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.

September 27, 2024

Announcements

Congratulations

The congregation of Third Presbyterian Church, Springfield, celebrated their 175th anniversary with a special worship service and music, display of photos and historic documents, and luncheon on September 22. Members and friends shared fond remembrances of their church and its importance in their lives.

You’re Invited

The Presbytery of Great Rivers invites you to the ordination and installation of

Brenda Horth and Peter Horth to the Ministry of

Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Sunday, September 29, 2024

4:30 pm

College Avenue Presbyterian Church

501 S. College Avenue

Aledo, IL 61231

Following the service, the celebration will continue at 

Hamlet Perryton Presbyterian Church, 

where Peter Horth will also be installed as pastor

1848 170th Ave

Reynolds, IL 61279

Clergy are invited to wear red stoles.

From the Lead Presbyter

From Psalm 126: “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.”

As the psalm begins, the Israelites are recalling their deliverance from a 70-year captivity in Babylon. As they slowly made their way home, they felt lighter, like a huge burden had been lifted from them—and it had. They sang. They laughed. They were overcome with joy and gratitude. 

And yet as the small band of refugees kept walking, they realized their homecoming would not be what they had dreamed of. Their homes had been destroyed, their land had been taken over by others or had gone wild after not being tended for decades, their families were scattered or dead, the temple had been demolished, the city of Jerusalem was in ruins. They quickly lost hope again, wondering how in the world they could go on, how they could fix everything that was broken. So they prayed, asking God to restore their fortunes. 

We too know that in-between space—pain, difficulty, challenge, and despair on one side, and freedom, hope, delight, and joy on the other. How do we bear it—with grief or happiness? With sorrow or relief? With fear or hope? With tears or laughter? I think the answer is “yes”—yes to grief and happiness, yes to sorrow and relief, yes to fear and hope, yes to tears and laughter. It’s all a part of being human and experiencing transitions. 

As people of faith, we live between the here and now and the not yet, between this life and the next. As people, we are constantly enduring change—and it’s hard. We cannot wait until everything is perfect, every problem solved, every question answered, every challenge overcome, every pain healed to let ourselves laugh and feel joy and sing our thanks to God.

The psalmist reminds us, in transitional times like we in the church are currently living through, we are called to remember all that God has done in the past and to look to God for a new direction, a new future, and a new hope. May it be so for us in the Presbytery of Great Rivers.

I will hold a series of regional lunches for Great Rivers’ pastors during October and November. I hope you’ll be able to attend the one nearest you, but if not, you are welcome to come to another one. Watch this space and your inbox for more information about restaurants, times, and RSVP dates: 

Thursday, October 17: Quad Cities

Tuesday, October 29: Bloomington/Normal

Wednesday, October 30: Peoria

Monday, November 4: Galesburg

Tuesday, November 12: Macomb

Tuesday, November 19: Springfield

I will be on vacation October 7-13.

Grace and peace,

Ann

Clerk’s Corner

Hello fellow clerks! As a reminder, there is no clerk’s convo for this month with all that is going on in our presbytery. If you have any clerky questions, do feel free to contact me or find me at one of the many events and ask. I am always happy to help. Save the date for October 8th at 9:00 am for our October Clerk’s Convo.

Starting with this newsletter, I am going to begin a segment titled: DID YOU KNOW? POLITY EDITION!

I will present a polity issue/dilemma in each newsletter with either possible answers or the polity answer. These issues or dilemmas have been situations that have been asked about or come up recently. 

Did You Know? Polity Edition:

What happens if you are going to miss a meeting (or another member is going to miss a meeting) but you (or they) really want to vote on an item? Can they mail in their vote or send an email to have their vote counted?

The answer here is two-part. The first is that if the meeting is in-person (or over zoom), then the person must also be in-person (or zoom) in order to vote. Why? The reason is because of the discussion. What would happen if the person believes they are going to vote yes, but then the discussion that is had at the meeting might change their vote? 

