|
It's hard to believe that we are already in the month of July and halfway through the school summer... it won't be long and I will be buying school supplies and getting the kids back into the routines of packing lunches and getting ready for the bus.
It has been a busy summer so far with more to do! I just had the wonderful pleasure of being the Camp Chaplain and Bear Creek Camp in Wyoming, IA. It was such a blast. Grace and Sophia were campers that week. As the chaplain, I had the opportunity to spend the week with the campers, lead staff devotions, give a small talk each night at worship, at go to at least two events with each group. Those events included Bible Studies, cookouts, tubing down the river, creek stomping, archery, rock wall climbing, and even zip lining! It was an amazing opportunity to see so many young people come together and worship Jesus! I have included a couple of photos.

I won't be having a Clerk's Convo in the month of July. Stay tuned for more information as we start to plan our biannual Session Record Reviews in the fall.
Rev. Elissa Bailey
Presbytery of Great Rivers Stated Clerk
Presbytery of East Iowa Stated Clerk

My work as the Stated Clerk is supported by per capita giving, which is our community plan to unite all Presbyterians in sharing God's love as a community of churches.
My regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am - 3 pm. If you have an emergency, please call or text me at 309-371-2511. Thank you.
| | |
Hello from your Finance Team
Per Capita
2025 Per Capita $38.29 per member; based on 12/31/23 final membership numbers reported
Thank you to all churches who have contributed towards Per Capita.
We’ve had 38 churches pay their 2025 per capita in full!
Thank you to Aledo Sunbeam, Alexis Norwood, Athens, Bartonville, Bushnell, Carlinville, Carrollton, Carthage, Chenoa, Clinton, Coal Valley, East Moline, Elmwood, Eureka, Greenview, Kirkwood, Knoxville, Lincoln, Mason City, Media, Milan, Morton, Mt Sterling, New Windsor, Normal First, Normal New Covenant, Oneida, Petersburg, Quincy, Reynolds, Rock Island, Springfield Korean, Stronghurst, Virginia Sangamon Valley, Warsaw, Washington, and Woodhull.
PGR Churches Mission Support
PGR churches and members have given an amazing $89,195 in mission giving in just the first
6 months of 2025!
General missions: GA $12,790, Synod $4,147, PGR $43,482, OGHS $26,382, Christmas Joy $12,082, Peacemaking $1,044, Pentecost $2411, Missionary Pass Thru $1500, Disaster Relief $10,033 ($8,199 designated to wildfire assistance & $313 given during the February 11 assembly).
Memorials for H Herbert Edwards (a member of Macomb First) directed to Peacemaking for PGR $895.

Presbyterian Youth Triennium donations, $206 from the April Presbytery Assembly. We have 2 churches – 4 leaders & 6 youth attending the event at the end of July.
Review of the books
It is recommended that the annual “review of the books” be done internally by the church for two years, and in the third year, the church should have an outside party (preferably a CPA) do the review. Note: This is not an audit. Such reviews are important to protect the church, as well as those who handle the money and set policies.
A document for the review can be found here.
If you do not have enough people in your congregation to do the internal reviews, consider partnering with another congregation to share resources.
The presbytery has a recording of Amy Gardner's treasurer's training seminar titled Annual Financial Review. Contact Sabrina to watch the training.
We’re also working to update our contact information. PLEASE make sure we have a way to contact your church when questions arise. 2025 Financial Contact Person form
We appreciate all who have already responded by completing their forms!
Please be sure to always submit a fully completed remittance form with any check you send to the presbytery.
This ensures that we apply your payment as you intend. If sending from your bank online, you can email your remittance form to smcgrath@greatriverspby.org.
Please always feel free to reach out to either of us with any questions or concerns.
Thanks,
Bill Strawbridge – Treasurer Sabrina McGrath – Bookkeeper
bnc.sbridge@gmail.com smcgrath@greatriverspby.org
| | |
The Governance Task Force presented the proposed presbytery restructuring at the April 29 assembly. Over the next several weeks, the task force will address the questions, concerns, and requests for additional information that were raised during our table conversations.
Watch this space and the Presbytery website and Facebook page for their written and recorded messages.
- Read the article below from Rev. Ed Wegele, a member of the Governance Task Force.
-
Refer to this article from Rev. Kathy Mitchell, on the "why" of the proposed restructuring.
-
Watch this video from the Rev. Dr. Frosty Krummel on the challenges of change.
Rev. Ed Wegele, a member of the Governance Task Force, encourages you to share the details of the restructuring proposal with your congregation and discuss it:
As we take the summer to look over the proposal to change our governance as a presbytery, it is important to share this with our congregations. These next two months are important in having conversations and getting participation from as many of our congregations as possible. The task force has been intentional in getting as many voices at that table to help us move into this new season. This is our presbytery and we care about our now and our future. It will take all of us to help make the changes needed to help each of us walk together. This new structure is intended to help us serve one another better and be a stronger connectional bonds between each other as we improve our communication with each other in caring for one another.
