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Presbytery of Blackhawk
CONNECTIONS
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Upcoming 2024 Session Reviews
First Presbyterian Church of Sterling
410 Second Avenue
Sterling, IL
Saturday, November 29th - 10:00 am
Church of Hope Presbyterian Church
202 North Monroe Street
Gardner, IL
Saturday, December 6th - 10:00 am
First Presbyterian Church of Galena
106 Bench Street
Galena, IL
Saturday, December 6th - 2:00 pm
Fox Valley Presbyterian Church
227 East Side Drive
Geneva, IL
Saturday, December 13th - 10:00 am
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The Final Four
We are down to our final four (4) names for our presbytery. They are:
- Illinois Heartland Presbytery
- Illinois Prairie Presbytery
- Prairie Lands Presbytery
- Stronghold Presbytery
These names will be brought to the November 18, 2025, Assembly meeting for a final vote. Thank you to everyone who participated in this process.
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Dakota Community Presbyterian Church
Holds Rededication for 175th Anniversary
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On Sunday, October 12, the Dakota Community Presbyterian Church held a 175th anniversary celebration.
The Sunday morning service was a time of reflection on the church's history, its role in the community, and its future. A slide show was presented. There was special music sung by the choir. The congregation and guests gathered afterwards in Fellowship Hall for a catered lunch and cake.
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The congregation was first chartered as the Rock Run Presbyterian Church in 1850 by twelve settlers moving to Stephenson County, Illinois from Pennsylvania. They built a small church building at the corner of E. Farm School and Brown Roads, just southwest of Rock City, IL.
While the original church building is gone, Pioneers Cemetery (still in use) marks the location. In 1870 the congregation decided to build a church in Dakota, IL to be closer to a population center and the railroad. It became the Dakota Community Church. This church building, at 210 N. Church Street, is the building still in use today. It has been in continuous use since it was built. James Brown is the current serving pastor.
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Christmas Joy Offering
The prophet Isaiah gives those listening to him a very particular task to prepare the way for the coming Messiah, the person we know as Jesus. Isaiah proclaims that to prepare the way is to make highways easily navigable, fill in valleys, f latten hills, level the ground, make the earth smooth. Then, and only then, will God’s glory be revealed, and this will cause all humanity to see that God has spoken to us. Your gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering combine with gifts from thousands of congregations throughout our denomination to do our part to repair the world and to ensure our siblings have the tools they need to flourish. Your gifts prepare the way for the God we know in Jesus Christ, the child whose birth we celebrate
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Did you know that you have a liaison for your church?
Our presbytery's Commission on Ministry has a relatively new committee: Liaisons.
The presbytery is divided into twelve areas, each of which will ultimately have its own liaison. Liaisons work on building positive relationships with the congregations in their areas and presbytery. They will serve as resources for members who have questions or need to know how to contact the right person/committee to help them. There will be a liaison newsletter, once or twice each year, to let others know about ideas that have been tried by a congregation and have been successful in a unique way. Liaisons want to hear your good news and spread it throughout the presbytery!
Please check out the 4th quarter Liaison report here.
If you have questions, please contact: Kathy Pearson, chair of the liaison committee: katherineap3@yahoo.com. We do not have a liaison for Areas 8 & 9 so if you would be interested in this position, please email office@blackhawkpresbytery.org .
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Big changes are coming to the Churchwide Special Offerings!
Three Offerings beginning in 2026
Beginning in 2026, the Special Offerings will be represented through three distinct offerings that continue to reflect our values of connection, compassion, and generosity.
· One Great Hour of Sharing — February 18 – April 5, 2026
· World Communion Offering — September 6 – October 4, 2026
· Christmas Joy Offering — November 29 – December 20, 2026
| | Message from the Mission Committee | | |
We are fast approaching the end of 2025 and the end of the budget year.
The committee still has $1,250 left to give towards a mission project. If we don't use it, we lose it as it doesn't carry over to the next year. If your congregation has been sitting with an idea, or still wants to develop something before the year-end, please reach out to Thea (pastor@fpce.org) or to Jeannette (office@blackhawkpresbytery.org) . We would love to help you get something off the ground!
Below is a list of what was compiled as mission projects from our churches within our presbytery.
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Caledonia, Willowcreek
Bed Building
Winnebago, First
Micro Pantry
School supplies for local schools
Shoes for kids at Christmas
CWS children support
Galena, First
Food pantry
Rockford, Third
Habitat for Humanity
Rock House Kids
Soup kitchen
Northwest Neighbors
Kewanee, First
Donations to organizations
Crystal Lake, Ridgefield
Immigration
ICDI
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Dekalb, Westminster
Adopting a school to help low-income students
Food pantry
Sterling, First
Buddy Bags
Cookies for "Festival of Trees" for hospice support
Dixon, First
Habitat shower (combined with Morrison, First and Galena, First)
Geneva, Fox Valley
Community Dinner
Fairbury, First
Provide clothing to people at ER at the local hospital
Elgin, First
Immigration support in various ways
Community garden
Serve a soup kettle
Support PADS (shelter), volunteer at Food for Greater Elgin, Crisis Center
| | Our churches show their love for their communities in so many ways! If your church isn’t listed here, let us know—we’d love to add you. See something here that inspires you? We can help you get started. Want to partner with a congregation already doing something great? We’ll help you connect. | |
November Ordination and Commission Anniversaries
Jan Chandler - 2013
Eric Heinekamp - 2010
Craig Herr - 1980
Kim Hulen - 2012
John Walker - 1988
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
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Lord, hear our prayer....
For the people in Alaska that have lost everything.....
Compassionate God,
You who see every suffering, hear the cries of Your children in Alaska.
In this hour of loss and devastation—homes swept away, livelihoods destroyed, spirits shaken—
be with those who stand in the ruins of what once was.
Grant them strength where there is weakness,
comfort where there is grief,
and hope in the midst of despair
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Surround them with tenderness:
Let friends, neighbors, and strangers be hands of mercy,
shelter, compassion, and provision.
Guide the rescuers, the relief workers, the leaders—
may their efforts be wise, swift, and full of love.
Provide for every urgent need: warmth, food, clean water, safe shelter.
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Where despair threatens, rekindle courage.
Where hopelessness looms, plant seeds of promise.
Restore what can be restored, heal what can be healed,
and give peace that passes understanding.
We trust that nothing is wasted in Your care,
and even in the darkest moment, You are present.
May light dawn again over these lives.
In Your name we pray, Amen.
| | If you would like to donate to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for this cause, you can do so by using this link. You may also send your check to the presbytery and they will send it onto PDA. | | |
Are you doing something new or interesting in your church from which others might learn?
You have a standing invitation to send us articles, pictures or information to share.
See how to send us large videos under Resources (above).
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Solo Pastor: Installed
Ridgefield Crystal Lake
Solo Pastor: Installed
Westminster, Rockford
Solo Pastor; Installed
Waltham, Utica
Commissioned Ruling Elder
Fulton, Fulton
Solo Pastor; Installed
Westminster, Dekalb
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Solo Pastor: Installed
First, Fairbury
Commissioned Ruling Elder
First, Fairbury
Solo Pastor, Yoked Ministry
First, Mendota
Transitional/Interim Pastor
First, Rochelle
See the CLC for more info - anyone can do an opportunity search
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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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