Connecting & Informing the Presbytery of Arkansas
March 17, 2022
|
|
A Prayer Service for Ukraine |
Many Presbyterians from seven of our Central Arkansas Churches as well as people from the surrounding community gathered on Sunday evening, March 13 at First Presbyterian Church, Little Rock to join in prayer for the people of Ukraine.
The service ended in candlelight and the playing of the anthem of Ukraine. An offering of $3,200 was collected and will be sent to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Ukraine relief.
|
|
Lifting Up Ukraine:
PC(USA)’s Humanitarian Response
|
When Susan Krehbiel, associate for Refugees and Asylum with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, was asked during a recent broadcast of Between Two Pulpits to discuss the need that’s on the hearts and minds of people around the world — the care and safety of millions of Ukrainian refugees and displaced people — she said what we often forget is that those who have fled the fighting “just want to go home. In these early days of war, people want to stay as close to home as possible. Once you are separated, it can be really hard to be reunited.” Listen to their 24-minute conversation here.
An update on the work being done alongside partners of the PC(USA), a bulletin insert, and where you can donate can be found here.
|
|
Join The Presbytery of Arkansas
At The Baseball Field!
|
There's nothing like a summer night, peanuts, popcorn, and the sound of the crack of a bat! Add to that mixture, fellowship of Presbyterians and it's a recipe for a great night of fun! People near Central Arkansas, mark the date for June 10th (7:05pm) for a Travelers' Ballgame! People in Northwest Arkansas play ball on June 15th with the Springdale Naturals.
More information about tickets will follow. We're hoping that a combined choir of great Presbyterian singers can begin each game with the National Anthem!
Get those T-shirts ready!!!
|
|
Presbytery of Arkansas approves $4M sale of Harrison church to be Boone County courthouse |
"Boone County, where we're located, came to us," Fred Kirkpatrick, an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Harrison, said during the Presbytery meeting. "They have a need for office and courtroom space. We didn't have our building for sale. They just came to us. And this has been several months in the making."
Kirkpatrick said the idea to sell the building may have begun with debt and money, but it became much more than that. "That was the initial incentive, but through prayer and asking God for guidance in our Session meeting, we realized very clearly that that building on a hill is not us," said Kirkpatrick. "That's a building. That's not our church. And we've come to realize that as time has gone on. Read more...
|
|
Future Of The Church
Grant Deadline: April 15
Apply Today!
|
The Future of the Church committee invites you to apply for a grant for 2022. These grants are intended to be aides for forward-thinking ideas and activities. The ways that churches have used these grants are as varied as the churches themselves are: make your church visible in the community, hire a consultant to work with you on ideas and visioning, purchase technology to expand your reach virtually, update a tired and dated website. Click here to watch a video showing how several of our churches have used their grant money.
Here is a link to fill out the grant application online. Click here to find the grant information on the Presbytery’s website (Resources/Presbytery Documents/Future of the Church). If you have questions, email: Carol Clark at cbclark05@aol.com or Steven Kurtz, chair of the Future of the Church Committee at stevendkurtz@gmail.com. Or call Carol Clark at 501-563-6279.
|
|
Becoming an Earth Care congregation:
Why it matters and how to do it
|
Matthew 25:31–46 calls us to engage in the world around us, so that we wake up to new possibilities. Faith comes alive when we boldly engage God’s mission and share the hope we have in Christ. The Presbyterian Hunger Program’s Earth Care Congregation (ECC) certification program recognizes churches that are turning their commitments to caring for God’s Creation into ministry that revitalizes their own community.
All of the ECCs affirm a pledge agreeing to take specific steps in four areas: worship, outreach, education and facilities. Additionally, that pledge affirms that the Earth and all Creation are God’s. The pledge acknowledges that God calls us all to be careful, humble stewards of this Earth, and to protect and restore it for its own sake, and for the future use and enjoyment of the human family. Read more...
