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 12, 2021
We understand that access to vaccinations have now been expanded to even more children, and pastors up and down our presbytery are receiving their vaccine boosters. 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 2021 Rotating Prayer List.
(Please let us know if you see any mistakes that we overlook so we can update our prayer list!)




May we keep Sabrina McGrath and her family (Presbytery Staff Bookkeeper) warmly in our prayers, upon the news of the passing of her grandfather, John Boland, at the age of 90. A memorial service honoring his life will be held in 2022.
"COMMISSIONERS ASSEMBLE!"
Presbytery of Great Rivers
Assembly Notice
TOMORROW
Saturday, November 13, 2021
(via Zoom)
Call to Order 8:30 a.m,
Site opens at 8:00 a.m
CLICK HERE for the registration link for the meeting.

Please register TONIGHT before the assembly

In compliance with Robert's Rules of Order and our bylaws, our November 13 assembly will be conducted virtually, which means you will be able to access the meeting by internet device or telephone.

ANTICIPATED HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Boundary and Ethics Training Led by Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence (with an offering for an optional follow up conversation for deeper conversation on Wednesday, December 1st from 10-11am)

  • Sermon and Final Report by Lead Presbyter for Transformation Rev. Ryan Landino

  • Installation of New Moderator, Moderator-Elect, and Stated Clerk Elissa Bailey

  • Worship With Communion

  • Reports from the Personnel Committee on Next Steps, and also from the Moderator's Taskforce on Staffing and Finance

  • Second reading of bylaw changes strengthening the work of Personnel, the Committee on Ministry, and the requested proposal of a new Committee on Accessibility, Representation, and Equity (C.A.R.E.)

  • Approval of new partners for work on important committees up and down our presbytery to support our congregations

  • Time for solidarity, community, and prayer

All material should be posted to the presbytery website!

A Word on Tech Support:

Rev. Katie Styrt will be available to answer any Zoom questions and provide tech support! If you need help getting into the meeting, asking questions, or checking sound on your phone or computer, just contact her at 402-417-5901. The Presbytery meeting Zoom will be open at 8:00am for our 8:30 meeting - if you are not comfortable with Zoom, please log in early so we can help you.
HEAR THE CRIES OF THE POOR:
THINKING THEOLOGICALLY ABOUT POVERTY AND HUNGER
 
Sunday, June 12-Sunday, June 26, 2022
Monmouth (Illinois) College
 
Theologically curious high school students are invited to apply before Jan. 1, 2022, for the 2022 Lux Summer Theological Institute.
 
 
The Lux Summer Theological Institute for Youth is a two-week opportunity for high school students from all over the United States to engage in theological inquiry, learn new modes of worship and spiritual practice, participate in service, experience interfaith activities, and explore their vocation.
 
Safety permitting, the program will be held in-person at Presbyterian-related Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois.
 
This year’s theme deals with poverty and hunger, encouraging young people to explore solutions to help the poor. The Lux Institute encourages a welcoming, diverse community that challenges students to think creatively about their faith and the impact it can have on the world. Students come from around the country for a life-changing experience that makes a difference for their churches and communities.
 
Funded by the Lilly Endowment, the Lux Institute is an opportunity for students to engage with a topic of global importance and participate in a living-learning community through study, worship, service, recreation, and vocational exploration.
 
Scholarships are available to cover all program expenses for the two-week program, with the exception of travel. A free shuttle to/from Chicago airports is provided.
 
Questions? Contact the Rev. Brandon Ouellette.
Introducing our Boundary Training Leader!

We have the honor of having Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence join us as the facilitator of our 2021 Boundary and Ethics Training! She will be offering a voluntary follow-up on December 1st at 10-11am as an opportunity to go deeper in conversation.

"My name is Fran Lane-Lawrence and I serve as the Transitional EP/Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of Lake Michigan. I have served as a pastor for more that 20 years. – brief bit of background: I studied both the congregational dynamics of clergy sexual misconduct and the power dynamics related to church leaders/clergy who cross sexual boundaries within congregations with the Rev. Dr. Nancy Ramsey; I served as a Hospital and Court advocate/chaplain at the Center for Women and Families working with victims of domestic and sexual violence, I served as a Regional Trainer for Interfaith Clergy focusing on the dynamics power of clergy sexual misconduct and boundary violations within congregations. I am certified by both Faith Trust Institute and the Ecumenical Center for Christian Leadership as a facilitator/trainer for boundary and ethics. I have been teaching boundary and ethics for nearly my whole career. I use a conglomeration of the materials I have gather from several institutions. The boundary information isn’t specifically Christians, rather it is ecumenical and interfaith – but all relates to relationships, work and power dynamics within faith communities."


Here are the Basics of what you can expect to explore together on Saturday:

  • Why Boundaries and Ethics
  • The Power Dynamic We Have – Whether we want them or not
  • Social Media is a Great Tool – Until It Isn’t
  • Is it a Confidence or is it a Secret – and Why Does It Matter
  • Who should we tell – Mandated Reporting
  • PCUSA Ethical Standards for Church Leaders – We are all in this together
  • Child Protection Policies
  • Covenant of Closure – What’s a Ruling Elder to do
  • What will put you on the fast track to judicial process
  • Great Rivers Policy – Use it or Lose It -Issues of Liability – Why have a sexual misconduct policy

*This presentation will be recorded.*

Rev. Lane-Lawrence will be offering an voluntary follow-up conversation session that will permit participants to go deeper in conversation and explore more examples together. That session will be on Wednesday, December 1st from 10-11am Central Time. Stay tuned by newsletter for the registration link.

