Connecting & Informing the Presbytery of Arkansas
January 6, 2022
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Greetings all! I only thought I had retired… since I no longer have duties as your Stated Clerk I am now serving as the Moderator of the Presbytery of Arkansas’ Committee on Ministry. It is my hope that in this role I can give the same amount of time and attention to congregations as I did as your Stated Clerk, just in a different way.
Each year the Presbytery of Arkansas has moved toward being more responsive to our congregations so that the Presbytery is more of a “we” than an “us/them” when it comes to committees, staff, churches, and members. The Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry is no exception and has made significant changes in its structure and emphasis over the past few years. Read more...
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THE HUMAN ELEMENT: ZOOM BOOK STUDY |
Join us for what could be a very important study for loving and working in our congregations, especially in a time where we see and know that change is all around us and needed. The Human Element explores how change can happen in an organization. Though not specifically written about churches, this is a great opportunity for us to 'chew' on how to promote change and innovation. We'll read 3 chapters a week over a month OR when we meet we can set a different schedule.
We're planning to meet on MONDAYS at 3pm for the 4 Mondays - January 17, 24, 31 and Feb. 7 on zoom. If you'd like to join us, please contact Carol Clark at cbclark05@aol.com, call 501-563-6279 or facebook message her. She'll send you the zoom link and we'll start talking. The book is available on Amazon to Kindle or to order as a hard back/paper back.
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Your Presbytery staff is in the process of reflecting on the current needs of our churches and prayerfully making plans for the 2022 calendar year and we would love to hear from you. We will be considering online, in-person, and hybrid events on many topics like leadership, preaching, church conflict, digital issues, Bible study and much more. Whether you are a pastor, elder, or congregant, we would appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts and needs with us as we struggle to be faithful to God's call.
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Pastor/Church Professional Meeting |
Pastors and other church professionals, it's a new year, which gives us some hope of things being better, but that hope is tempered by everything that the last few years have brought us. As we pray for strength and wisdom to start anew, we offer the opportunity to come together with with members of the Presbytery staff and other co-workers in ministry on Wednesday, January 19 at 10:00am for a time of sharing and discussion on the Presbytery Zoom.
If you don't receive a reminder email with the link, contact Julie Price at julietannerprice@gmail.com.
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The start of the Lenten season, Ash Wednesday, is the second day of March this year. Have you begun making plans yet? Well let us give you a helping hand.
When you click here it will take you to the Lent/Easter 2022 page of the Ministry Resource pages where new resources are updated each week. Here you will find helpful webinars taking place in the next few weeks and much more.
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Youth Trip Registration Deadline: January 15 |
Registration for all trips is due by January 15, 2022.
All information including new reduced trip prices and registration forms are posted on the Youth A-Team page! Click here to register. For more information, contact Rev. Brianne Christiansen, Interim Director of Youth Ministries (brianne@presbyark.org).
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Final Small Church Vitality Workshop |
The last Small Church Vitality Workshop with Rev. Debra Wright will take place Thursday, January 13 at 11:00am. Debra has given us many wonderful tools to take back to our sessions and congregations to help start us on new paths of revitalization. If you would like to join in on the final session, click here.
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We want to have photos to go with each entry in our Presbytery's in-C directory. We've already started adding some, so look up your name by clicking here. If there's no photo or if there's one and you don't like it, send a new one to Julie Price at julietannerprice@gmail.com. If you aren't yet in the directory and would like to be or if there's information that needs to be updated on your page, let Julie know that as well.
Think how wonderful it will be to be able to put a face to everyone's name. So get busy and send Julie those photos!
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Best Practices for Pastoral Search Committees |
Join Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed and PRC (Practical Resources for Churches) in a discussion on how pastoral search committees can find the right pastor for their congregation. They'll talk about topics like where to search, how to review materials, what questions to ask of yourselves and the candidates, and how to communicate with the candidates. They'll include some tips for small churches and part-time calls as well.
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Monthly livestream series welcomes hard conversations |
Being Matthew 25, a new Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) monthly livestream series, begins at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Jan. 20.
Being Matthew 25 is an interactive online event that makes space for stories, reflections and conversations about what it means to live out the Matthew 25 vision. The livestream will be available for viewing on the PC(USA) Facebook page or PC(USA) YouTube Channel during the event and after.
More than just talking heads, Being Matthew 25 includes video storytelling, song, poetry, art, guest interviews, case studies, testimonials and Q&A sessions that invite the Church to consider how to be a relevant presence in the world and to more fully live into Matthew 25. Read More...
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Are you carrying too much in this season? Struggling to balance caring for your community, church, family, and self? Trying to find your way in the new normal? You are not alone.
This is a workshop in three parts: in the first 30 minutes we'll hear from three clergy coaches with simple practices to ease the burden. This section will be recorded and can be watched later (at 2X speed) if that's all you can fit into your life right now.
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Managing Educational Debt |
The Presbyterian Mission Agency is offering two webinars in January for all PC(USA) leaders. Webinars will be focused on the new changes in Public Service Loan Assistance and how these changes could benefit PC(USA) leaders. Many who may not have qualified for Public Service Loan Forgiveness previously, could have their loans forgiven much sooner than expected. Any PC(USA) leader is welcome to join either meeting. Student Loan experts from PeopleJoy will present the material and be available to answer general questions. Click here to learn more.
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Technology & Training Grants |
The Presbyterian Foundation has received a third grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to allow the Foundation to make technology and training grants to pastors who serve small congregations and congregations of color in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
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Presbytery of Arkansas
9221 N. Rodney Parham Road
Little Rock, AR 72227
501-663-2424
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