e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CONFERENCE NEWS
Threshold Event for Bishop Stanovsky
ALL are welcome to attend the first of several Threshold Events for Bishop Elaine Stanovsky across the Episcopal area.

On Friday, October 14th, the Alaska Conference will welcome Bishop Elaine with a worship service at 1660 Patterson Street.  It will begin at  7 PM, followed by a Town Hall Q & A, and then end with some light refreshments.

To download a PDF poster to print and share, click here .

Bishop Elaine has written a blog to explain why these are being called "Threshold" events and why that metaphor is meaningful to her.  You can read her letter here: Threshold Thoughts: A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Elaine Stanovsky.
Fall Rendezvous is Next Week
The Fall Rendezvous meetings will be held at the Conference Center starting Friday afternoon, October 14th and ending Saturday, October 15th at lunch.  The Leadership Team will meet following lunch from 12:30-3 pm.

Registration information has been sent out so if you did not get it, please contact the conference office.  
TODAY IS THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE!

Prior to the Rendezvous meetings, the Professional Church Workers Retreat will take place from October 12-14.
Apportionment Report
Money
The September Apportionment report has been posted to the conference website.   You can view it here.
A Scholarship Opportunity for Youth and Young Adults
Youth Ministry
To all Alaska United Methodist pastors, youth pastors, and church leaders:

We often say that youth and young adults are the future of our church. In fact, these particular people are a missional priority of the Alaska United Methodist Conference.

The Council on Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Alaska United Methodist Conference is committed to investing in and building up the youth and young adults in our United Methodist churches as faithful, invested, and committed leaders. We strongly believe the way to do that is to invite youth and young adults to the table to be given voice and agency. Our council envisions youth and young adults participating in Annual Conference and serving on conference councils, boards, and teams in order to help guide the church as we continue to discern God's vision and live it out.

The Council invites you to nominate a youth and/or a young adult from your church membership to participate in the youth and young adult ministries council of the Alaska United Methodist Conference in order to best discern the way forward with them. Charge conference nominations are coming up and this is a perfect time to discern with our young people and their parent(s)/guardian(s) their calling to leadership and ministry.

Please submit your nominations to the chair of the council, Rev. Melissa Engel, by Thanksgiving, November 24, 2016. If you have questions, please contact pastor.engel.ak@gmail.com .
United Methodist Women Annual Gathering 2016
This weekend the  United Methodist Women's Annual Gathering  is happening!  They hope you have registered!  It is always a great event and a wonderful opportunity to gather with other United Methodist Women throughout the state. If you haven't registered, it isn't too late!  J oin them October 7-9 at Anchor Park United Methodist Church in Anchorage.    Attached is a copy of the  2016 Annual Gathering registration form that  can be  filled out  online or printed off and malied in.

Here is the newsletter with all the information for the event.
 
Contact Bonnie Miller , President, if you have any questions!
Opportunities from AK Child & Family

AK Child & Family students are in need of yarn for their crocheting projects. If you would like to donate yarn for this cause, you may drop it off at the main office at 4600 Abbott Road M-F  8:30am-4:30pm .

AK Child & Family needs adult volunteers to help with their upcoming pumpkin carving group. The youth are able to paint or use markers to decorate their pumpkins, however, they only allow adults to do the cutting of the tops and other needed areas. Please join them  Wednesday 10/26   2-6 pm  in the Benson Center Gym on the Jesse Lee Campus 4600 Abbott Road please RSVP to Patti Lenhart at  plenhart@akchild.org or at  792-4131.
Mission u at Homer UMC
The final Mission u event for the year is planned to take place at Homer UMC on November 11-12, 2016.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  The topics are Climate Justice and The Bible and Human Sexuality.  You can find the registration form and information here.  Here is an advertisement poster that can be hung in your church.
NATIONAL NEWS
Laity Sunday: Tips for Involving Members
United Methodists observe Laity Sunday on  Oct. 16  as a day to include church members in the planning and execution of the worship service, but other days can be chosen as well. Darby Jones offers seven tips for including members in the service, and Discipleship Ministries has resources for observing Laity Sunday.

