Brooklife Community Outreach

Global Rich List

2010-02-05T09:54:00.000-06:00

Check out the Global Rich list at http://www.globalrichlist.com/ to find out where how your income ranks compared to the rest of the world. In a country where we always want more, this is a quite humbling experiment.

I recently listened to a sermon by John Ortberg where he encouraged people start comparing ourselves to people who have less then we do, which is about 99% of people around the world, which will produce generosity rather than comparing ourselves to people who have more which only produces greed and covetousness. This is a practice that I'm working on implementing in my own life.

Saturday Service Day February 20

2010-02-05T09:15:00.001-06:00

Join us for a day of serving in the community from 8:30am - 12:30pm. Everyone is welcome. We will be serving at Inspiration Ministries, a residence and camp for disabled adults. Here's how Inspiration Ministries describes itself:

We are a Christian-based residential community and respite care provider for adults with ability challenges. Our work center, resale shop, special events and volunteer opportunities give people with disabilities a chance to build friendships and serve the community.

We will be doing some cleaning on their facility. Sign up at the information table on Sunday or email Heather. We will meet at Clarendon Elementary at 8:30am to drive to Inspiration Ministries.

Give a Day Get a Disney Day

2010-02-05T09:08:00.002-06:00

If you need an incentive for serving in the community Disney is giving free one day passes to a Disney Park when you volunteer for a day. You can visit Disney's website to learn more about this promotion. Here's what the site says:

We want to inspire one million people to volunteer a day of service to a participating organization in their communities. So we're celebrating these volunteers' good works by giving each of them a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket to the Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort, free. There's no better time to make a dream come true for others and let us make a few come true for you.

If you search under our zip code, 53149, there are already lots of serving opportunities listed in our area.

Waukesha County Affordable Housing Task Force

2010-01-22T10:55:00.000-06:00

Join the Waukesha County Affordable Housing Task Force in their campaign for a housing trust fund to support more afforable housing for the people who live or work in our communities. Visit www.affordablehousingtaskforce.org for more information.

To sign a petition supporting the Trust Fund, contact Heather.

New Orleans Mission Trips

2010-01-22T10:09:00.006-06:00

Join Elmbrook Church and Samaritan's Purse on a mission trip to New Orleans.

There are still openings in teams going to New Orleans in February, April and May

February team has openings for 1 man and 2 women (approved for a total of 14 people)
April team has openings for 5 women 5 men (approved for a total of 25 people)
May team has openings for 5 men and 4 women (approved for a total of 14 people)

We are working on securing a leader and a date for a summer team and probably 2 to 3 fall trips.

For more information contact Mary Ann Lee at Elmbrook.

Waukesha Community-wide Food Packing Event For Haiti

2010-01-22T09:50:00.003-06:00

Thursday January 28, 6-9:00 pm
Friday January 29, 6-9:00 pm
Saturday January 30, 9-3:00 pm

Each volunteer is asked to contribute $25 towards food & shipping.

To sign up for a shift call:

(262) 251 - 9870

Spots will fill up fast!

Westwood Business Center

Westwood Dr., Waukesha

Located just north of I-94 off Hwy F/Redford Blvd.

For more information contact Heather or (262) 378-4470

A group from Brooklife will meet there on

Thursday, January 28, but you are welcome to volunteer for any shift.

Donate Men's Coats and Trousers

2010-01-15T09:16:00.000-06:00

Donate new or gently used, clean items this Sunday, January 17 for men leave the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility through Amazing Grace Prison Outreach. Contact Mark for more information.

Holiday Review

2010-01-14T14:18:00.001-06:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in our outreach events over the holidays.

Through our donations to the Mukwonago Food Pantry at Thanksgiving, we were able to help provide over 60 Thanksgiving boxes for families in our area.
Through our Giving Tree we were able to provide Christmas presents for over 90 children.
Through our special offering on Christmas Eve connected with Advent Conspiracy/What Happened to Christmas? series in December, we were able to donate over $5000 to Living Water International and over $5000 to BASICS of Milwaukee.

The generosity of you at Brooklife reminds me of what Paul said of the Macedonian Church in 2 Corinthians 8:

In the midst of very sever trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us.

Thank you to everyone served God through giving!

Advent Conspiracy

2009-10-15T13:05:00.001-05:00

At Brooklife on November 29, we will be starting a series called Advent Conspiracy. You can read more about this movement at www.adventconspiracy.org.

Christmas can still change the world

The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.

And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?

Welcome to Advent Conspiracy.

