Annual Conference is over and Alaska's Open the Door to Abundant Health initiative is off to a fantastic start. I was fortunate to speak with clergy and lay leaders from many of the Alaska Conference churches and I'm looking forward to visiting congregations over the next year. Many congregations are already engaged in ministry. Several churches are in ministry with children's programs through providing food and hospitality. Other churches are building relationships with families to provide nurturing homes. There are no limits on the possibilities for ministry and initiative in Alaska.

 

The Abundant Health initiative encourages congregations to be engaged in ministry in their local communities, such as many of you are already doing. I ask each congregation to go to the Abundant Health website and say "Yes, we are engaged." You do not need to do anything more than what you are doing right now.

 

Please visit the Abundant Health website and say "Yes." http://www.umcabundanthealth.org

 

If I missed you at Conference, I attend United Methodist Church of Chugiak, or you can contact me at surywoods@yahoo.com.

Grace and Peace, Sandra Woods

ERT Teams go into disaster areas and help with flood cleanup, wildfire debris removal, or whatever else needs to happen.  Those who want to serve in disaster situations must attend a basic ERT training event.

 

Full Basic ERT Training at Anchor Park UMC in Anchorage on Saturday, July 8th, from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Basic ERT Recertification Training at Fairbanks First on Tuesday, July 18th at 6:00 pm*

 

To Register or for more information, please contact Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Dan Wilcox, 907.414.7078, or danielpwilcox@gmail.com.

The first step in becoming a Certified Lay Servant begins with a course that outlines some history and foundational principles of discipleship in the United Methodist Church. Over the course of 3 Saturdays we will also explore ways we may each be called to the mission of making disciples.

The course is scheduled for 3 Saturdays in July: 7/15, 22, and 29 from 9am until 4 pm. Classes will be held at the United Methodist Church of Chugiak; there will be a cost of $15 to cover the books and other class materials. If the cost is a hardship, there may be scholarship funds available to help with the fee.

Bring snacks or other food to share; tableware, soup, bread, and beverages will be provided. Contact Linda Haynes at lindahaynes87@gmail.com or call her at 373-2795 if you would like to attend the course so that we will have enough materials (and soup!) for all. Hope you can join us.  You will be enriched and empowered by this course!

The United Methodist Church is currently crafting a new statement on our ecclesiology - what it means to be the church together. Church leaders are looking for your feedback on this new document, called " Wonder, Love, and Praise." You can click through on the link to find out more.

Our conference Leadership Team is forming a small group of Alaskan United Methodists to craft our conference's feedback, convened by Rev. Nico Romeijn-Stout. If you are interested in participating in this small group please email him at nromeijnstout@gmail.com. Members of this group will be expected to read the full text of Wonder, Love, and Praise, as well as participate virtually in the small group study that accompanies it.