This doesn’t mean that mail-in votes are always out of order. If everyone is going to do mail-in votes, that is acceptable, but it needs to be straight voting with no comments allowed. The reason why this is allowable is because then there is no discussion for anyone, so it is fair across the board. 

Voting needs to be done the same way for everyone for the same meeting. Either everyone needs to vote in person, or everyone votes by mail-in ballot voting.

Rev. Elissa Bailey

Presbytery of Great Rivers Stated Clerk

Board of Pensions

Greetings,

As summer winds down and the seasons transition, we at the Board are also looking ahead to the transition to the 2025 Benefits Plan, effective Jan. 1, 2025. We thank you for your partnership and support through this change as we continue with our mission to serve those who serve the Church.

I'm writing to remind you of important dates and key updates as we make this transition.

Making changes to benefits offerings during Employer Agreement

From Aug. 29 through Oct. 4, each congregation’s designated employer representative will log in to Benefits Connect to review their Employer Agreement.

To ensure that everyone has continuity of coverage and to help with the transition, ministers enrolled in Pastor’s Participation as of Dec. 31, 2024, will automatically be enrolled in Transitional Pastor’s Participation for 2025. Staff enrolled for 2024 benefits will automatically be enrolled in the same benefits for 2025.

Learn more about Employer Agreement here.

From Oct. 21 through Nov. 8, employees will enroll in benefits for 2025 by completing their Annual Enrollment in Benefits Connect.

Upcoming benefits enhancements and partner updates

Here are some updates and enhancements to the benefits we offer:

• Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, Spring Health will replace Cigna as the service provider of the Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), offering mental health care navigation in addition to EAP services.
• Medical Plan members will receive new medical ID cards for 2025 from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. They can continue to use their current Express Scripts prescription drug ID cards. (In 2025, new members will access their prescription drug ID cards virtually).
• The online care navigation platform from Quantum Health will relaunch October 2024. Medical Plan members will receive communications from Quantum Health about how to reregister for service through the new platform.
• Employers who offer flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs) through Further should look for information about a change in administration to HealthEquity, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Further was acquired by HealthEquity, and they will need to set up a new agreement. Members who participate in these accounts will receive information from HealthEquity about the change beginning in October.
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We would like to reassure you that the Medical Plan is unchanged for 2025:

• Members in the PPO, EPO, and HDHP will continue to access care through the Blue Cross Blue Shield national network.
• Deductibles and copays will remain the same for 2025.
• Ministers who transition from Pastor’s Participation to Transitional Pastor’s Participation will have the same family medical coverage for 2025 that they have now.

Additionally, we wish to reiterate our comprehensive and absolute commitment to women’s health through this transition. We are, and always have been, committed to all aspects of women’s healthcare, including access to care and necessary drugs like Mifepristone as well as advanced reproductive services, such as IVF treatment.

To better understand the 2025 Benefits Plan, our partners throughout the Church may refer to our e-learning modules about the transition: The Faithful Decision-Making series and the 2025 Serving More, Serving Better series.

I am also available to help guide faithful decision-making. Please email me or call me at 215-587-7384 with any questions you may have about this transition. You may also call the Board at 800-PRESPLAN (800-773-7752) (TTY: 711), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, if you need assistance. We are here to serve.

In peace, 

Rev. Dr. Ken Green

Church Consultant

215-587-7384

From Your Finance Team

Churches, 

Budgeting for 2025

At the Aug 24th assembly meeting, 2025 per capita was approved. The increase to $38.29 is the result of an increase by the General Assembly. The Synod and Presbytery amounts remain the same.

Board of Pensions – 2025

Your 2025 Employer Agreement is available for you to review in Benefits Connect.

Aug 29 through Oct. 4, log in to Benefits Connect and review your 2025 Employer Agreement.

