Hunger Task Force led us through their Food For Today simulation on Sunday, Jan. 3. This unique and interactive simulation helped people understand what it’s like for food insecure families using food stamps in the Milwaukee area to put food on the table.

During Food for Today, participants took on roles of Wisconsin residents in a fictional community. Participants learned about the root causes of hunger and how to take action steps towards ending hunger. Starting this week, there will be a table in the Commons for people to sign up for Voices Against Hunger and to sign some post cards to mail. The link to Voices Against Hunger is [here].

On November 1, the Rev. Rick Deines was the speaker during an Adult Forum presentation [photos here].

Serenity Inns in Milwaukee is a residential treatment facility for men with alcohol and/or drug addictions. These men have reached “rock bottom” and are at crossroads, wanting to find a path toward new life! Untreated addictions lead predictably to fatalities.

Over the past five years Serenity Inns has operated a successful program with carefully planned financing from foundations, congregations and individuals. Early this year, the financial picture changed drastically with the national economic shake-up. Two large foundation commitments became unavailable. The question: stay open or close, ending our commitment to the eight residents in various stages of the program.

Our faith-filled leadership (Pastors Rick Deines, Mick Roschke, Joe Ellwanger and others) chose to reorganize, trimming expenses. Using in-kind donations, volunteers and congregational contributions, a workable budget is emerging. For a time, the staff agreed to work without pay believing fervently in the value of this program.

Fellowship meals, 365 days a year are provided by congregations, including St. Matt’s. Our congregation does this on the second Sunday evening of each month. This is a great opportunity to visit the residents and hear some of their stories. The men greatly appreciate the food and especially the fellowship.

The Serenity Inns website is: www.serenityinns.org.

Continuation of this ministry of healing depends on continued support from others. Questions can be addressed to Karolyn Anderson at 414-463-8834 or one of the pastors.

The Benedict Center was the topic of the Adult Forum on Sunday, October 4 (9:45-10:45 a.m.). More information on St. Matt's Adult Forums is [here].

Our Social Ministry Focus for the month of October is the Benedict Center. The Benedict Center is an interfaith criminal justice agency that works with victims, offenders and the com­munity to achieve a system of justice that is fair and treats everyone with dignity and respect.

Some of their programs include the “Harm Reduction Program”. This program enables women, in conflict with the law, to find a supportive environment to develop skills to create safer and healthier lives for themselves and their children, before they re-enter into the community. The “Community Justice Program” builds support towards safer communities and collaborates with organizations in Milwaukee that are seeking solutions to social wel­fare, criminal justice and public health problems.

A collection for The Benedict Center will be set-up outside the church office.  Anything you can donate will be most appreciated.  Items most needed include:

• Women Hygiene products
• Weekly Bus Tickets - purchased at Pick & Save, Sentry, CVS
• Paper Plates, Paper Cups, Plastic Silverware
• Sugar & Cream

The Benedict Center website is www.benedictcenter.org.

St. Matthew’s formed a team to support the fight against Breast Cancer. On Sunday, September 27 several ran or walked for someone affected by breast cancer, yourself, or for general support for routine screenings and breast cancer medical care.

In this day and age a screening mammogram should be a priority and a basic health care right for all, however women in Wauwatosa and beyond are making tough decisions everyday about how they will stretch their paychecks to meet the needs of their family. When faced with making tough decisions about how their paychecks will be spent, women are not doing preventive screenings like mammograms because they can't afford their medical co-pay/deductible or don't have health insurance period. There are individuals right here in our own community that are choosing not to be treated for their breast cancer because they just can't afford it.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is committed to providing safety net funding for these individuals to ensure all women have access to breast cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment services as needed. Up to 75% of the funds raised at the Milwaukee Race for the Cure will stay right here in Southeastern Wisconsin to pay for mammograms, breast ultrasounds and ensure access to treatment for those in need.

Information about the Komen fight against breast cancer and the St. Matthew's Race for the Cure in September is [here].

Pope Paul VI said “If you want peace work for justice”. Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope is a collection of 30 congregations working for social justice in metropolitan Milwaukee. Information about MICAH and the issues we are working on will be available in the commons.

