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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.
January 12, 2024
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PGR Newsletter Schedule
Newsletters go out the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. Please send any articles for publication to Crystal by Tuesdays at 5 pm.
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Monday, January 15 is a holiday for PGR Staff in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. | |
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Assembly Dates for 2024
Tuesday, Feb. 20th - 6 pm - Online-only
Saturday, April 20th - 10 am Hybrid at 1st Pres. Milan
Saturday, August 24th -10 am Hybrid at 2nd Pres., Bloomington
Saturday, November 9th - 10 am Hybrid at United Pres., Peoria
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Electronic Giving Is Now Available
The Presbytery of Great Rivers can now accept electronic payments from individuals for Assembly offerings, lunches, and Presbytery Mission Giving.
There is a $500 limit for online giving. Churches should still issue checks or have payment sent from their online bank service for per capita and mission giving.
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From the Lead Presbyter
Happy New Year, Presbytery of Great Rivers! Farewell to the what-day-is-it-anyway post-Christmas slump and welcome to the winter weather advisory season that is January in central Illinois.
In these early days of 2024, the church is talking about what it means to be the church. An article in this week’s Presbyterian Outlook titled “The Future of the PC(USA) Is Pastor-Less, and That’s OK,” is generating conversation. Read it if you haven’t already (The future of the PC(USA) is pastor-less, and that’s OK. - The Presbyterian Outlook (pres-outlook.org)).
In it, Rev. Catherine Neelly Burton, Mission and Ministry Connector for the Presbytery of Southern Kansas, describes how her large geographic presbytery, where 30 out of 46 churches are located in either rural or frontier areas, is celebrating the strong and sustained leadership that church members themselves provide. “A church doesn’t need to have a pastor to be a church. A church without a pastor is a viable church,” she writes.
And indeed, we know that here in Great Rivers, where only 19 of our 85 churches currently have called and installed Ministers of Word and Sacrament. PC(USA) pastors serve many more of our congregations in various capacities, as transitional (interim) and temporary supply pastors, pulpit supply preachers, moderators of Sessions, and officiants of the sacraments. But plenty of PGR congregations are being and doing church, served by Commissioned Ruling Elders, ministers of other denominations, and gifted and persistent Session members.
In response to Burton’s article (and more specifically, to the provocative title of it), Rev. Allison Unroe, pastor of Fairlawn Presbyterian Church in Fairlawn, Virginia, posted on social media her reflections that “the future of the PC(USA) is being reformed by God,” which means there is no single way to be church. But there are a multitude of creative options for our churches, all of which require our energy, intelligence, imagination, and love—and openness to God’s Spirit.

Theologically educated and ethically trained pastoral leadership is costly—for the pastors who get the education and the churches that call them. But if we value that, how do we as a denomination support that model in a way that is just and equitable? Other congregations may opt for less conventional ways of being church. How do we support them?
I affirm Rev. Unroe’s conviction that “Every Presbytery should be finding creative, hopeful ways to support their churches.” You can expect to hear more in the coming weeks about how we are seeking to support our congregations, all 85 of them, no matter their shape, size, age, location, or leadership model. Watch for details about a series of regional gatherings that will begin in late February, providing opportunities for churches to connect with others and imagine new ways of responding to the sacred calling upon each of us—to share the good news of God’s love with all people.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Ann Schwartz
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Online Worship Services
We are updating our listing of online worship services offered by Great Rivers churches. Please check the current information we have for your congregation, and either confirm its accuracy or provide new information by January 26, 2024, to office@greatriverspby.org.
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A New Round of Oasis Grants for Pastors
The Synod of Lincoln Trails offers Oasis grants for pastors! These grants are to be used for something that will restore your soul and regenerate your spirit. SOLT wants to be a place of nourishment for pastors. Oasis grants offer an opportunity for respite in the midst of the wilderness. What would spark joy in your life this season? The deadline for this round is February 15 and is open to pastors, chaplains, commissioned pastors, and those in validated ministries who are active in full-time or part-time ministry. Learn more and apply here: https://lincolntrails.org/oasis-a-stop-in-the-wilderness/.
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Clergy Wellness Support Program
Last summer, the Board of Pensions of the PC (USA) began the Clergy Wellness Support Program. This initiative provides ministers with grants up to $5,000 to foster renewal and wholeness. The grants can be taken every six years.
The Clergy Program at the Davidson Centre for the Professions is one of the seven preapproved programs of the Clergy Wellness Program: www.pensions.org/your-path-to-wholeness/assistance-program/receiving-assistance/clergy-wellness-support.