•If you would like to make changes to your benefits offerings, call our Employer Services team at 800- 

                  PRESPLAN (800-773-7752) (TTY: 711). They will walk you through the process.

•If you do not want to make changes to your benefits selections for 2025, your Employer Agreement is complete.

Your employees will complete Annual Enrollment in Benefits Connect Oct. 21-Nov. 8.

Thank you to all churches who have contributed towards Per Capita

We’ve had 46 churches pay their 2024 per capita in full!

Thank you to Aledo-Sunbeam, Alexis – Norwood, Athens, Bartonville, Bloomington- St Luke Union, Bushnell, Carlinville, Carrollton, Carthage, Chatham, Chenoa, Clayton, Clinton, Coal Valley, Divernon, East Moline, Edwards, Elmwood, Eureka, Fountain Green, Greenview, Ipava, Knoxville, Lincoln, Mason City, Media, Milan, Morton, Mt Sterling, New Windsor, Normal-First, Normal-New Covenant, Oneida, Orion, Pekin, Peoria – First Federated, Petersburg, Quincy, Reynolds, Rock Island, Springfield-First, Springfield – Korean, Stronghurst, Virginia-Sangamon Valley, Warsaw, Washington & Yates City!

2024 Per Capita is $37.25, an increase of $1.00  

2024 Per Capita is based on your final membership numbers reported for 2022.

If you have a question about how much you still need to pay please email me at smcgrath@greatriverspby.org.

Mission Giving Percentage Update

At the April 20th assembly meeting it was voted to change the percentage of mission giving for the 

General Assembly & Presbytery of Great Rivers – Synod was not changed it remains at 5%

Presbytery: Increased from 52.5% to 75%

General Assembly (Presbyterian Mission Agency): Decreased from 42.5% to 20%

Please be sure to 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 reach out to either of us with any questions or concerns.

Thanks,

Sabrina McGrath - Bookkeeper

Bill Strawbridge – Treasurer

Please click on the blocks below to follow the links:

2025 Youth Triennium



The Office of Presbyterian Youth and Triennium is very excited to announce the theme for the 2025 Triennium is “As If We Were Dreaming…” (Psalm 126). Next summer, July 28-31, thousands of Presbyterian young people will meet in Louisville, Kentucky, for four incredible days of worship, recreation, group study, and fellowship. Participants will be reminded that they are born to dream, they will share in collective dreaming, learn about facing the nightmares, and be called to wake up and dream as they carry their experiences home with them.

The Rev. CeCe Armstrong, the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, the Rev. Dr. Peggy Jean Craig, and the Rev. Dr. Jerry Cannon make up our amazing PYT preacher dream team. Recreation will be led by Christian Antwi, Eric Dillenbeck, Omayra L. Gonzalez Mendez, and Joanna Wilkinson. The Nettletons 2.0 is our dreamy Triennium Band.

The fee for next summer’s event is $199 per person, which includes all programming, event meals, an official Triennium T-shirt, and more. Travel and housing are additional costs. (Housing will be booked by each delegation at Triennium-designated hotels via Louisville Housing when registration opens in early 2025. The average hotel cost is $169 per room/per night plus tax.)

Stay tuned for more information soon!

Proposed Amendments to the Constitution and 

Episcopal-Presbyterian Agreement on Local Sharing of Ministries

The 226th General Assembly (2024) approved and recommended to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes proposed changes in the language of the Book of Order that, if approved, will amend the Constitution, as well as an ecumenical agreement subject to approval by the presbyteries. 

The Book of Amendments and Ecumenical Agreement is now available. You can find it in several places on the OGA website – the General Assembly page, the Constitutional Interpretation page, the Mid Council Ministries page, and the Mid Council Relations page.

