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Presbytery of Blackhawk
CONNECTIONS
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It's not too early to think about Employer Agreements
The time to review Employer Agreements with the Board of Pensions for 2026 benefits is Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, through Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. During this period, employer representatives can log in to Benefits Connect to review benefits selections and pricing for 2026. Here is a link to the webpage.
| | Opportunity to visit Kenya in 2026 | | Applications (download application here) are now being accepted for the Blackhawk-Imenti Partnership Trip on September 22 through October 5, 2026. While in Kenya, we will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the partnership between our presbytery and the three Imenti presbyteries. The purpose of our trip will be to strengthen and grow our partnership. We also hope to inspire more church to parish partnerships built on the relationships built between our travelers and our hosts. While we are in the country, we will work together on a Memorandum of Understanding that will chart our path into the future. Finally, we will make time to go on safari to marvel at God’s beautiful creation! The application includes answers to most frequently asked questions. If you have further questions, please direct them to Pastor Claire Brennecka (clairebrennecka3@gmail.com) or Pastor Laurie Walker (laurelawalker@gmail.com). | | | | |
Ye Olde English Faire
October 4-5th, 2025
Live Renaissance Performances
Medieval Artisans
Castle "Open House"
Handcrafted Vendors
Cosplay
Royal Beer Garden
Royal Food Court
Food Trucks
Caterers
Stronghold Castle
1922 IL Route 2
Oregon, IL
| | | September 9, 2025 Assembly Meeting Recap | | |
On a beautiful Tuesday at Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center, we gathered for our Spirit-Inspired assembly meeting which provided fabulous music by our own and a special flautist, Pat Smith, who graced us with her Native American flute. Each person was given a colored ribbon to join a group that would decide how they would present a specific portion of the worship service and then presented it. The Holy Spirit was definitely present as we worshiped together in a spirit of collaboration and joy. Other key topics were:
- The presbytery voted to move forward with a name change to which everyone in the presbytery will be involved.
- The 2026 Budget and Per Capita were approved.
- Minimum Terms of Call, as guided by the Board of Pensions, were adopted.
- We celebrated stories of ministry through the Mission Committee’s report.
- We greeted a new pastor, said farewell to two pastors, and honored the retirement of one pastor.
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A recap of the meeting is available on the website here
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Indigenous Peoples' Day - October 13th
What Is Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors the histories, cultures, and perspectives of Indigenous peoples and their ancestors who lived on the land now known as North America. They existed in these areas for thousands of years before the first European explorers arrived. This day promotes awareness of Indigenous peoples’ struggles, resilience, and unique traditions, fostering understanding and unity among diverse cultures.
Where Indigenous Peoples’ Day is officially acknowledged, it is often celebrated in place of or alongside Columbus Day. This is in recognition of the disease, genocide, and slavery brought to the Americas through the interactions of Columbus and other European explorers with Indigenous peoples. In addition, the arrival of European explorers and settlers also meant that Indigenous peoples increasingly lost access to their ancestral lands and natural resources, which significantly impacted their ability to practice aspects of their cultures and traditions.
| | Presbyterians Supporting Christian Education | |
In 2020, Union Presbyterian Seminary sponsored a grant program called PSCE (Presbyterians Supporting Christian Education). This began as an opportunity for those interested in Christian Education, but we quickly expanded it to include CRE/CPs. The program with these two streams of cohorts has been very successful and has helped many in these important ministries.
The PSCE program provides cohorts of about eight people, with a facilitator, for support, education, and spiritual growth. The groups meet once a month for a year, and are offered a small stipend for their participation. Cohorts meet on Zoom andare made up of folks from around the country.
There is more information at www.upsem.edu/psce, or contact me and I'll send it to you. I hope you will share this information with folks in your presbytery who might be interested in one of these cohorts. Applications are due by November 30, 2025.
Please contact me with any questions, and/or with names and emails of others in your presbytery or synod who might want to receive this information.
Blessings on your important ministry,
Marilyn Johns, D.Min.
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Intersection of Climate Justice and Faith to be Explored
at 2025 Florence L. Warren Lectureship
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Rev. Abby Mohaupt, PhD, director of the Garrett Collective at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, will be the guest lecturer at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary’s 2025 Florence L. Warren Lectureship on Monday, October 20, 2025.
The lectureship is free and open to the public. It will begin with a lecture, titled “Praise God, All You Sea Monsters,” at 11:00 a.m. October 20 in Alumni Hall on campus with lunch to follow. A workshop, titled “Meet Your Neighbors: An Ecological Exploration,” will be held at 2:00 p.m. in Alumni Hall.
Please RSVP to UDTS@dbq.edu by Wednesday, October 15, 2025, to attend.
Mohaupt said her academic work on climate justice and faith builds on the work of and is possible because of the courageous grassroots leaders of the environmental justice movements. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Mohaupt has organized around climate justice in the PCUSA and around the world. Her first book, Climate Justice, Climate Hope: A Moral Economy, co-authored with Rev. Michael Malcom, MBA, MDiv, explores the relationships between Christianity, climate change, and economics.
A native of Northern Illinois, Mohaupt has roots in the Bay Area, New Jersey, and North Texas. She holds a doctor of philosophy from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey; a master of theology and master of divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois; and a bachelor of arts in religion and sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois.
The Florence L. Warren Lectureship, established through the generosity of the late Florence L. Warren, a friend of the seminary, has brought to UDTS distinguished scholars who have lectured on topics related to religion and culture.
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October Ordination and Commission Anniversaries
Barbara Bundick - 1991
Deborah Matthews -2006
Bogdan Mircea - 2014
Lauren Patrus-Betzel - 2017
Matthew Robinson - 1990
Michael Selburg - 2006
Rebecca White Newgren - 2007
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
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Lord, hear our prayer....
Gracious God,
You hold this day in Your hands,
and nothing is hidden from You.
In the midst of the joys, the struggles,
and the uncertainties of today,
we turn to You for strength, peace, and wisdom.
Guide our hearts toward compassion,
our words toward kindness,
and our actions toward justice and love.
Be present with all who are hurting, anxious, or weary,
and remind us that Your Spirit walks with us in every moment.
May Your light shine through us,
bringing hope into today and every day to come.
In Christ’s name we pray,
Amen.
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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
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
Transitional/Interim Pastor
First, Rochelle
See the CLC for more info - anyone can do an opportunity search
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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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