Genesis 18 includes the tale of elderly Abraham being surprised by
the appearance of three strangers as he rested in the shade. The old
man ran to greet them, bowed in a gesture of humility—which is no easy
feat when you’re 99, washed their feet, and then directed his equally aged
wife Sarah to prepare a feast for their unexpected visitors. The couple did
not know that the strangers were God in human form and a couple of angelic attendants, but they responded as though the three were sacred guests
worthy of their undivided attention, company manners, and the finest meal
they could provide.
The story captures the essence of biblical hospitality, which says that we are to receive people as they are and love them by treating them with respect, grace, and generosity. The same benevolent reception that Sarah and Abraham extended to the three strangers is advocated throughout the Hebrew Bible, and it is always rooted in how God treated the Israelites. “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19.33-34).
Hospitality was foundational to Jesus’s ministry. He ate with sinners. He touched people who were afflicted with all manner of disease. He befriended and traveled with women. He welcomed children. He crossed boundaries of ethnicity and nationality to share God’s love. He took every opportunity to connect with strangers—cleaned and perfumed, dirty and sweaty, insiders and outsiders.
And though it took them awhile, his followers learned the lesson and taught it to others. Peter told the early church: “God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10.34-35). Paul told the Romans: “Extend hospitality to strangers” (Romans 12.13b). The writer of Hebrews: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13.2).
In the PC(USA), July 6 is Immigration Sunday. It is reminder to the church that our belief in the inherent dignity of all people is foundational, and that we are called to welcome the stranger among us. At a time when immigrant communities live in fear—with good reason, may we be good neighbors to them, treating them with the same compassion and grace we have received from our loving God.
To learn more about the work and ministry of PC(USA) offices, advocates, and partners in regard to immigration, click here: https://pcusa.org/how-we-serve/global-engagement/immigration
Grace and Peace,
Ann
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I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather! As I write this, I am sitting in my back yard, listening to the wind glide easily through the big maple tree and the pool pump working hard to keep those leaves out of the pool. Today, our backyard above ground pool has reached 84 degrees. That is the required temperature for me to finally get in! We have already been to the public pool today so I am waiting until later to see if it will maintain that temp. We are supposed to get storms tomorrow which will lower the temp a few degrees. My children have been playing in the pool for a couple of weeks. Even on days when the pool temp was 72 degrees and so was the air temp. That is a big "NOPE" for me! But I will have to get in soon. The end of June is almost here already!
I will be at Camp Bear Creek June 22nd through 27th. I will be serving as the Camp Chaplain. I have done this one time before and it was such a blast! I can't wait to do it again. I will be completely reachable if you need anything, just know that if you don't hear back from me right away, I may be tubing down a river with some junior high kids or entering a cave with some high school students and about 1,000 spiders waiting for me at the entrance (I can't tell you the phobia I had to overcome last time!).
There will not be a clerk's convo in July. There are a lot of vacations happening and we will be gearing up for our bi-annual session record review in the fall. If you have not had the chance to start getting you session minutes in order, now is a great time to do so! More information will be coming out next month about dates and places. If your church would like to host one of our session minute reviews, please email me at pastorebailey@gmail.com or statedclerk@peia.org.
In July, I will be headed to Synod School. I hope to see many of you there, as I often do. I am really looking forward to teaching a class this year on "Not your Granny's Granny Square". I will be out of town from July 19th through July 25th. Again, I will be reachable.
I pray you are all having an amazing summer! As always, reach out if you have any questions!
Elissa Bailey
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The Presbyterian Foundation will host a Property Roundtable on the practical and financial implications for congregations that own cemeteries. If you would like to participate in the conversation on Tuesday, July 15, at 1:00-2:15 pm Central Time, please contact Lead Presbyter Ann Schwartz for the Zoom link.
Updates to the Churchwide Special Offerings
This is a reminder of the decision of the 226th General Assembly (2024) to update the menu of Churchwide Special Offerings beginning in 2026.
A Snapshot of Changes Coming in 2026
- The number of Offerings will move from 4 to 3.
- All three Offerings will support causes that inform the ministry enlivened by General Assembly decisions and policies.
- Gifts will continue to support causes such as hunger, ministries with youth, assistance for church workers, and disaster relief among others.
