The time has come to join the Lead Presbyter Nominating Committee and the Leadership Council in endorsing the LPNC's candidate! You are invited to join us on Monday, September 28th, 2026, at 10 am at First Federated Church in Peoria, IL, for a Special Called Assembly. The agenda item is to confirm and endorse the candidate. This meeting will be hybrid. There will be a Meet & Greet starting at 9:30 am with coffee and pastries provided. We are delighted to invite you to join us in this special time in the life of our presbytery! Please register in advance and let us know if we will see you in person or via Zoom. Watch for the docket on our website's assembly page. | | Committee on Accessibility, Representation, and Equity | | |
This committee is our presbytery’s recognition that representation is more than just making sure that the right numbers, roles, gender, ability, language, race, culture, identity, geography, and any other markers by which we are defined are represented in the committees and commissions of the presbytery. The words in the title of this committee expand on the word representation and are arranged to have the initial letters spell out CARE. It is the intention that all we do is in care of one another.
This committee’s members are ruling elders and Ministers of the Word and Sacrament, called presbyters in the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity part of the Book of Order. As a committee, we have spent time exploring the purpose assigned us by the presbytery: “To advise the Presbytery on the principles of participation and inclusiveness to ensure fair and effective representation in the decision-making of the Presbytery.” To do so, we have looked in Scripture to see what it says about these words: accessibility, representation, and equity. We found that Scripture holds stories of belonging, hospitality, service, and spiritual giftedness that inform our understanding of accessibility, representation, and equity. We asked commissioners at one assembly what it meant that Jesus cares. At another, we brought bible studies on belonging, hospitality, service, and spiritual giftedness.
In committee meetings, we have spent time seeking together “to find and represent the will of Christ.” [F-3.0204] We have looked at the tasks assigned to our committee through this lens, seeking to find that which is helpful to the building up of congregations in our presbytery, as well as its individual members.
Rev. Maura C. McGrath Nagle
Co-Moderator, CARE
| | Retreat Registration is Open | | |
PGR Regional Cohort Gatherings

Peoria Regional Gathering | Friday, October 2, 5:30 pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church Hall
1420 W. Moss Ave, Peoria, IL 61606
Peoria-area cohort members from Bartonville, Edwards, Elmwood, Eureka, Farmington, Pekin, Peoria First Federated, Peoria United, Peoria Westminster, Washington, and Yates City will meet at 5:30. After the gathering, stay for the local First Friday Event (5-8 pm) featuring food and local musicians and artists. Contact Mary Watts with any questions. Hope to see you there!
| | Many thanks to Normal-First PC for hosting the Hymn Sing on Friday, August 28, which brought members together from the Bloomington-Normal regional cohort. Pictures from the gathering are below. Great idea—can't wait to see what they plan next! | | A Note of Thanks from IPH | | | | |
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
Monday, October 5, 2026 | 11:00 AM
Dean Beth McCaw will moderate a conversation with Executive Presbyter (PCUSA) Ian McMullen and Bread of Life Lead Pastor Stephanie Ells on how congregations and judicatories are finding fresh ways of being church. Rev. McMullen served on a visioning task force that led to a new presbytery leadership model. Rev. Stephanie Ells led two congregations, First Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church, as they joined to become the new Bread of Life Presbyterian Church. Dean McCaw has worked with congregations in western Montana, which formed a small-town ecumenical parish of four congregations sharing leadership.|
Join us to explore what is possible as churches and councils lean forward with flexibility and curiosity to engage in ministry in new forms. The lecture begins at 11:00, breaks for lunch, and concludes with Q&A. Please RSVP for in-person attendance including lunch, at UDTS@dbq.edu.
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Collective Cohorts 2026 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
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These 90-minute cohorts will meet once a week for 4 weeks beginning the week of October 12 and run through the week of November 2, 2026.
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Free of charge because they are sponsored by the Christian Formation Collective partners APCE, POAMN, PYWA, and UKirk with the Office of Christian Formation, PCUSA.
- Open to faith formation leaders, including volunteers, educators, youth workers, CREs, and pastors.
- Each cohort is led by an ICF (International Coaching Federation) trained coach.
Register here by September 30.
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"Come As You Are"
Life can be busy. School, sports, friends, family, expectations—it can all feel like a lot. Sometimes it seems like you have to have everything figured out before you can show up.
The good news? You don't.
This fall, join us for a weekend away at Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center where you can step away from the noise, make new friends, laugh until your sides hurt, enjoy great food, worship together, ask honest questions, and discover that God loves you just as you are.
