e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CONFERENCE NEWS
Praying Our Way Forward
The second phase of the "Praying Our Way Forward" initiative was launched on New Year's Day this year. It is 75 weeks of focused prayer for The United Methodist Church and the work of the Commission on A Way Forward. We in the Alaska United Methodist Conference have been assigned this week, July 9-15, to pray for the denomination. Everyday at 7:00 am, an email prompt is being sent out from the conference office with the prayer focus for the day as well as a short prayer. We invite you to set aside time each day, individually or in groups, to pray with others around the conference for the UMC. We also invite you to share the prayer and invitation with your networks on social media. To know more about the "Praying Our Way Forward" initiative,  click here.
Mission u Dates Set!
Each year, United Methodist Women have studies for ALL to participate in.  This year, the studies are Missionary Conferences of The United Methodist Church in the United States which will be led by Fran Lynch and Living as a Covenant Community: Spiritual Growth which will be led by Linda Haynes.  There will be three events throughout Alaska.  The first one will take place August 11-12 at Christ First UMC .  The second offering will be August 18-19 at Seward Memorial UMC.  The third event will be September 22-23 at UMC of Chugiak.

Register for one of the events here
Basic Lay Servant Course Starts This Saturday
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: 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!
NATIONAL NEWS
Scholarship and Grant Opportunities
Council of Bishops
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church announces two exciting opportunities offered through their office:

1. Applications for a partial scholarship to attend The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey during the Fall 2018 Graduate Session are now available.  Seminary students who intend to vocationally serve The UMC are encouraged to consider this opportunity to engage in an ecumenical community for this 5-month, graduate-level course.  The application is due no later than September 15, 2017.  For more information about The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey go to www.institute.oikoumene.org.  For a copy of the COB scholarship application and guidelines contact Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst at jhawxhurst@umc-cob.org.

2. Applications for one of three annual "Local Initiative Grants" are now available.  These grants are for annual conference groups who are doing excellent ecumenical and/or interreligious ministries in their contexts.  Projects receiving grants should be carried out during the first half of 2018.  For more information about the Local Initiative Grants go to  www.ocuir.org.   For a copy of the COB grant application with guidelines contact Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst at jhawxhurst@umc-cob.org. 
Wesley Pilgrimages Offered in 2018
United Methodist clergy and laity will have an additional opportunity to join the Wesley Pilgrimage in England during 2018. For the first time, Discipleship Ministries will offer two pilgrimages in one year. 
 
Read the press release
Registration Now Open for Exploration 2017
Registration for Exploration 2017, a three-day event for young adults age 18-26, is now open. This biennial event is designed to help attendees listen, discern, and respond to God's call to ordained ministry, as they explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church. Exploration is a program of the office of young adult discernment and enlistment at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).
 
This year's event will be held November 3-5 in Portland, Oregon. Young adults who have a sense that God might be calling them to ordained ministry, who have wondered what ministry in The United Methodist Church is all about, who would like help sifting through issues involved in an ordained vocation, or who want to learn more about The United Methodist seminaries and theological schools should attend this event. Exploration is part of GBHEM's strategy to enable and resource leadership within the church.

To register, or learn more about Exploration, visit ExploreCalling.org. 
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
July
9-15: AUMC's week to pray for Commission on a Way Forward
10-23: Carlo on vacation
24-27: WJ Mission Cabinet Meeting in Billings, MT - Carlo attending

August
26: Leadership Team meeting

September
12-14: GNW Cabinet Meeting - Carlo attending
happy_birthday_candles.jpg
Upcoming
Clergy Birthdays
 
July 11 -
Bob Smith

July 21 -
Lisa Talbott

August 13 -
Bennie Grace Nabua




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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