Connecting & Informing the Presbytery of Arkansas
January 5, 2023
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Presbytery Office Suffers Water Damage |
The Presbytery Office building will be closed until further notice due to water damage suffered from frozen pipes. The cleaning crew discovered the damage on the morning of Tuesday, December 27. Water was pouring out of the ceiling in the “janitor’s closet” adjacent to the kitchen and water was standing throughout the building. Pro Serv restoration appeared less than two hours after the call was made and mitigation work began that afternoon. Read and see more...
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Resource Center Closed Indefinitely |
The flooding of the Presbytery office also means that the Resource Center was flooded. All of our resources have been removed and we do not have access to them.
If you have resources checked out that you are finished with, please contact Julie Price, julietannerprice@gmail.com, with instructions on where to send them.
Please be in prayer with us as we learn what condition things are in and make decisions about the future.
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Statistical Reports and Year End Financial Info |
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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 assistance in getting these reports in by the deadline.
All contributions for the 2022 calendar year and all reimbursements for 2022 presbytery business need to be processed by Monday, January 9. If you have questions or need to make arrangements to process 2022 business please contact Kim Palmer or Stewart Smith by phone (501-663-2424) or email (kim@presbyark.org or stewart@presbyark.org).
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Presbytery Honduras Mission Trip: March18-26 |
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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Lent Roundtable Discussion |
On Wednesday, January 19, at 11:00am, join on the Presbytery Zoom as we discuss all things Lent. Ideas for worship, education, visuals, themes, and more will be shared.
Click here to receive an email reminder with the link.
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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's zoom (pswd: trinity), January 25 from 10am - 11:30am. (If you haven't read the book, I believe you will still benefit from the discussion and are most welcome.)
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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Pastor's Mastermind
with Mike & Selena Ulasewich
Kick off Date Thursday, January 26
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As a couple, we have recently been talking about the current struggles of Pastor Life:
- Decision fatigue from helping our congregations through turbulent times
- Leading a volunteer organization that is also tired
- The need to learn new skills to meet the needs of a changing culture
- The lack of TRUE connection amongst peers (the kind that’s helpful for current circumstances, not comparing congregations)
- Feeling effective with leadership
A Pastor’s Mastermind is a group of trusted pastor friends who want to work on some of these things together! You already have a foundation together, a common bond of vocation, and such a variety of gifts and experiences to bring to the table. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have some intentional time together, on a regular basis (that you don’t have to be in charge of–ha!!), where each person can target some goals or problems that are specific to their church and calling?!?!
If you're ready for these types of results:
- Improved communication with session and membership
- Accountability and support outside of the church setting
- A safe place to share concerns and problem solve
- Increased ability to prioritize
Then you're ready for the experience of a Pastor's Mastermind!
You can visit our website to get even more details. Also, we'd love to have a chat with you in the next couple weeks to answer any questions you might have. Please contact Selena at coachselena@icloud.com for more info.
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You Can Go Home Again
A Love Letter to The Presbytery of Arkansas
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Friend and Arkansan, Sarah Leer, moved back home last fall just in time to take part in the 151st meeting of the Presbytery of Arkansas. The saying is that you can't go back home, but click here to read, in Sarah's own words, why, goshdarnit, that's just not always true.
Sarah, welcome home.
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We're Listening: The Amendments |
On February 9th at 10 am, I will be leading a discussion on the amendments which will come before the Presbytery for our vote on them in March on the Presbytery's zoom (pswd: trinity). This year there are 33 which we will address. The purpose of the discussion is to familiarize everyone with some of the amendments which may be controversial, prompt discussion, or need some explanation.
I am hopeful this discussion will help when it comes time to vote on the amendments and help me determine the best way to present them to the Presbytery so as not to make the meeting any longer than absolutely necessary. Don’t worry we will not go over all 33 just those which may need further explanation or clarification.
I look forward to seeing you there. Blake Brinegar, Stated Clerk
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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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Trinity Presbyterian Church in Little Rock is looking for a part-time Director of Music/principal keyboardist. This person will lead and oversee the music and worship ministries of the church.
Click here to read the job description. Apply at trinitypreslr@gmail.com.
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First Presbyterian Church in Searcy is looking for a part-time pianist who will also work with our choir in presenting music on Sunday mornings, and some special services. Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings are necessary. If you are interested in the position, or would like more information, please contact Rev. Blake Brinegar at revbrinegar@gmail.com or by phone at (501) 268-2212.
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- Tuesday 1/10 10:00am COM
- Tuesday 1/10 2:00pm Staff meeting
- Thursday 1/12 9:30am Resource Team
- Thursday 1/12 2:00pm Mission of the Church
- Friday-Saturday 1/13 & 14 Youth A-Team Spring Retreat
- Tuesday 1/17 2:00pm Staff Meeting
- Thursday 1/19 11:00am Lent Roundtable
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Presbytery of Arkansas
9221 N. Rodney Parham Road
Little Rock, AR 72227
501-663-2424
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