Our Ministries

Congregational Care
The Congregational Care Committee is the heartbeat of the Kirk. Committee members give rides to doctor appointments, check on members who are recovering from illness and hospital stays, comfort families after the death of a loved one, and provide much needed respite for caregivers. Prayer Tree volunteers pray for members and their families on request, and a Wellness Group meets twice a month to share prayerful healing ministry with the chronically ill. Volunteers bring the Word to homebound members by providing tapes of worship services. Members of the committee who are retired care-giving professionals share their knowledge by offering health advice and education for patients, families and caregivers. The ESP (Every Single Person) program matches members who live alone with buddies who check on each other daily. The Christian Friends program pairs trained caregivers with people in need. Prayer Shawls are knitted and crocheted by Kirk members, dedicated in church on a quarterly basis and given to members who are hospitalized, homebound because of declining health or moving to another community. Members also make prayer quilts, which are hand knotted by the congregation and given to members who are diagnosed with cancer.

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. It is our goal 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 in Hoffius Hall at the coffee hour following each service.

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 sponsor the Gardening…From Alpha to Omega workshops that meet monthly on the fourth Thursday. The workshops are open to everyone in the community who is interested in gardening.

We strive to provide opportunities for all members to be included in the full life of the congregation. In a nutshell, we joyfully share the good news of the sovereign love of God and encourage active membership in the church and obedient service in the world.

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 what's going on at the church. These talented folks 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, designing posters 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.

Mission
The Kirk in the Pines' active mission program provides spiritual, monetary, and hands-on support for over 25 local, national and international programs. Kirk members supply more than 32 bags of groceries each month to various local groups, including a crisis center for homeless families and a crisis center for abused women and their children. Through the Christmas Giving Tree the congregation gives presents to local children who might not otherwise experience the joy of Christmas. Dedicated offerings help support Presbytery and Synod missions, Presbyterian colleges and universities, Vera Lloyd Center and our very active Presbyterian Camp at Ferncliff.

Stewardship
The Stewardship Committee designs and conducts the Kirk's annual financial campaign. The committee challenges Kirk members to be good Christian stewards of the many gifts and blessings they receive from God by encouraging members to find ways to share their time, talents and treasures for the work of the Lord at the Kirk.

Fellowship
The Kirk's Fellowship Committee brings our busy community together for fellowship that strengthens our faith as individuals and our mission as a church. Dinner for Six or Eight, Couples Bridge, Golf Scrambles and annual All Kirk Dinner are ways to enjoy each other's company as well as form lasting friendships. Each member of the Kirk belongs to a Shepherd Group, which plans regular outings that take advantage of some of the many opportunities for recreation in this beautiful area. Presbyterian Women meets five times a year for Circle meetings and five times a year for Gatherings. The Kirk's Men's Association meets monthly September through May to enjoy a short devotion, coffee and donuts, lively conversation and listen to a variety of interesting speakers.

Memorial
The Memorial Committee oversees the Kirk’s memorial funds and the many resulting projects. Dedicated in 1996, the Memorial Garden continues to be a peaceful place for meditation and remembrance. A 9' 6" Celtic Cross was added to the Memorial Garden in the fall of 2005. The area around the cross has been landscaped and can now accommodate small weddings. This committee oversees its care and maintenance, as well as the interment process and records. A subcommittee, the Memorial Garden Beautification Group, encourages Kirk members to get 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 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 lunch introduce 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 get 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 that there's something educational and informative 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. There are two Sunday morning adult classes, a Focus Group which views videos and discusses them and a Kerygma Bible and Theology class. A weekly Bible class meets in Hoffius Hall each Wednesday September through June. The Kirk Study is an all-day class held in the Spring and Fall led by a pastor from the surrounding area. The Midwinter Lecture Series is an intensive two-day seminar on a relevant topic-this year's was Living into God’s Amazing Grace-led by a guest theologian. Every other Wednesday from June through September a different Session committee hosts a Super Summer Supper, which includes dinner, usually potluck, followed by an interesting program on a variety of topics. The Fran Brown Library is stocked with 2000 titles on a wide variety of topics, ranging from spiritual life, prayer, Bible study and theology to biography and fiction.

Worship
The Worship Committee, in partnership with our pastors, plans our regular Saturday evening informal service and Sunday services, as well as special services of worship for Advent, Christmas, Tenebrae, Easter, World Communion, All Saints Day and Veteran's Day. A Service of Wholeness, with laying on of hands for healing, is held four times a year. The worship committee strives to make all of the worship experiences at the Kirk meaningful and rewarding, and that includes handling a myriad of details-music, flowers, candles, banners, communion elements and servers, ushers and greeters. This busy committee also appoints a coordinator to work with the pastors and bereaved families in planning a loved one's memorial service.

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. The retired business professionals who make up this hardworking committee 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.

© Copyright 2007 By Kirk in the Pines and Web Centers of America, Inc.