e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CrossOver! A Year-Long Quest
This is your HEADS UP!
 
In a couple of weeks I'll invite United Methodists and friends in the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area to join a year-long devotional study beginning with Advent 2018. I hope many of you will form small groups to engage in this study together, but individuals can do it on their own. I hope that together we can renew our faith for the challenges we face in our lives, the Church, the nation and the world.
 


Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky | Greater NW Area
CONFERENCE NEWS
Save the date
Now is the time to save the date for the upcoming Fall Rendezvous meetings which will take place at the Conference Center (1660 Patterson Street, Anchorage, 99504) on October 4-6, 2018.  The New Clergy Orientation and Clergy Retreat will be Oct 4-5 and the Committee Meetings will take place Oct 5-6.  More information will follow soon!
Apportionment Report | August 2018
Money The August report has been finalized for the apportionments.  Take a look at it here.
Birchwood Camp work day
Birchwood Camp There will be a workday at Birchwood Camp on Sunday, September 9th from 1pm-5pm.  There are projects for all ages and abilities.  Stay later for a hot dog roast around the camp fire afterwards.  If you would like to car pool from East Anchorage contact Teri Inch 382-4262.
Annual Gathering Registration
Here is the August issue of Alaska Women's Response newsletter.   You will find inside important information regarding "Commune", our Annual Gathering 2018, coming up on the last weekend of September, including the registration form with an early bird discount!

You'll also find the items delegates will vote on:  Standing Rules, Budget and the Slate of Nominations.

Newsletter & Annual Gathering Information
Survey or Map reader needed
Dave Wachsmuth has copies of the original plan for Birchwood Camp.  There is a little bit more than he can decipher from the surveyors notes.  He is looking for some help from someone with knowledge on how to read them.  Please contact him at 907-862-1194.  Dave is currently serving on the board of directors for Birchwood Camp and is on the property committee.
Quilt Retreat
Anchor Park United Methodist Women is sponsoring a quilt retreat.  Are you behind on your projects because you have been camping, fishing or hiking? It is time to start catching up. Come out and join us for a fun filled weekend while raising money for mission!
 
Quilt Retreat XXXXIV
September 13-16, 2018
Theme: Quilters Rock
At Laverne Griffin Youth Camp (Wasilla)
Cost: Thursday -Sunday $225                   Friday -Sunday $170 
 
For further information and registration contact Susan Williams 907-317-0406
Fundraiser in Ninilchik
If you are in the Ninilchik area on September 22, make sure you stop by their pulled pork dinner fundraiser between 5-7 pm to help feed the students in Ninilchik.  Linda Hawkins, member of St. Peter the Fisherman UMC is coordinating the effort.  A silent auction will also be going on.  If you would like to know more, please contact Linda at 907-240-5212.
CROP Hunger Walk 2018
CROP Hunger Walk CROP Hunger Walk will take place on Sunday, September 30 at First Congregational Church.  Registration will begin at 12:30 pm, walk starts at 1:30 pm.
Team packets are available or you can walk as an individual (bring your pledge).  The walk is mostly on the campus of UAA. This is a family friendly walk. 

Walkers will be sent off by the Pipe and Drum Corp.
 
The Alaska Jumping Flea Society will provide lively music.  Treats and drinks will be available. Call Jan Wachsmuth at 862-0194 for more information.
Local Church Leadership Connection
In an effort to address isolation which some local church leaders feel, letters of invitation are being sent to local church leaders to participate in an initial conversation with others within the Alaska Conference serving in the same local church leadership role.
 
The effort is triggered from the work of a small task force created by the conference Leadership Team.
 
The goal of our first phase of connection is to create a network of support, collaboration, information sharing, and leadership development among our lay people in local church leadership roles.
 
Invitations have been sent out to the following groups for these conversations scheduled to happen as noted below:
            Local church
                        Lay Leader - Monday, September 10th at 5:30 pm
      Council Chair - Monday, September 10th at 7 pm
                        Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee (SPPRC) Chair -
                                    Monday, September 17th at 5:30 pm
      Lay Member to Annual Conference - Monday, September 17th at 7 pm
      Finance Chair - Monday, September 24th at 5:30 pm
      Trustee Chair - Monday, October 1st at 6:30 pm
 
We look forward to creating these connections among our local church leaders. Anyone with questions should contact Superintendent Carlo Rapanut or Lay Leader Jo Anne Hayden.
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 5
Bishops Sandra Steiner Ball, David Yemba and Ken Carter share an overview of their role as moderators for the Commission and how service was one of their primary focuses. (Length 5:35).
Download: https://tinyurl.com/moderatorsview
YouTube https://youtu.be/5tOGnPrLqKg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2114673678815014/  
United Methodist News Service launches UM News website
United Methodist News Service, the official newsgathering agency of The United Methodist Church, has announced the launch of its new stand-alone website,  UMNews.org.

" UMNews.org allows for a better reader experience filled with engaging multimedia content and beautiful photographs that illustrate the news stories," said news editor Vicki Brown. "We'll be hosting UMNS Daily Digest articles and sharing big stories from local churches, annual conferences, and general agencies. With more space for content, we can live into our role as the source for news of the church, not just the news pieces that our team writes."
 
United Methodist News Service produces about 400 pieces of original content yearly that are shared through weekly and daily news digests, through annual conference websites and e-newsletters and social media. About 2 million readers a year in 219 countries stay informed through UM News content.
 
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
Share a budget that tells a story
Yes, your church does have a story! How well do we share it when we are asking people to give generously to support our mission? Line-item budgets are a great tool, but not everyone in your congregation finds their hearts stirred and their generosity stoked by looking at a spreadsheet. Narrative budgets, on the other hand, present the funding needs of your church in a way that reminds people how what they give helps the church touch lives and transform the world. Join Stewardship Director Ken Sloane and his guest Jim Wells of the Wisconsin U.M. Foundation us as they help us get in touch with our church's story and lead us step-by-step through the preparation of a Narrative Budget for your church. Click here to register.
Webinar: Thursday, September 13 @ 6:30 pm CDT. 
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
September
5-7: WJ Leadership meetings in Sacramento - Carlo attending
10: AUMC Lay Leaders connection
10: AUMC Council Chairs connection
17: AUMC S/PPRC Chairs connection
17: AUMC Lay Members to Annual Conference connection
24: AUMC General Conference delegation meeting
24: AUMC Finance Chairs connection
26-28: GNW Cabinet meeting in Portland - Carlo attending
28-29: GNW IV Summit in Portland - Carlo attending

October
1: AUMC Trustee Chairs connection
4-6:  Fall Rendezvous (New Clergy Orientation, Clergy Retreat, Committee Meetings)
11-13: GBGM Board meeting in Atlanta - Carlo attending
22: AUMC General Conference delegation 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
 
September 5 -
Charles Brower

September 11 -
Emily Carroll

September 17 -
Autumn Krueger

September 22 -
Won Jea Keum

September 24 -
Selusi Tuiolemotu

September 28 -
Darla Bradley



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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