December 15, 2023

Blessings to you all during this wonder-filled season of Advent. The days seem to grow shorter, in light and in time available for the busyness before us. My prayer is that each of you find hope, peace, joy, and love in new and refreshing ways this Christmas.

Hard as it is, please take time for yourselves. Slow down to be still. Watch your favorite Christmas movie. Cliched as it sounds, Jesus is the reason for the season and for all we do. A wise seminary professor once told me the best thing we can do for Christmas is to tell God’s story and get out the way. Christmas will come even if the decorations are not perfect, the choir is off key, or our sermons are just OK. 

Merry Christmas to you all. 

Rev. Eric Heinekamp, Transformational General Presbyter and Stated Clerk



Israel-Palestine Resources

The Blackhawk Mission Committee would like to draw your attention to the collection of resources now available on the PMA website to help Presbyterians "prayerfully contextualize, reflect and further their understanding of the Israel-Palestine conflict". Visit: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/israel-palestine/

By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, you honor God's gift of Jesus Christ by providing assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of need and developing our future leaders at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.

THE PRESBYTERIAN PROMISE

An $80,000 Scholarship Over 4 Years For All Students Who Are Presbyterian

The Presbyterian Promise Scholarship is a commitment by Presbyterian College, (Clinton, SC) to recognize students for their merit and affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. PC seeks to develop students academically and spiritually in this signature scholarship. Students who are of members of Presbyterian churches will receive a scholarship for a minimum of $20,000 per year for up to four years—that’s an $80,000 commitment to you. For more information and to apply visit our site: www.presby.edu/presbyterian-promise 

Be inspired, hear the stories of others, and practice the tools of faith and leadership through conversations that nourish, enrich, and aid in the formation of leaders in the church.

Nourish: Short episodes for ruling elders and deacons.

Encounter: Longer episodes for church and mid council leaders.

Check it out and add to your podcast list!

In Memorium

We remember the family of Rev. Dr. James (Jamie) Swanson who passed away recently at his home in Wisconsin. He was formerly the pastor of Streator Park Pres. from 1994-2007. Please see more information.

Funding for Church Energy Efficiency or Renewable Energy—

A message from the Presbyterian Hunger Program

For congregations, there are many great webinars and websites out there about how to fund and pursue energy efficiency and renewable energy with financial resources, tax incentives, and pathways provided by this year’s legislation passed through the U.S. Congress. In addition to the curated list below, you can find other great webinars from Interfaith Power and Light as well as Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC).

• Holy Heat Pumps! explains how heat pumps work and how to lower the costs for installation at your churches with the new government funds available to congregations for the first time.
• The Tools & Resources to Green Congregations webinar covers the ways houses of worship and religious institutions can update their facilities to become more energy efficient and save on their energy bills. It also offers important information regarding first-time federal funding available to nonprofits to support investment in energy efficiency and renewables.
• In the Summer Solstice Webinar on Solar Financing, learn about the different ways congregations can finance solar from Jerry Bernstein, author of IPL’s Solar Financing for Congregations. Then take a deeper look at power purchase agreements, one of the options allowing a congregation to install solar with no up-front costs.
• Presbyterians for Earth Care offers a webinar on Federal Funding Resources for Houses of Worship with Tiffany Hartung.
• PEC has tips to save money on church energy bills.
• A follow-up webpage from Interfaith Power and Light has a lot of content; the spreadsheet might be particularly helpful to you, as it has things broken down by types of work.
• This website deals with what is covered by “direct pay.”
• This FAQ may also be useful.

In addition to these webinars and web sites about public funding and tips for saving energy and money, a reminder about the Restoring Creation Loan from the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program. Many congregations have made use of this great resource as a way to get started. 

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.