This is the 100th Update! Think about it, where were you and what was happening in your life in July of 2020? Life looked a bit different and so did this very first Presbyark Update. A new presbytery staff, masks, and learning the ins and outs of Zoom meetings.

Today, I would like to take a moment to give thanks. To give thanks for wonderful colleagues and fabulous proofreaders; for the blessings of both online and in-person meetings; and for joy of an outdoor visit and the sacred embrace of a hug.

Blessings to you all, Julie Price, Presbytery Connector.

Transitions - As most of you know, my service as General Presbyter is coming to an end. On September 1, I will begin serving as the Transitional Pastor for the First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville. Before I took this position, I had targeted age 62 as a transitional time for me to start moving towards retirement. I had my 62^nd birthday at the end of July. My father-in-law served several congregations as an interim pastor at the end of his career in ministry and I have always been interested and intrigued by that role. I look forward to helping First United move towards calling their next installed pastor. Read more...

Just a friendly reminder that Boundary Training is required for ALL members of the presbytery. More specifically, that means Ministers, Commissioned Ruling Elders, Certified Christian Educators currently serving are required to have this training. If you are at-large, retired, or serving in a validated ministry, or supplying a congregation, or on the Pulpit Supply list, you too, need to have boundary training. If you are an Inquirer or Candidate, you need to get training. The deadline for getting this finished is January 1, 2025. After that date, you will be out of compliance with the Book of Order and disciplinary steps will be taken to get you back into compliance with the Book of Order. If you have already finished your training and have not sent me a copy of your certificate, please do so.

Click here to register through Synod of the Sun (no cost/only 40 per class).

Click here to register for the Safe Gatherings training (your cost, $29).

TODAY is Lulu's Love in Action Day at Vera Lloyd, PLEASE GIVE! Lulu Williamson was the founder of Vera Lloyd and a powerhouse and leader who devoted her life to children in need. She frequently quoted Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthened me.” 

Here we are, long since Lulu's time and the challenges facing many children in Arkansas can seem insurmountable, but Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services continues to rise to meet the challenge with the same determination and love that defined Lulu Williamson's dedication to children in need.

Today, August 15th, click here to join us as we continue to build on the foundation of Lulu's witness and faith.

Registration Closes September 1 for Youthquake 2024! Youth in grades 6 through 12 are invited to attend YouthQuake on September 13-15, 2024! This youth conference is a Presbytery of Arkansas tradition and a highlight of the year. Youth can expect time in small groups, worship, a keynote speaker, music, and games all at our beloved Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, AR.

Click here to learn more and register!

Social Media 101, An Online FREE Workshop! The Presbytery's Resource Team has hired media specialist Christen Kinard to lead an online workshop on September 26 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. This is your opportunity to bring along other people from your congregation that might be interested in learning the basics of building your church's social media presence and why this is so important for reaching people. This workshop will demystify social media platforms and teach you how to use them most effectively in connecting with your congregation and beyond.

Click here and register today!

Houses of Hope is an initiative Austin Seminary is launching to walk alongside our small rural churches. It is an invitation to join together exploring transformation through community, spiritual practices, storytelling, and deep relationships.

Houses of Hope is a four-phase process designed to seek transformation of individuals, congregations, and communities through accompaniment, spiritual practices, storytelling, and the building and strengthening of deep relationships.

They are seeking congregations to refine their process by completing one, or all, of the four phases and regularly providing feedback to our Hope Table coaches who accompany them throughout the process. In addition to the experience, they are also offering a $1,000 stipend for each of the phases completed. 

If you have questions about the Houses of Hope process, or if your congregation is interested in participating, email Rev. Phil Dieke (pdieke@austinseminary). Click here to watch their brief video learn more.

Stewardship Kaleidoscope will be held this year from Sept. 23-25 in Portland, Oregon. This annual conference is for all who are passionate about stewardship and generosity. It will be offered in person in Portland, with an alternate, online attendance option being offered for those who prefer to participate virtually.

Click here to learn more and register.

