We want to notify you that Superintendent Carlo's father did pass away on November 16th.  Carlo's message he posted on his Facebook page on November 16 said, "With heavy hearts, we share with you that our dear Papa Joe passed away this afternoon. We covet your prayers as we mourn and grieve yet again. We rest in the thought that he is now free from pain and illness and is now back with his beloved Mama Rhona in the presence of God. "You give and take away... our hearts will choose to say, Lord blessed be your name!"

 

Joe Rapanut's memorial service will take place on Thursday, November 22 at Baguio City First UMC.   Carlo's wife, Radie, and sons stayed here in Alaska.  As you may recall, about six weeks ago, Carlo's mother passed away.  Please join us in praying for God's grace and peace for their entire family. 

Greater NW Area Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky invites all on an important journey of adaptation through loving God and our neighbors as ourselves on the way forward. It will include exploring and discovering new ways to respond to the challenges we face in our lives, in the Church, the nation and the world. Each person can do this on their own by reading Brian McLaren's book,  We Make the Road by Walking, or better yet, in a small group.

Get resources now for the book study that begins the year of CrossingOver on December 2.

The Western Jurisdiction delegates to General Conference 2019 have agreed to support the One Church Plan. "We believe that the One Church Plan is a faithful approach that will allow for unity in diversity and for us to continue to live together in our vital witness and service to God's world," the delegation said in a statement. 

The Alaska Innocence Project is in search of new office space. The Alaska Innocence Project (AKIP) is an Alaska-based non-profit corporation that provides legal, educational, and charitable services to identify and exonerate individuals who have been wrongfully convicted in the state of Alaska, and to provide educational opportunities that foster a culture that champions the defense of the innocent.

The AKIP is most known for their work in the case of the Fairbanks Four. The Alaska Innocence Project has received a federal grant to expand their work to research and address hidden wrongful convictions among Alaska Native persons. As such, the AKIP staff is expanding and is need of office space for two attorneys and an administrative assistant. If you (or your church) have space available in Anchorage, please contact  Mark Johnson, member of St John UMC and AKIP Board President, or  Bill Oberly  Executive Director of the Alaska Innocence Project.

Attention: Anyone going to the Olympia and/or Des Moines Washington area during the next couple of months.  There is a box of glass slides that need to come to the Conference Archive Room.  They were taken circa 1908 by Methodist Missionary Louis Pederson. The donator did not wish to mail them as they are glass, old, and fragile.  Please contact Pastor Peter Perry 360-943-2661 for details and arrangements.  Thank you very much.

 

Larry Hayden, Conference Historian

A great treasure has been found in the Conference Resource Room from an unknown source, maybe Bea Shepard or Robbie Robinson. A nearly 200 year old book about the life and times of the Rev. Jesse Lee. You may remember the connection with him and the AK Child & Family campus named for him.

 

Charles King, a member of St. John UMC in Anchorage, did some research about Lee and decided to write a book review which you can read it here.

 

These and many other research topics are available for checkout at the AUMC Conference Center on Patterson Street in Anchorage. 

The Alaska Conference Office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 22-23, for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

The Council of Bishops is offering partial scholarships for young adults (age 21-35) to attend the 2019 United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training (UMEIT:USA) and the National Workshop on Christian Unity (NWCU) next spring.

The COB is encouraging all ecumenical representatives in all US annual conferences to participate, as it is an excellent time of ecumenical worship, networking and formation.  This year the United Methodist network (UMEIT) will be joining the Episcopal network (EDEIO) for an ecumenical training on the Monday of the NWCU.  As we work toward full communion between our two denominations, this will be an opportunity to get to know our Episcopalian colleagues and be formed ecumenically with them.

 

UMEIT is the annual training in the United States for United Methodists engaged in ecumenical and inter-religious ministry through the church. The NWCU is an opportunity for Christians who care about ecumenical and inter-religious ministry to learn and network.

 

The 2018 sessions will be from April 1-4, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri.  The Council of Bishops will offer up to six scholarships at $300 each to assist seminary students and other young adults (aged 21-35) who will be attending UMEIT and NWCU for the first time.

 

To receive a scholarship application, email Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst, Ecumenical Staff Officer, The Council of Bishops, at  [email protected] or  click here to download the UMEIT Scholarship application.  The scholarship application is due to  [email protected] no later than February 15, 2019.

United Methodists will come together to support vital ministry projects and missionaries around the world on #GivingTuesday as they generously #GiveUMC. Giving through The Advance empowers hundreds of dedicated project leaders and missionaries to share the love of Christ in meaningful, life-saving ways. Find a project you are passionate about and make a donation! Further support #GivingTuesday by inspiring others to #GiveUMC!  Resources are available to build awareness of this day of generosity, such as social media graphics and a toolkit full of communication tips and fundraising ideas.

You can find our current list of Alaska related Advance specials here. 

November

Carlo is in the Philippines until November 27.  All Charge Conferences scheduled during his time away will eventually be rescheduled through Carlo if they haven't been already.

25: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC

December

1: Leadership Team meeting via Zoom

4: Charge Conference - Anchor Park UMC

11-13: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo attending

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

25: Charge Conference - Homer UMC

27: Charge Conference - Northern Light United Church

The Conference Office hours are:

 

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Friday: 9:00 am - 11:30 am 

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.

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.