Direct links: 

• English
• 미국장로교 헌법 수정 제안서
• Propuesta de Enmiendas a la Constitución – still in process

Boundary Training in 2024

All pastoral leaders in Great Rivers Presbytery, Presbyterian and non-Presbyterian, Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Commissioned Ruling Elders, pulpit supply preachers and retired pastors who serve churches in any capacity are required to attend annual boundary training that is approved by PGR. You must submit a certificate of completion to Stated Clerk Elissa Bailey. 

The following class will fulfill your annual attendance requirement:

October 1 and 2, 8:00 am-11:00 am. On Zoom – must attend both days.

(Register using this link: https://www.leaderwise.org/solt). This class is an “Advanced Boundary Training.”

Resources for Pastors, Sessions,

and Congregations

Regarding Ruling Elders

The eleventh in the set of articles that focuses on ruling elders as "they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life" (Book of Order G-2.0301) has been posted for your reading and use.  

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Series for Serving Faithfully (pcusa.org)

Leader Formation Webinar for Ruling Elders and Deacons

November 7, 2024; 7:00-8:30 pm (eastern)/6:00-7:30 (central)

Discovering Leadership: Called to Serve

Descubrir el liderazgo: Llamados a servir

리더십 탐색: 섬김으로의 부르심

Further information and registration will be available in early October on the Leader Formation website.

Webinar on New Older Adult Ministry Resource

Learn about a new online resource for older adult ministry leaders launched earlier this year. “Expressions of Older Adult Ministry” covers guiding principles for serving with older adults, a reformed theology framework, and a multitude of practical ideas you can implement in your context. Take a glimpse at the instructional videos, interviews with ministry leaders, and written materials available now. Explore the resources, meet others who are in ministry with older adults, and ask questions. Miatta Wilson from the PCUSA Office of Christian Formation will lead this conversation on October 10, 1:00 pm (central). Register at https://poamn.org/expressions-webinar/.

Chrysalis

CHRYSALIS: Catalyzing Helping Professionals’ Resilience vitalitY Spirituality Authentic Living and Inner Strength

Boston University’s Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute will be conducting a randomized intervention study to better understand the unique needs of helping professionals in today’s world and refine and evaluate an online program to promote thriving and flourishing. They are looking for pastors and chaplains to participate in a free eight-week program of online engagement, randomly assigned to either individual or group formats, requiring about one hour each week. Click here for information and link to the online interest form.

For Educators and CREs/CPs

Presbyterians Supporting Christian Education (PSCE) is sponsored by Union Presbyterian Seminary. This program as two tracks:  one for Commissioned Ruling Elders/Commissioned Pastors and one for Educators (certified, not certified, volunteers, and pastors involved in Christian Education).  

The program is in its 6th year and has been helpful to over 100 people.  It provides cohorts of up to eight people plus a facilitator who meet monthly for two hours on Zoom for support, learning, and sharing.  Educator groups often study a book or curriculum, while CRE/CP participants often discuss an article and present a case study each month.  The content of each cohort is agreed upon by the cohort itself.  

There is no cost, and cohort participants receive a stipend of $500 for the year to cover any materials and their time.

Information and applications are available at www.upsem.edu/psce. Applications are due by November 30, 2024. Cohorts begin in January 2025.

Caution! The Danger of Borrowing from the Internet

PC(USA) General Counsel Mike Kirk has provided advice about posting images copied from the Internet in your own publications. (The bottom line: be very careful, or don’t!). Be sure to read to the end for a related warning against identifying minors in photos that you have taken yourself.

Checklist for Councils and Congregations

A message from Legal & Risk Management Services

Thanks to General Counsel Mike Kirk for sharing from his experience of frequently asked questions this checklist of documents all councils should have easily accessible. Please pass this helpful information along to your sessions.

Borderline: A Christian Reflection on Immigration

Tracy Keenan, Missional Presbytery for New Castle Presbytery, has shared learnings from the recent journey to the Texas/Mexico border by the presbytery’s Immigrant Justice Committee. With the prevalence of the topic of immigration in the news these days, you will want to read her reflection.

