Join us for “Dessert Connection”, coming up on Saturday, July 20, 6:30-8 pm.

This social informational gathering is for anyone in the Elmbrook family to hear an update from our Elmbrook pastoral leadership, and also have a chance to ask questions, while enjoying delicious dessert!

RSVP here! 

So whether you’ll be joining us this summer or prefer to work through it individually, we’ve created a 40-day (10 weeks; 4 days a week) devotional book that will help walk you through Acts. We will start Week One on Sunday, June 9, but feel free to join in with your family or on your own!

Download the devo here, or pick up an extra copy in the @Home Resource Center near the Library at Elmbrook, or at any ministry gathering!

About Milwaukee Working

About three years ago, a group of businessmen from Community Warehouse and Elmbrook Church came together with the common goal of creating more jobs through new business ventures while creating a culture where every employee has a mentor. These employees have a strong desire to work but do not compete well in a tough job market. Bottom line, they just need an opportunity! Through prayer and a leadership team of faithful men, this vision has become a reality and jobs are being created. Today, we have an enthusiastic group of employees working in their first full-time jobs and with godly mentors who meet with them weekly to listen, encourage, and offer advice. This venture is called Milwaukee Working (MW) and is a division of Community Warehouse.

MW has recently launched another job-creation venture, selling used books/DVD’s/CD’s on Amazon. This venture employs men/women to pick, pack, ship and inventory books and provide customer service. At the same time, these employees will benefit from Christ-centered mentoring. Here’s where you come in…we need materials to sell online!

Milwaukee Working from Elmbrook Church on Vimeo.

For every used book, CD, DVD or game you donate…you’re helping create a job in the central city of Milwaukee.

GIVE BOOKS. CREATE JOBS. It’s that simple!

What Can I Donate? 

• Books (they do not need to be Christian)
• CDs
• DVDs
• video games
• board games (all pieces in the box)

What CAN’T I Donate?

We can’t accept VHS tapes

Where Can I Drop Off My Donations?

• During all weekend services in the month of June - donations will be accepted at trucks located in the Elmbrook North or South parking lot. Tax-deductible donation receipts will be available.
• Weekdays in June - donations will be accepted in a bin located in the Chapel Lobby. Tax-deductible donation receipts will be available.

Questions?? Contact Ruth rshirley@elmbrook.org

Sunday, July 7, 3-7 pm (Ice cream to follow at 7 pm)

Elmbrook Church North Parking Lot

This event is geared toward families and it’s free!! It’s an awesome chance for families to spend some quality time together while getting outside and trying some new activities. Bring a friend…in fact, bring the whole neighborhood! You can use the handy “share” buttons at the top of this post to invite friends via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or email. We’ll even throw in dinner.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE

• archery (ages 3 and up)
• fishing in the pond
• rock climbing
• bounce house
• dog demonstrations
• hot dogs, chips, ice cream, etc.

WANT TO VOLUNTEER? View opportunities here.

HAVE QUESTIONS? Contact Jeff at jmass.outdoors@gmail.com

Boys, bring your dad, uncle, grandpa or special someone with you on the Crystal Rive Canoe Trip. Set up your tents, roll out your sleeping bags and get ready to hang out & have fun!

Below are 3 options you can choose from:

• Option #1: Join us on Friday night, stay the weekend and leave on Sunday after lunch. Bring your own food for Friday night, Saturday breakfast and lunch. Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast & lunch provided ($45 each).
• Option #2: Join us on Saturday at 12:30 pm at Spencer Lake Christian Center as we prepare to head to Crystal River for the Canoe Trip. Stay the rest of the weekend and leave for home on Sunday after lunch. Eat lunch before arriving. Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast & lunch provided ($40 each).
• Option #3: Join us on Saturday at 12:30 pm at Spencer Lake Christian Center for the Canoe Trip. Stay for dinner that evening then head home. Saturday dinner provided ($25 each).

Questions? Contact Brad ruehle.brad1@gmail.com; 414.303.5939 or Andrea ahopgood@elmbrook.org 262.780.1838 (office) or 262.309.0609 (cell).

Please send registration form & payment to: Elmbrook Church Attention: Andrea Hopgood; 777 S Barker Road;
Brookfield, WI 53045 (make checks payable to Elmbrook Church)

Menu

Agenda & Packing List

Flyer & Registration Form

Meat. Music. Manliness. There’s nothing cute and cuddly about this event. What says “man” more than a juicy pork butt slathered with hot BBQ saucy goodness? Bring a friend! Focus is on fun, but we’ll be sure to add some “food for thought.”

Activities will include:

• Food, food and more food! Pulled pork, burgers, brats and all the fixin’s
• Live music from Donn Trampe (of Chasin’ Mason) and company
• Golf contests (pitching, putting)
• Mechanical bull
• Eating contests (Pickles? Hot dogs? ???)
• Canoe jousting (bring a change of clothes!)
• BBQ apron contest (bring your favorite, or design a winner!)
• Prizes!
• Stories and more from guest speakers
• More! More! More!

