"And in our gratitude, make us to be instruments of your peace." A photo essay features the words to a reflection perfect for sharing in this season of thanks

See prayer 

Revs. Nico Romeijn-Stout and Autumn Krueger attended RevItUp! last week.  RevItUp! is a conference for young adult clergy to learn more about finances, leadership, and benefits.

Learn more here. 

Bailey Brawner, a St. John UMC student at Boston University School of Theology in candidacy to be an Elder, considers what it means to wait for things like Advent, the future, and even change in the Church, and whether that waiting is inherently passive.

"Whether marching for women or science, rallying in support of affordable, comprehensive health care or equal rights for LGBTQ+ persons, my presence and participation is shaped foremost by my identity as a Christian," shares Rev. Nico Romeijn-Stout of St. John UMC in a post on the intersection of faith and politics.

Read more

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. 

 

UMC #GivingTuesday is one week away! I hope you'll join with thousands of United Methodists in giving generously to the work of Global Ministries missionaries and projects through The Advance.

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.

The #GivingTuesday toolkit offers ways to get friends and family involved, including asking them to make an early Christmas gift in your honor to your favorite Advance project or missionary on Nov. 28. You also can make a gift in honor of those on your Christmas list.

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

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.

 

Watch the assembly video 

 

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. 

 

Visit the assembly website for further information and to register

 

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!

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 

 

Find out more about this amazing opportunity here.  

 

Deadline extended till December 1st! 

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! 

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.

 

 Read more of the story, and get resources for World AIDS day.

Churches often welcome young adults with such urgency and expectation that younger visitors can feel overwhelmed. Pastor Scott Chrostek says it is actually more hospitable to maintain their sense of anonymity and personal privacy in worship -- to help them blend in and feel comfortable without attracting undue attention. 

 

Read more 

While Thanksgiving Day happens each November in the U.S., thanking God is a spiritual discipline we should not limit to a single day. Make this season more about giving than receiving.

Find tips 

 

November

23: Thanksgiving - Office Closed

24: Office Closed

26: United Methodist Student Sunday

26: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC

27: Charge Conference - First UMC Fairbanks

28: UMC #GivingTuesday

28: Charge Conference - Palmer UM Fellowship

29: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC

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

The Conference Office has new hours!

 

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Friday: 9:00 am - 11:00 am 

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.

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.