Connecting & Informing the Presbytery of Arkansas
March 2, 2023
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The 152nd Meeting of the
Presbytery of Arkansas
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Our Presbytery meeting will take place this Friday and Saturday, March 2-3, at Lyon College. Click here for more information and Zoom links.
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Montreat Fundraiser @ Presbytery Meeting |
Help support the Montreat Summer Trip by purchasing an AR Presby shirt!
T-shirts are $20 each, and Sweatshirts are $30 each.
Adult Sizes available: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
All will be available for purchase at the March Presbytery meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to put in a pre-order for your pastor/elder to pick up, please contact Brianne (brianne@presbyark.org).
Note: The peach t-shirt will be included with registration to all 2023 YAT events.
Second note: Yes, the red sweatshirt is Razorback red!!!
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Special Guest, Teri Ott, Visits Arkansas |
The Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott, a pastor, writer, and editor/publisher of The Presbyterian Outlook, made a tour through the Natural State this week. On Sunday, February 26, Teri was the guest preacher at Second Presbyterian in Little Rock.
On Monday the 27th, Lindy Vogado, who recently rotated onto the board of the Presbyterian Outlook, invited Presbyterian pastor/educator/CRE friends in or within an easy drive of Little Rock to a luncheon at Second with Teri. Here, Teri shared upcoming plans about the Outlook and guests gave suggestions/feedback about what types of articles and resources they found helpful in both their professional and personal lives of faith.
Immediately following the luncheon, Jeremy Wilhelmi, arrived to whisk her off to speak at University of the Ozarks on Tuesday, Feb. 28, as part of the University’s annual Farmer Lecture Series.
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Rural Leadership Education |
The Thriving in Rural Ministry Program at the University of the Ozarks is hosting a leadership retreat for elders in rural and small congregations in the Presbytery of Arkansas, May 19-21. Segments on preaching, sacramental theology and polity will equip and empower elders to engage their congregation in new and vital ways. Participation will allow elders in good standing to administer the sacrament of The Lord's Supper in worship (with COM approval), moderate session, and feel better prepared and equipped to preach as needed.
This weekend is all about helping small and rural congregations feel empowered to meet their own worship and ministry needs, and to celebrate the work of those congregations. The university will pay all expenses associated with this gathering, including travel, meals and lodging. If you’d like to learn more, express interest, or recommend a name from your congregation, please contact program director Phil Blackburn at pblackburn@ozarks.edu
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Using the assets we have: Innovation in ministry |
This 60-minute,on-demand webinar focuses on the many problems facing modern churches. Attendance is down, giving is declining, churches are closing, and buildings are being sold at increasing rates. On top of this, the church is tasked with responding to complex problems such as climate change, White supremacy and the wealth gap. Many churches are struggling to respond to all these challenges and remain relevant. We try to do more with less, but we are left feeling tired and powerless.
Mark and Teri will discuss these problems, and elaborate on how there is still a hope and future for the church. By God’s grace, we can use the assets we have to help our communities and bring God’s love into the world. We have much and there’s much to do.
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Future of The Church Grants |
It's that time again. The Future of the Church committee is ready to receive grant applications to help your congregation step out with new initiatives into your community, to make your congregation more visible to others, to invite others to come know about Jesus Christ and to creatively extend the grace of Jesus Christ.
Through the years, the Future of the Church Committee has awarded grants of up to $5000 for all kinds of ministries: technological help to find modern ways of outreach with websites or social media, community gardens which benefit local food banks, community events for children, seniors, single moms, or medical personnel/first responders in the area. The picture is from one of the "Conversations that Matter" events in First Bentonville. Please note that the grants are not for property needs.
Be sure to stop by the Future of the Church table at the Presbytery meeting as we offer a 'first come/first serve' book grab from a variety of books that stress areas for church vitality or outreach. There you will also find a list of previous grants and some suggestions for ways to think about bringing new ministry to your congregation. Click here for the guidelines and application. Applications are being accepted through April 15.
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Mission of The Church Grants |
The Mission of the Church Committee is now accepting applications for the first round of Mission Initiative grants. The purpose of these grants is to assist congregations and ministries of the Presbytery of Arkansas in proclaiming the love of Christ beyond their walls. Our goal is to help empower congregations in their efforts to extend the love of Christ by serving and walking alongside the most vulnerable in our communities.
So, you see the needs and you have a dream, a plan for helping, for serving, but you don't have enough funds to carry it out. Then click here for our guidelines and application requirements. Applications for the first round of grants are due by April 15. (There will be two later rounds with deadlines of July 15 and October 15 as funds allow).
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Synod Assembly Selects Rev. Dr. Steve Shive as Bridge Interim Synod Leader/Stated Clerk |
At the Spring 2023 Assembly of Synod of the Sun, the Rev. Dr. Steve Shive was unanimously affirmed to become the Bridge Interim Synod Leader/Stated Clerk of Synod of the Sun. Steve comes to us having finished his call as Interim Presbytery Executive for Grace Presbytery and will begin his ministry with us on March 15th.
“His current relationships with the other Presbytery leaders, his previous work with the Synod of the Sun, and his background in interim ministry make Steve an incredible choice for Bridge-Interim,” said Rev. Jeff Cranton, Moderator of the Synod’s Personnel Committee. “We are blessed to have his expertise as we move into the future God has planned.”
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You probably haven't heard of Dandelion Marketplace yet. It's relatively new. It's a digital multivendor platform that provides reliable progressive spiritual formation resources for families and communities.
You might want to check it out for a couple of reasons. First, the site contains all kinds of faith formation materials consistent with our tradition which may be purchased inexpensively. Second, if you like creating your own materials, this might be a venue for you to make a little money and get your name out there.
You can learn more about Dandelion Marketplace by watching this free PRC webinar with the founder, Melissa Gepford.
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- Friday-Saturday 3/3-4 Presbytery Meeting & Youth @ Presbytery
- Tuesday 3/7 10:00 am COM
- Tuesday 3/14 10:00 am 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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