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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.
May 10, 2024
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PGR Newsletter Schedule
Newsletters go out the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. Please send any articles for publication to Crystal by Tuesdays at 5 pm.
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From the Lead Presbyter
Over the next several weeks, Elissa Bailey, Kay Daniel, and I will hold four Zoom gatherings for pastors, clerks, treasurers, and others who would like to know more about the changes to the Board of Pensions benefits plan that will go into effect in 2025.
We can guide you in comparing the plan options and working through the calculations so you have some idea about costs. Join us at any of the online gathering using this Zoom link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86311177531?pwd=T1BkWHkxOStVN2VTeFdVZTJHaHlQdz09
Meeting ID: 863 1117 7531
Passcode: 042990
Thursday, May 16, 6:30 pm
Wednesday, May 22, 10:00 am
Thursday, May 30, 6:30 pm
Wednesday, June 5, 10:00 am
We are working closely with the Board of Pensions, the Synod of Lincoln Trails, and others to explore ways to support congregations that may experience an increase in dues.
Details of the new plans can be found at: https://seasonofrebuilding.pensions.org/2025-plan-changes/dues-packages.
There are (or will be) other resources to help pastors and congregations understand and work through these changes:
Meantime, if you have any questions about terms of call or these Board of Pension changes, please contact Stated Clerk Elissa Bailey pastorebailey@gmail.com; Rev. Kay Daniel churchmouse12345@yahoo.com; or me aschwartz@greatriverspby.org.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Ann Schwartz
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Oasis Grants
The deadline for the final round of Oasis Grants for pastoral leaders is June 15. Pastors, commissioned pastors, chaplains, and others in validated ministries (full- or part-time) are encouraged to apply for funds for an activity, experience, or item that will spark joy and feed your spirit. If you have not already received one of these generous grants available through the Synod of Lincoln Trails, now is the time. https://lincolntrails.org/oasis-a-stop-in-the-wilderness/
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Save the Date: September 23-25, 2024
Registration is now open for Stewardship Kaleidoscope, 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) and other ecumenical partners, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to help participants explore stewardship as a joyful opportunity for the people of God.
There are options for in-person attendance in Seattle, Washington, and virtual attendance from the comfort of your office or home. For more information and to register, visit https://stewardshipkaleidoscope.org/
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Artificial Intelligence
A Message from PC(USA) General Counsel Mike Kirk
Sophisticated hackers are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deceive employees with deep fakes and email phishing scams. While AI is a useful tool to support work, it also offers bad actors a tool to advance their schemes to gain access to personally identifiable information, such as social security numbers and bank account information, and to try to persuade employees to transfer money to accounts controlled by the hackers.
Hackers are using phishing and social engineering to fabricate stories and situations to make employees feel uncomfortable and to pressure them to react and act quickly without checking to see if the email or deep fake video is legitimate. Below are some examples used in these email schemes:
- There is a problem with your account; please click on this link to correct.
- Attached is an invoice that must be paid immediately or we will cancel your account, and failure to pay will impact your credit rating.
- We are a government agency, and you have failed to act. If you do not respond, you will face legal consequences.
- It’s your sister. We are on vacation and we were robbed of all of our money and credit cards. Please immediately send us money at the link below.
Sometimes employees are asked to open an attachment; often, they are asked to click on a link. When they do, there is a likelihood that malware or ransomware enters your office system and destroys data and even entire systems. Train your employees not to fall for phony emails or deep fake videos displayed through a meeting platform such as Zoom.
Read more on how to protect yourself and your organization.
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Moderator Moment
Rev. Debra Avery describes how the congregation of United Presbyterian Church in Peoria is living into their mission of being a Matthew 25 church:
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With Thanks...
I would like to extend both my thanks to the people of this presbytery for their support during my time at seminary and an invitation to my ordination/installation service. I graduated from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary on April 27th, and have accepted a call to serve A Community of Faith in Raymond, IL, which is a federated Presbyterian & Methodist Church. This church is part of the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois, which means I must leave behind all the familiar faces of my faith family in PGR to become part of a new family in PSEI. If they are half as supportive and welcoming as you all have been to me, I will feel blessed indeed! The service for my ordination/installation will be held at 5pm on June 2nd at ACOF, located at 101 Belle St., Raymond, IL.
