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Presbytery of Blackhawk
CONNECTIONS
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Coffee in Your Corner
August 12, 2025
10:00 am
Shawn's Coffee
204 Somonauk St.
Sycamore, IL
Come see us!
We want to connect with you...
| | | First Presbyterian Church - Wilmington | | | | On June 29, 2025, the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington was dedicated as a historic landmark in Wilmington, honoring it as the oldest church in the city. | | | Second Congregational/First Presbyterian of Rockford | | |
The Rev. Martha Langford was installed as pastor of Second Congregational/First Presbyterian Church of Rockford on Sunday, June 8.
It was Pentecost Sunday, which was a milestone for Martha who was ordained on Pentecost Sunday in 2007.
Congrats Rev. Langford!
| |  | | | Mission and Community Outreach | |
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Buddy Bags
First Presbyterian Church, Sterling
Volunteers gather to prepare weekend buddy bags.
| | | | Sterling Buddy Bags began in 2015 at First Presbyterian Church in Sterling, IL. At that time, we packed 18-20 bags a week. As the program grew, we looked and found a place to pack the bags with way fewer steps. Many thanks to Wesley United Methodist Church for housing our program. It started out with a $1500.00 grant from Synod of Lincoln Trails as seed money to try something new. We wanted to do something that was Community based, sustainable, and respond to an ongoing need. At that time, 3 of every 4 students in the Sterling elementary and middle schools were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. A number of children face hunger over the weekend and benefit from this program. We are now packing around 159 bags each week (which now includes students at the high school). We never know the names of the students; only how many bags are needed at each school. The bags are packed and put in crates and are picked up by school staff. The staff place the bags in the student's locker on Thursday. The crates are returned each week to the church. The original $1500.00 has long been spent and we recently received a grant for $1500.00 to help us sustain our program along with other donations received. The program is supported by numerous churches and civic groups with the cooperation of the Sterling Public Schools. We give all the Glory to God for being able to provide for his children. | | | |
First Presbyterian, Sterling
Volunteers help pack weekend buddy bags for students.
| | | NEXT CHURCH NATIONAL GATHERING | |
Pathways
Each gathering participant will register for one of the five pathways intentionally curated to provide unique ways to explore the issues leaders are facing right now. Pathways are led by a leader with an expertise in their content area and accompanied by coaches who will help participants unpack what they are learning, invite insight about what it means for personal leadership and action, and move towards application in their particular context.
Pathways will meet for six sessions over the course of the gathering. Some pathways plan to meet off-site for either Session 2 or 4. Read the descriptions closely for those details.
There are five great pathways. Which path will you take?
Community Organizing
Building Movements for a more just world
More than Good Intentions
Aligning your Mission Ministries for Impact
Leading through Communal Trauma
Proclamation and Public Ministry amid Traumatic Overwhelm
Art as Resistance
An awakened imagination is the most dangerous thing to the empire
Cultivating Community
Cultivating Communities of Resistance in the face of Evil
For more information, click on the link here.
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Stronghold Castle is featured in this book as one of eight places with secret passages
The book focuses on eight buildings with secret passages and rooms, all in the northeastern quadrant of the United States, all publicly accessible and all luxurious estates, except for one - Manhattan's 21 Club, which has a secret wine cellar built in its days as a speakeasy during Prohibition.
Many of the homes date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, built by new millionaires, whose success came as the nation moved from agrarian to industrial.
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Stewardship Kaleidoscope
New Orleans September 22-24, 2025
Attend In-Person or Virtually
Stewardship Kaleidoscope is an annual conference offering excellent plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences, and incredible networking opportunities for all passionate about stewardship and generosity. Drawing leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), the Lutheran Church (ELCA), and other ecumenical partners, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to help participants explore stewardship in its many colorful dimensions!
Our mission is to create an annual event that:
- Ignites Generosity
- Gives Practical Tools for Cultivating Generosity in Congregations
- Expands the Leadership Capacity of Those Who Lead Stewardship Initiatives
- Cultivates Adaptive Approaches for Funding Christ’s Mission
Virtual attendance includes all four (4) Plenaries, both worship services, and these eight (8) workshops (A-11, A-12, B-11, B-12, C-11, C-12, D-11 and D-12). You will have access to the livestream and to the recordings of these sessions and can attend live when they are scheduled or later, at your convenience.
For more information or to register, click here.
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July Ordination and Commission Anniversaries
Stephen Bowie - 1988
James Friesen - 2013
Murray Hanson - 1973
Mark Morrison - 1983
Gary Panetta - 2015
David Spaulding - 1991
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
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Lord, hear our prayer....
Prayers go out to our Presbyterian families that have suffered unimaginable loss in the flooding, wildfires and an earthquake throughout our country.
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Are you doing something new or interesting in your church from which others might learn?
You have a standing invitation to send us articles, pictures or information to share.
See how to send us large videos under Resources (above).
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Solo Pastor: Installed
Ridgefield Crystal Lake
Solo Pastor: Installed
Westminster, Rockford
Solo Pastor; Installed
First, Dixon
Solo Pastor; Installed
Waltham, Utica
Commissioned Ruling Elder
Fulton, Fulton
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Solo Pastor: Installed
First, Fairbury
Commissioned Ruling Elder
First, Fairbury
Solo Pastor, Yoked Ministry
First, Mendota
See the CLC for more info - anyone can do an opportunity search
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PER CAPITA
The per capita assessment for:
2025 is $44.00
Church payments are posted monthly on the website
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Presbytery of Blackhawk
Our Vision and Values
Grounded in the biblical image for human community, as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we challenge and support congregations to be thriving faith communities by facilitating competent leadership and resourcing to energize ministry and mission.
As Christians, guided by the principles of love, trust, open communication, and genuine relationships, we value each other as sisters and brothers in faith in all our varied theological understandings. Therefore, we relish respectful discussions of differing opinions as a necessary part of discerning the will of God.
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