Ecumenical Ministries

Midwest Call Finder

For the last several months, the Synod of Lincoln Trails has been working on building the Midwest Call Finder website. All congregations in our presbytery, along with the others in SOLT, will soon be able to use this tool for seeking pastors and staff for church positions. Likewise, pastors and other church professionals seeking positions can use Midwest Call Finder to learn about job openings in the region. We anticipate the site will go live in early September.

Attached is the template for postings. Churches are encouraged to spend some thoughtful time in advance preparing this information so that it is ready to post when the site goes live. 

The next phase will be to add a bulletin board where churches can share positive experiences with providers (contractors, organ tuners, stained glass window repairers) throughout the Synod that other churches might benefit from, and for providers to share their talents (such as retreat leaders, communications freelancers, etc.) with the synod. 

Ecumenical Ministries

Illinois Conference of Churches

The Illinois Conference of Churches (ICC) is a statewide ecumenical organization with 27 member judicatories of 13 denominations representing Protestant, Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox Christian traditions. Since 1930, the group’s mission has been to celebrate and make visible our sacred bond in Christ, providing an opportunity for churches in Illinois to reach common goals as we bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The ICC recently met in Bloomington for its first in-person gathering since 2019. The group is seeking folks interested in serving on any of their committees. If you are interested, contact If you are interested, contact: manager@illinoisconferenceofchurches.org

• lllinois Citizens Encountering Racism Team (ICER): meets every other month via Zoom
• Public Policy Team: will meet by Zoom as needed to promote passage (or blocking) of federal or state legislative and related issues, especially surrounding social justice
• Interreligious Team: will meet by Zoom or in person as needed to explore ways to work together with siblings of faith of other religious traditions
• Leadership Team: meets approximately five times a year by Zoom
• Annual Assembly Forum Team for 2025: will meet by Zoom to share the 2025 Annual Assembly Forum theme and speaker

National Workshop on Christian Unity

This year’s workshop will be themed “Hear What the Spirit is Saying to the Churches” and will be held at the Lutheran (ELCA) Center in Chicago, November 18-20. The program will be focused on networking and practical ecumenism.  Registration is NOW OPEN!

Ministry Opportunities

Music Ministry Director

United Presbyterian Church of Peoria is looking for a part time Music Ministry Director. Job responsibilities include:

• Serving as a role model for UPC’s vision for welcoming and inclusive intergenerational worship that connects people to each other and to God.
• Collaborating closely with the Pastor to plan engaging intergenerational worship experiences that support the spiritual and musical growth of the congregation, the community, and the musicians. This includes ensuring that music and worship activities and other liturgical elements support the theme of each service.
• Providing leadership for all music programs of the church, collaborating closely with the Pastor and the Worship and the Arts Committee to include all ages in music programming.
• Taking the lead in AV and digital ministries, managing the quality of the in-house worship sound and the livestreamed experience.

For more information, click here.

Open Searches for Pastoral Leadership

Associate Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Springfield click 

Pastor, Yoked Ministry, New Windsor Presbyterian Church, Rio click

Music Ministry Director, United Presbyterian Church of Peoria click

News from Around Great Rivers

I used the gift card that I was selected for at the last assembly.  I took Ed and Nicole Wegele to lunch at Le Cafe in Peoria.—Elissa Bailey

Clinton Presbyterian Church, Clinton IL is offering a free outdoor lift to any church interested in having a lift. Please contact the church office at Secretary@clintonpresbyterian.org or call 217-935-6278

PGR Newsletter Schedule

Newsletters go out the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. Please send any articles for publication to StephanieSidotiVMA@gmail.com by Tuesdays at 5 pm.

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) and is available until 4 pm CST Monday thru Wednesday and Friday, and 1:45 pm EST on Thursdays. 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-3pm (Central Time)

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

Ann's Sabbath Day is Friday.

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.

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!

Have you liked our "Presbytery of Great Rivers" Facebook page?

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.