Appropriate for men of all ages. Please bring a neighbor or friend. (Activities subject to change. Please contact Jon for more info on apron design contest or other activities.)

Tickets will be $12, available soon in the Bookstore or online.

More details and online registration to come…for now, save the date!

As you may have heard, Philip is taking a leave of absence from his duties for several weeks. This was announced in services on April 27/28, but we thought it would be wise to post the information online in case you were unable to attend last weekend’s services. This will also be sent to the congregation via hard copy letter later this week.

Here is his message, in his words:

Hi everyone,   

I’ve always been really open with you – as someone who also goes through storms of life.

Recently, with many things – both in my ministry life and personal life I’ve found myself in a place of depletion. I’ve known for some time now that I’ve needed to get away for a time of replenishment – I’ve even preached on it… but I haven’t done it.

So as of this weekend, I’ll be doing it.

The elders have graciously allowed my step back for several weeks – so that I can spend time working through this depletion. I know that this might raise questions, so let me assure you that my moral life and marriage are all in tact… What has suffered has been my ability to react well under pressure. Bottom line, after 23 years of ministry I’m realizing that I’ve never taken a time like this for replenishment – and that’s not been wise. So over the next several weeks we’ll continue on – and the preaching will fall to quite capable pastoral leadership. I look forward to seeing you again soon. — Philip Griffin

Philip has made the Council of Elders aware for some time of the many pressures he has borne, and we have supported him by adjusting his responsibilities and encouraging him to make some other necessary changes. However, last week Philip publicly shared the recent toll of these pressures on him and how they impacted him in his work and relationships. As with any employee in this situation, we wanted to act to offer care and rest. This care is consistent with our actions for other church leaders in the past.

We expect Philip to be on leave for at least 6 weeks. As a result, we are taking a pause from the Lord’s Prayer sermon series, and beginning our next sermon series, “Easier Said Than Done,” this weekend. We will be blessed to hear from other pastoral voices that you have come to know and trust over the years, including Steve Sonderman, Laurie McIntyre, Brodie Swanson, Brandon Brown, Scott Arbeiter and others. Everyday ministry will be unaffected.

The operative word in “leave of absence” is absence. Philip will not be checking email or voicemail during this time. We encourage you to translate your care for him into prayers.

I have had times in my life when I have been just worn out. I am sure you have too. It is at those times that the “fullness of Christ” is the only antidote. May that be our prayer for Philip, and for our leaders as they step forward in faith to serve in his absence.

If you have any questions, you can reach me at elders@elmbrook.org.

Grace and peace,

Paul Mullen

Elmbrook Church Council of Elders

• Asking good questions
• Listening deeply
• Bringing clarity to a situation.

But one necessary practice that under-girds all the others is simply believing in people. Coaching is about unleashing all of a person’s potential. All of us are looking for someone to be encouraging and affirming, to praise us and bless us in our endeavors. Life and circumstances are quick to point out the wrong and the faulty and where we have failed.

Inversely, a coach is on the lookout for leaders doing things right and acknowledging that. Leaders want to be reminded that their leadership makes an impact, that their lives mean something and that they are making a difference. Steve Sonderman, Adult Discipleship Pastor, often reminds his staff that “Together is better than Alone.” Ministry would not be the same without leaders. God has providentially placed them in their serving arena, and they serve according to His will for their lives. They need someone to tell them that they are loved and needed.

Blessing releases the power of God in leaders’ lives to be transformed into the people that they are meant to be. In turn, this blessing will have impact on the members of that leaders group. You are coaching leaders to lead and disciple people for the kingdom of God…when leaders return to their groups, they are not only leading and discipling individuals, but the group as a whole.

By letting leaders know that you believe in them, you coach them to recognize and affirm their belief in the members of their group. Remind them of the following key principles:

The Holy Spirit

The moment you start thinking about helping people become what God designed them to be, you realize that you are powerless to do so. You might have the best intentions in the world, but only the power of the Holy Spirit can bring about true transformation, the kind of transformation that is eternal and impactful. All other transformations are changes in behavior, changes in habits, changes in performance…but they are not changes of the soul, of character into Christlikeness. This is the difference between life coaches, sports coaches or business coaches. Ministry coaches and leaders are Kingdom workers, and their work is to mature believers into greater impact for Gods Kingdom. We can have all the techniques in the world, but without the Holy Spirit – nothing will happen.

The Fairness Factor

It is very important for leaders to develop an intuitive and discerning spirit concerning the different personalities of the members of their group. This will come easier for those that have more of a relational inclination. However, in order to lead, you have to read and understand people. It is never a good policy to assume that everyone thinks the same way as we do, feels the same way we do, and sees the same things we do — just because they are in our group. Fairness does not mean equality…fairness means uniqueness.In Life Groups we will find clusters of personalities. You will find the accommodating vs. the directive personalities; during discussions one will try to fit in while the other will try to take control. There will be people who are reserved while others are more engaging. One will avoid attention being directed to them while the other will be expressive and voice their opinions openly and frequently. Every group will have at least one person who is challenging and one who is more harmonious. The challenging personalities will question everything and drive you and everyone else crazy- but they will make you think. The harmonious soul will balance it all out with words of encouragement and a spirit of peace. Finally, you will have the spontaneous and the methodical. One will jump at every opportunity with gusto- they will change the direction of the conversation with a breath. The other will plan every move from A to B. These will want to fully answer every question before moving onto the next.

