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Tuesday, April, 29, 2025 10:00 am
The Assembly starts at 10:00 am on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, Elmwood.
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The Assembly Packet is available for download on our website.
- This meeting will be in-person with a zoom option.
- Registration for the Assembly is open.
| | | - Lunch will be provided by Elmwood First: salad and baked potato bar, beverages, snacks, and desserts. Cost is $12 per person. Or bring your own lunch.
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- The Governance Task Force will present changes to the Presbytery’s structure, on which commissioners will have an opportunity to share feedback during table conversations.
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We will discuss and vote on amendments to the Book of Order approved by the 226th General Assembly (2024) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). These proposed changes, if adopted, will amend the Book of Order. Additionally, the Presbytery will vote on the Episcopal-Presbyterian Agreement on Local Sharing of Ministries, which the General Assembly has recommended for approval under G-5.0203. The full amendment booklet is available here.
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From the Lead Presbyter
The Earth teaches us about seasons and cycles—that every living thing needs periods of rest and dormancy in order to experience fruitfulness and renewal. The Earth teaches us that there is life, even in the darkness and silence—of a mother’s womb or an empty tomb. The Earth teaches us patience, that every living thing—chipmunk, sunflower, oak tree, human—grows at its own pace. The Earth teaches us that there is beauty everywhere, if only we will look for it. The Earth teaches us about connection, and that what happens to one (individual or species) impacts all. The Earth teaches us the value and necessity of every living thing.
So much in the natural world happens without us or despite us. The birds return from wherever they migrated during the winter on a schedule that we do not determine. Flowers bloom and trees blossom according to their internal calendar and not ours. Rain comes whether we want it or need it. Same with rhubarb! The rising and setting of the sun, the phases of the moon, the hanging of clouds and rainbows in the sky—not our jobs. The developmental milestones of children—all of it expected and routine and much of it completely beyond our capacity to control.
You might think that realization would be enough to humble us, to remind us of our place in the scheme of things, to encourage in us a spirit of reverence for the imagination and power of God, and to open our eyes to the miracles we do not make. And yet we stubbornly cling to the illusion that we are in charge and can do with (or to) this singular planet what we want.
On Earth Day I read that among the policies championed by the current administration is opening more federal lands and waters for oil, gas, and critical mineral extraction. The push to privatize and monetize the gifts that God has created, that which we have been called to tend and protect, alarms and grieves me. It feels like a call to action for God’s people.
“The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it," writes the psalmist. Let us join with creation—with the sea that roars, the trees that clap their hands, and the birds that sing in joy—in giving thanks for the goodness and beauty of all that God made and sustains and in fighting for it.
Grace and peace,
Ann
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From the Clerk's Corner

Happy Easter Season, friends:
I hope you are all having a wonderful Easter season. I have scheduled our
May clerk's corner for May 19th at 2 pm. This is a time for clerks to gather and ask any questions that come up and share about what is happening.
Topic: Clerk of Session Meeting
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/
Meeting ID: 824 7748 7297 Passcode: 832216
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Hello from your Finance Team
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.
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 14 churches pay their 2025 per capita in full!
Thank you to Bartonville, Carlinville, Carthage, Coal Valley, Elmwood, Eureka, Greenview, Kirkwood, Milan,
Milan, Morton, Mt Sterling, New Windsor, Reynolds & Rock Island.
PGR Churches Mission Support
PGR churches and members have given an amazing $50,721 in mission giving in just the first
3 months of 2025!
General missions: GA $4,846 Synod $1,193 PGR $17,320
OGHS $3,704 Christmas Joy $11,776 Peacemaking $954
Disaster Relief $10,033 of which $8,199 was designated to wildfire assistance & $313 given during the
Feb 11th assembly Memorials for H Herbert Edwards (a member of Macomb – First) directed to Peacemaking
for PGR $895
First Quarter Giving
First quarter statements have been mailed out. Please take the time to review your statements. Contact Sabrina
if there are any issues.
Review of the books
It is recommended that the annual “review of the books” be done internally by the church for two years, and
on 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 to use for the review can be found on the Great Rivers Presbytery website under the FINANCIAL
tab. The document is entitled: “2023 Financial Review-Audit by Edd Breeden.”
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 also has a recording of the Treasurer’s Training seminar done by Amy Gardner entitled “Annual Financial Review” that you may want to watch. Contact our Bookkeeper -- Sabrina McGrath at smcgrath@greatriverspby.org
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There is Still Time to Register for the
2025 Presbyterian Youth Triennium
First Presbyterian Church of Milan is registered and ready to go! Thank you to Katie and Julio for helping give the young men in your group this experience.
Thanks to the generosity of the Synod of Lincoln Trails and the Presbytery of Great Rivers,
we anticipate the out-of-pocket expenses to be shared by the congregation and participants
will be $200-$250.
Contact Brandy, our Delegation Registrar, with questions and to sign up office@greatriverspby.org.