The Giving Tree

2009-10-15T12:58:00.001-05:00

We are partnering with the Waukesha County Jail to provide Christmas gifts for the children of prisoners who enter the prison too late to qualify for the official Angel Tree program through Prison Fellowship. This will also be part of our Advent Conspiracy series at Brooklife which starts on November 29. Here's how you can get involved with our team:

Administrative Support (weekdays)
Phone Calls
Setup - November 29 and December 6
Gift Bagging - December 15
Gift Delivery - December 17-24

The Giving Tree will be setup on November 29 and December 6. The names of children with their gift requests can be picked up at this time. For more information or to sign up, contact Heather at hwebb@brooklife.org

Thanksgiving for the Food Pantry

2009-10-08T12:11:00.002-05:00

For Thanksgiving this year, we are excited to work with the Mukwonago Food Pantry to collect needed items for the Thanksgiving food boxes that will be given to local families. Brooklife Church has agreed to provide the following:

50 Milk (Gallon)
50 Cool Whip (8oz.)
50 Butter (1lb, stick or tub)

Club 56 will also be collecting desserts for the boxes.

Jell-o
Cake mixes and canned frosting
Pie crusts
Pie crust filling

Drop off items items on Sundays, November 1 & 8 in the bins or coolers at Brooklife.
**If you would like to provide milk, please DO NOT bring milk to Brooklife. Milk must be dropped off directly at the Food Pantry by Saturday, November 18. Email Heather at hwebb@brooklife.org if you plan on supplying milk for our record keeping.

Halloween Neighborhood Outreach

2009-09-25T10:41:00.000-05:00

Consider reaching out to your neighbors this Halloween by serving hot chocolate or roasting s'mores or hot dogs in your driveway for Trick-or-Treaters and their parents. This is a great way to start building more relationships with people in our community. Do it on your own, with your family or with your house group. Check the date for Trick-or-Treating in your neighborhood.

Town of Mukwonago - Saturday October 31
Village of Mukwonago - Sunday October 25

A Matthew Party

Luke 5: 27-31
²⁷ After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, ²⁸ and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
²⁹ Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
³¹ Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

In this passage, Matthew (or Levi) meets Jesus and his life is radically transformed. He was a tax-collector, probably a hated man since most tax-collectors at the time were known for taking money illegally from their fellow citizens. But when Jesus comes on the scene, he leaves everything to follow him. Once Matthew is a follower of Christ, he realizes that he needs to tell his friends about the radical transformation that has happened in his life. So he throws a party....a Matthew Party. He invites all his old friends, people far away from God. And he invites Jesus. He sets up an encounter where his friends who he desperately wants to meet Jesus have a chance to rub shoulders with Jesus himself.

We can do the same thing today. There's really nothing special about throwing a party and inviting some of our Christian friends and our friends who still need to know God. Everybody loves a party, but this is a party with a heavenly purpose. We can set the stage where people that we love will have the chance to learn more about our faith though natural interactions with other Christians. All of us who have experienced Jesus in our lives would love to see our friends changed in the same way. This is a simple idea for making that happen. So take a chance and host a Matthew Party for Halloween this year. (Ideas taken from Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels)

Kiva.org

2009-08-21T12:07:00.002-05:00

Check out Kiva.org. Kiva is the world's first peer-to-peer online micro-lending website which allows individuals to lend as little as $25 to specific entrepreneurs, providing capital to help them start or expand a small business. Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva's entrepreneurs are from impoverished countries around the world. These small loans which you can provide, may be the first step in helping someone gain finanical independence. It may also provide an opportunity for their whole family to escape poverty. Could you consider giving a small loan? Check out the website to browse the many different people featured.

Fall Fest September 19

2009-08-21T12:03:00.002-05:00

This year at Fall Fest we will have an inflatable obstacle course for children and a bungee run for adults. Our worship band will also be playing during the day. This will be a great opportunity for us to build relationships with people in the community and let people know about Brooklife Church. If you would like to serve we have 2 hour time slots available from 8am-8pm. Email Heather at hwebb@brooklife.org to sign up. For more information about Fall Fest, check out the Mukwonago Chamber of Commerce website at www.mukwonagochamber.com.

Waukesha County Backpack Coalition

2009-07-17T08:45:00.021-05:00

Who We Are
The Waukesha County Backpack Coalition consists of several local social service agencies that have united to help provide financially challenged children and families in Waukesha County with school supplies & backpacks.

