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.

November 25, 2022

As this pandemic moves, we urge all congregations to revisit your safety and mitigation plans so you and your community can be safe. Please see our COVID-19 website tab on our website for helpful resources by clicking HERE.
Click here for the 2022 Rotating Prayer List.
(Please let us know if you see any mistakes that we overlook so we can update our prayer list!)

Announcements

 


Congratulations to Mackenzie Jager on becoming a candidate in the PCUSA on November 19 at the Presbytery Assembly. 

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.

Visioning Grant

This grant is available to any congregation in our presbytery, and can be renewed for multiple years. Grants will be awarded to projects that further the Matthew 25 and Vision 2020 goals of our presbytery, either in individual churches, multiple congregations, or organizations that do ministry with churches in our presbytery. Applications will be considered on a quarterly basis.
Visioning Grant (fillable form)

Clerks Corner


Thank you to all who attended the Book of Order Amendment Discussions! Look for more information to come regarding how the assembly will address the time needed to vote on all 33 amendments!


The next Clerk's Convo is November 29th at 11am. I will start to talk about the annual statistical reports!

Here is the link:

Join Zoom Meeting

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


Meeting ID: 824 7748 7297

Passcode: 832216




Annual Statistical Reports Portal Opens on Friday, December 2nd!

This means that Clerks of Sessions can begin to look at the statistical reports and the questions starting on this date. If you don't remember your log in, please email me and I will assist you. End of year statistical packets, necrology report forms, church information form questionnaires, etc., will be emailed out soon. If I do not have your Clerk of Session email or updated email, please let me know. Otherwise, it will be mailed in paper form. 


The next newsletter will have more information about help times for filling out statistical reports. There will be zoom meetings towards the end of December and beginning of January to work through entering the statistical reports, especially in understanding some of the changes that are occurring.


As always, if you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you,

Elissa Bailey

--

Rev. Elissa Bailey

Presbytery of Great Rivers Stated Clerk

Presbytery of East Iowa Stated Clerk

Finances

From Your Finance Team

Illinois Expands it Secure Choice Mandatory Retirement Savings Program


Secure Choice is changing the requirements of who must participate in the program. This applies to companies that don't have their own retirement program. The BOP Fidelity 403b would meet that requirement. If you have more than five (5) W2 employees and are not offering any retirement for employees, please read carefully and you may want to chat with the Board of Pensions (800 773-7752).


Under the SECURE Act, part-time employees will be eligible to participate if they have completed at least 500 hours of service each year for three consecutive years and are at least 21 years of age by the last day of the same three-year period.


The link to the state government website is: Illinois Secure Choice | Employer Information (ilsecurechoice.com)


A link that highlights the changes and who is impacted is: Illinois Expands its Secure Choice Mandatory Retirement Savings Program | Benefits Law Advisor



A link to Frequently Asked Questions is: FAQ | Illinois Secure Choice (ilsecurechoice.com)


Employees can opt out of the plan but read the law carefully and take note of the deadlines.


Bill Strawbridge

Click Here for Love Gift Rules

Please click on the blocks below to follow the links:

Church Pledge Form
2022 Remittance Form
Church Pin List

Time to Update Contact Information- click on the boxes below:

Click Here to Update Financial Contact
Click Here to Update Church  Treasurer
Click Here to Update Church Clerk

Presbyterian Giving Catalog

Give through Giving Catalog for #GivingTuesday
Click Here To Give to the Christmas Joy Offering

Resources

Baptism and Confirmation Resources

Click Here for Baptism and Confirmation Resources

Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living has a new unit for Advent, along with other great four-session units that you can use any time in your congregation.

Follow Me Resources


Click Here for Advent Hymn Resources

Follow this link to learn more about Advent Devotionals for your congregation from the Presbyterian Outlook. 

Prophets & Promises

Devotions for Advent & Christmas 2022-2023

Order Prophets and Promises Here! 

News From The Committee on Ministry

Rev. Dr. Scott Carnes, incoming pastor at Galesburg First.  The Assembly approved the plan on Saturday which will allow him to transfer from the UMC to the PCUSA. Scott will begin service on 12/1 and will be installed once all the qualifications are met. 


Introducing the monthly Synod of Lincoln Trails newsletter!


Check out the most recent Synod of Lincoln Trails Newsletter by clicking the box below. Subscribe by clicking the image above.

Synod of Lincoln Trails November Newsletter

2023 Assembly Dates

February 25, 2023 at 10 am at First Normal

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)

Get Connected!

Be sure to encourage your congregations, sessions, and even your church newsletter editorial staff and volunteers to be sure to sign up for our presbytery newsletter and follow our Facebook page so you don't miss out on what is going on in our community of churches!

Have you liked our "Presbytery of Great Rivers" Facebook page?
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