GOOD NEWS

from the

Presbytery of Great Rivers

We are called to share Christ's love by partnering in service, 

uniting in worship, and risking in ministry.

June 9, 2023

Announcements

PGR Newsletter

Our Newsletters will go out the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. The deadline for adding information is the Wednesday before at 5 pm.

Grants from your Visioning Team

Grant applications are open now! Check out our Mission page (http://www.greatriverspby.org/mission.html) for information about the Visioning grant to support programming and projects in churches and partner organizations, as well as grants for sabbatical assistance and funding while clergy are on paid family leave. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and the Visioning Team is ready to answer your questions. Contact us at PGRVisioning@greatriverspby.org to learn more!

2023 Assembly Dates

August 26th at Peoria United

November 11 at Faith United, Monmouth

In-person and Virtual

Austin College Announces Full-Tuition Scholarships for Presbyterian Students

Not Your Average Boundary Training 

It’s time for many of us to renew our required boundary training certification. Rather than the same old talking heads, we are offering Not Your Average Boundaries Training, a lively and interactive boundaries conversation offered to the Presbyteries of Great Rivers and Southeastern Illinois through LeaderWise. Thanks to the Synod of Lincoln Trails for financially supporting this important event!   

LeaderWise affirms that pastors, church staff, and other leaders who transgress boundaries by-and-large are not predators. In fact, not even close. Most people in ministry who violate boundaries are individuals who know and maintain boundaries most of the time, but whose judgment may be impaired due to an unusually stressful time in their lives. With that in mind, Not-Your-Average Boundaries Training is tailored to focus on strategies to foster emotional resiliency and well-being.  

LeaderWise believes that the best prevention is to encourage those in leadership positions to take steps to manage their stress in order to maintain balance and perspective when temptation arises. This approach further teaches a 4-step strategy to help stop folks in their tracks before they commit a boundary violation, and participants leave with their own personal prevention plan. 

In order for participants to receive credit for completion of the program, attendees must be present for all 5 hours of the training. These required sessions will be offered at two times, so find a time that works for your schedule. Reservations will be taken starting June 9th on a first come, first registered basis.    

Tuesday, August 29-Wednesday, August 30—3:00-5:30 each day 

Tuesday, October 31-Wednesday, November 1—3:00-5:30 each day 

Clerk's Corner

 I try to remember to complete the New York Times’ Wordle each morning. The other day, I asked my 10-year-old to help me. Not because I thought I needed it but because I was trying to distract her from the argument that I could tell was already brewing with her sister.

 The word that morning: ennui. Excuse me, what? Seriously Wordle? The day before was the word “nanny” then you go straight to the word, “ennui”. I don’t even know what that is! We obviously didn’t get it. Way to disappoint my child! I had to look it up. Here is what the dictionary says: ennui • \ahn-WEE\ • noun. : a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction : boredom.

Ahh. Boredom. My children’s primary summer emotion. In church last week, I was in charge of the children’s message and I asked a question and my 9-year-old daughter answered: “only boring people are bored”. Yep. I am planning to use that on her ALL SUMMER LONG!

I thought about all of the times boredom sets in. We get into our routines, even in the church, and we forget the meanings of why we do what we do because it becomes mundane. Summers are great times to think about changing things up. As pastors and elders and leaders starting thinking about the fall, there may be new ideas stirring. If you are a leader in your church community who is planning some new ideas, take heart (and courage). If you are a congregation member not currently in leadership, I encourage you to find ways to support the leadership in their new endeavors. You never know how the Good News will reach others and how the Holy Spirit will show up! It is okay to make some changes! I know… but it really is! Just go for it! 

Speaking of making some changes: The Session Record Reviews are coming! We are going to change our methods and do in-person again but go back to a familiar format of the 3 hour meeting. The change: it will take place on different days of the week, maybe even at different times.

If your congregation is interested in hosting a Session Record Review, please contact me.

Requirements: A space for us to meet. Preferably with round tables.

Wi-Fi that I can access

Coffee and light refreshments can be provided by the church. If this is a hardship, please let me know.

If there is a specific day and time of the week that works best, please let me know! 

I will be looking for 5 regional events, one of them being close enough to East Iowa that both presbyteries can attend.

Rev. Elissa Bailey

Presbytery of Great Rivers Stated Clerk

From Your Finance Team

The United States Postal Service mailing services price changes to take effect July 9, 2023. The new rates include a three-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 63 cents to 66 cents. Churches may benefit from looking at planned mailings and if funds allow purchase stamps at the lower rate. Click here to learn more.

FYI: Stamps have gone from .55 back in July 2021 to .63 currently --So once this goes in to effect, they’ll have gone up 0.11 in just 2 years.

Please click on the blocks below to follow the links:

Please note: Churches can & probably should send their donations through the Presbytery office – otherwise we don’t know of them for reporting purposes. Churches should include this on their remittance form. Funds sent to the Presbytery Office get forwarded to Presbyterian Mission Agency on a monthly basis. So if we get them before the end of April they’ll be sent the first couple of days of May. Funds rec’d in May will be sent a the beginning of June, etc. The remittance form is linked here.

Click on the image above to subscribe to their newsletter!

SOLT is looking forward to launching two new coaching initiatives later this year: A Coaching Summit and Retirement Small Group Coaching.

Dates are not set yet but click on the link below if you are interested.

This issues features our own Stated Clerk Rev. Elissa Bailey.

Job Postings

Westminster Presbyterian, in Nashville, TN, is seeking a full-time Associate Pastor of Community Life position. All resumes and inquiries can be directed to Laura Addis with this link.

Westminster Presbyterian Church on Moss Avenue in Peoria seeks Organist/Choir Director.

This person should have skills in reading music, playing the organ and piano, working as a choral conductor, and having basic knowledge of handbells. Basic computer and email skills are required, as well as strong communication skills. The person should be reliable, cooperative, and display qualities of enthusiasm, and leadership ability. This is a part-time, salaried position.

For more information about our church: go to https://westminsterpeoria.org/jobs/

To apply, send resume to wpc@westminsterpeoria.org or mail a resume and cover letter to 1420 W. Moss Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61606.

Presbytery of Great Rivers Virtual Office

Virtual Office Assistant Crystal Goforth 309-683-6980 Email: office@greatriverspby.org

Crystal works remotely from South Carolina (Eastern Time)

Please leave her a message & she will return your call.

Bookkeeper Sabrina McGrath 309-683-6981 Email: smcgrath@greatriverspby.org

Sabrina works from Peoria IL.

Her regular schedule is Tues & Thurs between 8am-4pm (Central Time)

Lead Presbyter Ann Schwartz 309-683-6983 Email: aschwartz@greatriverspby.org

Stated Clerk - Elissa Bailey- 309-371-2511  Email: pastorebailey@gmail.com

My regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am - 3 pm.(Central Time) If you have an emergency, please call or text me at 309-371-2511.