Since 2004, more than 1,200 clergy have participated in this on-site intensive wellness program —The Clergy Program. This program in Davidson, North Carolina has strengthened lives and revitalized careers, especially for those in transition and stress. This grant from our Board of Pensions will cover the full cost of this program and all related travel expenses for pastors earning under an $80,000 salary.
This onsite program includes intensive wellness work with certified counselors, spiritual directors, consultants, life coaches, nutritionists, financial counselors, and personal fitness trainers. It is a great week of self-care and a way to obtain tools for personal/professional resilience. General information is found at www.davcp.com. This is an independent, ecumenical, HIPAA compliant service, and a validated ministry of our church.
To register or ask questions, contact Davidson Centre Director Suzanne Schilling, suzanneschilling@davcp.com.
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Clerk's Corner
Calling all Session Clerks!

You should have received all of the information you need for the annual statistical reports and the end-of-year reports. For the vast majority of you, this came via email from me. If you didn't receive it, please check your junk folder of your email or promotions folders. Sometimes, it might go there. If you are a new clerk, you might not have received the info. Please let me know you have been elected and we will get the info sent to you.
Thank you,
Elissa Bailey
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Church Leadership Connection (CLC)
We continue to receive regular updates from CLC Staff about the transition to the current CLC system (sometimes called CLC.2). While we have put some of the basic forms on the COM portion of the PGR website for you, please go right to oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/clc/ for all the most up to date CLC resources. Guides and videos continue to be developed and added on a routine basis there. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at greatriverscom@gmail.com or to the CLC Staff with questions. We are glad to support churches and pastors with this major transition.
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New Terms of Call and Temporary Contract Forms on Website
The two forms for 2024, for called and installed pastors and Temporary relationships (Temporary and Stated Supply, CPs and Transitional Pastors), are on the Presbytery website. Please look for FORMS, then choose COM Forms. They are at the top of the page. Please note that the Book of Order change about paid Family Leave went into effect on 7/9/2023. All called and installed ministers receive this leave effective that date. Any questions? Please email greatriverscom@gmail.com
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From Your Finance Team
Churches,
Please be sure submit a fully completed remittance form with any check you send to the presbytery to. ensure that we apply your payment as you intend. If sending from your bank online, you can email your remittance form to smcgrath@greatriverspby.org.
2024 Per Capita is $37.25, an increase of $1. The annual Per Capita mailing was sent to the mailing address we have for your church. Packets were mailed to the attention of your clerk of session. Please watch for this. If for some reason you don't receive it, please let us know.
We’ve already had 4 churches pay their 2024 per capita in full. Thank you to Clayton, Divernon, Reynolds – Hamlet Perryton & Greenview!
Thanks,
Sabrina McGrath - Bookkeeper
Bill Strawbridge - Treasurer
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Please click on the blocks below to follow the links: | |
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Important Information for Church Personnel Committees
Starting January 1, 2024, the Paid Leave for All Workers (PLAW) Act will took effect in Illinois. This act mandates that all workers, irrespective of their status as full-time or part-time, are entitled to earn and use up to 40 hours of paid leave time each year. The legislation provides that paid leave shall accrue at the rate of one hour for every 40 hours worked. Employees will be paid their full wage while on leave and tipped workers will be paid the minimum wage in their respective locale. An employer cannot require an employee to find their replacement for the leave.
The Illinois Department of Labor is in the process of preparing guidance and other resources and materials to educate employees and assist employers with compliance. If you have any questions or comments to inform their outreach and compliance assistance efforts, you may do so by emailing: DOL.PaidLeave@illinois.gov
Below are a few links that give more information on the PLAW Act.
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The PLAWA pdf is at the bottom of the Financial Page of the website. The financial page is the middle link above. | |
Opportunities for Church Leaders | |
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Register Now for 2024 APCE
The annual gathering of the Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) will be in St. Louis, January 24-27, 2024. This year’s theme is “Come All Who Are Thirsty.” Pastors, professional and volunteer church educators, and seminary students can choose between the in-person or hybrid format. Click here for more information or to reserve your space https://apcenet.org/2024-annual-event/.
Thanks to the partnership between the Christian Formation Office in the PC(USA), Global Language Resources, and APCE, there is no cost to participate in AE Online in Spanish.
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A Study for Sessions and Congregations on
Civic Engagement and Patriotism
Our civil discourse has eroded in recent years. As the 2024 presidential election looms large, calls for authoritarianism and tolerance for Christian nationalism, racism, and antisemitism have grown. How can we, as people of faith, respond?
Following approval at the 223rd General Assembly in 2018, the booklet “Honest Patriotism and Two Shorter Resolutions on Faith and Politics” was released. Here is a PDF of the document, which is available for your use.
