Connecting & Informing the Presbytery of Arkansas
October 6, 2022
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The Advent Roundtable is Today! |
Join us today, Thursday, October 6 at 1:30pm for the Presbytery's Advent Roundtable. Log onto the Presbytery Zoom for the opportunity to be inspired to do your Advent planning. There will be church leaders from around the Presbytery there to share ideas on worship, education, outreach, and more. We also want to hear your thoughts and ideas as well.
Click here for more information and to get the Zoom link.
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Important Presbytery Meeting Information |
After holding our last seven stated meetings and one called meeting of Presbytery on Zoom, we will finally return to an in-person meeting this month on October 28-29 at First Presbyterian Church in Bentonville. I will attempt to give you all the information you need to prepare for the meeting.
Time: Registration will open at 5:45 pm on Friday evening, October 28. It will be held in the Welcome Hall which is in the center of the facility. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm by Moderator Susan Arnold and worship will follow at 7:00 pm. On Saturday, October 29 we will begin with morning worship at 8:30 am followed by our theological discussion. Our business should conclude early to mid-afternoon on Saturday. Click here to read more.
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Join The Presbytery Staff In Conway |
The Presbytery staff loves getting to spend time connecting with the pastors, CREs, church professionals, and many elders of our Arkansas congregations.
Next Wednesday, October 12, we will be at First Presbyterian in Conway from 11:30am until 2:00pm to connect and share resources and information that will help support your churches. And to top it all off, we will feed you lunch!
Click here to register and place your lunch order by Monday, October 10, and we'll see you On The Road!
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Jason Tucker Workshop:
5 Key Components of
Post-Pandemic Evangelism
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Evangelism is an invitation to relationship. While COVID-19 severed the relationships between many casual attenders and their churches, we may be witnessing the start of the greatest evangelism opportunity of our lifetime. Our time together with Jason will give you some approaches to consider, but, it will also show you how to create the right approach for your ministry context. There will also be a time for people to ask questions about their specific churches.
Jason Tucker is a good friend of our Presbytery and a leader in the PCUSA on evangelism and vital churches. He is pastor of Tower Hill Presbyterian in Red Bank, NJ, which is one of our fastest growing PCUSA churches. He has been a speaker at our Presbytery, a guest at "We're Listening" and consultant with two of our churches.
Join us in-person on Monday, Oct. 17th at First Presbyterian Church in Rogers, AR (1901 S. 26th Street) from 10am until noon or live-stream with us on the Presbytery zoom. If you need the link, click here. This is NOT just for clergy but every member of every church who would love to see their church stronger and more vital.
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2022 Cotham Lectures
October 15 and 16 at Westover Hills
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The Cotham Lectures are scheduled at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church for the weekend of October 15-16. This year’s lecturer is Dr. Rachel Baard from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. The lectures will be held Saturday, 10/15, and Sunday, 10/16, in the evenings at 6:30pm. Dr. Baard will also preach and offer an “Ask the Theologian” Sunday School class on the morning of the 16th.
A native of South Africa, Dr. Baard grew up in the last years of Apartheid, and her experience opposing the racist regime helped shape her theological and ethical outlook. At Union Seminary, Dr. Baard teaches in the areas of theology, ethics, and inter-religious dialogue.
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Give, Act, and Pray: Hurricane Relief |
"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it."
— Song of Solomon 8:7
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) urges everyone to offer support to all those battered by the storms of this hurricane season. In the wake of catastrophic impacts from Hurricane Ian, recovery is ongoing in places hit by Hurricane Fiona, including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. With two more months of hurricane season before us and with storms becoming more frequent and severe, PDA recognizes the need for increased resources in order to be able to respond quickly and then to stay for the long term recovery efforts. Click here and give today to enable our response.
The needs for the response will be great. God’s people are called on to stand in the "GAP" — Give. Act. Pray.
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The Bridge Builders Reading Group 2022 |
The Bridge Builders Reading Group announces its Fall 2022 program. They will be studying the book Just Pursuit by Laura Coates. In her book, Coates tells stories from her years as a
Department of Justice prosecutor. Through these courtroom stories, Coates reveals her empathy for the victim, sometimes the defendant, other times the plaintiff. But in each case she helps us see something about cultural stereotyping as it impacts human beings.
The group will meet by Zoom on four Tuesdays, October 18 & 25, November 1 & 8, from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Click here to register in advance and you will receive a confirmation email containing information and a link to join the meetings.
Questions can be directed to members of the The BBRG Planning Team: Rev. Carol-Ann Blow, Rev. Bill Branch, Liz Branch, Dr. Wynona Bryant-Williams, Rev./Judge Marion Humphrey, David Murray.
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It feels wonderful on a Sunday morning to walk into one of the very oldest Presbyterian Churches west of the Mississippi River and hear the sounds of contemporary music from a newly and neatly outfitted worship space. First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock is providing welcome for a new expression of worship which meets at 9:30am on Sundays. Very talented and inspired musicians prepare for worship with the leadership of Annabel Hodges who is seen all over Little Rock leading in different worship conferences. The music, preaching and praying are inspiring and always leave us refreshed and joyful. (Traditional worship follows at 11am in the marvelous sanctuary.)
Slipping away for a Sunday visit will help build momentum in a start-up and all are welcome. If your church is striking out in new worship directions, we'd LOVE to highlight you in future Updates.
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3 Simple, High-Potential Things Most Churches Miss In Their Digital Strategy |
As a church leader, you probably struggle with social media, streaming services, and online ministry.
There are a million suggestions on what to do online, and at times it can feel overwhelming.
While the world seems to be focused on the move to online video content (especially short-form video content), there are three simple, often-missed ways to deeply increase digital engagement with your audience and the people you’re trying to reach.
What’s motivating about embracing these avenues is that you’re probably already good at them, you’ve already got the infrastructure set up, and you can implement them quickly and easily. Click here and read the article.
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APCE 2023 Registration is Open |
Registration is now open for the 2023 APCE Annual Event which will take place both in-person in Birmingham, Alabama on January 25 - 28 and online.
Click here to register. It will take you a few minutes, as there are many selections to make, but all of the information you need to register is already on the website
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- Thursday, 10/6 1:30-2:30pm Advent Roundtable
- Tuesday 10/11 2:00pm Staff Meeting
- Thursday 10/12 11:30-2:00 On The Road, First/Conway
- Friday 10/14-16 Youthquake
- Monday 10/17 10:00am-12:00noon Evangelism Workshop
- Tuesday 10/18 2:00pm Staff Meeting
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Presbytery of Arkansas
9221 N. Rodney Parham Road
Little Rock, AR 72227
501-663-2424
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