Volume 30 /September 16, 2021
The Presbyark Update
Keeping the Presbytery of Arkansas informed.
September 16, 2021
Church Vitality
The 148th Meeting of the Presbytery of Arkansas
I am coming up on my sixth-year anniversary as the General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Arkansas. Looking back over these six years, it has been a time of tumultuous change in the life of our church. It became quickly apparent to me at the beginning of this six-year period, that many of our tried and true procedures from the past were not helpful in facing the changing realities in our congregations. A phrase quickly came into my vocabulary – “we need to be able to be more nimble”. Click here to read more.

Click to view the promo video for the Presbytery meeting.
Argenta Listening Session on Zoom
Thursday, September 23 at 7pm
The Administrative Commission of First Presbyterian Church, North Little Rock, invites all who are interested to join us as Stewart Smith and Ted Belden talk us through a possibility for a creative and exciting development project for the building and property at 201 West Fourth Street in NLR (Argenta).  In advance of the meeting, we will send a 'Q&A' with pertinent information. 

At the meeting, the AC wants to listen to your thoughts about the property and the desires of the Presbytery. We all know that it is difficult to discuss matters in depth at a Presbytery meeting so the AC wants to offer this opportunity for explanation and discussion. We WANT to hear from you.   Please join us and if you cannot, please be in touch with Stewart Smith (479-466-0195) , Ted Belden (501-580-3762) or Carol Clark (501-563-6279) to talk with them.  This will be held on our regular Presbytery zoom and the link will be provided in the email with the Q&A.  
Small Church Vitality:
Designing for the new Norm
A Presbytery of Arkansas Workshop
Join us on the second Thursday of each month starting October 14 through January 13 for a four part workshop called Small Church Vitality: Designing For The New Norm. The workshop will be led by Rev. Deborah Wright who has been working, through her non-profit PneuMatrix to bring Adaptive Change Leadership to Presbyteries and congregations.

The group will meet from 11:00am until 12:30pm each session. Click here to read all about it and register.

If you have questions, contact Julie Price at julietannerprice@gmail.com or at 501-626-6477.
A Message From Your Presbytery “Builder”
I ran across an article from Alban Duke Divinity School that was about church leaders and the mental and emotional stresses that can lead to burn-out.  There was nothing eye-opening about the article itself, but it did remind me to say again

If you find yourself needing a listening ear, shoulder to cry on, someone that can hold your frustration/anger, please call me (Carol Clark: 501-563-6279).

30 years in ministry in a small, a medium, and a large church helps me know that sometimes just 'being heard' can make a LOT of difference, so call/text or email. PS. I'm a real night-owl.
PRESBYTERY OF ARKANSAS TRIP
TO THE MONTREAT COLLEGE CONFERENCE JANUARY 1-5, 2022
ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS OF THE PRESBYTERY! Join us for a trip to Montreat in the winter for their annual College Conference. We will depart January 1, 2022 with pick-ups in Clarksville and Little Rock and return late January 5. Cost to attend is: $265 per person, plus the cost of 4 meals on the road. Registration form and fee must be paid in full and received no later than Wednesday, September 29! Questions? Contact Jeremy Wilhelmi, Trip Coordinator at jwilhelmi@ozarks.edu or 479-979-1307.
Hurricane Devastation
How You Can Help!
We in South Louisiana are thankful for the kind generosity of our neighbors across the country as we deal with the immediate devastation of Hurricane Ida. We want to let people know what donation items will be helpful most right now, knowing that this list will change as we see the needs change. Click here to read.
Unified Mission Emphasis Grants Available
The Mission of the Church Committee is offering grants for “Ministry to the Most Vulnerable in our Society” to assist congregations of the Presbytery of Arkansas in proclaiming the love of Christ beyond their church’s walls. 

Click here for the guidelines for Funding. Contact Mary Shaw for more information at mlshaw0306@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.
Youthquake - Let's Celebrate!
We are so excited to have 75 people gathering next weekend for Youthquake at Ferncliff! Please pray for an encouraging weekend for our students as this is the first time they have been able to gather in-person in over a year! Also pray for health and safety, good weather, and lots of fun! Thanks to all the churches for sending chaperones and helping pay for your students to attend Youthquake 2021! 

Click here for more information and updated Covid safety precautions.
Three Opportunities For Small Churches
Practical Resources For Churches (PRC) is sponsoring three upcoming webinars in their Small Church Series:

  • Small Church, Big Mission - Sept 23 at 1:00pm, The only way for small churches to grow is to develop deep connections to their community. But can we do that with small numbers? Hear about churches (from 30 members to 300) that have developed big missions and a strong sense of belonging by inviting their neighbors--food insecure neighbors--to volunteer in their ministries.
  • Small Church Series, Thriving Rural Ministry - Sept 30 at 1:00pm, As rural America continues to undergo massive economic and demographic shifts, rural churches are uniquely positioned to provide community leadership. Leading a rural congregation requires a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing these communities, as well as a strong theological and community-focused identity. Allen T. Stanton describes how in establishing this identity, rural leaders build a meaningful and vital ministry.
  • Small Churches, Big Impact - Oct 5 at 1:00pm, Most congregations in the nation have a membership under 100, but most books and workshops are created by mega-churches. In this webinar, Dr. Blake Bradford shares how smaller congregations can use their unique giftedness to fulfill God's mission. He says smaller churches can enhance their vitality by clarifying their purpose, engaging their local community, leveraging small church relational intimacy to reach people and nurture disciples, rightsizing their leadership and governance structures to empower laity, and strategically utilizing pastoral leadership.
Dedication and Open House
Mt Comfort Presbyterian Church
On Sunday, September 19 from 11:00am to 1:00pm, everyone is invited to a Dedication Day and Open House: Dedicating Mt. Comfort Presbyterian Church’s Past, Present, and Future to God’s Glory. There will be worship in the Sanctuary, a dedication of the Historic Stone Entryway in the Parking Lot, Refreshments in the Old Schoolhouse, Tours of the Sanctuary, Old Schoolhouse, Garden & Grounds, Prayer Walk for schools, community, country, and world. Click here for more information.
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 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 11:30 am. Sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend live. Click here to learn more and register.
8 Habits For Evangelism
A New PC(USA) Ministry Resource
The PC(USA) has created a resource which provides structured lessons for each of the eight identified habits of evangelism — justice, radical welcome, worship, sacraments, prayer, fellowship, teaching and generosity (8 lessons for individuals and groups)
  • Click here for the FREE Download.
  • Click here to learn about and register for the free webinars that accompany each habit each Wednesday, Sept 8-Oct 27 from 2:00-3:00pm CT.
  • REvangelism: 8 Habits of Evangelism, October 1-3, 2021 conference at Montreat based on the new PCUSA 8 Habits of Evangelism, $100.

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