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Presbytery of Blackhawk
CONNECTIONS
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How is Your Church Inspiring its Servant Leaders?
Please Join Our Brainstorming on October 17
Greetings from the Blackhawk Matthew 25 team! We are taking the lead in the Education Hour at Presbytery Assembly meetings in 2024 and 2025. Please check out the schedule below for each meeting’s topic.
We are always looking for opportunities to equip our leaders and help our congregations thrive. In preparation for the November Assembly, we encourage you to participate in our next meeting, October 17, at 2:00, on Zoom. We will explore Empowering Servant Leadership: how to help each member to discover their individual calling and gifts so they can go forth and serve. We would like to hear what has worked in your congregation, and we would like to help you discover new ways your congregations can use the resources you have to blossom and thrive. You can help us by sharing your successes and by sharing the obstacles you face.
We look forward to some great brainstorming! Please register for the meeting to receive the Zoom link. All are welcome - contact the office with questions.
1.Ecclesial Health-May 2024
2. Outward Incarnational Focus-Sept 2024
3. Empower Servant Leadership-Nov 2024
4. Lifelong discipleship formation-Feb 2025
5. Caring Relationships-May 2025
6. Spirit Inspired Worship-Sept 2025
7. Intentional Authentic Evangelism-Nov 2025
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Hurricane Helene Response
At this time, PDA is encouraging financial donations rather than sending clean-up buckets or food or supplies. The infrastructure is still so unstable (roads out, electricity out, water out) it is difficult to get materials where needed. We encourage congregations to give directly to PDA. If you want to support another on-the-grounds group, you could provide financial assistance to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church which is providing meals and water and other resources to their communities in western North Carolina.
Assembling clean-up buckets is always an good response as well. Deliver them to the Church World Service drop-off location in Elgin (see all info). They have the know-how to get them where and when they are needed, and their warehouse is typically depleted after such a disaster.
And of course, keep praying for all those in this path of destruction and those coming to their aid.
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Would you like to assemble an Apartment Box?
While the Presbytery collected items to make a complete box (THANKS!), why not undertake a similar project in your church? Please see the complete list HERE. Then contact Elgin First Presbyterian (847-742-6365) to arrange dropoff. They are assisting some of the immigrants in need in their area and welcome your help!
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You are Invited
We are continuing our new outreach effort with the third “Coffee in Your Corner”. The Presbytery staff (Eric and Loreen) is traveling around the Presbytery every 4-6 weeks to meet at a coffee shop where folks from surrounding churches (not just pastors!) can drop in for conversation, ask questions and just generally get to know us and each other.
Next stop will be Tuesday, October 15 from 2-3:30 pm in Pecatonica (west of Rockford) at Rosie's Coffee Company.
All are welcome - hope to see you then!
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We've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy
And we'll have it soon!
Nov. 1-3 (Fri.-Sun.) at Stronghold will be a weekend for middle and high schoolers to get away and get together for fun with the faithful and joy with Jesus!
This year's event features more options and less stress! Plenty of time to meet and make friends
The cost is $130 per person, including leaders and volunteers.
Registration and more info HERE
Please share the poster.
Questions? Pastor Steve Bowie
Third PC - Rockford
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Opportunity for Mission -
Committee Members & Everyone
Rev. Samuel Riungu, Mission Director for the Presbyterian Church of East Africa who led a learning opportunity at Stronghold September 2023 on Contextualizing Mission for the 21st Century will be back visiting us on October 25.
Samuel is considered a dear and long-time friend of Blackhawk. Early in his ministry he was the secretary of the Blackhawk-Imenti Presbytery Partnership. Friends of Samuel helped support his masters degree program enabling him to move into his current position.
The Blackhawk-Imenti Presbytery Partnership Committee invites you to join them on Friday, October 25 at 4:00 pm in person at Stronghold for a time of interaction followed by sharing a meal together. Please RSVP by email, subject Samuel, to Laurie Walker (laurelawalker@gmail.com) by October 11.
We are sure this will be a time of revelation, inspiration, and affirmation as we envision how we might best live out the calling to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Voting on GA Amendments
The booklet outlining the proposed amendments to the PCUSA Book of Order is now available as Presbyteries across the nation will be voting in the coming months. Blackhawk will consider and vote on some of them at the November assembly meeting and some in February. In preparation for those votes, MARK YOUR CALENDAR and register for a special informational session on Thursday, November 7 at 7 pm on zoom. No votes will be taken, but you will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss. REGISTER HERE.
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CALENDAR
Presbytery Meeting
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
9:30 am, Hybrid - in person at
Woodstock First and on zoom
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PER CAPITA
The per capita assessment for:
2024 is $43.00
2025 is $44.00
Church payments are posted monthly on the website
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Presbytery of Blackhawk
Our Vision and Values
Grounded in the biblical image for human community, as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we challenge and support congregations to be thriving faith communities by facilitating competent leadership and resourcing to energize ministry and mission.
As Christians, guided by the principles of love, trust, open communication, and genuine relationships, we value each other as sisters and brothers in faith in all our varied theological understandings. Therefore, we relish respectful discussions of differing opinions as a necessary part of discerning the will of God.
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