Volume 31 /October 7, 2021
The Presbyark Update
Keeping the Presbytery of Arkansas informed.
October 7, 2021
The 148th Meeting of the
Presbytery of Arkansas
The time is now upon us for the start of the 148th meeting of the Presbytery.

Have you registered yet?
Have you downloaded your packet?

Well time is short, so click here and get busy. Also, keep an eye out for an addendum packet that will be added to the page.

If you lose this link, just go to presbyark.org and click on meetings at the top of the page. Click here to view the promo video for the meeting.
Discovering God's Abundance:        
Experiencing Peace and Grounding in the New Normal 
A Pastor/Church Professional Retreat
The Presbytery of Arkansas invites its pastors and church professionals to attend a small group retreat to take place Sunday, November 14-16 at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center. At this retreat, you will spend time in group sessions with Pastor and Licensed Professional Counselor, Rebecca Spooner. You will also experience worship, shared meals, and one on one counseling sessions, as well as time for relaxing, whether that means hiking, napping, porch visiting, canoeing, reading, meditating, sleeping, or more.

Click here to learn more and register.
Peacemaking Offering Grant Given
by MWS David Gill
Ferncliff was recently given a grant of $10,000 by the Mission of the Church Committee from Presbytery Peacemaking Funds. These are funds that accumulate from the Peacemaking Offering collected on World Communion Sunday which is the first Sunday in October. Participating congregations are encouraged to use 25% for local peacemaking, and of the rest, 25% comes back to mid councils (Presbytery or Synod) and 50% is used for peacemaking efforts of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Read More...
Coming Together For World Communion
By MWS Carol Clark

First Presbyterian Church, Arkadelphia with Jason Smith as pastor, along with Claire and Kenneth Rhodes and other leadership from West End Presbyterian in Arkadelphia came together in a new outdoor space at First (supported by a grant from the Future of the Church Committee) to share in World Communion on Sunday, October 3! We wanted to share some pictures with our Presbytery so you can join in celebrating how we are connected. If you are a church that received a grant this year and can share some pictures, please contact our Builder Carol Clark at cbclark05@aol.com. Click here to see some photos from the service.
Horizons Bible Study Introduction & Outline

The Rev. Susie Carter Wiggins, a former member of Arkansas Presbytery, presented an introduction to the 2021-2022 Horizons Bible study, What My Grandmothers Taught Me, to the Presbytery of the Mid-South. She has also graciously shared the zoom link with the PW of Arkansas Presbytery along with the “Outline for Leaders” for all 9 lessons.

Click here to watch the introduction and Here to download the outline or go to presbyark.org, click on Ministries at the top of the page, then click on Presbyterian Women in the drop-down menu.
Celebrating Youthquake 2021
We had such a wonderful time gathering for our first in-person Youthquake since fall 2019! Seventy-seven students and leaders gathered at Ferncliff to learn about "peace-ing together" a life of faith. We packaged over 100 clean-up buckets and 360 backpacks at Ferncliff's Disaster Assistance Center. And we danced like 2019 at "Tacky Prom!" 

Click here to check out some of our fun.

Shout out to our awesome worship leaders Rev. Ann Russ, Rev. Jocelyn Wildhack, and Onward Worship, and our amazing small group volunteers. Special thanks to Ruth Amenson, Taylor Sexon, Anne Brown, and the Youth A-Team for a fun and safe weekend. And thanks to y'all for keeping Youthquake in your prayers! 
Small Church Vitality Workshop
Begins Next Week!
Starting next Thursday, October 14 at 11:00am and continuing on the second Thursday of each month through January 13, The Rev. Deborah Wright of Pneumatrix will be leading registrants from our Presbytery in a Small Church Vitality workshop. This workshop is specially designed for churches around 100 members or fewer. She will be helping us examine the DNA of our own churches while considering the changing culture and then create sustaining models for our future. Rev. Wright will also be the Theological Discussion speaker at our October Presbytery meeting.

Click here to learn more and register. Direct questions to Julie Price at julietanneprice@gmail.com.
Bentonville Clabaugh Lectures
First Presbyterian of Bentonville will host The Rev. Dr. Thomas G. Long, the Bandy Professor of Preaching Emeritus at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, for it's annual Claubaugh Lecture series on October 24 - 25. The series, entitled Parables of Jesus, will begin in the Sunday worship service followed by three more lectures. Click here to read more.
Preparing For Advent
You have thought about it. You may even have laid awake wrestling with it, because, despite our procrastination, the bells will ring, the Hallelujahs will be sung, and a child will be born. So take a deep breath and read on for help in planning.


For more Advent ideas, studies and resources, click here to go to the Advent Ministry Resource page. The Ministry Resource pages are updated weekly.
Three Opportunities
To Enhance Your Online Presence
  • Sustaining Faith Online, an on-demand PRC webinar that provides strategies to help you sustain a consistent and life-giving presence online.
  • Building Community Online, a Church Juice Podcast that is the beginning of a discussion about how you can build community in your church online.
  • Email Communication: A Crash Course, 2-hour workshop, Wednesday, October 27 from 9:00-11:00am by Kristen Kinard of Digital Ministries, $15. Discover why an effective email program is about more than sharing important information and keeping in touch.

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