With sincerity and gratitude,
Lorna Blackford
Candidate, PGR
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Subscribe to PGR's YouTube Channel
We are working on adding to our presbytery's YouTube channel. We encourage you to subscribe to get notifications of our new videos. We also invite you to share your congregation's videos with us so we can share your work more widely. If you have questions, need help, or want to share a video contact Cheyanna Losey, cheyannalosey@gmail.com or 309- 299-4790.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7CXkkAsjR9Owi7gkXPtn8w
In our explorations of the presbytery's YouTube presence we found two channels. We have been able to find login information for one of them, but not the oldest one. If you have any information that would be helpful for us in tracking down that information please contact Cheyanna Losey, cheyannalosey@gmail.com or 309- 299-4790. https://www.youtube.com/@GreatRiversPby
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You're Invited to an Antiracism Training Retreat
at Stronghold Retreat Center from 4:00 pm May 31st to 1:00 pm June 1st.
As we seek to create a culture of justice, Presbytery of Great Rivers is partnering with Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training to learn how to identify and dismantle the systemic racism that afflicts us, our church, and the larger culture. Join us in building the beloved community God calls us to be. This workshop utilizes large and small group conversation and individual reflection, as well as applied practice of frameworks introduced to provide participants with both knowledge and experience. There will also be time for meals together, worship, and fellowship.
Cost: Thanks to a substantial contribution from Great Rivers Presbytery, this workshop will be $90 per person, with a discounted rate of $60 and supporter rate of $120.
Register Here: https://forms.gle/WDRcrAqi8KTJtsqL8
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Special Worship and Music Debut
On Sunday, June 23, 2024, a new musical piece will be debuted at the United Presbyterian Church in Mason City in honor of the many years of service by Pastor Emeritus Rev. Mark S. Kim and Helen Kim, former music director. This choral piece, “Be Kind and Love One Another,” has been commissioned and is composed by Pepper Choplin, renowned composer of Christian music. The worship service at the UPC of Mason City is at 10:15 AM. All are welcome to this worship service and the premier of this choral piece. A light reception will follow the service. For those who would like to sing with the choir, or if you have questions, please contact Peter Kim at 630-689-7873, pkimruns@gmail.com.
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Wilderness Christian Camp

Register now for summer camp, which will be held June 9-14, 2024 at Stronghold Camps & Retreat Center near Oregon, IL. The rustic setting includes 2 wooden cabins that sleep 8 each, pavilion, picnic tables, cold running water, and a porta potty in each unit. Campers will cook their own meals over a campfire, clean up the dishes, and gather the firewood needed for each meal.
Activities include Bible study, worship, and swimming each day; crafts, hiking, time in nature, games. There will be special events as well: a castle tour and trunk treats for everyone, and high ropes, canoeing and/or initiatives for older campers. Archery will be new this year.
Costs: Junior Campers (3rd-5th grades): $200; Junior High (6th-8th grades): $250; CIT (high school): $250
For more information on the camping experience, go to www.wildernesschristiancamp.org or check out the Facebook page: Wilderness Christian Camp. For individuals or congregations who would like to support the camp with your financial gifts, call Mary Watts, member at Faith United PC in Yates City, at 309-645-8988.
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Is God Calling You to Serve?
The Presbytery's Nominating Committee is beginning our work finding our next class of committee officers. If you are interested in learning more or volunteering, please contact Gary Terpstra, g.terpstra@comcast.net, 217-415-2090 or Cheyanna Losey, cheyannalosey@gmail.com or 309- 299-4790.
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Clerk's Corner
Greetings! It has been a long few months but we have finally made it to some warmer weather!
I have just returned from taking the presbytery minutes of East Iowa to the Synod review. If you are a clerk and often curious about the process of stat reporting and recording keeping for the session clerks, know that presbytery clerks get to do the same thing!
I wanted to share an interesting thing I came across. Recently, I was reading some old Session minutes from a church that recently closed. I was reading minutes from 1906. The clerk was recording the annual statistical report in the minutes that they had sent to General Assembly that year! It was interesting to see what information was recorded and fun (well, fun to me) to know that this hasn't changed in over 100 years!
