Upcoming Office Closures

The Synod Office will be closed these days:
Friday, December 23; Monday, December 26; and Monday, January 2.

Attention:  Congregations and Pastors in Transition

We have been informed that the ELCA portal for pastors' RLPs and congregations' MSPs will be unavailable December 15 through January 17.  This means that nobody will be able to post or download.  Please be aware of this.

St. Mark Lutheran Church, Child Care Fundraiser.  Anchorage - Dec 23rd , 4 - 9pm

Child Care will be offered with Christmas story & activities, a light evening meal, singing, & a snack for children 10yrs of age & younger.  This is a fundraiser for their Mexico Mission Trip over spring break 2017.  Registration extended.  Details Here.

Congregations in Transition

The Alaska Synod currently has four congregations preparing to call their next pastor.
Also, two congregations are being served by people preparing for service as ELCA pastors.  Full details here.

Winter 2017 Lutheran Community Retreat, Victory Bible Camp - Sutton, AK

Register today for the Winter 2017 Lutheran Community Retreat!  View contact info & flyer here.  View Camp & Registration details here.  Registration deadline: January 10, 2017.

Internship Opportunity- Vancouver, WA.  Applications due Jan 15th.

Messiah Lutheran Church is offering two internships for full-time college students this summer.  Housing and stipend are provided. More Details Here.

Byberg Preaching Workshop 2017.  January 16-18 Cannon Beach, Oregon

The speaker for 2017 is the Rev. Dr. David Lose.  Lose is President of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP).  The topic will be "Preaching in a Postmodern, Post-Christian World."  Registrations Due December 31st!

Crossroads, Redefining Your Vocational Vision Seminar.

Seattle, WA: Jan 24-25, 2017  &  Portland, OR: Feb 7-8, 2017
This seminar is designed specifically for clergy & other church workers who may be asking questions about the next steps on their professional journey.  Details & Registration here.

Applications for ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission open for 2017-2018 year!

The Young Adults in Global Mission program provides young adults the opportunity to serve alongside Lutheran companion churches & organizations in countries around the world. Application period is now open.  Applications due Feb 15th.

Rooted in Christ: Connected in Comm unity. 1st of 4 Workshops - Feb 24-25, 2017

Whether you've already participated in an October "Rooted" workshop & are interested in the cohort or if you haven't heard of "Rooted" at all, here's a summary of what we're doing & what's up next.  Contact Info here.

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran, Juneau - Volunteer Invitation, June 26-30

For the 6th year operating, a volunteer crew is invited to help with our summer lunch program.  We feed, play, & read with about fifty youth a day Monday-Friday.  Details here.

Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering.  July 13-16, 2017 - Minneapolis, MN

Early-bird pricing for the "All Anew" Women of the ELCA's Tenth Triennial Gathering ends Jan. 6th.  However, registration will continue until the event start date, July 13, 2017.
Details & Registration info here.

IRS 2017 Standard Mileage Rates for Business, Medical, & Moving Announced

View details here.

Congregation Constitution Updating.

The 2016 model constitution for congregations is located at elca.org.  Send your draft to the Alaska Synod office e-mail for our review team to review & return to you.

Lutherans at work, because of you: Stories of Faith in Action are here!

An annual publication of the ELCA churchwide office.  Each Alaska Synod congregation will receive up to 30 free copies of the booklet.  Details & Contact info here.

SYRIA: Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

View Website here.

Annual Report Covers Are Now Available

Free formats are available - single pages, folder, cover only.  Ordering Details here.

The 2017 Annual Report to the Bishop modified forms for rostered ministers.

Forms located here.  Remember to save the form in your computer before filling it out & sending it to the Bishop via e-mail.  Across this church, rostered leaders are asked to submit their personal report by February 15, 2017 .

Joshua Grant Program.

Joshua Grants are 1yr grants to Lutheran congregations, organizations & agencies committed to launching new ministries of health & hope in their community.  Program Details here.  Next proposal deadline: Feb 29, 2017.

Details for the 2017 Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs are now available

The 2017 Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program details here.
The 2017 Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations details here,
Application Deadline: April 21, 2017

World Hunger Relief Prints - Anchorage Artist: Marianne Wieland

2016 Print: "Mother & Child" - Hard Cover Book: 46pgs include 38 annual prints (1979-2016)
Currently, few copies remain.  Details & order form here.

Lutheran Outdoor Ministries offers Curriculum Package for VBS

Interested?  View Details here.

Yarn Donations.

Christ Lutheran Church-Soldotna regularly accepts yarn donations for the "Crocheting Their Way" Ministry.  The women at the Wildwood Pre-Trail Facility in Kenai, AK continue to create fantastic articles for our community.  Yarn donations are accepted & gathered at 128 N. Soldotna Ave, Soldotna, AK, (907) 262-4757.  Thank you for your support.

AK Child & Family regularly accepts yarn donations for residential treatment clients, community based programs & treatment foster homes for use in therapeutic craft-making projects.  Donations gladly accepted at 4600 Abbott Rd, Anchorage, AK.  Donations contact: Angie, (907) 346-2101.

Looking Ahead

2016
December 23:  Child Care Fundraiser - St. Mark Lutheran Church, Anchorage
December 23:  Synod office closed
December 26:  Synod office closed
2017
January 2:  Synod office closed
January 16-18:  Byberg Preaching Workshop 2017 - Cannon Beach, OR
January 24-25:  Crossroads, Redefining Your Vocational Vision Seminar - Seattle, WA
January 27-29:  Winter 2017 Lutheran Community Retreat - Mile 95 Glenn Hwy (N of Palmer)
February 7-8:  Crossroads, Redefining Your Vocational Vision Seminar - Portland, OR
February 15:  2017 Annual Report due to Bishop
February 24-25:  Rooted in Christ: Connected in Community, 1st of 4 Workshops - Anch
February 24:  Congregation Council Workshop 101 (for those who haven't attended previously) - Anchorage
February 25:  Congregation Council Workshop 201 with Linda Babbitt on Congregational Vitality - Anchorage
April 28-30: Alaska Synod 2017 Assembly - Juneau, AK
July 13-16:  Tenth Triennial Women of the ELCA Gathering, All Anew - Minneapolis, MN
August 7-10:  Rostered Ministers Gathering, On The Way- Together! - Atlanta, GA

Standing Together- Veteran's Program. 1st Tuesday, Monthly.

Joy Lutheran, in partnership with the Chugiak- Eagle River Library, launched "Standing Together."  This is made possible by a grant from the Humanities Forum.  Learn more here.

Join the December discussions. Crafting a Truly Fulfilling Life. The Aliens Are Coming.
Join the January discussions. Be yourself. Playing God. Losing a Loved One to Alzheimer's. Why did I survive? Confronting evil.  3230 Lake Otis Parkway, Anchorage.