|
Greetings! The fall has officially started. School in our district has begun, and my children have started back to school. It is hard to believe that Grace has just started 8th grade, Sophia has started 7th grade, and Mitchell is now in 3rd grade! This is an off year for Session Record Reviews, but I will be looking to schedule Session Record Reviews in the spring. They will be taking place then because my oldest won't be doing soccer in the Spring and therefore, I will have that availability. This is a great time to start looking at your minutes to see if there is anything that you need to work on updating.
I will be out of the office:
- September 16-19 for the Property Innovation Summit in Minneapolis, followed by the East Iowa Assembly.
- September 30-October 6 for vacation as I am taking my children to Savannah, GA! We have never been!
- October 11-14 for the Association of Mid-Council Level meeting in Louisville (formerly known as PolyCon).
As always, if you need anything, please let me know!
Elissa
Rev. Elissa Bailey, LPC
Presbytery of Great Rivers Stated Clerk
Presbytery of East Iowa Stated Clerk
| | Ability? Inability? Availability!
| | |
Just last weekend, America celebrated Labor Day. This got me thinking about all the different jobs people have and about all the jobsāvolunteer and paidāwhich Iāve had. I want to share just one incident from a job early in my work life that has influenced every other thing Iāve done since.
I was offered an assistantās position with the Illinois Conference of Churches in their Hunger and Peace Advocacy program. I hesitated because I knew NOTHING about hunger and peace issues, working with legislators, organizing faith-based advocacy, or even the Conference of Churches. I did know the awesome woman who was vacating that job. But I was a newly single mom and desperate, so I said, āYes.ā On Day 1, with feelings of apprehension and inadequacy, I stepped into an immaculate office, sat down at the empty desk, and saw the bulletin board hanging over itāclean but for the hand-written 3Ć5 card saying:āGod does not ask about our ability or our inability, just our availability.ā
Thatās when I began to really understand the power of the New Testament promise that God equips those whom God calls to certain tasks. As I worked there, I discovered that every opportunity to serve is an opportunity to learn and grow, to stretch and mature in faith. We are not born knowing how to do what will fit our place in Godās plan. As the old bumper sticker proclaims, we are āChristians Under Construction.ā Each opportunity to serve is a chance for āon-the-job-training.ā The skills we develop are cumulativeāso we are equipped to carry out whatever God eventually needs us to do to fulfill our part in Godās Divine Plan. We need to trust God knows what we will need and follow Godās lead to get there.
If you are open to new possibilities, with Godās help you can do amazing things! When youāre asked to do something you think you arenāt prepared to do, I urge you to say, āYesā anyway. It isnāt about ability or inability; itās about availability. God will equip you, and you will be blessed in the doing.
In Christ,
Sue
RE Sue Sawers | Commission on Pastoral Leadership
| | |
Per Capita
ļ»æ2027 Per Capita: $42 per member
GA: $13.04 Synod: $3.81 PGR: $25.15 based on 12/31/2025 final reported membership numbers
| | | Changes to Compensation |
| | Minimum Salary (+4.25% increase from 2026) | 2027 | | Level 1 - less than 4 years experience | $54, 029 | | Level 2 - 4 or more years experience | $58,173 | | Full-time CRE minimum | $43,221 | | | |
Hope In Action
ļ»æ
Begun in 2011, Hope in Action (HIA) has been a concentrated period of time when we try to live out the charge to āGo Be the Churchā that we hear every Sunday morning at the conclusion of our worship. Our goal is to have a variety of activities, so all of our members have an opportunity to take art. Participation can be through donations, work that raises a sweat, or more āsedateā activities.
Over the 15 years we have:
- Constructed handicapped ramps and ādestructedā the interior of a building;
- Made meals for shelters, foster families, community service centers, etc.;
- Made toys, beds, and surgical drapes for the animal shelter and clinic;
- Made fidget mats for people with dementia and journals for a summer camp;
- Organized prom and homecoming dresses;
- Painted, landscaped, cleaned, sorted, and āadopted-a-roomā for many agencies;
- Shelved and repaired books at a school library serving primarily low-income pupils;
- Put together 1,000s of āRice Meal Kitsā for distribution worldwide;
- Collected numerous items including pillows, diapers, household items, pet food, cleaning supplies, and many other items for local agencies.
RE Gary Terpstra | PGR Moderator-elect | Member at Hope Presbyterian Church in Springfield
ļ»æ
| | HIA made 174 peanut butter & jam sandwiches for Helping Hands. | Assembling 1,000 rice meal kits that feed 6,000 people. | | Landscaping project at The Outlet Mentoring Center | |
Handmade āfidget matsā given to the
ļ»æ Alzheimerās Caregivers Support Group
| | Tax-Exempt Status Letters | |
Need proof of a congregation's federal tax-exempt status for a grant application, bank account, or other business purpose?
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has launched a new online tool that allows churches and mid councils to quickly generate
ļ»æa customized group inclusion letter. All you'll need is a congregation's PIN or EIN, and the letter can be created in just a few minutes. Learn more about the PC(USA) Federal Group Exemption here.
| | |
Sunday, October 18 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM
St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie, MN & Online
What to Expect:
- Interfaith storytellers and musicians from Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions
- Stories of resilience and hope curated by Moth GrandSLAM Champion, Andrea Roske-Metcalfe
- Music for reflection and renewal led by talented local artists
- Liturgy for healing crafted and led by New York Times Bestselling Author and founder of Black Liturgies, Cole Arthur Riley.
