e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CONFERENCE NEWS
Statement in Support of Ministry with Detained & Separated Families
The Western Jurisdiction Immigration Task Force uncompromisingly rejects the forced separation of children from their families.
 
United Methodists are called to mourn, to act, and to pray.  The task force has issued a call to prayer on July 4th.  
 
"The Western Jurisdiction Immigration Task Force's mission is to help equip our Annual Conferences to be in ministry with their immigrant and migrant neighbors. At the southern border of our jurisdiction, families are being detained and broken apart in pursuit of an immigration policy that United Methodist denominational leaders have named to be cruel and unjust."
 
Forest Fair fundraiser for Girdwood Chapel UMC
Girdwood Chapel UMC wants you to know that if you are going to attend the Forest Fair at any point this weekend, July 6-8, to please consider parking at Girdwood Chapel UMC, 100 Timberline Drive. This is a fundraiser to support the church and their missions. It's $10 for parking and use of their facilities.
Superintendent Rapanut out in July
Superintendent Carlo Rapanut will be on renewal leave for the month of July.  If there is an emergency, please contact Rev. Bob Smith who will be covering for Carlo.  You can reach Bob at 907-330-7770.  Crystal will continue to be in the office during normal business hours.
NATIONAL NEWS
Bishops, The Upper Room launch Phase 3 of Praying our Way Forward
In Phase 3, all United Methodists are invited to:
1. Engage in a weekly Wesleyan 24-hour fast from Thursday after dinner to Friday mid-afternoon.  Those who have health situations causing food fasts to be unadvisable might consider fasting from social media, emails or another daily activity. 
2. Pause and pray for our church's mission and way forward daily for four minutes from 2:23 through 2:26 a.m. or p.m. in their own time zone OR at another time.  This is because the Special Session of General Conference will be held February 23 through February 26, 2019.  
3. Pray using a weekly prayer calendar that will be posted on the UMCPrays.org website from June 2, 2018, through the end of February 2019. The calendar will list a unique cluster of names each week. The names will balance United States bishops and delegates with Central Conference bishops and delegates. It will also include General Secretaries, Commission on a Way Forward members, the Commission of the General Conference and the staff of the General Conference.
 
Leaders call for release of 2 missionaries
United Methodist leaders held a press conference July 2 to appeal for the release of two missionaries who have been barred from leaving the Philippines. One is in a detention center. Adam Shaw, a third missionary, was expelled and will return to Ohio next week.

Read the story
Bishop Easterling issues statement on Annapolis shooting
"We cannot grow weary in well doing, and we cannot become numb to these acts of heinous violence," writes Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling, who leads the Baltimore-Washington Conference, about the mass shooting that left five people dead at Maryland's Capital Gazette newsroom June 28. "As the facts continue to come to light and speculation as to motives is debated, one undeniable truth confronts us all - families once again grieve and mourn the senseless loss of life in our community."

Read the statement
Leadership Institute 2018
Leadership Institute 2018 takes place September 26 - 28 at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. Get in on the lowest pricing available by registering before the Wednesday, July 11th Super Early Bird deadline. 
 
This year's Leadership Institute features over   70+ ministry workshops, engaging   General Session topics and speakers and Resurrection's Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton will be focusing his talks on the life and leadership of Simon Peter, a flawed yet faithful disciple.
 
Discover the denomination's story
The United Methodist Handbook is a free resource filled with comprehensive information about the denomination and the ways we live out our global mission. It's helpful for visitors, church leaders and members. The handbook is available in English, Portuguese, French and Russian. Handbooks in Spanish and Korean are coming soon.

Explore the handbook
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
July
2-31: Carlo on renewal leave
4: Office Closed - July Fourth holiday

August
25: Leadership Team meeting
Office Hours
Office Hours
The Conference Office hours are:
 
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 11:30 am 
happy_birthday_candles.jpg

Upcoming
Clergy Birthdays
 
July 11 -
Bob Smith
Joseph DowlingSoka

July 21 -
Lisa Talbott



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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