For credit satisfying yearly boundary training: you can attend the training on 11/13. Those who cannot attend on November 13th but can on December 1st will be required to view the 11/13 recording before being able to attend on the 1st. Note you will only qualify for the yearly boundary training if 1) you participated in the 11/13 presentation, or 2) you attend on December 1st after viewing the 11/13 recording and have contacted either Andy Sonneborn (Committee on Ministry, Chair of Subcommittee on Training and Resources revandysonneborn@gmail.com) or Elissa Bailey (Stated Clerk pastorebailey@gmail.com)
United Church of Woodhull's choir wants to share music with you! 

We have been cleaning out our music supply and would like to offer these first come, first served. We ask only that you either pay for shipping or arrange pick-up. Pick-up can happen at our place or we can arrange to meet you in the middle if you will be driving in our direction. For those details contact Cheyanna Losey at 309-299-4790 or cheyannalosey@gmail.com.  

Here is what we have available:
2022 Youth Triennium: Invitation to Serve as Volunteer Delegation Registrar!

PLEASE LET THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE KNOW BY IF YOU HAVE INTEREST TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE!
(Acting Chair of Nominating: Julio Garcia: julieman6@yahoo.com)

Youth Triennium is a national gathering for High School youth hosted by the PCUSA every three years. This year's upcoming Triennium will be July 24-27, 2022 in Indianapolis, IN! Registration will open February 1st, 2022 and close June 10, 2022. Click HERE for an article on how this year's triennium will be different!

In order to make sure that this can be an amazing experience for our young people, one thing that we are requested to provide is a volunteer Presbytery Delegation Registrar! From their website:

"Registration for each of these delegations is made possible by wonderful volunteers appointed by Mid Councils and Caucuses. Every presbytery in the denomination is invited by the Office of Presbyterian Youth and Triennium to appoint a registrar. These volunteer registrars are called Delegation Registrars. Each delegation registrar is responsible for developing and building their delegation. They then work with the National Registrar to register and prepare all participants from their delegation for Triennium."

If you or anyone you know is interested in serving in this capacity, please let our virtual assistant Lindsay know (office@greatriverspby.org) by the end of November! The national coordinator will come alongside our volunteer registrar to assist them in every way that they need. Helpful checklists and other responsibilities are listed here:


Might you be willing to serve?

Let's ensure this is an amazing, formative experience for our young people!
SCAM ALERT: "Request for Gift Cards"
 
Just a friendly notice that members of presbyteries across the country are continuing to be targeted for scam requests for gift cards. The way they work is they come in someone's familiar name, like the presbytery leader, but from fake email addresses, often gmail. Sometimes they say "I have an emergency!" (that needed gift cards?), other times "I want to host a surprise appreciation event"--this week when it happened again it was "I am in a meeting and need them." This continues to be a regular issue. Please now you don't even have to ask: it's not me. I, nor any mid council leader, will EVER personally request random financial assistance outside of normal channels through email. Please verify the email address and then promptly delete. Thank you!
 
Ryan Landino
Lead Presbyter for Transformation of Great Rivers Presbytery 
Still looking for Alternative, Online Worship?
(PLEASE LET US KNOW IF ANYTHING HAS CHANGED!)
 
Here are several possibilities for connecting to different worship spaces around the presbytery. This is a listing of the last Sunday's offerings of different churches providing worship. Please let us know if there have been any changes so we can keep our list updated!


  • Alexis-Norwood Presbyterian Church, Commissioned Pastor Gary Denise Pullen, 10:30 am on Facebook live, on his personal page.

  • Bartonville-Trinity Presbyterian Church has on-line worship on Facebook page and Their Website



  • Bloomington-St Luke Union Church, Rev. Andy Gifford, Sunday at 10:30am in person, and Facebook live Sunday at 10:30 am and posted to YouTube Each Monday morning.






  • Elmwood-First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Marla Bauler, worship led by Zoom (link can be obtained by pastor), then posted afterwards to Facebook.

  • Farmington-First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Andy Sonneborn, 10:30 am by Facebook live.

  • Galesburg-First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Kay Daniel, 10 am by Facebook live


  • Jacksonville-First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Jonathan Warren, 10 am by Facebook live.

  • Leroy-First United Presbyterian Church, recorded YouTube videos of their services posted later on their Facebook page.

  • Lincoln-First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln, 10:00 am by Facebook live (older recorded sermons also on church website)





  • Peoria-First Federated Church, streaming and video on their Facebook





  • Rio-Rio Presbyterian Church, Rio (and Sunbeam Presbyterian Church of Aledo), Rev. Maura McGrath-Nagle, 9:00 am by Facebook live.

  • Rock Island-Gloria Dei Presbyterian Church, Rev. Drew Nagle, 10:30 am, by Facebook live, and posted afterwards.



  • Springfield-First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Susan Phillips, www.LincolnsChurch.org has links for Sunday 10:30 live worship and Wednesday 5:30 service.

  • Springfield-Hope Presbyterian Church, Rev. Chuck Goodman, 9:30 am by Facebook live


  • Springfield-Third-Presbyterian Church, We are continuing with our radio broadcast on Sundays from 9-9:30am. This is broadcast on Sportsradio1450 (1450 AM or 92.3 FM). We have returned to In-person Worship on Sundays, beginning at 10am. Our In-person Worship Service is also recorded and posted on Mondays on our Facebook page (Third-Presbyterian Church).

  • Springfield-Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. Blythe Kieffer, Rev. Christian Choi, 10 am worship streamed online, www.wpcspi.org


  • Woodhull-United Church, Rev. Cheyanna Losey, is still posting services on YouTube and will continue them for sure into August. YouTube videos of their services posted on Facebook page.

FRIENDLY REMINDER TO NOT FORGET TO MAKE SPACE FOR THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICE OF GIVING OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS!
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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