e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CONFERENCE NEWS
#GivingTuesday is TODAY!
One of the great things about The Advance is that it allows you to invest your resources where your passion answers specific needs in the world.
 
What are you passionate about? Education? Church development? Health? Disaster response and relief? Economic development? Clean water and sanitation?
 
Are you passionate about a particular area of the world (Asia, Africa, North America, etc.) or a particular area of impact?
 
Wherever your passion lies, The Advance can connect you with missionaries and projects that you can support.
 
At UMCmission.org/give, you can search for UMC-related projects and missionaries that align with your passion. When you specify a destination for your gifts, that's exactly where every dollar goes; not one dollar of your gift goes to overhead.

Search Advance projects
Alaska missionaries and projects
  • Evelyn Erbele - 10832Z
  • W. Terence Erbele - 10831Z
  • Alaska Churches - 931027
  • Birchwood Camp - 931068
  • Downtown Ministries, First United Methodist Church Ketchikan - 3020487
  • Girdwood Chapel UMC - 931007
  • Unalaska UMC Outreach & Community Ministry - 931855
  • Willow UMC - 931511
  • Willow Church & Community Ministry - 931520
Alaskan in the latest Interpreter magazine
Caesar Marciales, member of Christ First UMC, responded to the "We asked..., You said" question, "How did you learn to express gratitude?" that Interpreter magazine posed in the November/December 2017 issue.  You can find his response, along with others, here
Summer Camp dates and Internship Applications
Birchwood Camp
Birchwood Camp is pleased to announce their 2018 Summer Camp brochure and Internship Applications are live!
 
 
If you want to apply for one of the summer internships at the camp, or would like to learn more, fill out the internship application here
Calling all Alaskan women to Assembly 2018
Calling all Alaskan women.....young and experienced and all in between. Early registration for UMW Assembly ends November 30th.  We need 13 more people and we will reach our 30% increase goal. If you know of women who are interested in social justice invite them. If you know people who love great music, invite them. If you know people who want to change the world, invite them. If you know people who like to party and celebrate invite them. UMW is 150 years old! Invite your mom, your sister, your daughter or pastor.  All are welcome to attend Assembly.
 
 
If we reach our 30% goal before all the other conferences, members of our conference will get to meet Leymah Gbowee Nobel peace prize winner. This Assembly will be awesome. You will not want to miss it! It will be life impacting. Awesome music, drama troops sharing scripture, international choirs will rock the house. If you need CEU credits what a great way to earn them. 
 
 
Don't wait. 
 
Bonnie Miller is the person to contact about the Alaska block of hotel rooms. If you have any questions about assembly call me, Susan Williams, at 907-317-0406
 
I  hope to see you in Columbus!
Call for 2018 Mission u Certified Study Leaders
The Leadership Team of the Alaska United Methodist Women is receiving applications for two study leaders to teach at Mission u events throughout the Alaska Conference.  The time frame for teaching is mid-summer through the end of 2018.
 
The studies that they are recruiting teaching leaders for are:
ISSUE STUDY: What About Our Money? A Faith Response
SPIRITUAL GROWTH STUDY: Seeking Health and Wholeness 
 
 
Deadline extended till December 1st! 
T-shirt pillows for AK Child & Family
AK Child & Family
Jan Wachsmuth is organizing a group of women to make 50+ t-shirt pillows for AK Child & Family.  They will be gifts for the children.

The event will be on Friday, December 15 (DATE CHANGE) from 10 am - 3 pm at the Conference Center (1660 Patterson Street, Anchorage).

Lunch will be provided.  If you have questions or want to let Jan know you will be there, give her a call (862-0194) or send her an email
Christmas Cookie Baking Party
You are invited to Birchwood Camp's 2nd Annual Christmas Cookie Baking Party.  It will be held December 17th from 1-5 PM in the main lodge.  Registration is $15 and all supplies are provided.  Please go to www.birchwoodcamp.org for more details and to register.
Winter Youth Break Away Camp
Birchwood Camp
Middle School and High School Students are invited to this year's Winter Youth Break Away camp which will be held January 2 - January 6, 2018.

Bring your sleds, skates, snowshoes, and helmets...play in the snow!!!  Excellent food, fun and fellowship! Join them for Water is Life!

Registration fee: $240
Registration Open: October 1, 2017
***NEW*** Extended Camp Hours!
Check-in/drop-off 11 AM, Tuesday, January 2
Pick-up at 11 AM, Saturday, January 6

www.birchwoodcamp.org/camps
NATIONAL NEWS
Taking action on World AIDS Day
The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee has created several resources for churches and church members to use on or near World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. The theme of World AIDS Day 2017 is #LetsEndIt, a statement compelling action through advocacy.
 
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
November
28: UMC #GivingTuesday
28: Charge Conference - Palmer UM Fellowship
30: Charge Conference - First UMC Anchorage/First Samoan UMC of Anchorage

December
2: Leadership Team meeting
3: Global Migration Sunday
3-7: GNW Cabinet Meetings in Seattle - Carlo attending
7-17: GBGM Round Table Conversation in the Philippines - Carlo attending
24: Christmas Eve
25: Christmas Day - Office Closed
31: New Year's Eve

January
7: Charge Conference - First UMC Ketchikan
8-10: GNW Cabinet Meeting - Carlo attending
11: Charge Conference - Christ First UMC
12: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC
16: Charge Conference - St. John UMC
18: Charge Conference - Anchor Park UMC
26-28: UMW Leadership Team meetings at Conference Center
New Office Hours
Office Hours
The Conference Office has new hours!
 
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 11:00 am 
happy_birthday_candles.jpg
Upcoming
Clergy Birthdays
 
December 10 -
David Hall

December 23 -
Christina DowlingSoka
Curtis Matz



Conference Office
907-333-5050

Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
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 Monday evening for consideration.
AUMC Logo Mission Statement:
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 into God's preferred future.
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