Connecting & Informing the Presbytery of Arkansas
January 19, 2023
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Join Us At 11:00am This Morning
at the Lent Roundtable Discussion!
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This morning, Thursday 1/19, join the Lent Roundtable discussion from 11:00am until 12:00 noon on the Presbytery's Zoom. Planning for Lent may have been hanging over you, but this is your chance to have your imagination sparked!
During the first half of our time together, we will be joined by the founder of A Sanctified Art, Lisle Gwynn Garriety, who will share all about their new Lent series. Then we have folks from around the Presbytery who will share more ideas to start things flowing and help you plan the best Lent/Easter ever.
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Statistical Reports Due By 2/16 |
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It is that time of year again. It is annual statistical season for our congregations. The Clerks of Session should have received an email letting them know their user ids and passwords.
If you are still unsure of how to access the annual statistical report, feel free to contact Kim Palmer, kim@presbyark.org, or our Stated Clerk, Blake Brinegar, revbrinegar@gmail.com, for assistance. The deadline to submit the reports is February 16, 2023. Thank you for help in getting these reports in by the deadline.
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Book Discussion: The Art of Gathering |
A friend gave me the book, The Art of Gathering. It kind of rocked my world as I thought about all of the church events I've attended over 30 years of ministry. Many of the events looked the same year over year. Many of them did not seem to help people connect with one another. This book invited me to think creatively and consciously about how our church gatherings can lead to deeper connections. I'm inviting you now with the help of Georgia Senor, pastor at First Bentonville, to engage in thought and discussion about a very critical aspect of our churches' lives on our Presbytery Zoom, Thursday, January 26 from 10am - 11:30am. (Even if you haven't read the book, you will still benefit from the discussion and are most welcome.) Click here for the link to join.
Georgia not only read the book but has utilized its concepts in her doctoral project research. She speaks from personal experience about how powerful intentional gatherings can be. She has also participated in a gathering hosted by the author, Priya Parker. Talking with her today, I got more and more excited about the possibilities for application in our church events. If you have read the book and applied it, join us, please, and share what you did. I think this is very important and hope a lot of you will join us. Carol Clark, Presbytery 'Builder'.
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Welcome Yvonne Thurmond to First, Yellville |
The Rev. Yvonne Thurmond was installed as pastor of First Presbyterian of Yellville this past Sunday, January 15.
Pictured from left to right are: RE Meg Simmons (Bull Shoals), RE Tim Kelly (Yellville), MWS Stewart Smith (General Presbyter), MWS Yvonne Thurmond (Yellville), MWS Susan Arnold (Moderator of the Presbytery), MWS David GIll ( HR Presbytery of Arkansas), RE Stacy Shinke (Harrison), MWS Dick Shinkle (HR, Presbytery of Arkansas)
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The Honduras Subcommittee of the Presbytery Mission Committee is excited to be able to renew our pre-COVID practice of coordinating an annual mission trip to Honduras by interested Presbyterians and others. Our 2023 trip is planned for March 18-26. Approximate cost will be in the $1200-$1500 range. The trip via the new international airport near Comayagua will consist of a combination of deepening our partnership with Honduran Presbyterian Christians and several days of hands-on service.
Our base of operations will be Villa Gracia, the Presbyterian conference center that was donated to the Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of Honduras through donations from PCUSA Presbyterian Women and other US Presbyterians, near Tegucigalpa. In addition to hands on service opportunities, we will travel to several congregations to worship, fellowship, and learn with Honduran Presbyterians, and prayerfully discern together various ways of strengthening God’s work in Honduras through our partnership.
If you are interested in exploring this exciting possibility, please contact Rev. Phil Butin by phone, text, or email (479-200-6473; pbutin@fupcfay.org) and plan to join us for an initial Zoom orientation meeting on Thursday, January 12, at 7:00p.m.
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We're Listening: The Amendments |
On Thursday, February 9th at 10:00 am there will be a discussion on the Proposed Amendments to the Book of Order. This discussion will be held on the Presbytery’s zoom account. Click here to get the link to join.
The aim of the discussion is to introduce and familiarize ourselves with the amendments before the March meeting of the Presbytery. I have included a link for the Book of Proposed Amendments. Note, there are 33 amendments coming before the Presbytery to vote on. Also be aware that the Book of Proposed Amendments is lengthy, about 133 pages. Don’t worry, the last half of the book is a complete rewrite of The Rules for Discipline, and several of the amendments are pretty straightforward. We will start with the amendments which seem to be generating the most attention and work our way from there. I look forward to seeing you at the discussion. Blake Brinegar, Stated Clerk
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Invitation to Retreat, A Book Discussion
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"If you don't come apart for a while, you will come apart after awhile."
These words by Dallas Willard highlight the importance of pastors and all people finding ways to 'rest' and more specifically to 'rest with the Lord'.
Invitation to Retreat by Ruth Haley Barton reminds us of what is so easy to forget in the rush of ministry and life and that spending friendship time with God is so needed. On Thursday, February 23 at 1pm, everyone is invited to join a discussion about 'retreating' - retreating not in a place apart, but from a place within.
The kindle book is available on Amazon. They also have the hardback but delivery looks slow. Christian books has the book in stock. The reading is appealing and might be a possibility to form a series for your congregation because being super busy isn't a province of pastors alone. We will meet by zoom on the Presbytery's zoom platform.
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Director of Youth &
Young Adult Ministries Opening
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First United in Fayetteville is looking for a full-time Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries.
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Elevation Retreat For Worship Leaders |
Worship Design Studio and Marcia McFee are hosting a worship design and spiritual renewal retreat for pastors and worship leaders May 18 - 23 at Zephyr Point on the beautiful shore of Lake Tahoe.
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Inviting All 5th-8th Grade Students,
High School Helpers, and Adult Chaperones!
The Youth A-Team (YAT) is excited to bring this new junior high experience to y’all!
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Presby+: Your Junior High
Ferncliff Experience is like summer camp at Ferncliff plus a little extra!
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You’ll spend the week in cabins with Ferncliff counselors plus other Presbytery junior highers.
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You’ll attend all-camp vespers and some all-camp activities, plus you’ll have special activities hosted by Presbytery adult chaperones and high school helpers.
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Plus on Wednesday afternoon, you’ll head off-camp for a special Little Rock outing!
We hope you join us June 18-23 for
extra fun at Presby+ 2023!
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Did you know that Columbia Seminary received a Lilly endowment that allows it to offer ReKindle grants that will make Impact Grants of up to $10,000 to support projects designed to enhance congregational vitality in a post-COVID-19 context to congregations that are accepted into the program?
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Did you know that Google Ad Grants will show your message to people searching for nonprofits like yours?
Each qualifying nonprofit has access to up to $10,000 per month in search ads shown on Google.com.
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- Thursday 1/19 11:00am Lent Roundtable
- Tuesday 1/24 11:15am Staff meeting
- Thursday 1/26 10:00am The Art of Gathering Book Discussion
- Thursday 1/26 2:00pm Mission of the Church
- Tuesday 1/31 10:00am 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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