GOOD NEWS

from the

Presbytery of Great Rivers

We are called to share Christ's love by partnering in service, 

uniting in worship, and risking in ministry.

October 28, 2022

Announcements

Assembly Approves Lead Presbyter Position

The Search to Begin Soon!

After almost 2 years spent seeking God’s plan for our Presbytery, a major step forward was taken at our August 30th Assembly held at Hope Presbyterian Church in Springfield.

In early June the Task Force on Staffing and Finances presented their findings to the Leadership team, and after much discussion and prayer, that group voted to seek a full time leader for our Presbytery. The Personnel Committee developed and presented a job description and financial call package which was approved at this recent assembly.

Take note, however, that the description approved for this new leader has new emphases and priorities. The job description was realigned to be much more relational and participatory in the everyday lives of our congregations. To develop connections, to offer support, to help find resources of assistance, to encourage new forms of ministry, to cultivate accountability, and to help lift up new leaders will be the primary tasks of the person we call. Personnel was excited to discover that another Presbytery in our Synod has already travelled down this path, and we were able to gather input and wisdom from their experiences.

To make our congregations, and thus our Presbytery, stronger and better able to meet the needs we encounter is the goal. That means that some of the more mundane administrative tasks will fall back to our committees, and in some cases to our Stated Clerk who has already begun to do background checks for new pastors.

While the Leadership Team recognizes the finite nature of our finances, they believe that calling a full-time Lead Presbyter is our best opportunity to address some of our most pressing problems. It is thus an investment in our combined health. The contract will be for 3 years with the possibility for renewal.

It’s an exciting time! Please be in prayer for our Presbytery as we endeavor to call the right person to help lead us forward into health and faithful witness to our Lord.

Personnel Chair

Joyce Chamberlin

OPPORTUNITY – PART TIME TRANSITIONAL/INTERIM PASTOR

20 hours per week

near Springfield

$25,000 – $30,000

TO REQUEST THE MINISTRY INFORMATON FORM, EMAIL THE COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY AT greatriverscom@gmail.com

PGR Newsletter

Our Newsletters will go out the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. The deadline for adding information is the Wednesday before.

Clerks Corner

Big things coming! First of all, it is important to know that the Presbytery, which includes all Ministers of the Word and Sacrament and all elder commissioners, will be voting of the 33 amendments to the Book of Order at the Presbytery's first meeting of 2023! What to know ahead of time what those amendments are about? Join me and General Assembly commissioners as we discuss these amendments and how they might impact the presbytery as a whole, as well as our local congregations!

The scheduled events will be over zoom on

         November 10th at 3pm

         November 10th at 6pm

         November 14th at 10am

         November 14th at 4pm

         November 15th at 6pm

In order to sign up, please follow this link (or email me at pastorebailey@gmail.com): https://calendly.com/pastorebailey/book-of-order-amendment-discussion

Our next Clerk's Convo will be on Tuesday, November 29th at 11am. This is a time for clerks and those who assist clerks to gather for questions and discuss whatever is happening in the clerking world! The zoom link is: 



Elissa Bailey (she/her/hers) is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Clerk of Session Meeting

Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82477487297?pwd=ZXNIc29YRit3cTE2SGhsK0N5YzUrZz09

Meeting ID: 824 7748 7297

Passcode: 832216

And lastly, there are some important changes coming to the church's annual statistical reports! The portal will open on December 2nd for clerks to begin getting access. I will be scheduling events, much like the BoO amendment events, in order to discuss the changes and how to help clerks fill them out. Stay tuned for more info!

--

Rev. Elissa Bailey

Presbytery of Great Rivers Stated Clerk

Presbytery of East Iowa Stated Clerk

From Your Finance Team

Preparing Church Finances for Year End Processes

Tuesday November 15 6:30-8:00PM Zoom

The Presbytery of Great Rivers will be hosting a Preparing Church Finances for Year End Processes Zoom class taught by Amy Gardner (Presbytery of Great Rivers’ former Accountant). A week before the presentation, participants will receive via email a zoom link, pdf copy of slides as well as a survey to ensure everyone has an opportunity to ask any pressing questions. Class size is limited to 18 participants. 

