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A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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This year Annual Conference will be held June 2-3 at UMC of Chugiak. The physical address is 16430 Old Glenn Highway, Chugiak, AK.
REGISTER NOW!
Registration cost goes up again on May 19 so make sure you register before then.
Read more about the theme and logo.
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Schedule
The conference secretary has completed the schedule for Annual Conference. However, it is subject to change.
View the schedule
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Pre-Conference Handbook
The pre-conference handbook has been posted on the conference website. For those that chose to download your copy, you can
find it here. Those that have requested that it be mailed to you, they should be sent out in the next day or two.
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Ministry Display Table Request
If you have a ministry within our conference that you would like to highlight with a table at Annual Conference, make sure you
fill out this form and get it to the conference office by
MAY 15! Submissions after that date will not be accepted.
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Award Nominations Deadline Extended!
The conference office has extended the deadline for the Harry Denman and Outstanding Lay Person of the Year Award nominations to
Tuesday, May 9. So it isn't too late to nominate that person you have been thinking of.
Harry Denman Award
Outstanding Lay Person
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Memorial Service Submissions
It has been tradition to say the names of those that have passed away in our congregations since the last Annual Conference. Feel free to make a submission if you would like. Pictures are always welcome!
Memorial Roll
Due date is
May 15!
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Thursday, June 1 the Alaska Conference will host two FREE workshops prior to the annual conference:
Intentional Discipleship which will be led by Jeff Campbell from Discipleship Ministries and
Clergy Benefits & Financial Wellness led by our own Conference Benefits Officer Bruce Galvin. Workshops are open to the public. Registration is required. There will be a dinner offered between the two workshops for $10. Please make sure you pay for your meal at the time of registering.
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Intentional Discipleship
Intentional Discipleship is designed for making disciples in the 21st century. This workshop covers the many facets for creating an intentional discipleship system including the "why" of discipleship and the understanding of "systems" thinking.
This workshop is being offered by Jeff Campbell of Discipleship Ministries
Register here
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Clergy Benefits & Financial Wellness
The emphasis will be on financial wellness. There will be a little primer on the defined benefit pension plans and the future funding of them. At the end of the presentation, clergy benefit changes will be talked about. If time allows, "Ask the CBO" will occur.
This workshop is being offered by Bruce Galvin our Conference Benefits Officer
Register here
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Housing
If you need housing while attending Annual Conference, make sure you fill out the housing registration!
Register here
Deadline is May 18
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Transportation
If you need transportation while attending Annual Conference, make sure you fill out the transportation registration.
Register here
Deadline is May 18
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Child Care
If you need child care while attending Annual Conference, make sure you fill out the child care registration form. Child care is available to the voting delegates for children 10 years and younger.
Register your kid(s) here
Deadline is May 18
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***
If you registered for housing between April 5 and April 24, please contact the conference office ASAP. Some of the requests DO NOT have names associated with them so it will be very hard to find housing for you! It was our error and we have fixed it now. There are 3 unknowns that we are trying to match up. Thank you!
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Do you have a group that likes to cook? We are looking for one or two groups to provide a meal during Annual Conference. If that is something you're interested in, please contact the
conference office.
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Do you have an extra bed or two in your home and would be willing to host a delegate or two during Annual Conference? People drive up from the Kenai area or down from Fairbanks or fly in from off the road system to attend these meetings. If you are able to help the conference out by offering up space or transportation, please contact the office at 333-5050 or
alaskaumc@gmail.com and let us know!
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Holway Celebration of Life
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Those who knew and loved Dennis Holway are invited to join Susie, Todd, and Blake and their families at Birchwood Camp at the chapel on Psalm Lake at 4:00 PM on Saturday, June 17th. There will be time to share memories, honor Dennis, and scatter his ashes. Then everyone is invited to gather in the main lodge afterwards for food and ice cream - his favorite!
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Reconciling Ministries Workshop Offered
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Do you want to help increase the number of Reconciling churches, communities and campus ministries? Join us for a training designed to help participants coach ministries through the Reconciling process. The training will include skills building around topics common in the Reconciling process including: complex identities, framing, steps of the Reconciling process, graceful engagement, and conflict management. Participants who desire to become Reconciling process coaches for their church or other congregations will be invited to confirm this at the workshop. This free training will empower Reconciling United Methodists to shepherd churches/communities through the Reconciling process. The event will be held at Turnagain United Methodist Church on
May 31 from
2 to 8 pm (pizza diner included). No cost.
