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. November 20, 2018 In This Issue Let Us Pray Let Us Pray Mark Your Calendar Happy Thanksliving Moderator's Conference Review Lux Summer Question for the Presbytery 2018 Annual Stats Youth Triennium Get Connected 1
(This will send this week's newsletter as an email to a friend!) This week, we invite you to pray for... Woodson - United Presbyterian Church Unity Presbyterian Church PO Box 4 Woodson, IL 62695 Rev. Robert Kerr Merle Meggison, Clerk of Session Gordon White, Treasurer Mark Your Calendar N O V E M B E R Admin Team Meeting Wednesday, November 28 1 pm - 4 pm Presbytery Office Office Closed November 21-23 D E C E M B E R Committee on Ministry Tuesday, December 4 10 am - 3 pm Peoria-First Federated Yates City - Faith United Presbyterian Church Faith United Presbyterian Church 107 W Bishop Yates City, IL 61572 Rev. Marla Bauler Donna Grubb, Admin Assistant/Clerk of Session Ava Kelley, Treasurer Faith United's website Faith United's Facebook page Office Closed December 19 - January 2 Click here for the PGR Calendar Please keep in your prayers Rev. David Daniel's friends and family, the Rock Creek Church as they mourn his tragic death in a vehicle collision last Saturday, and also prayers for Rev. Kay Daniel who is in the hospital with minimal injury. Details on memorial services are forthcoming. Let us please keep Grace, the daughter of Rev. Tim Doty (First Presbyterian Church of Geneseo) in your prayers. She has been very recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is currently in the hospital in St. Louis with liver complications. Her husband's name is Rick Voytas and they have two grade school 2
children. May we surround Grace, Tim, and the rest of their family with love and prayer as they enter into these critical days A Word From Your Lead Presbyter For Transformation: Thanksgiving can be a difficult holiday. One reason is that it is a holiday founded on myths and lies-- pilgrims did not come to peacefully immigrate into the existing Native American culture, or even to equitably share culture together; they came to replace it. Thanksgivings can be especially challenging after contentious national elections, when, based on what we have seen and heard, we may need to reconcile in real-time seeing beloved family members in a light we have never seen them before. There is also the myth that we are okay. The myth that we are fine. Sometimes, gestures of peace, unity, and positive spirits can feel like a lie. However, at the heart of our celebration efforts is a most divine spiritual exercise--not just giving thanks, but living thanks, not just because of our current condition, but in spite of it. I lift up here the distinction between celebrating a national day of Thanksgiving, and sharing a necessary moment of Thanks-living. Like many of you, I was shocked by the news that came out of Rock Creek Presbyterian Church in Tallula on Saturday, November 17th. Rev. David Daniel, who faithfully served that congregation for 14 years, was instantly killed in a vehicle collision west of Springfield. His wife, Rev. Kay Daniel, survived with only a few broken and fractured bones. The very next day, two congregations in our presbytery, the Rock Creek Presbyterian Church in Tallula and the First Federated Church of Clayton, gathered for Sunday worship to face preachers they had not planned to see. The plan was for Rock Creek to celebrate their 196th anniversary in just four short days with Rev. David Daniel. It was not their plan to experience a third pastor die while serving their congregation. In the midst of such realities, how can we center our thoughts on any kind of duty to feel thankful? In Luke 24, there is the story of the disciples on the Emmaus road, right after the death of Jesus. In their most honest hearts, this was not the plan. There was hope that Jesus would lead them into a brighter tomorrow. But now where were they to go? What were they to do? There are few moments in Scripture where the disciples face more grief, heartbreak, and shock. But their eyes are so laden with grief and pain that they cannot recognize Jesus joining them on the road. It is not until Jesus is at a table with the disciples, when he takes bread, and after giving thanks to God, he breaks it, and gives it to them...only then do their eyes open, and they recognize the risen Lord right in their midst. Image Credit: "Der Gang nach Emmaus," Fritz von Uhde, (1891). It is striking that it is precisely the moment that we feel most dejected that the divine chooses to meet us where we are--when we realize that Jesus was with us all along. Right in the center of our grief. God never leaves us. I am reminded here also of the power of presence--the power of walking with each other. There is something wholly sacred about saying, with or without words, "I am here." I am blown away by the number of texts and emails from across the presbytery offering prayers and pulpit assistance, how many pastors of neighboring denominations have been showing up to express their love and compassion. I even received a message from a local Springfield news anchor offering his sympathy for the Tallula community. For all of this and more, I am personally thankful. Often at Thanksgiving, we say what we are thankful for. This is the exercise of being able to name the resources around us that give us life. At the close of worship at Rock Creek, we were invited to reflect 3