We will focus on financial and HR steps that your church can take in 2022 that will make the beginning of 2023 go a little smoother. Making sure that your church is prepared for the January 31 deadline for tax documents before the end of the year can save a new Treasurer additional stress as they step into this position with the church. 

Topics will include advance preparation for 2022 W2s and 1099, being prepared for your church’s 2022 Annual Financial Review and using your 2023 budget to help get your 2023 Terms of Call forms done as painlessly as possible. 

To enroll, please email Crystal (office@greatriverspby.org) and include your name, church, phone number and email that you can be reached at the evening of the class.

Sabrina McGrath –Bookkeeper    

Bill Strawbridge - Treasurer

Greetings,

As we finish out October and race quickly toward the end of the fiscal year of 2022

We’d like to pass along a few reminders

Every time you submit funds to the presbytery office please use a remittance form

Be sure to fill this out completely - including contact information & a breakdown of how you want your funds distributed.

Be sure to use the correct PIN # -- we’ve had some churches submitting under the wrong number -- see attached list.

If you send funds using on-line banking or another agency please feel free to scan & email the remittance form to smcgrath@greatriverspby.org.

If you are unsure of what amount you still need to pay for Per Capita in 2022 – just ask – we’re happy to double check for you.

Back in September the annual Per Capita packets were mailed out

These were mailed to the attention of the Clerk of Session

If for some reason you didn’t receive it – just contact us & we’ll email you another copy

These included

• a letter from our Treasurer -- Bill Strawbridge
• listing of 2023 Per Capita dues owed in 2023
• 2023 remittance form
• 2023 church-wide mission pledge form – indicating your intended mission giving for 2023
• Visioning Grant information page

If you have any questions, please reach out to us.

Dates to remember

2022 contributions need to be mailed by Friday 12/23/22 to be received & processed prior to the end of the year

The office is closed the final week of the year 12/24/22 to 1/3/23

Sabrina McGrath –Bookkeeper    

Bill Strawbridge - Treasurer

The Committee on Ministry continues to meet the first Thursday morning of the month, via Zoom and receives updates, takes all needed actions, and prays for our life together in this presbytery. We are thankful for the great cooperation we’ve received from our churches to help us in getting our work done in a timely and effective manner.

In October, we updated the Ministry Partners listing on the website. The 2023 Contracts for temporary pastoral relationships and 2023 Terms of Call forms will be on the website for your use by the end of October. Because these forms are to be used for every pastoral relationship, it’s hard to issue a simple guide to completing them. The Board of Pensions guide PLN-103 061422, Understanding Effective Salary, provides every nuance of how to complete the form correctly in your circumstance – but a lot of folks find that overwhelming. Ask your ministry partner for guidance or to proof the form for you or send an email to greatriverscom@gmail.com for a quick consultation. We would rather do the form correctly with you than have you feeling frustrated about how to prepare it.

For years, our presbytery has trained ruling elders to serve communion in their home congregations when a minister is not readily available to do so.

We are currently updating the curriculum to match the Book of Order and will begin offering training again 2023. Sessions will be able to apply to have their qualified elders trained for such service. Once the training is completed, these ruling elders are certified by COM to serve communion for a three year period.

Many of our churches have elders that have been previously trained to serve communion whose certification has lapsed. COM members are currently providing re-certification training upon request for those who have been previously trained. If you would like to have this for your congregation, please send an email to greatriverscom@gmail.com and let us know of your interest. We are doing the recertification on Zoom and in person, depending on the availability of a minister to provide this service for you.

We are pleased to report that all our offices are currently filled on COM and our subcommittees are working well. We are always looking for new COM members, especially ruling elders. We are providing good support to new committee members and hope you will consider serving your neighboring congregations by being an active member of COM.

With thanks for the privilege of serving you,

Laura Reason, COM Moderator

Looking for a new leader?

Is your congregation looking for 20 hours/week of pastoral leadership? Send inquiries to the COM Moderator at greatriverscom@gmail.com.

Ukraine Emergency Appeal

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance | Ukraine Emergency Appeal

The current Russian invasion that started on February 24 follows eight years of conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country are enduring bombings and assault by Russian military forces; and have lost power, been cut off from water and fuel. As people head toward the western regions, there is a shortage of food and other basic supplies. The reports of displaced persons inside Ukraine continue to rise every day, already in the hundreds of thousands.

