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.
February 11, 2022
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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.
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(Please let us know if you see any mistakes that we overlook so we can update our prayer list!)
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Last Call: Clerks of Session - It’s Annual Statistics time!
REMEMBER!
- This is the time to go through your membership rolls.
- Reduction of membership directly affects your per capita.
- Packets will be mailed to your churches soon.
- Included will be the General Assembly report from your last data entered
- Churches can enter their own statistics online.
- The portal opened on 12/3/21.
However please determine your final 2021 numbers before submitting your numbers.
February 2/17/22 (Thursday) -- Last day entry option will be available to churches.
Please remember to send a completed remittance form when submitting any check to the presbytery. This will ensure your funds are directed as you intended. If your contact information has changed please us know. It allows us to reach you easier if there is a question.
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Welcome to the Clerk's Corner
Hello Session Clerks! Good News! With the Annual Statistical Reporting Season underway, we are exactly HALFWAY THERE! With 88 churches needing to report, we have 44 churches that have completed their reports! There are also 5 churches that have started their reporting but have not finished. We have a great start but need to keep going! Please know that I am available if you have any questions or if you need any assistance in reporting.
You may have noticed, I have been working to make sure I have updated information (especially emails if possible) on all clerks. This will assist me in faster and accurate communication when things come up and assist you in receiving information that may be important or interesting to you. I have been working diligently to determine our current session clerks. There are still a few missing. If you have information for one of the following churches, please contact me at pastorebailey@gmail.com (preferred) or call me at 309-371-2511. I need their name and email (if they have one, this is highly useful), a phone number, and possible mailing address.
- Chatham, Chatham
- Coal Valley, First
- Fountain Green, Fountain Green United
- Hamilton, Bethel
- Morton, First
- New Windsor, New Windsor
- Niota, Appanoose-Faith
- Oneida, United
- Orion, Beulah
- Springfield, Korean United
- Virginia, First
Thank you,
Rev. Elissa Bailey, Stated Clerk.
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2022 Assembly Dates
February 26, 2022 at 9:00am (Via ZOOM Only)
May 17, 2022 at 4:00pm - Normal, First
August 30, 2022 at 4:00pm - Springfield, Hope
November 19, 2022 at 10:00am - Milan, First
Communion during February's Presbytery Gathering:
We will be celebrating communion during worship at February 26th's Presbytery Assembly. If you will be at the meeting on Zoom, we encourage you to gather something to serve as the Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation so we can all share in this sacrament together. It is a blessing to be able to connect in communion, even when we are apart.
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Greetings from the Presbytery office
We are starting our transition to a virtual office.
As of January 21st, 2022 we will have specific phone numbers to use depending on whom you need to contact.
Virtual Office Assistant - Lindsay Zubal 309-683-6980 Email: office@greatriverspby.org
Lindsay works remotely from Pennsylvania (Eastern Time)
Please leave her a message & she will return calls within 24 hours.
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
Please be advised that the phone number 309-251-9958 previously used to reach Presbyter Ryan Landino is no longer in service.
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Newsletter Announcement
As we get into 2022 the Newsletter will be published every 2nd and 4th Friday. If you would like to submit an article or announcement for publication, send your article to office@greatriverspby.org by the prior Tuesday.
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Telling our Stories
“And it came to pass.” This phrase is used 396 times in the King James Old Testament. It conveys God’s presence and care in directing events to bring God’s grace and redemption into our world. It is an extremely hopeful phrase that reminds us that we never walk alone or on our own power.
One of the things we, as Great Rivers Presbytery, would like to lift up is God’s activity in our midst in bringing “things to pass.” Below you will see a short story of how we, here in central Illinois, found our new Administrative Assistant who works from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania! God had a hand in helping this thing come to pass! Do you have stories that reflect the ways God’s presence and grace has carried Great Rivers Presbytery forward? Please submit them to John Rickard, our Bridge Presbyter at jrickard@greatriverspby.org. Let’s celebrate together the goodness of our God.
And It Came to Pass
It was late August 2021 and the plan of Personnel Committee was to hire a temporary Administrative Assistant to be in the Presbytery office. A candidate was sent from a temp agency, and it seemed to be going well. But in the process of helping her to learn the ropes, it became clear that there was not a lot that she would be able to do. Most of the clerical work, formerly done by our Administrative Assistant, had already been taken over by the committees. In-person meetings and events were not happening. Other tasks would require more training than a temp could be expected to learn. The interview process was halted and the question, “Now what?” echoed.
And it came to pass that a Personnel meeting was scheduled soon after. In discussing this new twist, Rev. Dan Ott, husband of Rev. Teri Ott, both from Monmouth College, had a suggestion. In the organization of the Lux Summer Theological Institute for Youth they had consulted with Ministry Architects, a company that provides assistance for ministry organizations. Ministry Architects had suggested that the Lux Institute use Ministry Architect’s virtual assistant program to improve and grow the Institute. They agreed, and it was a huge help for them. Dan made the observation that our Lead Presbyter was already working remotely, and our members were getting more comfortable with remote access to resources. To use a virtual assistant through Ministry Architects seemed like a good fit.
It took a phone call and communication of our needs, and very soon Lindsay Zubal was working for us on a part time basis. Her smiling face and efforts have become a blessing to us-- and at a very considerable savings to the Presbytery, as well. Lindsay is continuing to learn and grow in her role, and we are very pleased to have her on our team. God is good and God is working in our midst!
Rev. Joyce Chamberlin, Personnel Chair
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A Message from the Nominating Committee
Presbytery of Great Rivers has a significant tradition of serving our churches. Our Churches and their members have a long proud tradition of participating in committees and holding offices in the Presbytery structure. Our Nominating Committee is reaching out for assistance.
If any of your members have an interest in learning about the inner workings of the Presbytery or assisting in guiding it during this transition period, please contact Julio Garcia at 309-235-3999 or julieman6@yahoo.com.
Travel has been minimized through the use of ZOOM for committee meetings. Attending a meeting does not always mean 90 minutes or two hours of travel time round trip.
The PGR website has material identifying all the committees and their responsibilities. They cover the same basic subjects as the FPC-L structure, i.e. ministry, mission, and administration. There is a good fit for anyone.
Please consider this opportunity. PGR is facing significant challenges and dependable talented assistance is needed
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The Synod of Lincoln Trails
Coaching Summit
Back by popular demand... The Synod of Lincoln Trails is gathering fifty more dynamic and promising leaders from our eight presbyteries for the second annual coaching summit. Over a 42-hour period, SOLT will help you and your peers experience the multiple benefits of coaching.
Why it matters: At the SOLT Coaching Summit you will increase your capacity for leadership.
- You will level up your imagination, energy, and grit.
- You will gain ah-ha moments of clarity and insight, from each other and from our nationally-recognized master coaches, Rev. Drs. Laurie Ferguson and Chris Holmes
When: March 20, 2022 (7pm ET) - March 22, 2022 (1 pm ET)
Where: Indianapolis IN
Deadline: February 21, 2022
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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!
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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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