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.

January 13, 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.

We mourn the loss of the Rev. Marian “Pete” McCart. Pastor “Pete” died peacefully on the morning of January 9, 2023. She served many congregations in the Presbytery of Great Rivers and also in the Presbytery of East Iowa including: Gloria Dei, Rock Island; First, East Moline, Sugar Tree Grove; Westminster, Kirkwood; West Park, Davenport and prior to ordination at South Park, Rock Island.

No funeral service is planned, but she will be rec- ognized this Sunday during worship at 1st Presbyterian, Waterloo, IA. A gathering hosted by our church will take place in the spring to celebrate Pete’s life and ministry. Cards may be sent to: Marian Motz, 710 N Maple St., Burbank CA 91505

Church Support for Family Leave Grant

A New Grant to Support Family Leave

The Visioning Team is proud to present a new grant for churches whose pastors are on paid family leave.

At the 225th General Assembly, an overture was made to provide paid family leave for all called and installed clergy. Inspired by this overture, this new grant reimburses up to $1500 of pastoral coverage costs for all clergy (installed, commissioned, or temporary supply) on paid family leave. Regardless of whether the proposed overture becomes an official change to the Book of Order, this grant will remain

available to support churches whose pastors are on leave. We hope this will make it easier for congregations to care for their pastors who are experiencing major family and life changes.

This grant will reimburse congregations for pulpit supply and Session moderation costs, plus mileage, for up to 12 weeks of family leave. Family leave in this circumstance is defined as including but not limited to leave to accommodate the birth, foster placement, or adoption of a child, to provide care to an ill or disabled family member, or to heal following a loss or tragic event. Awards will be prioritized for churches most in need, as this fund is intended to help congregations make ends meet during family leave.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. To learn more or apply, please use this attached form. Applications and questions can be sent to visioning@greatriverspby.org.

AMENDMENT TO Called Presbytery Assembly:

January 28, 10am-noon over Zoom



The Leadership Team of Great Rivers Presbytery has called a Special Called Assembly for January 28th, 2023 at 10am over zoom. You must register for the assembly. The calling of this meeting has been amended by Leadership vote to have two purposes: voting on the 33 General Assembly Amendments and changes to the Administrative Commission of First United PC of Bushnell. As it is a Special Called Assembly, no other new business can be introduced during this meeting.

Within 10 days of the Assembly, all amendments, as well as many other helpful documents, will be uploaded to the presbytery website. Please contact Stated Clerk Elissa Bailey (pastorbailey.greatriverspby@gmail.com) for voting information if you would like to do this.

Per Capita Sunday is January 22, 2023



On the Per Capita Sunday website, you’ll find all kinds of resources:

•  The Lectionary Reading for the day;
•   Per Capita Sunday Liturgy including Spanish and Korean translations;
•  Per Capita Hymn - "Together We Are Joined;"
•  Videos of Per Capita Sunday Minutes For Mission; and
•   A wonderful story, “Understanding Per Capita,” written by Rev. Dr. Timothy Hart-Andersen, Senior Pastor/Head of Staff at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN. In his story, Tim writes, “Without per capita payments that provide the funding for presbytery, synod and General Assembly, the support needed in a crisis by the congregation I now serve, would not have been there.” The story also has Spanish and Korean translations.

Clerks Corner

Clerks and those who assist with the clerk's work, as you know, it is that time of the year. Many of you have had conversations with me about changes that have taken place with the annual statistical reports and you have noticed some different forms that were sent to you this year. First of all, let me first admit my mistake. I THOUGHT I sent out the completely updated letter but apparently missed something. I updated the day but not the years of the important dates.

Important dates:

December 2, 2022 for the day the portal opens for clerks.

February 16th, 2023 for the final day to enter in your statistics online.

I will be having several days of office hours over zoom. Feel free to "drop-in" if you have any questions about ANY of your forms.

Monday, January 16th from 9am to noon, 1pm to 3pm, and 4pm to 7pm

Tuesday, January 17th from 9am to noon and 1pm to 3pm.

Monday, January 23rd from 1pm to 3pm and 4pm to 7pm

Wednesday, January 25th from 9am to noon and 1pm to 3pm

The link will be the same for each time. 

Elissa Bailey (she/her/hers) is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Annual Statistical Report Assistance

Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86905228129?pwd=V2FNdks1ME5wUGNCejJKVmYzZVhvUT09

Meeting ID: 869 0522 8129

Passcode: 644696

Rev. Elissa Bailey

Presbytery of Great Rivers Stated Clerk

From Your Finance Team

The Presbytery of Great Rivers will be hosting Zoom classes taught by Amy Gardner (Presbytery of Great Rivers’ former Accountant) in early 2023. Each class will be 1 ½ hours long.

Monday, January 16 – 6:30PM -8:00PM – Financial and Human Resources Roundtable

Topics will include W-2s and 1099s, Per Capita, Restricted Funds, Record Retention, Insurance Requirements, Housing Allowances, Terms of Call, Professional Expenses, Employee Reimbursements, and HR Best Practices. Register at https://forms.gle/1Zp6B69TzcMR4KEKA

Monday, January 23 – 6:30PM-8:00PM - Annual Financial Review

The target participant for this class will be church volunteers who will be completing the church’s annual financial review. We will walk through the newly updated Volunteer’s Audit Guide for Churches & Other Non-Profits so volunteers have a better understand of the steps being taken and the rationale behind the steps. Register at https://forms.gle/rjqW6yrqA6LGmzgK9

2023 IRS Mileage Reimbursement Rate

For 2023 the IRS mileage reimbursement rates for businesses, individuals, and other organizations are as follows:

• 65.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from the midyear increase setting the rate for the second half of 2022.
• 22 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the Armed Forces, consistent with the increased midyear rate set for the second half of 2022.
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations; the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2022

The IRS goes on to say this increase applies to electric and hybrid-electric automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.

An annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile is used to set the standard mileage rate for business use.

The price of stamps is rising on January 22, 2023. Read more here.

Please click on the blocks below to follow the links:

2023 Assembly Dates

February 25, 2023 at 10 am at First Normal

April 29th at Westminster Springfield

August 26th at Peoria United

November pending

In-person and Virtual

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)

Bridge Presbyter John Rickard 309-683-6983 Email: jrickard@greatriverspby.org

He works remotely from Northern Illinois.

His regular schedule is Mon – Fri between 9am -5pm (Central Time)

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

Starting May 1st: the Stated Clerk's Office hours will be Mon - Thurs from 7:30am - 3pm. (Central Time)