If you have problems registering, email Jim LaBau at
Jimlabau6@cs.com or Ph 344-1018.
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Alaskan Mission Team to Work in West Virginia
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Anchor Park UMC is organizing a volunteer team for a Sept 17-25th trip to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. This town and area experienced a 1,000 year flood in June 2016 and is continuing the process of reestablishing themselves.
APUMC is coordinating with the West Virginia UMC Conference and will be staying in one of the local churches. Anticipated costs are $550 per person plus airfare. If you would like to be a part of the team or want more information, please contact the Anchor Park Office at
office@anchorpark.org
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WJ Commission on Archives & History Event
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Alaska Conference Historian and Archivist, Larry Hayden, would like to invite everyone to attend the Western Jurisdiction on Archives and History Bi-Annual Meeting and the Historical Society of The United Methodist Church. The event will take place June 26-29, 2017. You can view the letter of invitation, program agenda, and the registration form
on the conference website. If you have any questions, please contact Larry at 222-1938 or
lhaydennjuno@gmail.com.
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Western Jurisdiction Bishops Offer Response
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The members of the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops of The United Methodist Church presented a pastoral message to the church during the meeting of the denomination's Council of Bishops in Dallas, Texas on May 4.
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Western Jurisdiction Attorney Offers Clarification on Ruling
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In a commentary posted Thursday on the UMC.org website, Rich Marsh, attorney for the Western Jurisdiction, offers clarification after examining the 19 page decision from the Judicial Council on the election and consecration of Bishop Karen Oliveto. He comes to new insights that were not shared in the early posts about the ruling. Read more on UMC.org.
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Bishop Ough Says Entire Church is Watching
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Bishop Bruce Ough, in his May 1 presidential address to the Council of Bishops, spoke of what would be lost if The United Methodist Church divides over homosexuality. He urged support for the Commission on a Way Forward, and called on bishops to redouble efforts in evangelism and social outreach. "The entire church is rightly watching how we will lead in this moment," Ough said. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story and watch a video of his presentation.
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Now Available - UMFCU Spring Newsletter
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United Methodist Federal Credit Union spring newsletter is now available for viewing. UMFCU provides a full line of financial services and products to United Methodist churches, clergy, congregational members and UM-affiliated organizations. Participation in the CO-OP network within Alaska offers 35 walk-in Shared Branch locations and 62 surcharge-free ATMs. When traveling outside Alaska nationwide access available with over 5,000 Shared Branches and 30,000 thousand surcharge-free ATMs. To learn more about UMFCU products and services go to www.umfcu.org. To receive a membership packet contact your California Headquarters at 800-245-0433 or your New England Branch at 207-591-6449.
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Offering Electronic Giving: What Are You Waiting For?
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Discipleship Ministries is offering a webinar for local church leaders in Finance and Stewardship. The webinar is on Thursday, May 11 at 6:30 PM CDT. For many of your church members, the only check they write any more is the one to the church -- unless your church is offering the convenient option of giving electronically! Churches that are open and supportive of this giving option are seeing a great increase in the consistency of people's giving! As this tool of generosity grows in popularity, there are more and more options from which to choose.
Join us for this webinar as Ken Sloane hosts Jan Jasmine of Vanco Payment Solutions to explore an exciting offer this UMC partner is providing local churches.
We will explore the options technology offers and highlight the things you should consider when making a decision for a company to manage electronic donations for your congregation.
Click here to register!
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Heritage Sunday is May 21
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This year's theme is: "MILESTONES - Calling Local Churches to Discover and Celebrate Their History." Resources to guide and assist planning your local church Heritage Sunday celebration are available on the GCAH website. Heritage Sunday (para. 262, 264.1) calls every congregation to remember United Methodist heritage as a source of inspiration for ministry in the present and shaping vision for the future.
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May
14: Mother's Day
21: Heritage Sunday
21-25: GNW Cabinet meeting in Seattle - Carlo attending
29: Memorial Day - Office Closed
June
1: Pre-Conference Workshops
2-3: Annual Conference session at UMC of Chugiak
15-17: PNW-OI Joint Annual Conference in Oregon - Carlo attending
26-29: Western Jurisdiction Commission on Archives & History/Historical Society of the United Methodist Church meeting at Alaska Pacific University
July
4: Independence Day - Office Closed
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Conference Office Email Address has Changed
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We have changed 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
No May birthdays
June 8 -
Jim Doepken
June 10 -
Carlo Rapanut
June 27 -
Teri Erbele
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
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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.
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 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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