Please take the time to look over the proposal and see if you and your congregation can identify these elements in the proposal. If there is something missing, or something that can be improved upon within the structure, or if you like what you see, please let the task force know as we prepare for the vote at our August meeting. This is the strength of being Presbyterian: we are connected together, we care for one another, and we walk with each other to help strengthen and support each other. The better we do this, not only does each of our congregations thrive, our presbytery thrives as well.
Often presbyteries spend too much time on what is wrong and not going well. We can get locked in on declining numbers in the churches and how much money we have left before we have to shut down. With this change in structure, there is also a huge opportunity to change our mindset. The opportunities to share with each other in Affinity groups and Regional Cohorts gives us the ability to share our churches successes and inviting others into collaborative ministry partnerships to strengthen and empower each other. The Commission on Pastoral Leadership and Commission on Congregational Life gives the focus needed to walk with pastors and congregations as we grow with each other and gives more time to celebrate this growth. We can shift from what made us great in the past to looking forward to the opportunities that are in front of us now.
Our presbytery has a lot of gifts and talents among our diverse body of witnesses, and this is the time for us to work together on serving our diverse communities. The 83 church communities that we represent can and will thrive, and it is actively happening right now. So, let us continue this work as we strengthen our bonds together and work on our structure to guide us into our future. Thank you!
In-person gatherings are scheduled for;
-
Tuesday, July 15, 10:00 am, Peoria, Westminster, 1420 W. Moss Ave, Peoria, IL 61606
-
Thursday, July 17, 2:00 pm, Aledo, College Avenue PC, 501 S College Ave, Aledo, IL 61231
-
Sunday, July 27, 2025, 2:00 pm, Springfield, Third Presbyterian, 1030 N 7th St, Springfield, IL 62702
-
Wednesday, July 30, 10:00 am, Monmouth, Faith United, 200 S 8th St Monmouth, IL, 61462
To read the proposal and see the organizational chart, click here. Send any questions about the restructuring to: pgrgovernancetaskforce@greatriverspby.org
| | |
Timeline
April 29, 2025: Presentation of proposed restructuring to the Assembly for first reading
May-June 2025: Governance Task Force hosts Zoom conversations, regional gatherings about plan
July 2025: Governance Task Force reviews suggestions, addresses concerns, revises plan
August 19, 2025: Second reading. Assembly votes on proposal
Sept-Oct, 2025: Nominating Committee seeks individuals to serve in the new structure
November 1, 2025: Assembly votes on slate of nominees
January 1, 2026: Presbytery begins living into the new structure
| | | |  | |
All pastors are invited to join the monthly
Zoom check-in for conversation, fellowship,
and support. The next gathering will be on
Thursday, July 31, at 12:00 noon.
Join here.
| | Church History Trip to Scotland: June 22-30, 2026 | | |
Scotus Tours is hosting an open trip to Scotland on June 22-30, 2026. The trip is lead by a Scottish Presbyterian pastor, and will include time in Edinburgh, Iona Abbey, and St. Andrews. The trip price is $4495 and includes tour, tips, lodging, and meals, but does not include airfare or travel insurance. The tour will be with other Presbyterians and new friends. This trip is ideal for smaller churches who have a few interested members, but are not large enough to plan a trip on their own.
Are you interested in the trip? Check out this informational brochure for more information, and contact Rev. Katie Styrt (katiestyrt@gmail.com) to sign up. Feel free to invite your friends or family! Early bird registrations are due August 10th and get a $100 discount.
| | |
The General Assembly planning team has announced the theme of next summer’s 227th General Assembly, which will take place online and at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from June 22 through July 2, 2026. The theme is “Persevering Toward Wholeness.” The guiding Scripture for the gathering will be Revelation 22:2, "and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
Applications to serve as a commissioner and Young Adult Advisory Delegate for the 227th General Assembly (in 2026) are now being accepted. All committee work will be online, with time allotted for travel to Milwaukee and the in-person plenaries, with work ending July 2, 2026.
Commissioners must be a minister member or ruling elder from the Presbytery of Great Rivers. Young adults must be between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-three (23) on the date the General Assembly to apply as a Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD). A YAAD applicant must be an active member of a congregation or participant of a New Worshiping Community or immigrant fellowship that has a relationship with the presbytery.
All applications will be reviewed by the Presbytery of Great Rivers Nominating Committee with nominees selected for election at the November 1, 2025, Presbytery Assembly meeting.
Young Adult Advisory Delegate applicants, please click HERE.
Application to serve as a Commissioner, click HERE.
| | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Co-Moderator Honored with Women of Impact Award | | |
The Rev. Cecelia "CeCe" Armstrong, co-moderator of the 226th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), was among the top honorees at the recent Women of Impact Gala in Charlotte, North Carolina. Read more HERE.
The Presbytery of Great Rivers will welcome CeCe in August, as she attends and preaches at our August 19 Assembly.
| | |
The Presbyterian Foundation hosted a Day of Learning. They are providing resources from the event to you,
as well as a recording of the event. Find them here.
