By Scott Loftis
Eureka Springs Times-Echo
First Presbyterian Church of Eureka Springs officially dissolved its congregation and held its closing worship service on Thursday, Dec. 19, but not without adding to its lasting legacy in the surrounding community.
As part of the service, the 138-year-old church officially donated its building to the Carnegie Public Library, along with a $75,000 endowment. In addition, the church donated $5,000 each to a dozen local charities.
“We are here to celebrate the life of the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka Springs,” Rev. John Arnold, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Rogers, read from the service’s statement of purpose, “to give thanks to God for the gifts that have come to us and to others through this ministry, to acknowledge our sadness at the close of this ministry, and to affirm again our faith in Jesus Christ. Let us be grateful for God’s gifts, honest about our sorrow, open in our love, trusting in Jesus Christ, the only head of the church.
“The service today marks a passage for this congregation. A ministry is coming to a close; something new is about to be born. We come to celebrate the future use of this building for years to come; a gift to the community of Eureka Springs. God is calling the members of this congregation to a new ministry. Congregations are formed and congregations are disbanded, but the Lord our God reigns forever.”
Arnold led the audience in a responsive reading of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Rev. Stewart Smith, interim pastor of First United Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville, read from Isaiah 43:1-2 and 15-21. After a homily by Smith titled “God’s New Thing,” Sharon Keck Parker sang the anthem “In This Very Room” before Arnold led the audience in a responsive Litany of Praise and Thanksgiving.
Smith read the church’s statement of dissolution before Margie Bullock, clerk of session for the church, presented the church’s gifts to the charitable organizations.
Gifts of $5,000 each were presented to A Cup of Love Ministry, the Children’s Backpack Food Program, Flint Street Food Bank, Good Shepherd Humane Society, Jeremiah Recovery House, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Rotary Educational Scholarship Program, Samaritan’s Feet, Soul’s Harbor, People Helping People, The Purple Flower Domestic Program and the Carroll County Community Foundation.
Arnold led the audience in a prayer of dedication of gifts before the singing of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
Smith delivered the closing benediction.
The post Lasting Legacy appeared first on Eureka Spring Times-Echo.