News & Messages

An Advent Greeting from Bishop Miller 2019

Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding;
“Christ is nigh,” it seems to say;
“Cast away the works of darkness
O ye children of the day.”

Dear Friends in Christ,

This above hymn came to mind as I prepared to write this Advent letter and begin to walk my last full liturgical year as your bishop with you. As most of you know, Advent is my favorite season of the Church year because for me it most resembles our life as Christians. We know that God has come among us in the incarnate one, Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus will come again in glory. And so we live between the first and second coming of Christ in what is already, but not yet.

Advent is a season of urgency. The call to prepare is now. We pray “give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light now” on the first Sunday of Advent. There is no time for waiting. This cannot be put off. For me, this urgency is amplified not only by the current political climate but by the news reports of farm closings in rural Wisconsin, increased numbers of homeless in our cities, and the increasing violence across our nation. I need Jesus to come and rule and reign and restore.

When I was young, a popular song sung by many choirs was this, “let there be peace on earth and let in begin with me.” It expressed for that time the much-quoted adage of our day, “be the change you want the world to see.” Advent invites us to be the kingdom — the reign of Christ — we want in the world. It reminds us of our citizenship and our way of living the citizenship, which we affirm at the beginning of each liturgy when we say, “Blessed be God and Blessed be his kingdom now and forever.”

My prayer as I begin this holy season is, “Lord, let thy kingdom come. Lord, reign in me. May I be a sign of our kingdom for others.” I invite you to join me in this prayer.

Yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Steven Andrew Miller
Bishop

Adult Formation resource for Epiphany from Episcopal Migration Ministries

Episcopal Migration Ministries is offering a seven-lesson Epiphany curriculum for individuals and congregations.

Designed for adult Christian formation, the Epiphany Curriculum offers education and resources about asylum in the U.S., models of ministry to asylum seekers, and ways to get involved. “We are living at a time when refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants are often in the news and too often considered a political ‘issue.’ These people are not a political issue; they are human beings and children of God in desperate need. We can help meet those needs, while also lifting up people who are vulnerable so that they can stand on their own,” said Allison Duvall, manager for church relations and engagement. “Welcoming our neighbors as we would welcome Christ is not a political issue; it is an issue of our identity as followers of Jesus, as members of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, and as people who made promises at our baptisms.”

A Visit from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at St. Peter's, West Allis

At a recent Sunday service at St. Peter's, West Allis, our mission for social justice was at the forefront. Deacon Karen Buker invited Hassiem Abdullah Babatu of the Bait ul-Qadir Milwaukee chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to address St. Peter’s congregation.  

Hassiem arrived early with others in his community, and all shared in fellowship and a light brunch. Before the service began, Hassiem and others from his community formally addressed the congregation. 

Their message was quite familiar but always good to hear: Love for all. Hatred for none. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s goal is to build bridges by connecting with people on a human level and helping them understand what we all have a lot in common. “We are what we do. And, in the next life, we will be judged by our actions. Our actions remain here.”  

We also learned the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community faces violent persecution in many Muslim countries from extremist radicals who have perverted Islamic teaching, creating misconceptions and misinterpretations of jihad or “struggle.”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community staunchly rejects the notion of violent jihad. They believe the greater jihad is the jihad of reforming oneself. This prepares one for the ultimate jihad, serving mankind. 

Upon conclusion of their commentary, we proceeded with worship and Eucharist. After the closing hymn and dismissal, those from Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stayed with us for extended conversations. We sought first to understand rather than be understood. We found we all believe that love begets justice. And justice will ultimately beget peace.

Members of St. Peter’s have been invited to visit the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Bait ul-Qadir Mosque on Friday, November 29, to continue our conversations and share in their prayer service.

~Steve Elliot, Senior Warden
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
West Allis, Wisconsin

Photo credit: Karen Buker