You are welcome to use these resources in your own churches and ministries. You can also reach out to one of their regional Ministry Relations Officers for advice and assistance. They are happy to help you at no charge as
a service to your church.
| | Rock Creek Spiritual Center | | |
If you are seeking a peaceful place for a
few days of study and prayer, a session
retreat, or a youth group lock-in, consider
the Rock Creek Spiritual Center, a ministry
of the Rock Creek Presbyterian Church in Tallula. The space sleeps up to 20 people
and includes restroom facilities (with showers), a well-equipped kitchen, several meeting rooms, and a huge yard.
| | |
  The registration fee is $40. The overnight fee (per person) is $7.50. For more information or to make a reservation, call the Rock Creek Spiritual Center, 217-632-7249, 217-341-3622, or 217-971-1732. | | | |
We give thanks to God for these congregations and their faithful ministry and witness:
| | National Workshop on Christian Unity | | |
The National Workshop on Christian Unity has advanced unity and reconciliation among various Christian communities for more than 50 years. Their 2025 annual workshop will be held at the Lutheran Center in
Chicago, September 8-11.
The program will be the second of our series on networking and practical ecumenism with an intentional emphasis on dialogue. The theme for this years’ workshop is “Do you believe this?” based on John 11:26. Workshop Registration: Registration is NOW OPEN!
Hotel reservations can be made here: The group rate is valid only through Sunday, 17 August 2025.
More Information, Events and Schedule can be here: nwcu2025.org.
| | |
Rather than workshops, participants are invited to dig deeply in one pathway in order to embody transformation as they explore their ideas and experiment in a learning community. This year we are offering two tiers of registration in order to support those who do not have continuing education funds or access to scholarships through denominational resources, etc.
Link to the main webpage for the National Gathering:
https://nextchurch.net/national-gathering/2025-grand-rapids-mi/
FREE Learning Opportunities
Roundtable Conversations are one hour long. There is no charge, but registration is required. Because these conversations are designed for active participation, Roundtables are not recorded. You can find all of our Roundtable Conversations here: https://nextchurch.net/roundtable-conversations/
NEXT Church was started by the innovation and creativity of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pastors. We continue to engage faithful leaders across the Church to embody who we are and who we are called to be.
| | |
We have a wealth of downloadable resources to help you easily share resources with your congregation and craft study programs at an affordable price, perfect for churches of all sizes. The best part about these resources is that you only need to purchase once, and you can share within your congregation as many times as needed!
You'll find printable certificates (Baptism, Confirmation, Membership, Marriage, Recognition, Deacon, Elder) and studies and essays (for Parenting, Christian Living, Youth Studies, Bible Study, Beliefs, Study Packs) for leaders, adults, youth, and parents to use in either group or individual settings.
| |
Stronghold needs help with Arts & Crafts this summer.
If you are able to go to camp for a day to lead a craft,
contact Ryan Anderson. He can be reached by calling
the camp at 815-732-6111.
| | Sabrina has a few items from storage if anyone would like them. They can be picked up at the Assembly in August. smcgrath@greatriverspby.org | | |
  |
22 tabletop sign holders
25 plastic bowls
22 offering-style baskets
|   | | | |
The Midwest Call Finder site is live! Thanks to the Synod of Lincoln Trails, all congregations in the presbytery have this new tool at their disposal when they are seeking pastors, musicians, youth directors, Christian educators, administrative assistants, custodians, and other church staff. Likewise, pastors and other church professionals can access this website to learn about available positions in our region. There is no fee to use Midwest Call Finder. Your per capita dollars have made this possible.
Check out the website here: https://midwestcallfinder.org
To submit an opening, use this link: https://midwestcallfinder.org/submit-a-position
| | Open Searches for Pastoral Leadership in Great Rivers | | Presbytery of Great Rivers Staff | | |
Communications and Administrative Assistant
Brandy Walters | 309-683-6980 | Email : office@greatriverspby.org
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:00am - 2:00pm. Please leave her a message, and she will return your call.
Bookkeeper
Sabrina McGrath | 309-683-6981 | Email: smcgrath@greatriverspby.org
Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00am - 3:00pm
Lead Presbyter
Ann Schwartz | 309-683-6983 | Email: aschwartz@greatriverspby.org
Office hours: Sunday through Thursday, 8:30am - 4:30pm; some evenings. Friday is her sabbath.
Stated Clerk
Elissa Bailey | 309-371-2511 | Email: pastorebailey@gmail.com
Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:30am - 3:00pm. If you have an emergency, please call or text me
at 309-371-2511.
CRE Coordinator
Cheyanna Losey | 309-299-4790 | Email: cheyannalosey@gmail.com
| | |
Get Connected!
Be sure to encourage your congregations, sessions, and even your church newsletter editorial staff and volunteers to sign up for our presbytery newsletter and follow our Facebook page so you don't miss out on
what is going on in our community of churches!
Be sure to Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to PGR’s YouTube channel here to get notifications of our new videos. Share your congregation’s videos with us so we can let others know about your mission and ministry. If you have questions, need help, or want to share a video, contact Cheyanna Losey, cheyannalosey@gmail.com or 309- 299-4790.
| | https://www.greatriverspby.org/ |   | |   | | | |