Whether this is your first retreat or your tenth, there's a place for you. No perfect answers required. No pretending. Just come with an open heart and see what God has in store.
November 6–8, 2026
Cost is $140.00 per person
Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center
1922 IL Route 2, Oregon, IL 61061
Bring a friend, pack your favorite hoodie, and get ready for a weekend filled with fun, faith, adventure, and unforgettable memories.
Come as you are... and leave knowing you belong.
To register, use the following link:
2026 Fall Retreat Registration
lf your church is paying, please use the promo code "Church" and you will not be required to pay with a credit card.
Scholarships may be available. If you have any questions, contact 779-771-2088 or email office@ilprairiepres.org
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Sunday, October 18 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM
St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie, MN & Online
What to Expect:
- Interfaith storytellers and musicians from Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions
- Stories of resilience and hope curated by Moth GrandSLAM Champion, Andrea Roske-Metcalfe
- Music for reflection and renewal led by talented local artists
- Liturgy for healing crafted and led by New York Times Bestselling Author and founder of Black Liturgies, Cole Arthur Riley.
Cost: $20 - Online; $35 - In-Person; $25 - In-Person (Group of 5 or more)
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New for Advent 2026

The Advent 2026 digital resource guide from PC(USA) Store is now available! This guide allows you to compare Advent books and resources for devotion, group study, preaching, and worship.
| David LaMotte is Coming to Davenport | |
David LaMotte is a highly praised songwriter, speaker and author who has performed in all 50 states and on 5 continents. He has written 4 books, including the children's book, S.S. Bathtub, and his most recent book for adults, You Are Changing the World (Whether You Like It or Not). David is not unknown among Presbyterians, having presented at the PC(USA) Mission to the UN and presented numerous times at Montreat Conference Center.
On November 7, FPC Davenport will be hosting Mr. LaMotte for two events in the church sanctuary, at 1702 Iowa Street, Davenport, IA 52803:
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10:00 AM, children are invited to a special reading of David's book, S.S. Bathtub, followed by a brief acoustic concert for children and families.
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6:30 PM, join David for an encouraging and practical look at how large-scale change happens, how it doesn’t and how to understand our own roles within that effort for positive change. The presentation will be based on David’s recent book, You Are Changing the World (Whether You Like It or Not).
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7:45 PM, hang around after David’s talk to enjoy an amazing concert including David’s original music.
These events are open to all; there is no admission fee and no registration is required.
Church website: www.fpcdavenport.org
Email: office@fpcdavenport.org
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Boundary Training Opportunities | |
Sponsored by the Presbytery of Ohio Valley:
Monday, October 26, 2026, 9 am - 2 pm (CT)
- In-person @ First Presbyterian Church, 221 E Sixth Street, Bloomington, Indiana
- Register here
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The Presbytery of Great Rivers requires all ministers, candidates, inquirers, honorably retired ministers,
employees, and educators who are in any form of active service to participate annually in boundary training.
These workshops satisfy the denominational boundary training requirements in G-3.0106.
Submit certificates of completion for your boundary training to Stated Clerk Elissa Bailey.
| | Deep Roots, New Growth: A Workshop on Cultivating Thriving Churches | | |
Register soon for this October 17 event sponsored by the Presbytery of Great Rivers and the Presbytery of East Iowa. First Presbyterian Church of Milan (1620 1st St W, Milan, IL 61264) will host Deep Roots, New Growth: A Workshop on Cultivating Thriving Churches.
The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Josh Erickson, leader and co-founder of the PCUSA Church Growth Network, which seeks to foster growth in size, vitality, and mission impact for local congregations and new faith communities so that more people experience the life-changing love of Christ. Click here to register and for more information. Registration deadline is October 10.
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September 26 | 9 am | Online Boundary Training | Sponsored by Presbytery of Wabash Valley
September 28 | 10 am | Special Called Presbytery Assembly | Peoria, First Federated and Zoom
September 30 | 7:15 pm | Mission Commission meeting | Zoom
October 2 | 5:30 pm | Peoria Regional Cohort Gathering | Peoria, Westminster
October 8 | 1 pm | Commission on Pastoral Leadership meeting
October 10 | Deadline to register for Deep Roots, New Growth: A Workshop on Cultivating Thriving Churches
October 17 | 10 am | Deep Roots, New Growth: A Workshop on Cultivating Thriving Churches | Milan First
October 19 | 1:30 pm | CARE meeting
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