on what we are thankful for--what resources remain available to us--and write it on a miniature pumpkin harvested from Kay's garden. One thing I noticed was that what was written down repeatedly were names, people. Even when asked on the day of the accident, one thing that Kay Daniel wanted the presbytery to know, was to "Hold your loved ones close." May we all embody a spirit of Thanks-living. May we hold our loved ones close. Bear one another's burdens. Name your most life-giving blessings explicitly. May we break through the myths and the lies that we are alone, somehow above the pain of suffering, so that the diamondshine of truth may pour forth--that you are loved. You are valued. You are appreciated. You are necessary. You are blessed. Let us remember that one of the greatest gifts we have...is each other. In the name of the Risen and Resurrected Lord who gives us life, Have a Blessed Thanksliving! Rev. Ryan J. Landino, Lead Presbyter For Transformation Cell: 309-251-9958 Reflections on the Moderators' Conference Last week our national Office of the General Assembly held a conference in Louisville Kentucky geared to the needs of new presbytery and synod moderators. I was privileged to be able to attend on behalf of the Presbytery of Great Rivers, along with our moderator-elect Maura McGrath Nagle. It was a chance for us to meet and interact with moderators from throughout the U.S., a rare opportunity in itself, but we were also able to gain knowledge important to our responsibilities from experienced national staff. Education sessions covered conduct of meetings, including use of Robert's Rules of Order, and smaller workshops were offered on a variety of topics including church conflict and racism. The conference was built around worship; it was great to gather several times for song and hearing of the Word with colleagues from across the country, and to hear outstanding preaching from our two General Assembly Co-Moderators, Cindy Kohlmann and Vilmarie Cintron-Olivieri. The conference ended with the showing of "The Genesis of Exodus", a new film from PC(USA) on the highly charged subject of immigration from Central America. Gary Terpstra, Moderator "CALLING ALL HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH!": Lux Summer Theological Institute for Youth A Place at the Table: Thinking Theologically about Hunger and Poverty Sunday, June 16-Sunday, June 30, 2019 Why are some people hungry while others have more than enough food? Are Christians called to respond to the needs of the poor? Is it possible to have a world without poverty and hunger? Theologically curious high school students are invited to apply before January 1, 2019 for the 2019 Lux Summer Theological Institute at Presbyterian-related Monmouth College (Monmouth, IL). 4
Funded by the Lilly Endowment, the Lux Institute is an opportunity for students to engage with a topic of global importance and participate in a living-learning community through study, worship, service, recreation, and vocational exploration. It's FREE! All expenses for the two-week covered, with program are the exception of travel. A free shuttle to/from Chicago airports is provided. Please forward to your High School Youth and Leaders! Questions for the Presbytery: "Does your church have solar panels or is in the process of getting them?" If so, please contact Rev. Cheyanna Losey, cheyannalosey@gmail.com! "Does any church have Nativity costumes for kids you can lend to us at Good Shepherd Rock Island? (Preschool to high school)." If so, please contact: Rev. Dawn Swartz 309-716-1839! 2018 Annual Stats Your annual statistic packet will be arriving soon! The opening date to enter stats is December 7, 2018 and the ending day is February 14, 2019. For assistance with your annual stats please call Patti at the office, 309-683-6980. PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH TRIENNIUM 2019 Here's My Heart Purdue University July 16-20, 2019 A classic melody for a new generation's voice! Get READY for the 2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium - a gathering for high school age youth from the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (entering 9th grade through graduated 12th grade)! The Presbytery of Great Rivers (Patti Parrish) will keep you informed about registration, event plans and travel information from the various sites. See Video 5
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