Read More About the Special Offerings Changes Here
Stewardship Ministry Newsletter
The Presbyterian Foundation publishes a FREE Newsletter for pastors, session members, stewardship teams, and church finance leaders.
Each monthly edition features:
- A lectionary preview to inspire your planning
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Practical stewardship tips you can use right away
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Guidance from Ministry Relations Officers who understand the unique challenges facing PC(USA) churches
This free newsletter is written with pastors, session members, stewardship teams, and church finance leaders in mind.
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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. Kathy Mitchell, a member of the Governance Task Force.
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Watch this video from the Rev. Dr. Frosty Krummel on the challenges of change.
In-person gatherings are scheduled for;
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Tuesday, July 15, 10:00 am, Peoria, Westminster, 1420 W. Moss Ave, Peoria, IL 61606
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Thursday, July 17, 2:00 pm, Aledo, College Avenue PC, 501 S College Ave, Aledo, IL 61231
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Sunday, July 27, 2025, 2:00 pm, Springfield, Third Presbyterian, 1030 N 7th St, Springfield, IL 62702
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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
The Rev. Kathy Mitchell reflects on the “why” of the proposed restructuring:
G-3.0101 in the Book of Order states, “The mutual interconnection of the church through its councils is a sign of the unity of the church. Congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), while possessing all the gifts necessary to be the church, are nonetheless not sufficient in themselves to be the church. Rather, they are called to share with others both within and beyond the congregation, the task of bearing witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the world. This call to bear witness is the work of all believers. The particular responsibility of the councils of the church is to nurture, guide, and govern those who witness as part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to the end that such witness strengthens the whole church and gives glory to God.”
Notice that as the responsibilities of the councils of the church are listed, “nurture” comes before “guidance and governing”. The Governance Task Force agreed that as we look at changing our way of being, nurturing our congregations had to be the catalyst for everything we do. As we listened to feedback from our congregations, it became apparent that what was lacking was a strong sense of community. And so, community and relationship became the guiding principles behind the changes we considered and led to the proposal we now set before the members of the Presbytery of Great Rivers.
Each proposed change to the structure was carefully and thoughtfully designed to strengthen the sense of community between the Presbytery and congregations, as well as between the members of congregations. We recognize that in order to stay true to the idea of strengthening community, it is essential for all members to have input into the proposed structure.
Please prayerfully consider attending one of the feedback sessions that will be held during the next few weeks throughout the Presbytery. The Governance Task Force truly wants this to be a community covenant. In order for that to happen, we need participation from as many as possible.
If you are unable to attend in person, you can submit your feedback by email to pgrgovernancetaskforce@greatriverspby.org
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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
| | Planning Calendar, Book of Order, Book of Confessions | |
Planning Calendar: NEW 2025 - 2026
- Cost: $17.95
- Publish Date: 7/31/2025
- Format: Paperback
The 2025–2026 Presbyterian Planning Calendar is your indispensable companion for purposeful planning from September 2025 to December 2026. Designed for clarity and ease, each month is presented on high-quality text paper that’s perfect for jotting down notes and plans in pencil.
New Orientation: The calendar grid is now vertical instead of horizontal and will span across two pages for double the writing space for personal dates and notes.
Whether you're a pastor, church leader, or devoted planner, the Presbyterian Planning Calendar is your essential tool for staying organized, informed, and inspired throughout the year. Don’t wait. Order yours today!
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Book of Order NEW 2025 - 2026
Book of Order Korean Version
Book of Order Spanish Version
- Cost: $10
- Publish Date: 6/13/2025
- Format: Paperback
This book is Part II of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This volume contains the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and the Church Discipline. Additional information is provided to the reader through the inclusion of Received Ecumenical Statements of Guidance and Articles of Agreement.
