e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CONFERENCE NEWS
You are invited to CrossOver to Life!
Greater Northwest Area Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky invites us all to a season of renewal through a year-long exploration of the bible and faith centered around the book, We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren.

Participants will receive weekly blog posts to expand their study, with reflections and prayers. There will also be a place for comments and conversation.

The study will begin on December 2, 2018.
Sign up for the Cross-Over Blog by clicking HERE

Read and Learn More!
September apportionment report
Money Here is the latest apportionment report from the Treasurer's office.  You can download it here.
Health Fair at Conference Center October 13
Community Health and Wellness Fair
Saturday, October 13, 2018
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Alaska Conference Center
1660 Patterson St. Anchorage, AK
 
Price: Free
Free Flu shots, Blood Bank Alaska blood drive, blood pressure screening, information on diabetes, child car seat safety, yoga, Tai Chi, senior services, Access Alaska, STAR, Girl Scouts, United Way and more. Co-sponsored by Charter College and the Alaska United Methodist Conference.
 
Contact Info
Sandra Woods
Charter College
[email protected]
Mission u opportunities
Mission u is a yearly event that United Methodist Women host for everyone around the state.  The first event is coming up in Anchorage, October 19-20 at Jewel Lake Parish.  You can view the flyer here.

The studies this year are What About Our Money? A Faith Response and Embracing Wholeness: An Earth Perspective.  You can register to attend here.

The other two events are scheduled for November 2-3 at North Star UMC in Nikiski and January 11-12 at UMC of Sitka.

Plan on joining!
Birchwood Camp auction
We warmly invite you to the 2018 Birchwood Camp Auction on October 27, 4-7 pm! It will be a time to reflect on all the amazing work that has been done in the past year, have some fun bidding on exciting live and silent auction items, enjoy some great food and reconnect with old friends and make some new ones!  Since it's fall, dress up in your favorite flannel or sweater and your Bogs or XtraTuffs! Click this link to learn more about this event and to preview the auction items.
 
Dinner is provided but seating is limited so please RSVP to the Camp office (907) 688-2734 or [email protected] by October 15th, or click  here to register online!
2019 Youth Mission Immersion
Join us January 18-19, 2019 as we explore what it means to be a servant of God through service to others. This Mission Immersion Weekend will offer opportunities to grow in our faith as we serve our local community. We will gather in fellowship with youth from across Alaska for this Mission Immersion Experience. Some of the places we've served at in past Mission Immersions include Habitat Restore, FISH, Pioneer Home, Anchorage Rescue Mission, Beans Café & Habitat for Humanity. We'll meet on Friday night and have time of worship & fellowship. We stay overnight at St. John and then go out into Anchorage and serve all day Saturday! Cost is $30; scholarships are available!  All youth and their friends are invited to join us. We also need adults to help on Saturday as we go out into the community.

Please contact Robbie at [email protected] to register or for more information.
Minister to the Spiritual Life staff of AK Child & Family
AK Child & Family
The Spiritual Life Department of AK Child & Family will be having a staff retreat this month.  As part of the retreat, they will be receiving written prayers and affirmations to strengthen their ministry.
 
Minister to the students and staff of AK Child & Family by being a part of it!  These can be anonymous (or not), from you as an individual, or from your whole congregation!
 
E-mail prayers, words of encouragement/appreciation or affirmation to [email protected] by October 8th
 
Thanks for all you do to support the mission of AK Child & Family!
Does your church need a work team next year?
UMVIM It is time to start thinking about what UMVIM work teams are needed for Summer 2019.  Several teams have already indicated an interest in serving in Alaska next year!  If your church is looking to host a team, please contact Dan Wilcox, [email protected] with information about what your needs are, and what types of teams you might host.
Silver Anniversary for David Moore - you're invited!
You are invited to the SILVER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION of DAVID MOORE'S YEARS AS DIRECTOR OF UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRY FAIRBANKS on Saturday October 13, 2018 at 6:30PM. Dinner will be served at 7PM. Cost is $30.00
 
Please, come and join us. It will be an evening of good Christian fellowship. You will hear from David and this year's students who annually conduct the program of personal comments, distribution of door prizes, prayers, music and a video. This year's video will encompass 25 years and just maybe you'll see a student that you know. We are hoping that there will be many former students attending in order that you will see how UCM affects lives. Come and see what a worthwhile endeavor this is for college students in Fairbanks and in many other universities. We need your support. Your presence is important to us as we endeavor to show you that your contributions are greatly appreciated and UCM Fairbanks is worthy of being on your donor list.
 
