November 12, 2024

You are Invited

We are continuing our 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, November 26 from 2-3:30 pm in Morrison at The Bread Lady.

All are welcome - hope to see you then!

Youth Retreat a Joyful Success!

Over 90 youth and adult leaders gathered at Stronghold on the first weekend in November for fun, service, faith- and friendship-building and so much more.

Thank you to all the leaders and youth who took time out of their busy schedules to connect with God and nature and each other.

The dates for the confirmation retreat are Feb. 7-9, 2025 and the Presbyterian Youth Triennium happens July 28-31, 2025 (see below). Start planning now!

Your or your church's financial support for youth programming in Blackhawk helps to defray expenses for these faith formation experiences. See the Donate button on our website. Thank you.

"As If We Were Dreaming..."

Presbyterian YouthTriennium is very excited to announce the theme for the 2025 Triennium is “As If We Were Dreaming…” (Psalm 126). Together, next summer — July 28 – 31 — thousands of Presbyterian young people will meet in Louisville, Kentucky, for four incredible days of worship, recreation, group study, and fellowship. Participants will be reminded that they are born to dream, will share in collective dreaming, learn about facing the nightmares, and be called to wake up and dream as they carry their experiences home with them.

The participant fee for next summer’s event is $199. This fee includes all programming, event meals, an official Triennium T-shirt, and more. Travel and housing are additional costs. (Housing will be booked by each delegation at Triennium-designated hotels via Louisville Housing when registration opens in early 2025. The average hotel cost is $169 per room/per night plus tax.)

Stay tuned! More information rolling out very soon - a Blackhawk Delegation IS forming! Contact the office to be sure you stay informed. See the FAQs for who can attend etc.

Thank You!

For all the Blackhawk Presbytery churches who so unselfishly gave to our migrant housing mission - we thank you. Since its inception, we have found help in unexpected places as word traveled and you are no exception. The relief, delight and gratefulness your welcome box (apartment kit) will bring to a family is hard to describe in mere words. You have provided a form of stablilty for a family who most likely wondered if and when they would ever feel a bit settled and safe.

Muchas Gracias,

Pam Merrill, Clerk of Session,

First Presbyterian Church of Elgin

Two More Opportunities for

Session Records Reviews

Clerks or Clerk-helpers: Please prepare your records and bring them to one of the remaining review sessions. Thanks!

Saturday, November 16 at 10 am Elwood Community Pres. (101 N. Chicago St., Elwood IL 60421) 

Saturday, November 30 at 10 am Rockford Westminster Pres. (2821 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford IL 61107)

Please contact the office to RSVP.

Advent Devotions -

Patterns of Divine Possiibility

The Presbyterian Outlook is once again offering accessible and stirring daily devotions for Advent by Outlook Editor Teri McDowell Ott.

These digital devotions can be emailed out to your congregation, printed as a complete booklet or added to the Sunday bulletin each week. READ MORE.

(Blue Christmas service and a Family Christmas Eve service are also available from Outlook.)

Hurricane Helene Response

An update from PDA:

"More than $150,000 in grants have been distributed to the affected presbyteries for immediate unmet needs as identified by the community--this can include but is not limited to potable water, hygiene items, medical care, shelter, fuel and more. We learn exactly how the funds are used when we receive the reports a few months after funds are disbursed." (READ MORE)

Congregations are still encouraged 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 various forms of relief for 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.

In Memorium

Larry Coldwater, husband of Rev. Julia Baum-Coldwater passed away on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. She resides in Elwood where she is an Honorably Retired member of Blackhawk. Please read the Obituary.

Elder Marian DeWall, member of Shannon Prairie Dell and faithful presbyter in Blackhawk passed away Sunday October 13, 2024 in Rockford. Please read the Obituary.

From Trunk & Treat events, to Fall Fests, to S'Mores night and a Veteran's Day Parade, thanks to so many folks for getting out into your communities to share good times. Clockwise from top left: Fairbury First, Oswego, Yorkville Au Sable Grove, Morris First, Bolingbrook First of DuPage, Woodstock First. (just a representative sample...)

Open Searches for Pastoral Leadership in Blackhawk

Also check our Employment Opportunities page

Solo Pastor: Installed

Westminster, Rockford

Solo Pastor: Installed

First, Dixon

Commissioned Ruling Elder

First Mendota

Solo Pastor: Installed (30 hours)

First Mendota

Solo Pastor: Installed

Second Cong./First Pres.

Rockford

Solo Pastor: Installed

First, Fairbury

Commissioned Ruling Elder

First Fairbury

See the CLC for more info - anyone can do an opportunity search

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.