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Book of Confessions
- Cost: $10
- Publish Date: 9/01/2016
- Format: Paperback
The first part of the church's Constitution is contained in the Book of Confessions. Includes the text of twelve confessional documents, including the Confession of Belhar, which are significant and instructive to both the individual and corporate life and faith of Presbyterians.
| | July Ordination Anniversaries | |
July 9, 1989 – The Rev. Rebecca Sherwood, Retired
July 11, 2015 – The Rev. Kathryn Ann (Kay) Daniel, Retired
July 13, 1997 – The Rev. Pam Laing, Retired
July 19, 1959 – The Rev. William G. Schlobohm, Retired
July 20, 2013 – The Rev. Dr. Adam Quine, First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln
July 22, 1984 – The Rev. Harold W. Losey, Retired
July 24, 2005 – The Rev. John Napoli, Washington Presbyterian Church
July 25, 2009 – The Rev. Elissa Bailey, Presbytery of Great Rivers
July 27, 2010 – The Rev. Jaechul Kim, Korean United Presbyterian Church, Springfield
July 28, 1985 – The Rev. Martha Anne Jones, Retired
July 29, 1956 – The Rev. William R. Beattie, Retired
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We give thanks to God for these congregations and their faithful ministry and witness:
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Rev. Richard Johnson's wife, Vicki Lynn (Haswell) Johnson, of Biggsville, IL, passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family.
Read the full obituary here.
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Bridging Generations: Navigating Difficult Situations and Embracing New Opportunities is the theme for this year’s POAMN Conference. This event led by the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network will be held September 16 – 19, 2025 at the Fraizer Community in Boulder Colorado. Join ministry leaders, chaplains, and lay leaders for fresh perspectives on older adult ministry. Come ready to be inspired with new ideas to implement. Leave with tools to deepen your spiritual connection to serving older adults in your faith community.
Learn more and register here.
Limited scholarship funds are available to assist participants with conference expenses. Apply for a scholarship by July 16. Find scholarship application
| College and Young Adult Sunday | Planning ahead for August? College and Young Adult Sunday is August 3rd on the PC(USA) Planning Calendar. Find worship liturgy, commissioning, and programming ideas. You can also find ways to connect college students to UKirk Collegiate ministries across the country. |
The 2025/2026 CUIC Institute on Ecumenism Applications Now Open
The deadline is approaching fast, June 30, 2025, for any young adult (40 and younger) to apply for the
CUIC Institute on Ecumenism cohort for 2025 – 2026! This cohort will educate and nurture anyone interested
in ecumenical work by conversation, lectures by heads of various CUIC communions, and a gathering in Washington, DC. There will be monthly gatherings on Zoom from September 2025 through June 2026. CUIC
will cover all costs. Contact The Rev. Erin Betz Shank or The Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst to apply.
| | “The Light of Life: The Gospel and the Witness of the Church” | |
On October 7 – 9, 2025, leaders from CCT’s 36 communions and organizations will meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to share faith stories, pray in the traditions of CCT’ five families, and reflect on the gospel and the church’s witness. The gathering will explore the ecumenical confession of Jesus as “Light” and a renewed commitment to being a light in the world as we mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. Additionally, the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism will offer an opportunity to acknowledge historical wounds of dissent and injustice, while reaffirming a shared call to repentance, reconciliation, and the flourishing of all. Registration opens July 1, 2025.
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Dwelling in the Spirit, Transforming in Place
The Synergos Pastoral Residency through the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation opens its program to PC(USA) Ministers of Word and Sacrament who are in the midst of discerning and understanding their calling to ministry in
a new way.
The Synergos Pastoral Residency program will accept applications from PC(USA) Ministers of Word and Sacrament who find themselves at a vocational crossroads. Selected ministers will begin their residencies in August 2025, actively pastoring with time carved out for personal vocational growth and discernment.
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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.
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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.
| Attention: Stephen Ministry Congregations |
Dear colleagues,
First Presbyterian Church of Normal is discerning engagement with the Stephen Ministries organization based in St. Louis, through which congregation members are trained to provide one-on-one care for people experiencing life difficulties. If your church is affiliated with this ministry, or is considering starting the program, I'd appreciate the chance to connect with you or one of your Stephen Leaders on a few questions and ideas. Please contact me by Tuesday, June 24. Rev. Karol Schilling, Associate Pastor, kschilling@firstpresnormal.org, 309-431-2298.
| | Items from the Morton Church | |
The Morton Church would like to give the items below to anyone in need. There are several pieces
of the communion trays, many hymnals, and Bibles. There are also matching paraments for the pulpit.
Please contact Lori Lewis at lorilewis2000@gmail.com or 309-253-8422 to arrange pickup.
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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
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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 to get notifications of our new videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7CXkkAsjR9Owi7gkXPtn8w. 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/ |   | |   | | | |