Come and help us thank David for his work the past 25 years and show him that our prayers will be with him as he steps out to the future!!!
 
RAVEN LANDING CENTER
1222 Cowles Street Fairbanks, Alaska
 
Please RSVP by 10/10/18
907-474-7804 or 907-378-1959
NATIONAL NEWS
Commission on a Way Forward Videos
The Commission on a Way Forward has released all 10 videos of a series that the Commission hopes will inform The United Methodist Church on its processes and work done during the 18-month period of its meetings and deliberations.  The videos can be viewed on Facebook or YouTube and can be downloaded for viewing offline.  The Alaska Conference will be highlighting one each week for the next 10 weeks.

Week 9
Patricia Miller, Executive Director of the Confessing Movement, and Matt Berryman, former Executive Director of Reconciling Ministries Network, talk about their friendship and their experiences serving together on the Commission. (Length 7:55)
Download: https://tinyurl.com/millerandberryman
YouTube:: https://youtu.be/xbR96EBl5Qk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2122013974747651/ 
Chart compares 3 Way Forward plans
The Great Plains Conference developed a chart that compares how the three plans developed by the Commission on a Way Forward would affect churches, clergy, annual conferences and other parts of the denomination.  

Get the chart
Bishop Alsted says divisions no reason for church to split
Bishop Christian Alsted of the Nordic and Baltic Episcopal Area doesn't see the current debate over homosexuality as a reason for the church to split. He feels the church is able to continue God's mission, even amid disagreement. Alsted spoke with UM News as part of "Seeing a Way Forward," a video series featuring different perspectives of church leaders on the work of the Commission on a Way Forward. 
 
Watch videos 
Seeing a Way Forward: Bishop Harvey
Filipino United Methodists respond after storms
Coming to terms with the massive devastation brought by Super Typhoon Mangkhut, United Methodists in the Philippines are organizing and mobilizing to provide assistance to disaster-stricken communities. Those affected by an earlier tropical storm also are receiving aid. 
 
Read the story
Young clergy still in short supply
Elders under age 35 continue to be rare in The United Methodist Church. And the number of young women elders has dropped for the past three years. Those are two findings of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership's 2018 clergy age trends study of the denomination. 
 
Read the story
World Communion Sunday | October 7, 2018
On Oct. 7, World Communion Sunday, the denomination will provide scholarships for national and international students who need financial support to answer God's call in pursuing graduate-level education. Download tools to empower your congregation to give generously, including social media tools, graphics, videos, bulletin inserts, offering talks, preaching helps, e-books and posters.

Pastor & Leader's Kit
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
October
4-6:  Fall Rendezvous (New Clergy Orientation/Clergy Retreat and Committee Meetings)
11-13: GBGM Board meeting in Atlanta - Carlo attending
16: Charge Conference - Unalaska UMC
20: Charge Conference - Soldotna UMC
21: Charge Conference - St. Peter the Fisherman UMC
21: Charge Conference - Seward Memorial UMC/Moose Pass UMC
22: AUMC General Conference delegation meeting
28: Charge Conference - Christ First UMC
29: Charge Conference - Community UMC

November
3: Charge Conference - Ola Toe Fuataina UM Samoan Fellowship
4: Charge Conference - Willow UMC
7: Charge Conference - Girdwood Chapel UMC
8: Charge Conference - UMC of Chugiak
10: Charge Conference - Homer UMC
10: Charge Conference - North Star UMC
11: Charge Conference - Kenai UMC
11: Charge Conference - Jewel Lake Parish
14: Charge Conference - Palmer UM Fellowship
15: Charge Conference - UMC of Sitka
16: Charge Conference - First UMC Ketchikan
17: Charge Conference - Douglas Community UMC
17: Charge Conference - Aldersgate UMC
25: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC

December
4: Charge Conference - Anchor Park UMC

January
6: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC
7: Charge Conference - First UMC Anchorage/First Samoan UMC of Anchorage (tentative)
13: Charge Conference - First UMC Fairbanks
22: Charge Conference - St. John UMC
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
 
October 8 -  
Andy Bartel
 
October 10 -  
Luke Jones
 
October 12 -  
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky
 
October 13 -  
Erin Day
 
October 18 -  
Dan Wilcox 




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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