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.

March 11, 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!)
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
Quarterly Resource Preview
February/March 2022

Special Offerings and the Presbyterian Giving Catalog
One Great Hour of Sharing is the single largest way that Presbyterians come together every year to work for a better world. Typically received on Easter Sunday, which this year falls on April 17, the annual offering supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Self-Development of People. All three programs work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. Looking for information for Special Offerings in 2022? Click here for a flyer that shares those dates as well as the distribution of each offering and how to remit funds.
 
2021–2022 Presbyterian Giving Catalog Impact Guide
Your Church Your Mission Impact Guide shares stories of impact, provides ideas for group events and activities, and includes a list of special days to inspire giving in 2022. Download the resource by clicking here.
 
Are you ready to begin Your Matthew 25 journey?

Click HERE to see more!
The Clerks Corner

Our next Clerk's Convo is scheduled for March 17th at 10am. This is our monthly meeting for session clerks to gather over zoom to ask questions, discuss anything that might be coming up, and connect with one another in addition to the Stated Clerk. All Session clerks and assistants and admins who prepare minutes are welcome to attend!

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 824 7748 7297
Passcode: 832216
Session Record Review Information
2022 Assembly Dates

May 17, 2022 at 4:00pm - Normal, First
August 30, 2022 at 4:00pm - Springfield, Hope
November 19, 2022 at 10:00am - Milan, First
Church Session Trustee Report for 2021
If your church has not submitted these please send them to smcgrath@greatriverspby.org.
For more than 70 years, our gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing
have connected us in God’s healing, tending and growing
to create a world where all needs are met.

Thanks to your heartfelt gifts, One Great Hour of Sharing currently supports projects in more than 100 countries. Visit pcusa.org/oghsmap for locations and ministries.

Each day at or after a meal time, consider these reflections and questions for the week ahead. Place a coin or a “gift” in your fish coinbank or a jar, and end by saying the prayer of the week or one of your own.

 
 Gather us all around your banquet table, O God, with all who hunger and thirst. May we join, together, to share the abundance you’ve intended for all.
Amen.
 
 
MARCH 13-18, 2022
Monday:
Using the online map, find a Self-Development of People partnership near where you currently live. Read about the need being addressed. Say a prayer for the people involved in that ministry.
Thursday:
What are you thankful for, in yourself? God offers gifts and talents to each of us. Make a short list of yours and make them part of a “Thank you, God” prayer.
Tuesday:
Social barriers are like locked doors that hold people back and keep them from thriving. Make a gift to help people grow and learn freely.
Friday:
God’s love is shown in so many ways. Find three things you can do today or tomorrow to share God’s love.
Wednesday:
Water is needed by everyone. Using the online map, find three projects related to water, and say a prayer for each.
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
COM Ministry Transitions

Ministry Transitions is a subcommittee of the Committee on Ministry (COM), and makes sure we stay connected to congregations that are in some phase of transition, which begins when a pastoral relationship, may pass through temporary relationships, and is complete at the beginning of a new established pastoral relationship. We could not do the work of our subcommittee without all the hard work of every single member of COM, who serve as Ministry Partners to all of our congregations. We want to be in contact monthly with every congregation in transition. We're pleased to report that due to the commitment and follow through of our whole committee, we had updates on all but five of our churches.  We are thankful for all the dedicated members of COM and for our congregations who work so cooperatively with them.
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 10:30am live worship and Wednesday 6:00pm 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?