Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois Newsletter March 30, 2020
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources
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To help reduce isolation and maintain connections as we follow these recommendations, the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois is offering a time to gather and have open discussion via Zoom. The presbytery will have a 60 minute gathering on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2:00pm CDT via Zoom.
These are not meetings and there is no docket or agenda. This is a time to gather, connect, and talk. Please feel free to come to every gathering or just stop by for a few minutes. Everyone is welcome!
The links to these ongoing calls are available by calling the Presbytery office.
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Free Resources from the PC(USA) Store
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Free digital resources for children, adults and congregational study from the PC(USA) Store.
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Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources for Congregations and Members
Updated March 25, 2020 1:22 p.m. ET Newly added resources in red. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Read more
www.pcusa.org
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List of PSEI Online Worship Opportunities
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With people sheltering in place and public health recommendations that gatherings be limited to less than 10 people, the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois has compiled a list of online worship opportunities being offered by our congregations.
We hope you will join us on Sunday morning as we celebrate through worship the love and grace of God that surrounds us. There are also other opportunities (such as prayer groups, daily devotions, etc) for gathering in community online included on the list.
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Stay at Home Order Guidance for Faith-Based Organizations
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Synod PW Gathering is Cancelled
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Presbyterian Women of Synod of Lincoln Trails gathering, scheduled for June 6th in Danville, has been cancelled due to concerns regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. The "Quilt for Kemmerer Project" is still occurring, so please take note of the information below.
PSEI "Quilt for Kemmerer Project"
Presbyterian Women of Southeastern Illinois Presbytery are invited to make a 9 ½ inch quilt square to be part of quilts for Kemmerer residents from our PW group! Here are the directions:
- 100% cotton fabrics
- 9 ½ inches square
- Use primary colors (like the 8 pack of crayons)
- Gender neutral
- Signed with the name of your group
Send as soon as you can so the quilt top(s) can be assembled before the June Gathering. Send to Linda Smith, Historian, at 983 County Road 900 East, Champaign, IL 61822 or contact Linda at 217-359-5812 or
[email protected]
with any questions.
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The Practice of Contemplation
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Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Series for Serving...
Contemplation, Contemplating, Contemplative. For some, these are words of comfort. A break from producing. Just the thought adds oxygen to the soul. For others, it delivers sheer panic. The terror of stillness. The unknown qualities of "just...
Read more
www.pcusa.org
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An Exciting New Program
Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations
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The Board of Pensions recognizes that, as a Church, we must faithfully address pastors’ financial challenges if they are to grow and sustain their ministries. Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations brings a pastor and congregational leadership together to work toward financial sustainability by providing financial education and consultations to both the pastor and congregational leaders.
The success of Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations rests on covenants among the pastor, the congregation, and the Board of Pensions. Each party promises to take specific actions that, together, will help build a brighter financial future. This innovative financial education program combines pastor and congregational leader education with
grants of up to $10,000 to qualifying pastors.
Pastor education
The pastor receives a grounding in financial literacy and financial management skills by completing online learning modules in two series: Terms of Call and Personal Financial Planning. The pastor also attends a 2 hour training session with congregational leaders.
Learn More at:
Dates for 2 hour training seminar (6:00-8:00pm) in our presbytery are being reschedule for the Fall. Stay tuned for more information.
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Session Records Review Dates Revised
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All Session Records must be read prior to the November 19, 2020 Presbytery meeting. the events are held in regional locations, but you may attend one in another region if that date is better for you.
Please note changes in the Salt Fork and Bridge Regions.
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For use at Presbytery gatherings/meetings. Authored by Rev. Bill McLean, Presbyter for Congregational Care.
Romans 5:1-11 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.
When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- "What then?" what does the ongoing discussion of law and grace mean for how we (you) live our daily lives?
- Paul acknowledges that "I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations," so how do we (you) acknowledge or adjust to something that is too large and complex to easily comprehend?
- How might the Presbytery/congregation/committee be guided by this Scripture?
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