Congregational Care
The Congregational Care Committee is the heartbeat of the Kirk. Its goals are to be aware of and meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our congregation.

Committee members give rides to doctor appointments, check on members recovering from illness and hospital stays, comfort families after the death of a loved one, and provide much needed respite for caregivers.

Members of the committee with professional care-giving experience share their knowledge by offering health advice and education for patients, families and caregivers. The Christian Friends program pairs trained caregivers with people in need.

In our Monthly Meal Ministry the Greenhorns cooking group prepares meals which are delivered by the committee once a month to homebound members and those with declining health.

The ESP (Every Single Person) program matches members who live alone with buddies who check on each other daily.

Prayer Tree volunteers pray for members and their families on request. Volunteers bring the Word to homebound members by providing tapes of worship services.

Prayer Shawls are knitted and crocheted by Kirk members, dedicated in church and given to members who are hospitalized, homebound because of declining health or moving to another community.

A Red Cross class is sponsored annually to train members in CPR, the Heimlich maneuver and operation of the heart defibrillator. A six-week FOCUS class helps those who are visually impaired learn how to manage everyday tasks.

Evangelism
The South is known for its hospitality, and no one does Southern hospitality better than the Kirk’s Evangelism Committee. Everyone here was a stranger at one time – and we know that visiting a new church for the first time can be a daunting experience.

Our goal is to help people feel welcome and at home, even on their first visit. Visitors to the Kirk are greeted warmly as they enter, asked to fill out a name tag, and invited to share fellowship downstairs in Hoffius Hall at the coffee hour following each service.

The search for a church home requires serious thought to assure the decision is the right one. We at the Kirk invite all those seeking a new church to become involved in the worship, social and educational life of the Kirk while deciding to make a membership commitment.

The Evangelism Committee supports an informal worship service on Saturday afternoon in Hoffius Hall for those who prefer a less formal atmosphere and enjoy upbeat music and praise songs.

We also support the Gardening…From Alpha to Omega workshops that meet on the fourth Thursday each month. The workshops are open to everyone in the community interested in gardening.

We joyfully share the good news of the gospel and strive to provide opportunities for all members to be included in the full life of the congregation.

Communication
The Kirk is blessed to have among its members a number of writers, artists and photographers who volunteer their time and talent to keep the community informed about activities at the church.

These talented folks produce the on-line and printed church newsletter, “A Voice in the Pines,” send ads, press releases, articles and photographs to the local newspapers, The Village Voice and Hot Springs Sentinel Record, as well as setting policy and writing articles for Kirk publications and other publicity materials, and creating displays for the church's bulletin boards.

The Website Committee, a subcommittee comprised of members of the communication and administration committees, directs and oversees the Kirk's website.

Memorial
The Memorial Committee oversees the Kirk’s memorial funds and the many resulting projects.

Dedicated in 1996, the Memorial Garden, with its winding paths through trees, flowering shrubs and by the cascading waterfall, is a peaceful place for meditation and remembrance.

A beautiful Columbarium Wall and plots in the Memorial Lawn offer a choice of interment. A landscaped area around the 9’ 6” Celtic cross can accommodate small weddings and dedication ceremonies.

This committee directs the care and maintenance of the garden, as well as the interment process and records.

A subcommittee, the Memorial Garden Beautification Group, encourages Kirk members to be involved with the beauty and care of the garden..

Building and Grounds
Even in a community of beautiful scenery and eye-catching architecture, the Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines stands out. The graceful lines of the church and stately pines surrounding the building beckon Kirk and community members to come inside and experience God's Grace.

The building includes several meeting rooms, a music room, parlor, kitchen, and a handsome fellowship hall where after-church coffees, receptions, church suppers and other special events are held throughout the year.

An important part of the Kirk's ministry is making this space available for Village community groups. The building is bustling with meetings, conferences and musical practices nearly every day of the week, year round. The Building and Grounds committee organizes this constant flow of activity and maintains the beauty and efficiency of the building and surrounding property.

Membership
Joining a new church can be an overwhelming experience. The Kirk's Membership Committee makes it fun and easy!

Our new member orientation and reception introduces you to the members of the Session and the ways of the Kirk.

As you ease into your new life at the Kirk, one of the members of this committee will act as your special friend and guide to help you become acquainted with other members and explore options to participate in various committees and groups.

Finance
The financial committee prepares the annual budget, handles insurance matters and continually works with committees throughout the year trying to stay within financial guidelines established by Session.

Education
Check the Kirk's calendar and you'll see something educational and informative is going on all year long. The Kirk's Education Committee provides the Kirk with a variety of stimulating lectures and classes that meet weekly, monthly, semi-annually or annually.

The Focus Group, a Sunday morning adult class, views and discusses videos. Pastor Bill Bailey teaches Bible study each Wednesday in Hoffius Hall September through June. On Thursday mornings Pastor Bailey holds a discussion group with a variety of topics. Once a month, Faith and Film meets to discuss movies with a spiritual bent such as The Road to Bountiful and The Blind Side. The Spring Lecture Series is an intensive two-day seminar with a relevant topic being led by a guest theologian.

Every other Wednesday, June through August, a different Session committee hosts a Super Summer Supper. The meal is followed by an interesting program on a variety of subjects.

The Fran Brown Library is stocked with more than 2,000 titles ranging from spiritual life, prayer, Bible study and theology to biography and fiction.

Worship
The Worship Committee, in partnership with our pastors, provides general over site and support for Sunday Morning Worship and for Saturday Night Informal Worship. Special services during the church year include Advent, Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday Tennebrae, Easter, and World Communion. A Service of Wholeness with laying on of hands for healing is periodically held during the year.

The intent of this committee is to make all of the worship experiences at the Kirk meaningful and rewarding. This effort includes a myriad of details: flowers, banners, communion elements and servers, ushers and greeters. Under the Minister of Music a number of groups present a variety of musical offerings to enhance the worship experience. Among these are the Chancel Choir and the Bell Choir, as well as quartets, trios, and solos.

This busy committee also appoints a coordinator to work with the pastors and bereaved families in planning memorial services.

Administration
A smooth-running organization means a strong administrative team working behind the scenes.

The Kirk's Administration Committee oversees the church administration, selects, manages and reviews staff and pastors and is responsible for keeping up the policies and procedures that govern the Kirk. These committee members bring a wealth of experience to assure the efficient operation of the Kirk.

Planning and Coordinating
Change doesn't just happen. It's a process of looking to the future, making plans, and setting those plans in motion. At the Kirk, that's done by the Planning and Coordinating Committee. This group of forward looking folks also coordinates inter-committee relations and looks at committee function, an interesting and diverse responsibility.