see in the pictures, Breon and Raven Smith, actually wrote a grant to get the supplies to build these gardens. They also helped draw up the plans. We are hoping our summer youth program will work on some weeding and caring for these gardens.

Participants from St. Matt's were: Addie & Jason Roberts and son, Quinton, Leslie Giordano and Jim Bissmore. From Reformation: Raven Smith, Breon Smith, Marge Johnson and Thaurra Stallings. Photos by Jill Hughes.

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The need is great for Dental Care for low income families
A huge challenge of those living in poverty or with low incomes is the issue of the lack of access to dental care. This is a tremendously large issue that often gets unreported. We are asking for donations to provide dental supplies to our partners at Cross Lutheran, Reformation and the Guest House. A $10 donation will provide a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss to 12 people. If you would like to help with this great need, please make out a check to St. Matthew’s and mark it "dental care."

 

Cross Lutheran Church needs hygiene items
Our Milwaukee church partners at Cross are requesting hygiene items which are given out to those in need who come to the medical clinic or when staff are aware of their needs. These types of items are most useful:
    •barsoap     • deodorant     • toothpaste     • shampoo     • razors     • toothbrushes

Look for the collection box outside the church office, and Thank You for reaching out to those needing basic articles for healthy lives.

 

Our Partnership with Reformation Lutheran Church

Paper Grocery Bags needed for Reformation Lutheran’s Food Pantry.  Please bring them to the Food Collection shelves at the southwest entrance of the building, the Education entrance.

 

Greater Milwaukee Synod establishes "Mission of Outreach for Hope"

The Mission of Outreach for Hope is to develop financial support from individuals and congregations throughout the Synod to assist these Word and Sacrament ministries in being welcoming, nurturing, and vital [more].

 

Guest Preacher Ken Wheeler, March 21
On Sunday, March 21, we welcomed Pastor Ken Wheeler as our guest preacher. Pastor Ken is the pastor at Cross Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, one of our partner congregations. On March 14, Pastor Ken was the preacher at the service for the installation of the new Greater Milwaukee Synod Bishop Jeff Barrow. He is active in MICAH, and formerly served as Assistant to the Bishop at the Synod Office. A few photos of Pastor Wheeler at St. Matt's are below.

The Cross Lutheran Church website is [here].

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Photos of Reformation Saturday March 20 are below:

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Medicines needed for Reformation nurse’s cupboard
People needing help with basic food needs, also have needs for basic medical supplies. That’s why, in addition to the food pantry, Reformation also maintains a “Nurse’s Cupboard.” Your donations of first aid and hygiene items and over-the-counter medicines will help stock the cupboard. Needed items are listed below and can be brought to the Nurse’s Cupboard box in the Reformation Collection area in the Education Wing.

Adult multivitamins Children’s multivitamins Tylenol Arthritis or generic equivalent Pepto Bismol Razors Men’s deodorant Women’s deodorant

Toothpaste Lotion Cough drops Thermometers Robitussin DM or generic equivalent

 

Reformation Church Partners

Read “101 Creative Ways to Build Community, Help Reformation and Yourself” for ideas of how to be involved at Reformation Church located at 35th & Garfield. Copies are available at the Information Center. Monthly Wednesday night potluck dinners not only help feed the hungry but create lasting bonds. Contact: Marge Johnson at Reformation Lutheran (414-444-0440).

 

Cross Lutheran Church Partnership

Thank you from the people of Cross
Last spring, a small group from St Matthew’s attended partner appreciation Sunday worship at Cross Lutheran Church. The people of Cross want you to know how thankful they are for our partnership; for all of the food we prepare and serve, for the pill bottles you donate and above all for our growing relationship as we walk together and support one another as companions in our faith journey’s together. Thank you for all you do to care for the people of Cross and their ministry to the world.

The Cross Lutheran Church website is [here].

This cross is a gift from the people of Cross Lutheran Church in appreciation for our partnership. It is on display in the church office on top of the mailboxes.

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© 2010 St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church 1615 Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Phone: (414) 774-0441     Fax: (414) 774-0989 Email: office@stmattslutheran.org	Designed by St. Matthew's Communications Committee based on a design by Andreas Viklund JavaScript slideshow by BarelyFitz Designs DHTML scripts by Dynamic Drive