Save the Date: Outreach for Hope Family Bike Ride
Make a donation, ride a bike, support Outreach for Hope

There is something for everyone at the Family Biking Event to support the churches of the Greater Milwaukee Synod, doing ministry among the poor in our Synod, Saturday, September 11, 2010.

• For the casual family and child biker, a ride on the paved Glacial Drumlin Trail, 14 miles, or less if you prefer. Helmet required.

• For the more avid bicycler, a 30 and 40 mile mapped and cued ride on country roads around Dousman.

• For everyone, a potluck picnic at noon, with games, biking stories, and Outreach for Hope min­istries highlights.

• For anyone who wants to support Outreach for Hope, the chance to donate and have your gift doubled by a generous challenge grant of $25,000.

Registration and More Info:
Go online at www.outreachforhope.org and find the link for the Bike Ride. Registration is $15 for adults, $10 for children, $35 per family. Treat bag included, if registered by August 29. Trail passes will be prvoided for those who don’t already have one. There is no minimum for pledges, but participants are encouraged to get pledges and donations for Outreach for Hope.
Contact: For questions call Dave Hammer at 262-650-6329.

Make a Donation:
For those who simply want to support Outreach for Hope, you may also go online at the Family Bike Ride linke at www.outreach­forhope.org. Your donation will also be matched. Please make a donation today to help us reach our goal.

More about Outreach for Hope
Outreach for Hope raises funds for congregations in the Greater Milwaukee Synod who serve central city neighbor­hoods and have made a commitment to remain a strong souce or spiritual and community support.

Your contribution is needed now. Support ministries in the most challenging neighborhoods of our Synod, which are rich with great opportunity to do God’s mission.

More information about Outreach for Hope is online [here].

St. Matt's helps others through collections of many items
Opportunities abound at St. Matthew's for us to help those in need. One of the ways we can do this is through the various collections of food, clothing and other items that are conducted for a limited time or are an ongoing part of our ministry. Thank you for your support of these wonderful ministries!

A list of our current collections at St. Matt's to view, download or print [here].

Please also remember our many recycling opportunities through the Care for Creation team. Information about our recycling collections is [here].

ARCW Make A Promise Dinner Gala April 17
Members of St. Matthew's continued the tradition of supporting medical care, dental care and food pantries for people with HIV/AIDS in Milwaukee by attending the annual Make A Promise Dinner, Dance and Auction on Saturday, April 17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. This festive event celebrated the 25th anniversary of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin.

The night included a silent auction & cocktail reception followed by dinner and a short awards program. St. Matthew's has been supporting this event for the past five years.

The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin is among the largest and most comprehensive AIDS service agencies in the country. We provide comprehensive health care services and a vast array of social services to more than 3,000 Wisconsin residents living with HIV disease. Through aggressive AIDS prevention programs we make more than 150,000 prevention contacts every year with people who are at risk for HIV.

Mike Gifford of St. Matt's is the Chief Operating Officer of ARCW. Read more about ARCW online [here].

Photos of the 2010 event are below. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Benedict Center needs your help
A collection for the Benedict Center has been set up outside the church office. Anything you donate will be most appreciated:

• Women’s hygiene products
  
• Weekly bus tickets (can be purchased at P’n S, Sentry, CVS)
  
• Paper plates, paper cups, plastic silverware,
  
• Sugar and cream

Plan your Shopping: 1st & 3rd Sundays
LWR Fair Trade Chocolate Project Divine Chocolate:
3.5 oz bars $2.75 ea 1.5 oz bars $1.50 ea
Look for the display near the Commons windows on the 1st & 3rd Sundays. Divine Chocolate is made with Fair Trade Certified Cocoa beans grown by Kuapa Kokoo, a 45,000 member, farmer owned cooperative in Ghana. Not only do these farmers receive Fair Trade premiums for their cocoa beans, they are part-owners of the Divine Chocolate brand processing co. Contact Rosie Haas (414-259-1747, or email: rmhaas1@sbcglobal.net)

Mmmm... it’s so good
MT MERU COFFEE is available the 1st & 3rd Sunday in the Commons. Be a part of supporting coffee farmers in Tanzania with “Fair Trade” coffee, which pays the farmers a fair price for their coffee and their living needs. The price of Mt. Meru coffee is 12 oz. @ $9 and 4 lb. @ $40. The Mt Meru Coffee Project has been supported generously by St. Matthew’s congregation, and we thank you for that support. Your purchases of Mt Meru coffee have benefited the lives of many. Try some today. “Justice Never Tasted so Good!”

Serenity Inns: Thank for your donations
Many thanks to all who brought in office and school supplies for Serenity Inn. This is a residential treatment program and healing ministry for alcohol and drug addictions. Most residents are moving into employment in 7-8 months.

We also appreciate St. Matthew’s participation in the fellowship suppers once a month. Bill Brown of our congregation has been coordinating this. Please continue coming to share the meal and discussion of leading questions offered by the Inn Keepers. Youth are also welcome as well as younger children. Simply announce their coming in advance. We are very grateful for the combined participation of St. Matthew’s along with many other congregations in support of Serenity Inn’s ministry of healing.