Most Needed Supplies

Backpacks
Supply Boxes
Markers (Wide Tip)
Sharpies (Fine Point)
Sissors (Metal Blades)
Glue Sticks (Large Size)
Protractors
Compasses
3x5 Index Cards
Dictionaries
3 Subject Notebooks
5 Subject Notebooks
Loose Leaf Paper
3 Ring Binders
Pencils

How You Can Help

Donate new backpacks and school supplies. Supplies may be dropped off at Brooklife on Sunday July 19 and 26
Make a monetary donation. A donation of $25 will provide one Waukesha county student with a backpack filled with their grade specific school supply needs. Make all checks out to the Waukesha County Backpack Coalition

www.backpackcoalition.org

One Prayer Service Day

2009-06-17T12:54:00.007-05:00

Who: We are joining with RiverGlen Christian Church and The Ridge Community Church
Why: To serve our community and join together in unity with other believers in our area
When: June 27
Time: 8:15am - 1pm
Where: 5 locations across Waukesha and Milwuakee

Ronald McDonald House - Summer Clean Up Projects
Nursing Homes
Community Warehouse
Glory House

Meet: Park N Ride at Hwy 164 and I-43

To sign up, fill out a registration form in the brochure on Sunday morning at Brooklife or email me at hwebb@brooklife.org.

Disaster Relief Teams

2009-05-22T08:33:00.014-05:00

Fredricksburg, Missouri

Monday June 1 to Friday June 5 or Saturday June 6
People experienced with chainsaws needed to clear trees after a tornado and flash flooding.
The trip is in partnership with Samaritan's Purse and Elmbrook Church. Contact Mary Ann Lee at mlee@elmbrook.org or 262-796-5758.

New Orleans

4 trips: July 22 - August 2, September 13 - 20, October 11 - 18, November 8 - 15
16 and older
Help rebuid, dry wall, paint, plumb, electric, yard-work, clear debris and more in 8th Ward
Help 50 families rebuild their neighborhood almost 4 years after Katrina
Cost is approximately $225 per person and covers transportation by car and hotels. Meals and housing in New Orleans provided by Samaritans Purse at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church
The trip is in partnership with Samaritan's Purse and Elmbrook Church. Contact Mary Ann Lee at mlee@elmbrook.org or 262-796-5758.
Elmbrook Send Team Training required

Resources at Brooklife

2009-05-06T22:37:00.004-05:00

Registered nurse available for limited, in-home, respite care
Licensed cosmetologist willing to give free haircuts to those in need
Carpenter willing to help the elderly or others in need
Mother in North Prairie available to babysit one to two days a week during the summer for a fee

For more information contact Heather Webb at hwebb@brooklife.org or 262-378-4470.

Current Needs

2009-05-06T22:34:00.008-05:00

Linden Grove Nursing Home in Mukwonago needs bingo gifts such as stuffed animals, knick knacks, and costume jewelry
Metrobrook Church needs skilled trades people to assist with renovations in their new building.

To help, contact Heather Webb at hwebb@brooklife.org or 262-378-4470.

Post on our blog!

2009-04-22T12:50:00.000-05:00

There are several types of information that we would like to post on our blog, and we need your help!

1. House Group Service Projects - Is your house group involved in community service? Send me a short paragraph about your experience and we will post it on the blog.

2. Needs - Are you or someone you know in our community in need? Send me the information and we will post it on the blog so that others might see the need and respond.

3. Skills and Resources - Do you have certain skills or resources that you want to make available to others in our congregation who are in need? Send me your information to post on the blog.

Local Organizations

2009-04-22T12:14:00.000-05:00

Here is a current list of the organizations in the Mukwonago area that Brooklife has connected with in the last year. Have you or your house group served at an organization that's not on our list? Email me at hwebb@brooklife.org to let me know.

Mukwonago Food Pantry	Mukwonago	Food Pantry
Milwaukee Rescue Mission	Milwaukee	Homeless Shelter in Milwaukee
Hebron House	Waukesha	Homeless Shelter in Waukesha
Linden Grove	Mukwonago	Nursing Home
Clarendon Elementary School	Mukwonago	Elementary School
Timber-lee Christian Camp	East Troy	Youth Bible Camp
Salvation Army	Waukesha
Care Net Pregnancy Center	Milwaukee	Crisis Pregnancy Center
Phantom Ranch Bible Camp	Mukwonago	Youth Bible Camp
Repairers of the Breach	Milwaukee	Homeless Shelter in Milwaukee
Hope Street Ministries	Milwaukee	Ministry to men and women in recovery
Intercession Ministries	Milwaukee	Home for young, pregnant girls
Community Warehouse	Milwaukee	Provides construction materials to ministries and the poor
Jesus Loves the Little Children	Milwaukee	Home-based children's ministry
Glory House Ministry	Milwaukee	Housing for homeless
All For Him Ministry	Milwaukee	Group homes for men and women in recovery
Inspiration Ministries	Walworth	Disabled
City on a Hill	Milwaukee	Serving the poor