I will be having our next Clerk's Convo on May 17th at 1pm. This is for all session clerks or those who help do the clerk's duties. This is not mandatory but instead a time for clerks to gather over zoom to ask questions they might have and seek information from another and myself.
Here is the zoom meeting:
Elissa Bailey (she/her/hers) is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Clerk of Session Meeting
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82477487297?pwd=ZXNIc29YRit3cTE2SGhsK0N5YzUrZz09
Meeting ID: 824 7748 7297
Passcode: 832216
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Job Postings and Classifieds
Have a story to contribute?
Congregations and presbytery groups are encouraged to submit items of interest to office@greatriverspby.org.
Need to post a job, classified, or church need?
To advertise a job, classified, or church need, send a description and details to office@greatriverspby.org.
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Open Searches for Pastoral Leadership in Great Rivers

Associate Pastor for Family Ministry, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Springfield
More information
Solo Pastor, College Avenue Presbyterian Church
More information
Solo Pastor, Hamlet-Perryton Presbyterian Church
More information
Pastor, Yoked Ministry, New Windsor Presbyterian Church and Rio Presbyterian Church
More information
Are you interested in part-time or interim pastoral service?
Contact LP Ann Schwartz at 309-683-6983
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COM Wants to Connect with You
The new COM Pastoral Care Team is looking to connect with your congregation. Would you please add pgrnewsletters@gmail.com to the email distribution listing for your church’s monthly newsletter? We’d like to read all about it and be able to celebrate anniversaries and other special events in your church with you.
Thank you! Mary Watts
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From Your Finance Team
Churches,
The first quarter of 2024 just flew by Statements were mailed around the middle of April.
Please take the time to review your statement. Contact Sabrina with any questions or concerns.
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.
2024 Per Capita is $37.25, an increase of $1.00
2024 Per Capita is based on your final membership numbers reported for 2022.
The annual Per Capita mailing was sent late last fall to the mailing address we have for your church. Packets were mailed to the attention of your clerk of session. If for some reason you didn't receive it, please let us know.
We’ll happily send you another copy.
Thank you to all churches who have contributed towards Per Capita
We’ve had 24 churches pay their 2024 per capita in full!
Thank you to Aledo-Sunbeam, Athens – Indian Point, Bartonville, Carlinville, Carrollton, Carthage, Chenoa, Clayton, Coal Valley, Divernon, Elmwood, Eureka, Greenview, Mason City, Media, Milan, Morton, New Windsor, Normal-New Covenant, Oneida, Orion, Reynolds, Rock Island, & Springfield - Korean!
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%
This change is effective immediately.
The attached letter & revised remittance form was sent via email to the clerk of session & if submitted the financial contact for your church. The PGR website also has the revised form available.
PGR Shared Mission Giving Letter 2024 Remittance Form (Revised 5/1/24)
Please reach out to either of us with any questions or concerns.
Thanks,
Sabrina McGrath - Bookkeeper
Bill Strawbridge – Treasurer
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Presbyterian Women’s 2024 Gathering
Get ready for PW’s 2024 Churchwide Gathering which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, August 8–11, 2024. Registration is now open!
QC-Area churches: want to carpool to the Presbyterian Women National Gathering this August? Please contact Milan Presbyterian Church (firstpresmilan@gmail.com) to talk about options. We have a few women attending, and we'd love company in the car to cut down on costs!
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Grants from Your Visioning Team
Grant applications are open now! Check out our Mission page
(http://www.greatriverspby.org/mission.html) for information about the Visioning grant to support programming and projects in churches and partner organizations, as well as grants for sabbatical assistance and funding while clergy are on paid family leave. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and the Visioning Team is ready to answer your questions. Contact us at PGRVisioning@greatriverspby.org to learn more!
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Assembly Dates for 2024
Saturday, August 24th -10 am in-person with Zoom option at 2nd Pres., Bloomington
Saturday, November 9th - 10 am in-person with Zoom option at United Pres., Peoria
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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.
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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?
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