A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Invitation to participate - Open Forum, November 5th, 6:30-8 pm
The Alaska Delegation is facilitating an Open Forum within our conference for the purpose of sharing more broadly the four Work Group reports completed within our jurisdiction and engaging participants in some discussion on them.
On Friday evening, November 5th from 6:30 - 8 pm the Alaska Delegation will be facilitating this via Zoom.
The gathering is open to anyone who is interested in participating. All participants are being asked to commit to having read all four Work Group reports which can be found at https://westernjurisdictionumc.org/work-group-updated-reports/ prior to the event and to come prepared with your notes and questions, ready to jump into the discussion.
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Moving for the Movement Virtual 5K
On November 13, 2021, Deaconesses, Home Missioners and Home Missionaries and those that love and support deaconesses, home missioners, and home missionaries throughout the connection will join together for a virtual 5K (or however far you can go).
Participants are invited to walk, run, ride or roll to support and raise awareness to the vital work of United Methodist Deaconesses, Home Missioners and Home Missionaries in ministries of love, justice and service.
Not available on the 13th - you can still participate! Share your photo when you can!!
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Birchwood Camp auction scheduled
You are invited to Birchwood Camp's 2021 Online Silent Auction! Bidding starts November 8, 1am AKST and ends November 14, 6pm AKST.
Bid on handcrafted items, collectibles, vacation rentals, fun family packages, and more! Your donation will help replace the bunk beds in Caribou cabin, protect the mattresses throughout camp with wipe-able sanitary mattress covers, and complete the flooring project in the Lodge. You may also choose to send kids to future camps by donating to the Scholarship Fund.
You will need to create an account or sign in to bid but you do not need an account to view the items. Click this link or the button at the bottom to view and explore the auction site. Don't forget to share this link to your friends and families!
Some items may be added later so please check out the auction site often.
Thank you for your continued support of Birchwood Camp!
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Apportionment Report
The latest apportionment report has been posted to the conference website for you. We are in the last two months of the year. Let's finish this year off strong! Thank you to the churches that have already paid their full apportionment amount.
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Greater Northwest Area News |
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BOTH/AND: To Be Continued
After over 18 months of doing our best to live into BOTH/AND, many churches are feeling a mixture of exhilaration and exhaustion when thinking about the continuation of hybrid worship. While many have seen their reach extended, some have begun to lose their passion and resolve for creating truly hybrid worship experiences. As in-person numbers have increased, more and more churches are asking, “can we stop doing online now?” If that’s you, don’t give up! Now is the time to re-new and re-energize your passion for BOTH/AND. It’s making a difference.
Join Jason Moore on Saturday, November 20 at 1 PM AKT, for a follow up to the popular BOTH/AND webinar. BOTH/AND: To Be Continued will focus on why hybrid should carry on, how to continue to iterate and will provide tangible handles on how to do it well. This brand new 90-minute training brings all new content focused on the why, how and what we can do to run the next leg of this very important race. We are living in an incredible “Great Commission” moment in the church. Let’s lean in and continue to iterate forward.
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Resources for Disaster Response Sunday ready
Churches across the Greater Northwest Area are encouraged to honor Nov. 14 (or any other Sunday) as Disaster Response and Preparedness Awareness Sunday as disaster response and preparedness is a missional priority of the GNW Area. A new webpage on the Greater Northwest Area website has been launched to provide resources, specifically bulletin inserts (en Español también), social media graphics, links to helpful resources and (soon) a video which can be used in your local church at any time.
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United Methodist Bishops meeting to discuss church future, elect new officers
Facing the challenges of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church will meet November 2-5 to discuss the future of the continuing United Methodist Church, elect new officers and address other timely topics.
The more than 100 bishops from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America will be in attendance during the Zoom meeting that will also include continuing work to dismantle racism, promote discipleship; and strengthen mission strategies in the world-wide denomination.
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Group celebrates 25 years of ministry
The United Methodist Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century will kick off its 25th anniversary celebration during the group's Dec. 1-2 national conference. "Shift Happens: Doing Ministry from the Right Side" will be held at St. John's United Methodist Church in Houston. The hybrid event is expected to attract 200 in-person attendees. To honor its work empowering and equipping Black clergy and lay leadership, the group will highlight achievements and hold observances through May 2022.
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Global Ministries, UMCOR approve $10M in grants
The board of United Methodist Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief approved more than $10 million in grants at their fall board meeting. The money will provide support for migrants around the world, wildfire survivors in the Pacific Northwest, malaria sufferers in Africa and more.
