e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CONFERENCE NEWS
Free Public Lecture at APU
APU
God's Mechanics... the popular idea that somehow religion and science are at war, ignores the fact that an awful lot of scientists and engineers are also churchgoers. How do they do that? What does religion look like to someone immersed in technology? And what can their viewpoint tell the rest of us? 
 
The Cardinal Newman Chair at APU will host Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J., Ph.D., the Director of the Vatican Observatory (Rome Italy and Tucson, AZ), for a free public lecture "God's Mechanics: The Spiritual Life of Techies" on Tuesday November 28, 2017 (7:00-8:30 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church on Muldoon Road). Consider taking advantage of this unique opportunity.
Need a Volunteer in Mission team?
UMVIM We have a number of VIM teams interested in coming to Alaska next summer to work at churches and in our communities.  Planning needs to happen now if a team is to come next summer.  We have at least two teams that are primarily youth, so please consider the skill level necessary for the work that needs to happen.  Please contact Conference UMVIM Coordinator Dan Wilcox at danielpwilcox@gmail.com if your congregation is interested in hosting a team.
Historian's Digest includes Alaskan meeting
History In the Summer/Fall 2017 issue of Historian's Digest, you will find an extensive narrative of the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Archives & History and the Historical Society of the UMC meetings that were held in Alaska back in June.  The large group had a great time during their visit thanks to their host, Larry Hayden and the Alaska United Methodist Conference.

You can read about it in the latest publication here.
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.
Anchor Park Annual Holiday Auction
Anchor Park will hold its Annual Holiday Auction this Saturday, November 4.  It will be held from 10:45 till 2:15 at Anchor Park UMC.  The cost is $17 which pays for your lunch of soup, lasagna, tossed salad, fresh baked bread, assorted desserts, tea and coffee.  ALL funds raised from the sale of items (live auction, silent auction, and flat fee purchase items) go to missions that support women, children, and youth.  Anchor Park United Methodist Women host the yearly event.  If you would like to come, please contact the church office and let them know who will be attending by Thursday morning.  If you aren't able to make it, you can always help by donating a home crafted item or baked goods.  Find the information here. 
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 Thursday, December 7 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! 
Birchwood Camp News
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
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 
 
Holy Land Tour
Greetings in Christ,
 
As a Host, through E.O. Tours, I have scheduled a Holy Land Tour, Journey Through the Bible, October 15-25, 2018.
     
View a copy of the brochure.  The brochure includes a printable registration form that can be mailed in.  

Click here for a direct link to the tour.  It provides more information and the option of electronic registration.
 
Here are some initial highlights for consideration:
  • The cost of the tour does not include travel to and from Tel Aviv
  • Folks with initial interest are departing from various locations
  • You'll need to arrive in Tel Aviv, October 15, 2018
  • The tour ends (departure from Tel Aviv) October 25, 2018; however, you may make prior arrangements to extend
  • The cost ($1998) listed in the brochure is a cash price (check or electronic debit)
  • You can pay by credit card with a 4% service charge
  • Early registration saves you $150 prior to November 15, 2017
  • Early registration savings reduce as the date draws near (the brochure lists increments)
  • This will be a wonderful & educational tour
  • Our schedule is customized to enable more time at sites of interest
  • While I am the Host; I'm not the Guide...We'll have local Tour Guides  
  • Lynn Kile (member of First UMC) is our Tour Coordinator
There will be upcoming informational meetings at First UMC in Anchorage.  Please contact Lynn Kile, 696-5453, or myself (Pastor Steve Fisher) 272-2112, to let us know of your interest and we will keep you updated on informational meetings.

Many Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Steve Fisher
NATIONAL NEWS
All Saints Day: A holy day John Wesley loved
All Saints Day is an opportunity to give thanks for all those who have gone before us in the faith. It is a time to celebrate our history, what United Methodists call the tradition of the church. 
 
Up to bishops to shape Way Forward ideas
Bishop Ken Carter stressed that the Commission on a Way Forward serves the denomination's bishops and the bishops will shape the group's proposals. In a call with denominational communicators, he answered questions about the group that has the task of finding a way through an impasse around homosexuality.
 
United Methodist chaplain played in NFL
The Rev. Caesar Rentie is certainly unusual as a hospital chaplain who played offensive tackle in the NFL. He's also a CODA - a child of deaf adults - and grew up in poverty. Sam Hodges has the story of Rentie's rise to become vice president for pastoral services at Dallas' Methodist Health System.

Read the story
'America's Got Talent' winner prepares for what's next
Ventriloquist Darci Lynne Farmer credits God for blessing her with the talent that won her $1 million on the television show "America's Got Talent." The 13-year-old and her family, members of United Methodist Church of the Servant, are still adjusting to the results of the win. 
 
#GivingTuesday is November 28
The season of giving is nearly upon us and that means it's almost time for UMC #GivingTuesday.

On Nov. 28, you will have the opportunity to once again "Connect Your Passion with God's Mission" to address the needs in the world today.

Last year, nearly 2,550 donors from 19 countries donated more than $850,000 through The Advance to support mission and ministries around the world.  This generosity illustrates the true meaning of the season.

To help you get involved and spread the message of generosity, GBGM has created a host of #GivingTuesday resources. You will find the answers to frequently asked questions, tips for using social media and creative ways to foster the giving spirit.

What project or missionary will you support this year? Through The Advance, you can choose from more than 300 United Methodist missionaries and 600 United Methodist-related projects worldwide. From disaster relief to feeding the hungry to improving the quality of life of women and children around the world, you are sure to find a project that feeds your passion, including several in the Alaska Conference.

As always, 100 percent of your gift to The Advance goes directly to the project of your choice.

The #GivingTuesday toolkit also 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.

This Advent, continue to "Connect Your Passion with God's Mission" through The Advance at www.UMCmission.org/give.

Download your UMC #GivingTuesday resources today.
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
November
1: Charge Conference - Unalaska UMC
4: Charge Conference - North Star UMC
4: Charge Conference - Kenai UMC
5: Daylight Savings Time ends
5: Charge Conference - Seward Memorial UMC
5: Charge Conference - Moose Pass UMC
8: Charge Conference - Willow UMC
12: Charge Conference - UMC of Sitka
13: Charge Conference - Aldersgate UMC
13: Charge Conference - Douglas Community UMC
16: Charge Conference - UMC of Chugiak
19-20: UMDF Board Meeting - Carlo attending
23: Thanksgiving - Office Closed
24: Office Closed
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
3-7: 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
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
 
November 1 -
Phil Campbell

November 6 -
Fa'atafa Fulumua

November 8 -
Jason Cornish

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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