Wish us Happy Birthday! Our 1001 New Worshiping Community "Queer Collective" is 2 years old and thriving! In January of 2023, we began with about 15 folks gathering for monthly potlucks and to prepare families to testify in the Arkansas Legislature against bills that would harm our LGBTQ loved ones. As we gathered, we grew in size and learned about the needs of our community, and started offering Parent Support Groups, and an Identity Exploration group, as well as fun stuff like Game Nights and Karaoke, and more serious offerings like spirituality support, ally trainings and self-defense. In the fall of '23, we received our first grant from the PCUSA 1001 NWC, which the Presbytery of Arkansas matched, enabling us to hire an organizer and offer much-needed childcare during events for parents, as well as community enriching... Read more!

First Presbyterian of Bentonville was certified as an Earth Care Congregation by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Presbyterian Hunger Program through February 2026. The Earth Care Congregation certification is designed to recognize churches that make the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden.

This PC(USA) national program, which began in 2010, is celebrating 15 years of certifying churches and celebrating environmental ministry across 4 major areas of a congregation’s life: worship, education, facilities, and outreach in the community. Earth Care Congregations exist as strong community partners in their own areas as well as models for Presbyterian congregations across the country. One of the goals... Read more!

Just a Reminder:

• Don't forget that all ordained MWS members of the Presbytery of Arkansas and CREs serving congregations must get their 2025 Compensation reports turned in to Stated Clerk, Blake Brinegar, revbrinegar@gmail.com, by March 31st.

Mission: Possible 2025, April 4-6 in Northwest Arkansas - NOW OPEN TO ALL YOUTH!

Register here by Friday, March 21

During this weekend event, youth will be serving with our Presbyterian partners in Bentonville. Mission: Possible is a youth retreat in the Spring centered on service. This year we will be serving throughout Northwest Arkansas and staying in Bentonville. 



Cost: $75 per youth (financial assistance available by request)



Who can attend:

• Youth (6th-12th Grade)

• Young adults (18-23) and Adult leaders who will serve as chaperones.

Questions? Contact Sarah Leer, Transitional Youth and Young Adult Developer

PC(USA) Leader Formation Webinar: Pondering God with Presbyterians - You can now watch the recorded webinar with Martha Moore-Keish, the J.B. Green Professor of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, as she explored some basic theological convictions of our faith, including what we hold in common with other Christians and peculiar treasures of the Reformed tradition.

Want to learn more about the mystery of the Trinity, justification by grace through faith, or the puzzle of predestination? Click here!

Apply to be in the Fall Around The Table Initiative Cohort. Thanks to a Lilly grant, you may have an opportunity to be part of a cohort designed to strengthen the role of households in nurturing lifelong faith and discipleship in Jesus Christ.

Click here to learn more and apply!

Deadline to apply for fall cohort is Friday, May 2, 2025.

Registration is open for the 2025 Worship & Music Conference, Clothed in Love, in Montreat, NC, June 15-20 and June 22-27. Join musicians and worship leaders for the most widely-attended annual conference of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denomination.

Click here to learn more and register!

Mission of The Church Grants - The deadline for this year's first round of MOC grants is Tuesday, April 15. Dream big about the mission work your church/Presbyterian organization might undertake this year and let the MOC help you realize your dream by awarding you a grant of up to $1,500.

Click here for information about registering. Direct questions to committee moderator, Peg Falls-Corbitt.

Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services is hiring a Special Event Coordinator. If you are interested, contact Kerri Daniels at kerridaniels@veralloyd.org.

Free Easter Outreach: Egg-Venture!

Download Sharechurch's FREE Egg-Venture resource and enhance your Easter outreach with: 

• Ready-to-use promotional materials for Easter egg hunts
• Neighborhood outreach activities like "Egg Your Neighbor" that spread joy (and invitations!)
• Versatile Easter-themed activities for children and families
• Adaptable materials for classroom settings including crafts, stories and creative activities.

The "Egg Your Neighbor" activity is especially effective for connecting with new families in your community while sharing the Easter message in a fun and creative way!

Click here and download Egg-Venture now and continue planning your meaningful Easter outreach that extends beyond the walls of your church. 

Reimagining & Reinventing Church Property - Explore these exciting resources from the Office of Innovation of the Interim Unified Agency (PC[USA]) designed to help churches transform property for mission:

• The Good Futures Accelerator gamifies interactive discernment for churches exploring

social enterprise.

• “How-to” guides address essential considerations: partnership, development, rental, and tax information.

• Affordable Housing and Social Enterprise Inventories provide connections and inspiration for PC(USA) churches and presbyteries innovating with property. 

Click here and learn more today!

Upcoming PRC (Practical Resources for Churches) Webinars:

• How The Side Hustle Is Changing The Face Of Pastoring

Tuesday, April 1

1:00 – 2:00 PM

• Imagining Good Futures on Church Property Tuesday, May 6

1:00 – 2:00 PM

Confirmation Camp 2025 - A great time was had by all at the Presbytery's Confirmation Retreat February 28-March 5. Nine youth came together for prayer and learning. From playing horseshoes to making s'mores to tackling a "church problem" in a mock session format, the weekend was full of insightful, thoughtful discussions and big questions about faith.

Thanks to Drew, Kristi, Sarah, and Jared for leading. A big THANKS to the generosity of Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center for partnering with us to make this retreat a reality!