Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois Newsletter February 25, 2020
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Donations Purchase Tools, Livestock and a Kitchen Kit
Mt. Zion's Intergenerational Group Gives Big
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In the 34th year of gathering on Wednesdays during the school year, an intergenerational ministry of Mount Zion Presbyterian Church called
Logos
decided to do something a little different for Christmas.
Each night they end with dinner. At one particular gathering, the table parents decided to make a donation in honor of their Logos kids in lieu of a Christmas gift. That gift turned into farming tools, livestock and a kitchen kit, purchased through the Presbyterian Giving Catalog.
"We are beyond grateful" said Lauren Rogers, Mission Specialist, Special Offerings and the Presbyterian Giving Catalog. "Really wonderful things are taking place in Southeastern Illinois Presbytery, and we feel fortunate to be a part of that."
Lauren promises that that a shout out on their
social media
is coming soon.
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Quarters, Dryer Sheets, Coffee and Friendship
The Carbondale Laundry Project Provides More Than Just Clean Clothes
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The Laundry Project, a mission project of First Presbyterian Church of Carbondale, is pretty simple in design. Church volunteers go to a laundromat once a month from 10am until 2pm about 2 blocks from the church on University Avenue. There they provide people who are homeless and people with low incomes and even a few SIUC students with the means to do their laundry: detergent, dryer sheets, and even the quarters to run the machines. The simple design has not only served a community of people who need help, but it has garnered the church local news coverage and even brought a few people into the doors to worship.
The Laundry Project is not original. It is based upon a similar model of mission that started with an Episcopalian church in New Jersey. First PC-Carbondale first heard the idea during a South Shared Ministries meeting back in early 2019.
The Mission Ministries (Committee) of the church were inspired and put the idea into motion in Carbondale. In November of 2019, volunteers put up fliers around town and tried to get word out via social media and word-of-mouth. They gathered over $200 in quarters to start the project.
On that first day, more than 25 people showed up at the laundromat and received help. The washing machines cost $1.00 per load and the driers are $.75 per load. All of the $200 (and more) were spent that day. In addition church volunteers provided hot coffee and snacks for those who came, including many folks from a shelter in town (that provides emergency housing during cool and cold weather) who cleaned all their bedding.
The project has grown in size over the past two months. On January 24th, over 45 people from all over town were able to do their laundry (and find a warm place to stay for a few hours). Nearly $450 in quarters were spent and all of them had been donated in advance. The Missions Ministry also receives lots of bottles of detergent, softener, etc.
This ministry has also started a conversation with the Interfaith Council in Carbondale to perhaps expand the project to at least twice a month. It is a simple model but it does require dedicated volunteers who are willing to help and to engage with people.
As a result of the quarters, detergent and conversations, several folks from the Laundry Project have started attending Sunday services at least twice a month. And the congregation has embraced them. In addition, the laundromat’s business prospects are a little more solid than they were. In every aspect, the ministry is a truly a win-win-win situation.
For more information, check out the First Presbyterian Church of Carbondale's Facebook page or contact Kerry Bean at pastorkerry@firstprescdale.org. Also check out the links below for the Laundry Project's Facebook Page and media coverage.
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Save The Date
Synod PW Gathering is June 6th in Danville
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Presbyterian Women of Synod of Lincoln Trails invite all women in Presbyterian churches to attend the Synod PW Gathering which will be held Saturday, June 6, 2020, at the Danville First Presbyterian Church, Danville, Illinois. The keynote speaker is Reverend Sara Dingman, Synod Executive of Synod of Lincoln Trails. There will be additional sessions on “Effective Leadership Approaches” and “Mental Health First Aid”, as well as the opportunity to tour special features of the Danville church.
Please see the attached flyer for full details
,
including the Mission Project and Registration Information (the registration fee is only $35). There is a block of rooms reserved at the Danville Days Hotel a few blocks from the church in case you want to arrive on Friday. Just call to reserve your room. There will be a “Meet & Greet” at the Hotel on Friday evening for the early arrivals.
Since this Gathering, planned every three years at the Synod level, is being held in our Presbytery , our
PSEI PW Coordinating Team has decided to offer scholarship money
to help defray your expenses of attending this special time of fellowship, worship, and inspiration, instead of planning a regular spring gathering for just our Presbytery PW! It is a great opportunity to get together with other PW members and guests from all over the Synod without having to travel as far as usual! Please contact Jane Hopkins, Co-Moderator of Presbyterian Women of Southeastern Illinois Presbytery, to request funds to help with your expenses for this Synod PW Gathering. Email:
Jhopkins4616@sbcglobal.net
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Please remember, you do not have to be a member of a formal Presbyterian Women group to participate in these Gatherings!
PSEI "Quilt for Kemmerer Project"
Presbyterian Women of Southeastern Illinois Presbytery are invited to make a 9 ½ inch quilt square to be part of quilts for Kemmerer residents from our PW group! Here are the directions:
- 100% cotton fabrics
- 9 ½ inches square
- Use primary colors (like the 8 pack of crayons)
- Gender neutral
- Signed with the name of your group
Send as soon as you can so the quilt top(s) can be assembled before the June Gathering. Send to Linda Smith, Historian, at 983 County Road 900 East, Champaign, IL 61822 or contact Linda at 217-359-5812 or
LASmith983@hotmail.com
with any questions.
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An Exciting New Program
Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations
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The Board of Pensions recognizes that, as a Church, we must faithfully address pastors’ financial challenges if they are to grow and sustain their ministries. Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations brings a pastor and congregational leadership together to work toward financial sustainability by providing financial education and consultations to both the pastor and congregational leaders.
The success of Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations rests on covenants among the pastor, the congregation, and the Board of Pensions. Each party promises to take specific actions that, together, will help build a brighter financial future. This innovative financial education program combines pastor and congregational leader education with
grants of up to $10,000 to qualifying pastors.
Pastor education
The pastor receives a grounding in financial literacy and financial management skills by completing online learning modules in two series: Terms of Call and Personal Financial Planning. The pastor also attends a 2 hour training session with congregational leaders.
Learn More at:
Dates for 2 hour training seminar (6:00-8:00pm) in our presbytery:
April 14, 2020 at First Presbyterian in Champaign and April 15, 2020 at First Presbyterian in Olney.
Registration and more information coming soon.
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Pictures from the First Sunday of Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church Sharing Space with Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
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Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Series for Serving...
I have a pair of "block-out glasses" that were given to me as a gag gift. When you put them on for a photo, your eyes (and ostensibly your identity) are concealed from the camera, protecting you and your reputation from the disgrace of being...
Read more
www.pcusa.org
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Confirmation Camp at Camp Carew
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Current Year Facts and Figures
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Per Capita for 2020 is staying at $42 per active member.
Presybtery minimum salary for a full-time pastor is $44,000 and the recommended COLA is 1.6%.
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Session Records Review Dates are Set
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All Session Records must be read prior to the November 19, 2020 Presbytery meeting. the events are held in regional locations, but you may attend one in another region if that date is better for you
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For use at Presbytery gatherings/meetings. Authored by Rev. Bill McLean, Presbyter for Congregational Care.
Romans 5:1-11 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
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- How do "we (you) boast in our hoep of sharing the glory of God?
- If "God proves his love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us," how should we show our love to God and to others?
- How might the Presbytery/congregation/committee be guided by this Scripture?
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