There was a temple talk and education hour in May 2009 to present more about MICAH with two featured speakers – Sister Rose Stietz, a Catholic Nun from Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church on 2nd & Burleigh who works to reduce inner city violence, and David Lerman from Congregation Shir Hadash, a synagogue in Mequon, who as an assistant district attorney works on restorative justice.

The month culminated with a Reception to celebrate MICAH’s successes of the past year at an evening of Fellowship and Celebration at the “To Do What is Just” Reception at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist. This reception brought people together to celebrate the successes, honor our leaders and allies, and reaffirm our ommitment to our work together in the coming year.

Read more about MICAH [here].

What is the Guest House?
The Guest House provides shelter, housing, education, and services to Milwaukee’s homeless who seek to transform their lives with dignity and purpose.  At the Guest House, individuals who are homeless can seek emergency and short-term housing along with the fulfillment of some of life’s most basic needs including clothing, distribution of personal hygiene products and the provision of a warm meal. 

Much needed item drive
In April 2009, St. Matthew’s hosted a much needed item drive for the Guest House. The Guest House prefers the items be purchased in large size quantities because they distribute cups full of the items when needed. Please do not give trial size items. Most needed items include: Body wash, Foot powder, Vaseline, Tooth brush, Toilet paper, Laundry detergent

More information about Guest House: www.guesthouseofmilwaukee.org

As the AIDS pandemic intensifies around the world and here in Milwaukee, the Social Ministry Committee has chosen AIDS as its March focus.  HIV information will be available in the commons and there will be a temple talk and education hour to learn more about HIV and volunteer opportunities to help.
Learn more: www.arcw.org.

In the month of February 2009, the St. Matthew's Social Ministry team focused on education. The organization highlighted was Literacy Services of Wisconsin.

Over 300,000 adults living in Wisconsin are functionally illiterate, with over 157,000 living in Milwaukee. On Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, during the Adult Forum, Nick Lyons from Literacy Services was present to discuss how we can become tutors to help adult students improve their basic skills in reading, writing, and math. We learned about the problems and causes of illiteracy and how Literacy Services makes a difference in the lives of adult students.

This is an ideal way to make a difference in the life of another one of God's children. Information will also be available on how we can make financial donations to help offset costs at Literacy Services.

Click here to read more about Literary Services.

WE Energies allows residential customers a chance to make a difference in the environment by increasing electricity production from energy sources such as wind, water, solar and landfill gas.  By participating in the program, you can decrease the use of power plants fueled by coal and natural gas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  When you sign up for a 25%, 50% or 100% level, WE Energies produces or purchases renewable energy to match that percentage of your electric usage.  (Participation does not impact electric service reliability.) 

Please join St. Matthew's Church and fellow parishioners by signing up today. Call 1-800-242-9137 or sign up online - www.we-energies.com/eft.

Download more information here: [PDF].

The Social Ministry Team’s focus for the month of December 2008 was Poverty.  The organization highlighted was Tosa Cares, an organization that started earlier this year that provides services for families in Wauwatosa.

Tosa Cares is a food ministry which grew from several members of Mount Zion Lutheran, Mount Carmel Lutheran and St. Matthew's Lutheran Churches along with members of the community including the Wauwatosa School District, Suburban Women's Club and the Kiwanis Club of Wauwatosa. Many citizens within the community have volunteered their time to collect and distribute non-perishable food, school supplies and personal care items. They are located at Mount Zion Lutheran Church, 12012 W. North Ave,.in the church's education wing.  They may be reached at 414-258-0456 ext 410 or at tosacares@gmail.com.

Click here for more information and possible volunteer opportunities – TOSA CARES. [PDF]

Bread of Healing – You Can Help!

Barbara Horner-Ibler visited St. Matthew's in November 2008 to discuss the Bread of Healing Clinic that is run at Cross Lutheran Church in Milwaukee.

The Bread of Healing Clinic is a free clinic, serving 800-1000 patients each year, none of whom have medical insurance, most of whom are working. Established in 2000, initially as a ministry of Cross Lutheran Church, it is now an independent 501c3 organization and is located at three sites: Cross Lutheran Church, the Agape Community Center, and Eastbrook Church. The clinic will offer almost 4000 patient visits this year, over $1M in medications to patients, and more than $1.2M in volunteer hours from both health care professionals and non-professionals.

Read more about Bread of Healing Clinic volunteers: [PDF]
Read more about donations to Bread of Healing Clinic: [PDF]