On May 15 and 16 several women from our congregation participated in a Sister-Care seminar at Belmont Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Indiana. Sponsored by Mennonite Women USA, this particular seminar included over eighty participants from congregations in the Central District and Indiana-Michigan Conferences.

Sister-Care explores ways that women can hear each other, care for each other and nurture their life in Christ together in the church. It was good to be with other Mennonite women, and we certainly lowered the average age of the group!

On Saturday, May 9 our youth and a few of their friends had a fun night at the church that included many activities other than sleep! These included a craft, a scavenger hunt, group games that included ropes tied around roof beams, endless rounds of hide and seek, and capoeira. Many thanks to the adults who planned and led this event.  

On April 4 and 5, 2009, Milwaukee Mennonite Church participated in The Listening Project, an initiative intended to improve communication and deepen relationships between Associated Mennonite Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, and the congregations of AMBS graduates. Loren Johns, Associate Professor of New Testament at AMBS, met with several groups from our church as well as the Milwaukee community, and reported on what he heard during a love feast on Sunday evening following worship.

Five representatives of our church attended the Central District Conference Regional Meeting in Lombard, Illinois, on Saturday, March 7, 2009.

This meeting included worship, workshops, a hymnsing, and a wonderful lunch provided by the Asian Mennonite Community Church. In addition, an afternoon session was focused on learning about Milwaukee Mennonite Church!

We anticipate being welcomed as full members of the Central District Conference at the Annual Meeting this coming June, although we have already been warmly received by this diverse collection of Mennonite congregations. Signs of this at the regional meeting included being presented with a welcome basket of treats, and a "cup of blessing" that was filled with prayers and notes from several congregations. We look forward to sharing these words during our worship services over the coming weeks.