Fill out this Interest Form and she will contact you.
Visit https://presbyterianyouthtriennium.org/
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Pentecost Offering
The Pentecost Offering unites us in a church-wide effort to support young people and inspire them to share
their faith, ideas, and unique gifts with the church and the world. Psalm 71 testifies that a foundation of faith established during childhood helps ensure lifelong faith and service. The patterns and lessons established
during these formative years continue to bear fruit throughout a person's life. By receiving the Pentecost
Offering, you are nurturing the faith of children, youth, and young adults.
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L3: Midwest Call Finder and
Improving Your Ministry's Online Presence
The Rev. Jana Blazek will speak about Midwest Call Finder, the
synod's new search tool for churches seeking pastors and other
church professionals and for pastors and church professionals
seeking positions. She will also share her expertise on improving
a church's social media and online presence. Please preregister
for the meeting. May 13, 2025, 12:00 - 1:30 pm.
Jana Blazek joined the staff of Chicago Presbytery in 2023 as the
Director of Connectional Relationships, a position that is shared with
The Synod of Lincoln Trails.
Before going to seminary, Jana worked in medical communications and specialized in neuroscience and psychiatry, primarily developing continuing education for physicians. A graduate of Dubuque Seminary, she was ordained by Chicago Presbytery to a call as associate editor of the Presbyterian Outlook. She went on to serve as Director of Communications for Worship Times (building websites and communication strategies for churches around the country) and also pastored Rogers Park Presbyterian Church in Chicago. In addition, she continues to serve as a communications consultant for nonprofits and ministries.

Jana lives in Chicago with her 8-pound dog Lucy and way too many books.
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May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
As we seek to educate, equip, and empower our congregations to reach
out to, and with, people with mental health concerns and their loved ones, the denomination has curated the following resources to support you. These are designed for individual use and by leadership in mental health ministry in an effort to expand mental health awareness and understanding, end stigma surrounding mental illnesses, and expand the capacity of ministers and congregants to engage in mental health ministry.
Click here for resources.
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Synod School 2025
Re-Forming "Normal": Expanding Hope
Get ready for Synod School, July 20-25 at Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa. Lots of Great Rivers folks are already signed up to attend. To learn more about this ministry of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies Synod School, visit https://www.lakesandprairies.org/synod-school.
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Equipping Grants from the Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky
“…to equip the saints for the work of ministry…” (Ephesians 4:12a)
The Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky has earmarked a fund for grants to PCUSA Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Ruling Elders who seek training to be better equipped for vocational and professional changes related to recent loss of employment. This is a special initiative that concludes on December 31, 2026.
The Church of Jesus Christ still needs your gifts, and your siblings in Christ in Mid-Kentucky want to hear how you may be feeling led forward on your path of ministry. If some additional training would help, perhaps we can help supplement the resources needed for that. Correspondence should be sent by email to office@midkentuckypresbytery.org.
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Prayers for our Presbytery
Pray for the pastoral leaders, sessions, and congregations of:
- Athens, Indian Point United, and Pam Di Vito-Thomas
- White Hall, First Pres, and Pastor Kirby Ballard
- Chenoa, First
Condolences to Diane Ludington (CRE, Carthage First) whose mother died on April 2. Here is a link to her obituary: https://www.printyfuneralhome.com/obituary/marjie-nolley. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Congratulations and best wishes to Brandon Ouellette (MWS, Monmouth Faith United) and his wife, Tiffany,
who welcomed their new baby recently.
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May Ordination Anniversaries
May 1, 2016 – The Rev. Bryan Burris, Danvers FPC
May 3, 1998 – The Rev. Linda Philabaun, Retired
May 4, 1980 – The Rev. Drew Nagle, Retired
May 6, 1984 – The Rev. Almut Spalding, Retired
May 11, 1962 – The Rev. David Bauer, Retired
May 14, 1989 - The Rev. Susan M. Ryder, Retired
May 15, 1954 - The James P. Uttley, Retired
May 22, 2016 – The Rev. Matt Wilcox, Normal FPC
May 24, 1998 - The Rev. Timothy R. Bauler, Virginia Sangamon Valley PC
May 26, 1996 – The Rev. Cindy A. Bean, Farmington FPC
| | Items Looking for a New Home | | |
Contact Bill Harfst fishmis23@yahoo.com
or Cheyanna Losey cheyannalosey@gmail.com
Communion Set, pictured above
50 New American Standard Bible
10 New International Holy Bible
4 wooden collection plates
22 Brass collection plates
2 Old table Bibles
65 Red song books, but most of the covers
are in rough shape
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These robes are free if you can pick them up from
Bushnell, First United.
Contact Jimmy Dahmm firstpresbu@gmail.com
47 Blue Robes, pictured above
24 White Choir Robes
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Midwest Call Finder
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
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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/ |   | |   | | | |
