e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CONFERENCE NEWS
Auction Held This Saturday for Anchor Park UMW
The Anchor Park United Methodist Women's Annual Auction will take place  October 22 from  10:45 to 2:15 pm. All are welcome. The Auction raises monies for Women, Children and Youth ministries in Anchorage, Alaska and around the world.

The menu is:
Mixed green salad with candied pecans, cheese crumbles, and dried cranberries.  Main course of chicken saltimbocca with orzo risotto and vegetables. Assorted breads and desserts will also be served.

The cost is $17 per person which covers the cost of the lunch so that ALL the money raised from the auction goes to its selected causes.  If you want to come, just email the church at office@anchorpark.org.

If you would like to donate a crafted item, drop it by the church.  The church is located at 2300 Oak Drive (corner of Oak and Lake Otis).
Cello and Piano Recital at St. John UMC
You are invited to a recital of German art songs, performed on cello and piano!  The range of the cello encompasses that of the human voice.  Included in the program are selections from volume 1 of Gustav Mahler's Lieder und Gesange; Vier Gesange opus 43 by Johannes Brahms; and the complete opus 10 of Richard Strauss.

The recital will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 23rd at St. John United Methodist Church.  Admission is free; donations are gratefully appreciated. Freya and James Wardlaw-Bailey are the performers.  They are both on staff at St. John UMC. You can visit their website for more information about them.
Contemplation and Action: Insights from Thomas Merton
St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Anchorage will be hosting Rev. Hugh Grant on November 4-5, 2016.  Rev. Grant will be speaking on Contemplation and Action: Insights from Thomas Merton.

The programs are free and open to the public.  Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the church.

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. 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 .
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
Got a Question? Ask the UMC
Ever wonder whether The United Methodist Church has an official Bible? Curious about the church's global structure or certain phrases said each Sunday during service? Find answers to these questions and more with "Ask the UMC," a new UMC.org feature inviting readers to submit questions about the denomination.
Explore Ask the UMC
Evangelical Group Plans for "New Day" in Church
With some 1,800 people in attendance, the new Wesleyan Covenant Association officially launched Oct. 7 and declared its intention to lead Methodism in a more evangelical direction. Organizers announced their hope is to do this work within The United Methodist Church, while leaving open the possibility of moving outside it.
Read the story
Churches Assessing, Helping After Hurricane
Hurricane Matthew has left nearly 1,000 dead in Haiti and 38 dead in the United States, with half of that number in North Carolina. United Methodist churches are assessing damage and preparing to help.
Generation Transformation/Global Mission Fellows Application Opens
The application period for the 2016-2017 class of Global Mission Fellows began on September 30, 2016.  Online information sessions for those interested in learning more about the program will be held on:
  • November 16
  • December 14
To register for an information session, click here.

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2017.  The application can be accessed at www.umcmission.org/gt.
Save the Date: #GivingTuesday - November 29
On Nov. 29, United Methodists will come together to support the work of Advance missionaries and projects on UMC #GivingTuesday. Last year, more than 770 Advance missionaries and projects received 8,757 gifts through  The Advance , the denomination's designated giving channel. 

The theme for  UMC #GivingTuesday 2016  is "Give Light, Give Love, Give Life." Every day, you give God's light, love, and life through your faithful work, prayers, and gifts. 

This year, consider  supporting a project  that is working in an area you care most about. Gifts made through The Advance make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. Also, look out for more information and resources coming soon at  www.umcgivingtuesday.org .
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
October
19-22: GBGM Board Meeting in Atlanta - Carlo attending
22:  Annual Auction at Anchor Park UMC
23: Cello/Piano Recital at St. John UMC
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
4-5: Contemplation and Action: Insights from Thomas Merton at St. Mary's Episcopal Church
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 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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