GIVE. ACT. PRAY.

GIVE

Gifts can be made online, by calling (800) 872-3283, by texting PDAUKR to 41444, or by check made payable to Presbyterian Church U.S.A. with "DR000156-Ukraine" on the memo line. Mail to: 

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 

P.O. Box 643700 

Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

ACT

• Download the bulletin insert
• Urge the U.S. government to support generous aid for refugees and civilians suffering in Ukraine, and call for engaging a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Donations can be made here

PRAY 🙏

Support PDA's Response to Hurricane

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) urges your support this hurricane season. In the wake of catastrophic impacts from Hurricane Ian, recovery is ongoing in places hit by Hurricane Fiona, including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Storms are becoming more frequent and more severe, and this early in the hurricane season we must prepare for these broad and anticipated catastrophes that have not yet formed. Give today to enable our response, from emergency needs through the long-term recovery phase.

The needs for the response will be great. God’s people are called on to stand in the "GAP" — Give. Act. Pray.

GIVE. ACT. PRAY.

GIVE: 

Financial support for relief efforts can be designated to DR000194, which supports the church’s response to hurricanes and typhoons. Gifts can be made online by clicking here, going to pcusa.org/GIVE-HURRICANES, by phone at (800) 872-3283, or by check made payable to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with "DR000194" written on the memo line and Mail to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

P.O. Box 643700

Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

ACT:

• Download and use the bulletin insert (available in English and Spanish).
• Gift of the Heart kits are needed — learn more here.
• Stay informed and like us on Facebook, download resources and share updates with your congregation.

PRAY: 

God of our life, whose presence sustains us in every circumstance, in storm and distress, hear our prayer. May those who have been spared nature’s fury as well as those whose lives are changed forever by ravages of wind and water find solace, sustenance and strength in the days of recovery and rebuilding that come.

We pray for those yet in harm’s way; who wait in neighborhoods while waters rise, who pray for the rains to cease. We pray for those huddled at home or among strangers while wind ravages, for those who have fled from home and wait and wonder. We ask for sustaining courage, for the kindness of strangers, for hope that does not disappoint.

We open ourselves to listen with compassion to the stories of those whom these storms have not spared and to act generously on their behalf: communities whose livelihood, homes and stability have been destroyed. We pray in grief, honoring the lives shattered and the livelihoods, homes and businesses for whom recovery seems an insurmountable mountain.

As typhoons, floods and hurricanes assault the planet endangering Creation and so many vulnerable communities, we pray for the peoples of the Caribbean, the Philippines and Vietnam, Pakistan and our own United States. Even as year by year we endure these seasons, we also see the intensifying impacts climate change imposes on our fragile earth as storms increase in severity and number. We repent our lack of attention to this crisis and commit to repairing and healing the earth.

We ask for sustaining courage for those who are suffering; wisdom and diligence among agencies and individuals assessing damage and directing relief efforts; and for generosity to flow as powerfully as rivers and streams, responding to the deep human needs emerging in the wake of these storms. May every tear be dried, as we join the work of your restless Spirit, hovering even now over the waters of chaos, creating, healing and birthing your new community of justice and wholeness for all Creation and for the creatures who dwell in it.

In the name of Christ the Healer we pray. Amen.

--Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

2022 Assembly Dates

November 19, 2022 at 10:00am - Grace Presbyterian Church, Rock Island (Former Good Shepherd Building

Presbytery of Great Rivers Virtual Office

Virtual Office Assistant Crystal Goforth 309-683-6980 Email: office@greatriverspby.org

Crystal works remotely from South Carolina (Eastern Time)

Please leave her a message & she will return your call.

Bookkeeper Sabrina McGrath 309-683-6981 Email: smcgrath@greatriverspby.org

Sabrina works from Peoria IL.

Her regular schedule is Tues & Thurs between 8am-4pm (Central Time)

Bridge Presbyter John Rickard 309-683-6983 Email: jrickard@greatriverspby.org

He works remotely from Northern Illinois.

His regular schedule is Mon – Fri between 9am -5pm (Central Time)

Stated Clerk - Elissa Bailey- 309-371-2511  Email: pastorebailey@gmail.com

Starting May 1st: the Stated Clerk's Office hours will be Mon - Thurs from 7:30am - 3pm. (Central Time)