Adultquake '24 - Are you looking for a weekend of rest and renewal with other adults at camp? Are you a church leader who needs a Thursday - Saturday Sabbath event? Are you a grown-up Arkansas Presby kid who is missing your YouthQuake days?? Then we have a retreat for you!

Join us November 8-11 for a restful weekend. Thursday evening will be an optional add-on for anyone who needs to be back for their Sunday gigs. Our leadership is packed with amazing familiar faces in the Presbytery of Arkansas. We will hear keynotes from Rev. Anne Russ, be led in worship by Rev. Julianna and Rev. Alice Whitson, and Rev. Jeremy Wilhelmi will lead us in camp songs and singing of all sorts. 



Registration is open now! Click Adultquake to register. Coupon codes available (including young adults), if you need financial assistance. Please contact Sarah Leer for a code. 

Batesville, First, seeking a full-time pastor

Click here for the job description.

Click here for the Ministry Profile.

Click here to see other job openings.

First, Bentonville Welcomes Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee - You are invited to attend the August 18th, 10:15 worship service where Dr. Barbee will be preaching on Our Present Abundance. Then at 6:30 that evening, join her in the church library for a presentation and discussion "Migration Work Matters". She will be joined by Mission Co-Worker Rev. Dori Hjalmarson (serving in Honduras, and joining via Zoom).

In the evening presentation, Dr. Barbee and Rev. Hjalmarson will share their work with us and share ways that we can be supportive of our siblings in Central America.

To learn more about Dr. Barbee and her work, click here and scroll down in Bentonville's August newsletter.

The Rev. Dr. Ron Gilmer begins his service to Holiday Island - His ministry is bi-vocational. He will be teaching full-time. He has taught religion and history in middle schools, high schools and colleges since earning a Ph.D. in religion and American studies at Florida State University in 2001. He is a native of South Carolina and is moving here from Columbia SC. 

The next month promises to be an eventful one for him. He will marry The Rev. Dr. Judith McMillan (Bella Vista) on Saturday, August 24. His one and only daughter will be married in Southwest Virginia on September 7, and he will be officially welcomed to Holiday Island at 3:00 PM service on Sunday, September 15. 

Ron and his daughter have visited every Major League ballpark except for the new stadiums in Minneapolis and Arlington. He and Judi enjoy kayaking and live music. He is also a connoisseur of good writing. He is currently reading Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead.

Watch the latest report from the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery - Click on the photo left to learn more about the impact of recent weather events on congregations and communities across our 11 presbyteries over the past three months, including Hurricane Beryl, the spring Tornado Season, a 1,000-Year Flooding event in Guymon, OK, and ways you can volunteer and support disaster recovery needs today. 

Did you know that The Presbytery is retaining a bookshelf of physical resources for lending at the Presbytery office located at 9221 N. Rodney Parham Road in Little Rock. These resources are all listed on the Resource Center page which can be found on the Ministry Resource pages under General Resources.

To check out or inquire about a resource, contact Julie Price, Presbytery Connector, at 501-626-6477 or julietannerprice@gmail.com. Resources are free to check out to anyone associated with the Presbytery of Arkansas. Resources can be mailed outside of the Little Rock area.

If you are looking for a study we don't have, contact Julie Price about sharing the cost of the resource.

For All God's Children: Nine Practices for Engaging God’s Word and Forming Faith - A conversation with resource developer and children’s ministry leader Karen DeBoer. In it, she shares nine practices around the reading of Scripture and preaching that can help children engage more fully and that can serve as a model for all ages of how to engage Scripture outside of communal worship. Click here to read the Reformed Worship article. 

Let’s choose each other in a politically divided world. This 8-week program by The Colossian Forum invites Christians to cultivate mindsets and habits to grow in Christian virtue. This isn’t about changing political positions, but learning how to hold others’ beliefs –and still be in relationship with them. You’ll learn how to show up and love one another in these politically polarizing times.

Click here to download a sample.



Click here to learn more and order.