Volume 36 /December 16, 2021
The Presbyark Update
Connecting & Informing the Presbytery of Arkansas
December 16, 2021
“O Rest Beside the Weary Road
and Hear the Angels Sing”
A Christmas Message From Stewart Smith
Back in November I officiated a memorial service for Rev. Bruce Williams, a former Naval Officer and Navy Chaplain and an ordained PCUSA minister. Bruce was the husband of Rev. Tracy Julian Williams who served in our presbytery a few years ago at Harmony Presbyterian Church in Clarksville. One of the hymns Bruce had requested for his service was “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”. It was the first time I had heard that played at a Memorial Service. It was important and meaningful to Bruce because of a memorable Christmas Eve he experienced in 1944. Bruce was serving on a ship in World War II in the South Pacific, Read more.
The Presbytery office will be closed December 24 through January 3. If you have an emergency need, please call General Presbyter Stewart Smith at 479-466-0195. We will resume normal office hours on Tuesday, January 4. 
Year End Contributions
We ask that the final checks for 2021 and the first checks for 2022 are clearly marked (either on the check or the remittance form) for which calendar year they should be applied. Some congregations send checks at the beginning of the month and some send at the end of the month. With the office closed, we typically received checks for both calendar years at the same time. Thank you for your contributions and helping us with our year end reports!!!
Joy Offering Resources
The Christmas Joy Offering season is a time to remember and reflect on our perfect gift from God: Jesus Christ. Here is a worship resource and sermon to aid in promotion. Also, the Menaul School recorded the hymn “How Great Our Joy” to share on your social media channels. Click here for both the hymn text and a video of the Menaul School’s choir.
Memorial Service for Rev. Bob Bennett
A memorial service for Rev. Robert (Bob) Kerry Bennett will be held on Saturday, December 18 at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. A visitation will be held at the church at 10:00 am. Bob died after a period of poor health on Monday, December 13 in Walnut Ridge.

Bob Bennett was born in Birmingham, AL on February 2, 1927. Bob attended Auburn University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College). He graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He did further post graduate work at Tulane University School of Social Work and the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

Bob served churches in our presbytery at Gurdon, Walnut Ridge, Paragould, and Black Rock. Bob served in Pines Presbytery at Tate’s Bluff Presbyterian in Chidester, AR and in South Louisiana Presbytery at the Carolyn Park Presbyterian Church in Arabi, LA, just east of downtown New Orleans. Bob left our presbytery in 1989 to serve the First Presbyterian Church in Sterling City, TX in Tres Rios Presbytery. Bob retired from Sterling City in 1991 and remained a member of Tres Rios Presbytery even after returning to Arkansas to be near his children. 

Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean Bennett, who died in Sterling City in 1998. Bob and Betty had 6 children: four sons Robert Lee, Stephen Paul, Daniel David and Harold and two daughters, Vicky Davis (Bob) and Rebecca Lynn. 

Memorials may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut Ridge at 300 W. Walnut Street, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476.  
Tornado Relief
Your Presbytery Disaster Preparedness and Response subcommittee is at work coordinating efforts with ARVOAD (Arkansas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) to respond to the recent tornadoes that hit Northeast Arkansas on December 10. Our subcommittee is working to respond to one of the immediate needs in providing storage bins for those who lost their homes. Many residents are in temporary shelters and need to store some of the belongings they were able to salvage from their homes. The DPRS subcommittee is purchasing 55-gallon durable "tote bins" ($36 per bin) that will be distributed to those in need. The subcommittee is grateful for your contributions received throughout the year that have allowed them to be able to respond to this immediate need and would welcome contributions for this project. 

Individuals and congregations can contribute to the relief effort in the following ways. 
  • You can contribute to the national Presbyterian Disaster Center Response by either mailing a check to the presbytery (mark “National PDA Tornado Relief” or by visiting this link to contribute online. 
  • You can also contribute to our Presbytery’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Subcommittee to contribute to the relief effort in Arkansas. They will be continuing to work with ARVOAD in the coming weeks to address unmet needs that exist in the communities. Visit this link to give online.
Catch the Early Bird!
Take note that  the early bird deadline to save $50 on the cost of your summer trips is December 20th.

Registration for all trips is due by January 15, 2022. A $100 deposit is needed with registration to secure your spot. Register by December 20 to receive $50 off your trip! Click here to register. For more information, contact Rev. Brianne Christiansen, Interim Director of Youth Ministries (brianne@presbyark.org).
Christmas Eve Eve Campfire Worship
Ferncliff is hosting a campfire worship to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and tell the nativity story! This evening worship service will be fun and interactive as we retell that age-old story. Start a new tradition on Dec. 23rd at 5:30pm with Christmas Eve Eve Campfire Worship!
Worship will be held outside the Ramsey Chapel by the fire - follow the signage and luminaries! Bundle up and wear outdoor clothing and shoes - this worship service will be entirely outdoors.

Presbytery of Arkansas
9221 N. Rodney Parham Road
Little Rock, AR 72227
501-663-2424