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Recovery ministry aims to save lives, erase stigma
The Ezekiel Project, a ministry of Winfield United Methodist Church, is on a mission to train 37 faith communities across the state in naloxone use by Aug. 31, 2022, which is Overdose Awareness Day. Trainees learn not only how to administer the potentially life-saving medication to someone who has overdosed, but also gain connections to direct those in need to area recovery services. Ultimately, the project aims to erase the stigma attached to substance abuse disorder.
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United Methodist layman creates Army hymn
Tom Lough, an Army veteran and United Methodist layman, was frustrated that there was no Army counterpart to a well-known Navy Hymn (“Eternal Father, Strong to Save”). He finally decided to write one. Vance Morton and Dustin Kaps share the story of Lough and his new composition, “Ever Faithful to the Call,” which is winning praise as Veterans Day approaches.
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Last #StilInMission episode
You are invited to join us for the final #StillInMission episode this year! In addition to the meetings with missionaries, there will be a joint devotion/centering experience led by the missionary presenters in the episode. You will not want to miss this!
#StillInMission Episode 37
November 11, 2021 | 12:00 PM EST
Featuring…
Gaston Ntambo serves as the Pilot and Mechanic with the Wings of the Morning Aviation Ministry in the North Kantanga Conference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jeanne Ntambo serves as the Radio Operator for the Wings of the Morning Aviation Ministry in the North Katanga Conference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Grace Choi serves as a Missionary in Residence at Global Ministries in the United States.
Magdeline Russo serves as the Community & Church Engagement Intern with McCabe Memorial United Methodist Church in the United States.
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Women clergy still paid less
Men make up 68% of the clergy in The United Methodist Church and earn 8% more in compensation than women, according to a study commissioned by the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women. The disparities are getting smaller, but very slowly, said researcher Magaela C. Bethune, assistant professor of African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University.
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Bishop visits wildfire areas
The Dixie and Caldor fires are extinguished and the burn scars remain. Yet, signs of rebirth are emerging from the ashes in Northern California. Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño led a California-Nevada Conference delegation on a three-day tour of the areas affected by the "super fires." Selby Ewing reported on each day of the journey.
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Spirit-filled people of God
Throughout November, the People of God campaign is focusing on worship, our opportunity to gather as a community to offer praise and experience grace. Share this message, and an invitation to #BeUMC, with your congregation by downloading resources, available in English and Spanish.
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Come to the Table
If you haven’t watched the informative Tuesdays at the Table discussions that are helping us better understand our faith, our church and ourselves, it’s not too late! View past sessions and watch today's as Dr. Ashley Boggan Dreff and the Rev. Dr. Jacob Dharmaraj discussed, “Do I have to believe a certain way to belong?” Watch, ask questions and engage with others on The UMC’s Facebook page.
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2: Election Day
2: Charge Conference - Homer UMC
3: Charge Conference - North Star UMC
4: Mission District Task Force
5: Alaska's WJ Work Group Open Forum
7: Daylight Savings Time ends
8: Charge Conference - Soldotna UMC
9: Charge Conference - Seward & Moose Pass UMC
10: Charge Conference - First Ketchikan UMC
11: Veterans Day
11: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC
15: Charge Conference - St. John UMC
16-18: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
16: Charge Conference - Nome Community UMC
17: Charge Conference - St. Peter the Fisherman UMC
18: Charge Conference - Girdwood Chapel UMC
19: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC
20: Leadership Team meeting
22: Charge Conference - Aldersgate UMC
23: Charge Conference - Douglas Community UMC
25: Thanksgiving - Office Closed
26: Office Closed
29: Charge Conference - UMC of Sitka
30: Charge Conference - First Anchorage UMC
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6: Charge Conference - First UMC Fairbanks
7: Charge Conference - Ola Toe Fuataina UM Samoan Fellowship
8: Charge Conference - Willow UMC
9: Charge Conference - Anchor Park UMC
13-15: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending virtually
20-30: Carlo on vacation
24: Christmas Eve - Office Closed
25: Christmas Day
31: New Year's Eve - Office Closed
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
November 6 -
Tafa Fulumua
November 9 -
Murray Crookes
December 23 -
Christina DowlingSoka
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent - Carlo Rapanut
Director of Connectional Ministries - Lisa Talbott
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Submissions - If you have an article or event that you would like to share with the rest of the conference, submit it to the conference office by Tuesday at 9:00 am for consideration.
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The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Held and supported by the transforming relationship with God through Christ, we of the Alaska United Methodist Conference seek to be a community that creates a home for all peoples, finds our hope through grace and journeys together in God's preferred future. |
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