Connecting & Informing the Presbytery of Arkansas
January 20, 2022
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Welcome Rev. Jody Welker, Jr. |
Jody Welker is the Transitional Pastor at Second Presbyterian in Little Rock. Born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, he is a graduate of Auburn University and Union Presbyterian Seminary. Jody retired in June of 2021 after years of serving churches in North Carolina and Tennessee.
Jody and his wife, Sharon, have two adult children, Anna and Joe. Jody has led numerous mission trips and he has a great interest in interfaith relationships.
For fun, Sharon and Jody enjoy walking, going to the theater, sporting events and good meals with friends. They met at Auburn and so are big Auburn Tiger fans. Jody also enjoys playing golf.
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Bridge Builders Reading Group
Selects Book for Spring 2022 Session
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Bridge Builders (BBRG) the ecumenical study group promotes civil conversations, encourages community, promotes building relationships with enough grace and trust to return to the table after we have confused and disappointed each other. The purpose is to build bridges together. Because of BBRG, people from different educational, racial, economic, religious, and worldview perspectives have discovered that we share unity in our diversity and that by exploring intersection of our interests and our issues, we can build common cause in addressing ills in Little Rock, Arkansas and the United States.
The spring book selection is My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem. Menakem, a licensed social worker, looks at issues of race in a new way. Menakem makes the case that “we need to begin with the healing of trauma—in dark-skinned bodies, Read More...
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Rev. Fred Babb
by David Gill
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The Reverend Fred Babb passed away on Christmas Eve and I represented Ferncliff at his funeral service at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth. Fred was the camp’s first full time professional Director when he was hired in 1985. He and his wife Yvonne lived on site and served Ferncliff until 1996. We owe Fred a debt of gratitude for his work that laid the groundwork for Ferncliff’s success. Read more...
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Youth Trip Deadline Extended to
January 28
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Registration for all youth trips is now due by January 28, 2022.
All information including new reduced trip prices and registration forms are posted on the Youth A-Team page! Click here to register. For more information, contact Rev. Brianne Christiansen, Interim Director of Youth Ministries (brianne@presbyark.org).
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Radical Reformation (OLLI Class) |
The Protestant Reformation of the early 16th century was a diverse movement with a wide variety of patterns of worship, belief, and practice.
Join Dr. Phil Butin, co-pastor of First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville and former President and Professor of Theology at San Francisco Theological Seminary, as we explore the contributions of some of the lesser-known and more counter-cultural reformers who exemplify this diversity. The book, Spiritual and Anabaptist Writers, edited by George Huntston Williams and Angel M. Mergal, will be used as a primary source for our discussions. The three-week course will meet on three Fridays, February 11, 18, and 25 from 1:30-3:30. The course will either be in person or completely via Zoom, depending on the status of the virus when we begin.
You can register for the course at the website for the Osher Lifelong Learning website at the University of Arkansas. The OLLI Spring catalogue will be available at the OLLI website by the end of January.
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We Still Need Your Photo! |
Thank you to everyone who has sent in a photo and directory updates. We want to have a photo to go with each entry in our Presbytery's in-C directory. We've already started adding some, so look up your name by clicking here. If there's no photo or if there's one and you don't like it, send a new one to Julie Price at julietannerprice@gmail.com. If you aren't yet in the directory and would like to be or if there's information that needs to be updated on your page, let Julie know that as well. If you don't remember the directory password, just ask.
Think how wonderful it will be when you can put a face to everyone's name. So get busy and send Julie those photos!
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FULL-TIME YOUTH DIRECTOR SEARCH
@ 2nd Pres LR
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Second Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, is a vibrant and loving church in search of a full-time Director of Youth Ministries. The church offers generous benefits and a great work environment with caring colleagues. They will support and encourage you in ministry while you lead the youth and college students. Second Church loves to nurture young leaders and looks forward to finding their next Director of Youth.
Click here to see the job description and learn how to apply.
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Best Practices for Pastoral Search Committees |
Join Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed and PRC (Practical Resources for Churches) on January 20 at 6:00pm in a discussion on how pastoral search committees can find the right pastor for their congregation. They'll talk about topics like where to search, how to review materials, what questions to ask of yourselves and the candidates, and how to communicate with the candidates. They'll include some tips for small churches and part-time calls as well.
The webinar will be available on demand after the original airing time. Click here to register.
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Opportunities to Train and Strengthen Preachers |
If you are a regular preacher and would like to strengthen aspects of your preaching, you might find helpful a series of free monthly zoom workshops. Coordinated by Synod Interim Executive Chip Hardwick (Ph.D., Homiletics/Preaching, Princeton Theological Seminary), this series of one-off workshops will include preaching scholars from across the country. Each zoom will be held the first Wednesday of the month from 10:00 to 11:30am. Sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend live.
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Learn to inspire climate change action
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“It’s a great way for Presbyterians to learn more,” said Jessica Maudlin Phelps, Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Concerns for PHP. “The quality content that Blessed Tomorrow provides is consistently impressive, both for beginners and folks that already have some Climate Change experience.” Click here to learn more and register.
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Presbytery of Arkansas
9221 N. Rodney Parham Road
Little Rock, AR 72227
501-663-2424
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