Volume 49/July 7, 2022
The Presbyark Update
Connecting & Informing the Presbytery of Arkansas
July 7, 2022
General Presbyter Summer Schedule
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk Stewart Smith will be out of the office for 2 weeks during the summer for continuing education and vacation.  
 
July 18-July 22             Cont. Edu. at Zephyr Point
July 24-July 29             Vacation
 
As a reminder, if needed, you can reach him during these times via email and on the office phone (501) 663-2424 or his cell phone (479) 466-0195.  
 
If you need physical access to the office during those times, please contact Kim Palmer, Carol Clark or Julie Price.  
An Enneagram Workshop
You've probably heard of the Enneagram. It's an ancient, dynamic system for understanding ourselves and others that leads us to deeper self awareness and personal transformation, helping us discover our true selves beyond our ego and default behaviors.

The Presbytery of Arkansas is offering a free online Enneagram workshop with expert, Beth Mueller, on the four Thursdays of August (4,11,18, 25 from 4pm-6pm).

So what are you waiting for? Click here now to learn more and register for these Zoom classes by Wednesday, August 3. The classes are experiential and will not be recorded.
Help Dealing With Difficult Topics
As gun violence continues to escalate all around us, there are conversations going on in our churches questioning steps that should be taken to be prepared for the unthinkable. If your church needs help in thinking through this process, Click Here to access a document prepared by PRC (Practical Resources for Churches) with documents and recorded webinars from numerous sources to aid in this process. Click here to access Gun Violence Policies, Studies and Resources from the PC(USA).

If your church needs help thinking through policies and practices to deal with sexual misconduct, the PC(USA) has created Creating Safe Places, a document with guidance, forms, and more to help congregations with this topic.
Ferncliff Summer Camp Update
This summer our campers are having a blast. On the right, is a photo of some of the discovery campers visiting the farm. Click here to see more camp 2022 photos.
What makes Ferncliff's camp programs special is the emphasis placed on teaching children to care for creation and care for others.
If you are looking for an opportunity for some family quality time together before the school year begins again, there's still time to register for Family Camp programs by clicking here now.
Retired Pastor's Meeting
Whether you've been retired for years or months, join Stewart Smith tomorrow morning, Friday, July 8 at 10:00am on the Presbytery Zoom for a time of catching up and connecting.

There's no registration required. You should receive an email reminder with the zoom link. If you have any questions, contact Stewart at stewart@presbyark.org.
Youth @ Mo-Ranch!
Our Junior High Students had a great week at Mo-Ranch!
Pray for them as they travel back to Arkansas today!
From Christian Education to Faith Formation
We keep hearing how Sunday school no longer works, the old ways don't speak to the young people today, but not much conversation about new ways of doing things. Well I'm excited about some things I've been reading and watching lately. The main two take-aways I see are that we have to move from a programmatic to a relational model of teaching and we have to start equipping our parents and other adults to make faith formation a natural part of their homelife. I want to share three resources with you that I found very useful:
Happy transformations!
Julie Price
Book Study Suggestions
(Click the pictures to learn more)
Church Vitality
Women's Study
New from Amy-Jill Levine
Worship Planning Retreat
Marcia McFee (Worship Design Studio) and Jason Moore (Both/And: Maximizing Hybrid Worship Experiences for In-Person and Online Engagement) are coming together to present a worship planning retreat both in-person and online August 14 - 17. This retreat will inspire creative ideas for the 2022-2023 liturgical year and focus on meaningful ways we can re-shape our in-person, online, and rhythm-flexible worshiping! Click here to learn more.
Looking Ahead
  • Friday 7/8 10am Retired Pastor Meeting
  • Monday 7/11 3pm Violence Project Bookclub
  • Tuesday 7/12 10am Staff Meeting
  • Saturday 7/16-23 Montreat Youth Trip
  • Monday 7/18 3pm Violence Project Bookclub
  • Tuesday 7/19 2pm Staff Meeting
  • Thursday 7/21 11am Resource Team Meeting

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