Cost: $20 - Online; $35 - In-Person; $25 - In-Person (Group of 5 or more)
| |
New for Advent 2026
ļ»æ
The Advent 2026 digital resource guide from PC(USA) Store is now available! This guide allows you to compare Advent books and resources for devotion, group study, preaching, and worship.
| David LaMotte is Coming to Davenport | |
David LaMotte is a highly praised songwriter, speaker and author who has performed in all 50 states and on 5 continents. He has written 4 books, including the children's book, S.S. Bathtub, and his most recent book for adults, You Are Changing the World (Whether You Like It or Not). David is not unknown among Presbyterians, having presented at the PC(USA) Mission to the UN and presented numerous times at Montreat Conference Center.
On November 7, FPC Davenport will be hosting Mr. LaMotte for two events in the church sanctuary, at 1702 Iowa Street, Davenport, IA 52803:
-
10:00 AM, children are invited to a special reading of David's book, S.S. Bathtub, followed by a brief acoustic concert for children and families.
-
6:30 PM, join David for an encouraging and practical look at how large-scale change happens, how it doesnāt and how to understand our own roles within that effort for positive change. The presentation will be based on Davidās recent book, You Are Changing the World (Whether You Like It or Not).
-
7:45 PM, hang around after Davidās talk to enjoy an amazing concert including Davidās original music.
These events are open to all; there is no admission fee and no registration is required.
Church website: www.fpcdavenport.org
Email: office@fpcdavenport.org
| | |
Save the date!
Registration will open in September for the April 9-10, 2027 Preachers' Retreat at Stronghold. Dr. Tim Slemmons, preaching professor at Dubuque Seminary, will lead interactive workshops with a focus on rich preaching texts outside of the standard lectionary, with space for fellowship and prayer.
-
Cost: $100 for MWS's; $75 for CRE/CLPs; Subsidized by the Presbytery of Great Rivers, the Presbytery of East Iowa, and Illinois Prairie Presbytery.
- Retreat is capped at 30 people. We will keep registration to only members of our three presbyteries until January 1; after that, anyone can register.
- There are only 16 rooms available at Heritage, so people who prefer private bathrooms should register early.
| |
Develop real skills for leading across differences in the congregations and communities you serve.
The congregations we serve are more diverse than ever: racially, culturally, generationally, theologically, economically. Most of us were formed by traditions that prepared us to lead in a world that no longer exists. We donāt lack good intentions. But good intentions are not enough when the dynamics of power, conflict, and difference are still shaping our preaching, pastoral care, and congregational culture below the surface.
š Wednesdays: Sept 30, Oct 21, Nov 11, Dec 2, Jan 6, and Jan 27
ā° 2:30-4:00pm ET // 11:30am-1:00pm PT
š Zoom
| Boundary Training Opportunities | |
Sponsored by the Presbytery of Wabash Valley:
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 9 am-2 pm (CT)
Sponsored by the Presbytery of Ohio Valley:
Monday, October 26, 2026, 9 am - 2 pm (CT)
- In-person @ First Presbyterian Church, 221 E Sixth Street, Bloomington, Indiana
- Register here
| | |
The Presbytery of Great Rivers requires all ministers, candidates, inquirers, honorably retired ministers,
employees, and educators who are in any form of active service to participate annually in boundary training.
These workshops satisfy the denominational boundary training requirements in G-3.0106.
Submit certificates of completion for your boundary training to Stated Clerk Elissa Bailey.
| | Celebrating September Ordination Anniversaries | | |
September 12, 1999 ā The Rev. Ann M. Schwartz, Retired
September 12, 1999 ā The Rev. Keith W. Meranda, Retired
September 15, 2013 ā The Rev. Sarah Bishop, Westminster PC, Springfield
September 16, 2018 ā The Rev. Paul Stroup, Clinton
September 18, 1984 ā The Rev. Lonna Chang-Ren Lee, Chatham
September 22, 1991 ā The Rev. Kenneth C. Shedenhelm, Retired
September 23, 1979 ā The Rev. Paul S. Spalding, Retired
September 24, 1995 ā The Rev. Linda Baldwin, Retired
September 24, 1995 ā The Rev. Maura McGrath Nagle, Member at Large
September 28, 2014 ā The Rev. Katherine Jasa Styrt, Milan
September 29, 2013 ā The Rev. Christian Choi, Member at Large
September 29, 2024 ā The Rev. Brenda Horth, College Avenue PC, Aledo
September 29, 2024 ā The Rev. Peter Horth, College Avenue PC, Aledo; Hamlet Perryton PC, Reynolds
September 30, 1990 ā The Rev. Charles Cunningham, Retired
September 30, 2007 ā The Rev. William Starr McLean, LeRoy
| | Deep Roots, New Growth: A Workshop on Cultivating Thriving Churches | | |
Register soon for this October 17 event sponsored by the Presbytery of Great Rivers and the Presbytery of East Iowa. First Presbyterian Church of Milan (1620 1st St W, Milan, IL 61264) will host Deep Roots, New Growth: A Workshop on Cultivating Thriving Churches.
The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Josh Erickson, leader and co-founder of the PCUSA Church Growth Network, which seeks to foster growth in size, vitality, and mission impact for local congregations and new faith communities so that more people experience the life-changing love of Christ. Click here to register and for more information. Registration deadline is October 10.
| | |
September 14 | 1 pm | Leadership Council meeting | Zoom
September 15 | 10 am | Commission on Congregational Life meeting
September 17 | 9 am | Boundary Training | Bethany PC, Lafayette, IN
September 21 | 1:30 pm | CARE meeting via Zoom
September 23 | 1 pm | Ministry Coordination Group meeting
September 26 | 9 am | Online Boundary Training | Sponsored by Presbytery of Wabash Valley
October 17 | 10 am | Deep Roots, New Growth: A Workshop on Cultivating Thriving Churches | Milan First
| | | | |