Actions of the 223rd GA leading to that publication can be found at the following links on PC-Biz:
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Attention: Advocates for Justice
Our faith calls us to work for the well-being of our communities. Together, we must address poverty, racism, environmental devastation, systemic violence, and the false idea that this is the way the world must be. You are invited to two opportunities to collaborate in these efforts.
February 1: Informational Gathering
All who believe that we are stronger together in addressing these injustices that weigh heaviest on the poor are invited to an informational gathering on February 1, 2024, 11:00 am-1:00 pm, with leaders of the Illinois Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. We will meet at First Presbyterian Church, located at 7th & Capitol in Springfield. An additional zoom meeting is in the works. Lunch will be provided. If you can attend, please RSVP here. If you can’t attend but are interested in a zoom meeting or a recording, please let us know here. Carlos Rodriguez, IL Tri-Chair, will be leading this event.
Saturday, March 2: People’s Simultaneous Statehouse Assemblies
Event Details: We are uniting with states across the nation for simultaneous Mass Poor Peoples & Low-Wage Workers Assemblies at noon on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Please let us know if you are coming and how many people you might bring with you. If you aren’t ready to commit, but would like more information, please let us know. Please feel free to share this invitation and the attached poster with other partners! For more information, contact Rev. Susan Phillips at Springfield First.
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Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Events
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With the goal of developing and equipping leaders for sustained and courageous leadership, NEXT Church has curated five timely and important topics for all church leaders to engage as the new year begins. Each workshop is 90 minutes and will include rich content provided by experts and practitioners alongside facilitated coaching by NEXT Church staff. Sessions will be recorded and available for individual use up to 90 days following the session. Workshops began this week. They take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays @ 1:00pm EST/10:00am PST. Register for one workshop ($29 each) or all five (only $99)! | |
Join the Office of Christian Formation and Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, for a special Solar Eclipse Intergenerational Event April 6 -9, 2024. Individuals, families, and groups are invited to attend this creation are event centered on and culminating with the total solar eclipse. Learn more and make your reservation here. | |
Worship and Leadership Resources
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Got Liturgy?
The presbytery is compiling a set of grab-and-go worship services for churches whose pastors are unable to make it to worship. Many churches have an emergency binder with a lay-leadable service ready in case their pastor gets COVID - we'd like to share these resources with each other, so that churches have more options if their pastors are ill or on family leave. If you're willing to share a pre-recorded sermon or liturgy for a worship service without a sermon, please send it to Katie at katiestyrt@gmail.com. Services should not be especially seasonal, so that churches can use them at any time. Thank you!
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THE 226th GENERAL ASSEMBLY (2024) | |
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Call for Volunteers for the 226th General Assembly (2024)
As all church members know, the success of any event depends on the time, talents, and gifts of dedicated volunteers. Volunteers from across the church will play an essential role in supporting the 226th General Assembly (2024), which will gather both virtually and in-person from June 25-July 4, 2024.
Individuals are needed for to provide Zoom and help desk support, assist committees, and much more. Seasoned volunteers and those new to General Assembly work are welcome. If you are interested, email valerie izumi, who is coordinating the volunteer process, for more information, to explore how you might best serve, and to receive the GA 226 Volunteer Interest Form.
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Avoiding Copyright Enforcement Fees
You may have heard of congregations that have found themselves liable for expensive claims for using copyrighted images captured from the internet without a license. (The same is true for music.) Learn more from PMA Communications Director DeEtte Decker.
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Kemmerer Village is looking for individuals who are members of Great Rivers churches to serve on our board of directors. There are 5 board meetings per year, which can be attended on zoom. Kemmerer is involved in child care services, both residential and foster care for the state of Illinois. Oversight of this mission was given to the presbyteries of Great Rivers and Southeast Illinois at its inception. Please consider being a part of this mission. If you are interested or know of anyone who might be, please contact jonalynh72@gmail.com. | |
Click on the image above to subscribe to their newsletter! | |
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Grants from your Visioning Team
Grant applications are open now! Check out our Mission page
(http://www.greatriverspby.org/mission.html) for information about the Visioning grant to support programming and projects in churches and partner organizations, as well as grants for sabbatical assistance and funding while clergy are on paid family leave. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and the Visioning Team is ready to answer your questions. Contact us at PGRVisioning@greatriverspby.org to learn more!
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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) and is available until 4 pm CST Monday thru Wednesday and Friday, and 1:45 pm EST on Thursdays. 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-3pm (Central Time)
Lead Presbyter Ann Schwartz 309-683-6983 Email: aschwartz@greatriverspby.org
Ann's Sabbath Day is Friday.
Stated Clerk Elissa Bailey 309-371-2511 Email: pastorebailey@gmail.com
My regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am - 3 pm.(Central Time) If you have an emergency, please call or text me at 309-371-2511.
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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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