Currently, three of the Presbytery of Arkansas congregations have made the pledge to be Earth Care congregations: First United Fayetteville, Park Hill Little Rock, and Second Little Rock. If your congregation makes the pledge to become an Earth Care congregation, please notify Julie Price at julietannerprice@gmail.com.
|
|
Calling All Youth -- Join us for Mission: Possible! |
Mission: Possible is a spring retreat centered around service on April 1-3. This year we’re serving the Russellville community! Come stay at Central Pres, serve with your friends, and hang out with cool students from around the state!
Who can attend:
Student Participants (6th-9th Grade)
Leader Corps (10th-12th Grade & College Students)
Adult Chaperones
Event Schedule:
Friday, April 1 – Event Kicks off at 7pm with evening fun at Central Pres in Russellville
Saturday, April 2 – Service Project at Manna House from 9-2pm, Afternoon fun at the Russellville Aquatic Center, Evening Cookout at Mt. Nebo
Sunday, April 3 – Breakfast and Morning Worship, Event wraps up at 9am
Event Cost and Registration Dates:
The event costs $30 per participant, and registration is due by 11:59 pm on Friday, March 25. Payment must be paid at the time of registration. Click here for more information!
|
|
Annual Worship & Music Conference June 2022 |
Worship planning and leadership are central to the work of both pastors and church musicians and are the arenas in which their work together has the most overlap. The Worship and Music conference at Montreat is a conference for everyone who cares about the worship life and practice of the church.
The 2022 conference has a particularly robust track for pastors. Learn more about the offerings here. First call pastors are eligible for a free 2022 PAM membership and online conference registration (or discounted in-person registration). Please email mkempwpc@gmail.com to share your contact information and receive discount codes to register.
The conference is being offered in person and online. Click here for more information and registration.
|
|
Top Things To Do Before You Retire |
The Presbytery of Arkansas is sponsoring a free webinar designed to help you get your financial house in order, create a retirement income plan, understand Social Security, and prepare for the unexpected. Whether you are 25 or 55, all of us need help planning for our future.
Join Fidelity Consultant Dan McCarthy on Tuesday, April 12 at 12:00 noon for a free 30-minute, interactive, virtual presentation on important things to consider — before you retire — that may impact or influence your financial decisions.
As a bonus, if you have medical coverage through the Board of Pensions, you can earn 25 Call to Health points for participating. Following the presentation, Dan will be available to answer your general questions. You can also schedule a complimentary, one-on-one consultation with Dan to discuss your unique circumstances.
|
|
Social media needs a strategy:
An online presence isn’t enough
|
It’s one thing for your church to be on social media, but simply having a presence is not enough. What is needed is an understanding of the various social media platforms, who uses them and what content gets noticed. So, let’s begin with the basics.
The platforms we think of most often are Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For church discussions, we will be focusing on Facebook and Instagram. According to a 2021 Pew Research Center study, nearly 70% of adults in the U.S. use Facebook, Instagram is around 40% and Twitter is used by about 25% of U.S. adults. The Facebook demographic skews older, with users in the 50–64 age group. Facebook is 2.5 times more popular than Instagram and nearly four times as popular as Twitter. Facebook is also more popular among women than men. Read More...
|
|
Have You Joined Us On Presbyark Connect? |
In between these twice monthly, very informative Updates, how do you stay connected and keep up with what's happening in our Presbytery and beyond? The answer is, on Facebook at Presbyark Connect!
If you have never joined, click here now and join today. If you are a member, check it out each day, post your questions, share your church events, and let others know you are there and you care by commenting and sharing on their posts.
See you soon at Presbyark Connect!
|
|
Does Your Church Need a Sabbatical?
Explore how you can use the sabbatical concept through the next year as a way to build momentum for what's next!
3/22/2022 @ 1:00pm CT
|
|
Messy Church is a global movement that focuses on a way to be church for all-ages, but tune in to learn how Messy Churches have quickly adapted to our changing environment.
3/24/2022 @ 1:00pm CT
|
|
Presbytery of Arkansas
9221 N. Rodney Parham Road
Little Rock, AR 72227
501-663-2424
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