Every personality type brings a temptation to offer advice, to give answers so that people will align with our thinking and our feelings and our thoughts. Coaching helps leaders to affirm the uniqueness of each person in Christ and lead them to maturity in Christ. It’s about helping leaders do for others what you as a coach have been doing for your leaders.

Conflict Conundrum

Most of us don’t like conflict, and we don’t get up in the morning looking for opportunities to participate in conflicted interactions with others. However, in leadership we will encounter conflict – it is not a matter of if but when. Conflict is part of the human condition because it is part of our fallen nature. The truth is that some of us deal with conflict better than others. As you grow in maturity and wisdom, you do everything within your power to maintain peace with those around you- this is biblical and healthy. It takes a lot of time and energy to manage conflict- but it must be managed.

Coach your leaders to move beyond taking the stance of peacemaker to learn to take the position of curiosity…to try to understand people and give them the benefit of the doubt until the situation is fully understood. Then you can help others gain clarity and move towards a solution, toward peace not tolerance. Often we as coaches and leaders avoid conflict because we know who we are. Those of us who have challenging personalities are afraid of conflict because we don’t trust ourselves to have or express enough grace towards others. On the other hand, those of us who have more peacemaker tendencies feel that in situations of conflict we will not be able to be truthful enough. Asking questions and providing enough distance between ourselves and the situation or the person gives us a breather and buys time for solutions and resolutions, giving grace a chance to do its work. Ultimately, it helps people get out of a stuck way of acting and thinking and feeling that is preventing them from growing.

The Strategy

A leader needs to have a strategy for ministry. This is true of every level and function of leadership. Jesus had a strategy: He commissioned all, He chose 12, and He called three. Coach your leaders by helping them look at those around them, those that are under their care, those entrusted to them. We naturally gravitate more to some than to others, even as we care for all. We need to spend time with those whom we resonate with…this is a sure way to develop apprentices. Everyone should always have a Paul, Timothy and Barnabas in life: a mentor, a peer and an apprentice. This keeps us growing in different areas. As a coach, you are teaching your leaders to cultivate a lifestyle of relational curiosity and investment.

Coach, you too are part of the priesthood of believers…you are not just a volunteer. You have been called by God to influence people. Your life is an opportunity to invest in others. We believe in you, we need you and are thankful for you. May you be blessed as you continue to bless others who bless others!

“Serving others is a way of life for Americans; giving is a part of our national character. But compassionate instincts and generous spirits are not enough”, says veteran urban activist Robert Lupton. The tagline to the book Toxic Charity is “How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It)”. Words like this do not sit well with many of us because we believe this is what every Christian should be doing. This book, written by a practitioner, challenges some of our current charitable practices locally and globally.

The author makes the point that too often, so much of the charity that we do robs the dignity of the recipient and creates a dependency that is not healthy for anybody. He also makes the point that, often, a lot of the “charity” that is done is centered on making the giver feel good about themselves. Now before you label the author a callous, uncaring person, he anchors his premise on Micah 6:8 and how we need to keep justice and mercy intertwined. To separate them is to set up a recipe to do more harm than good.

Currently, Elmbrook has a group working through this book together. They are challenging each other and weighing the author’s words with Scripture. This is a great read that will challenge your thinking, regardless if you err on the side of justice or mercy.

Gardeners love the messy work of digging in the dirt, cultivating the soil, dealing with the weeds and caring for the plants. They persevere through the challenges and surprises with the hope of producing fruit.

What is your reaction to this picture? It may be something you embrace. For others, it may be something you avoid at all costs! Regardless of your response, this metaphor of a garden and a gardener reflects the “serve” mark of a disciple of Jesus. Throughout Scripture, God uses metaphors to help us learn truth. One of those metaphors is gardens/gardeners…and you’re going to be hearing this metaphor used extensively around Elmbrook. We see serving others in terms of gardening. Gardeners invest time and effort in the care of their plants so that with proper nourishment they will grow and flourish in the soil where they have been planted…we care for others so that they will grow and flourish in Christ. When you start to think of serving others in these terms it can transform a service/volunteer activity into something so much more.

Elmbrook is full of “gardeners”…many are working in gardens located nearby and others are working in gardens located in countries far away. However, we know that there are gardens that need to be worked that we don’t even know about. So I challenge you to look for the potential gardens around you that God is calling you to cultivate and grow. What might your garden look like? What kind of care is needed? Do you know any other gardeners who could join with you? What kind of tools do you need? Are there any experienced gardeners around that you could get some tips from?

Remember, God Himself began it all in a garden. So, are you ready to get some dirt under your fingernails?