UMGAF Newsletter
Global AIDS Fund
The September/October United Methodist Global AIDS Fund newsletter is out.  You can read it here.  Revl Melissa Engel is the conference coordinator for this group so if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact her: pastor.engel.ak@gmail.com.
"Bittersweet" Departure from New York
In a worship service acknowledged by all as "bittersweet," the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries celebrated the rich history of Methodist mission work in New York on Sept. 27 as part of its final preparations to leave the Interchurch Center. The agency's new U.S. headquarters is in Atlanta.
Read the story
Free Clergy Personal Finance Resources
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
The Lewis Center for Church Leadership and Wesley Theological Seminary have gathered free resources to help pastors better understand and manage their personal finances.  The resources are available at http://www.churchleadership.com/clergyfinances.

"A basic responsibility as Christian stewards is to manage personal financial resources so that we can care for ourselves and our families and marshal the resources needed to respond to God's call to generous giving." says Lewis Center Director Lovett H. Weems, Jr.  "This is especially true for clergy who are expected to teach and model faithful stewardship within our congregations.  Mastering personal finances is both a personal and a pastoral responsibility."  The free resources offered can help clergy better meet these responsibilities.

Clergy Personal Finance Resources topics: Why Clergy Personal Fiances Matter; Personal Finances and Budgeting; Debt; Compensation and Taxes; Insurance; Investing; and Estate Planning.
Save the Date: #GivingTuesday - November 29
We are excited to let you know that plans are underway for this year's UMC #GivingTuesday!

On Nov. 29, you can extend the spirit of giving thanks into the Advent season again by participating in UMC #GivingTuesday. When you give online through The Advance at  www.umcmission.org/give , 100 percent of your gifts goes directly to the project of your choice. 

The Advance remains committed to sustaining a strong foundation that allows projects and missionaries to build relationships and empower ministries. Over the past years, we were fortunate to offer matching funds to motivate giving. This year, while matching funds will not be available, we remain confident that your supporters will continue their commitment to your ministry. To keep this momentum going, The Advance continues to allocate 100 percent of all giving to the designated project and missionary. 

Through The Advance, United Methodists can give to more than 800 United Methodist-related projects worldwide. Donors can also provide support for more than 300 missionaries. The projects meet a range of needs, from helping survivors cope with natural or civil disasters to helping establish new faith communities, feed and educate children, and equip hospitals and clinics.
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
October
7-9: UMW Annual Gathering at Anchor Park UMC
12-14: Professional Church Workers Retreat
14: Threshold Event for Bishop Elaine Stanovsky
14-15: Fall Rendezvous Meetings at Conference Center
16: Laity Sunday
19-22: GBGM Board Meeting in Atlanta - Carlo attending
26: Charge Conference - Palmer UM Fellowship
26: AK Child & Family pumpkin carving event
27: Charge Conference - Christ First UMC
29: Charge Conference - Aldersgate UMC
30: Charge Conference - Douglas Community UMC

November
2-4: Extended Cabinet Summit in Jacksonville, FL - Carlo attending
6: Daylight Savings Time ends
6: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC
8: Election Day
9: Charge Conference - Unalaska UMC
11-12: Mission u Event at Homer UMC
13: Charge Conference - Jewel Lake Parish
14-16: Crystal on vacation
14-16: GNW Cabinet meeting in Portland - Carlo attending
17: Charge Conference - UMC of Chugiak
18: Charge Conference - Seward UMC/ Moose Pass UMC
19: Charge Conference - Kenai UMC
19: Charge Conference - North Star UMC
20: Charge Conference - Girdwood Chapel UMC
24: Due date for Youth & Young Adult Scholarships
24: Thanksgiving Day - Office Closed
29: UMC #GivingTuesday campaign
Conference Office Email Address has Changed
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We have begun the process of changing the conference office email from umc@gci.net to alaskaumc@gmail.com.  For workflow ease, we are consolidating everything to the Google platform (email, calendar, etc.).  Please update your address books/contacts lists and start using alaskaumc@gmail.com for your emails to the conference. Carlo's email ( carlorapanut@gmail.com) will remain the same.
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Upcoming
Clergy Birthdays

October 8: Andy Bartel
October 10: Luke Jones
October 18: Dan Wilcox

November 1: Phil Campbell
November 6: Tafa Fulumua
November 17: Jean Bruscia


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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