A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Alaska United Methodist Women Annual Gathering | September 24-25 online
Where Do We Go From Here?”
We, as your Alaska Leadership Team, are so excited as we anticipate spending time with you at Alaska United Methodist Women’s Annual Gathering 2021 on September 24 and 25 via ZOOM. To many of us, it feels as if we have spent the past year and a half wandering through unknown settings, missing the familiar and lamenting and longing for sightings of our “normal” lives and our “normal” community, seeking the “You are here” location on our life’s map. Where, as God’s people and United Methodist Women, do we go from here?
We offer Annual Gathering 2021 as a unique opportunity to be together for worship and prayer, community building, doing the business of AUMC, learning, affirming and deepening our connections to our collective work. Garlinda Burton will be a guest speaker.
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Reyes, jurist for nation and church, dies
Justice Ruben T. Reyes served on both the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the top court of The United Methodist Church. Fellow United Methodists remember Reyes, who died Sept. 13 at age 82, for his meticulousness, broad legal knowledge and passion for prayer.
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Bishop cares for Sierra Leone after tragedy
After the death of Sierra Leone Conference Bishop John K. Yambasu in August 2020, retired Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr. was named as interim episcopal leader. The bishop said he sees his role as a caregiver. He talks about the challenges and highlights of the past year and his hopes for the future.
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Racism and the Native American Community
Racism against Native Americans is the topic of the next “Raise Up Your Voice Against Racism” webinar, set for 5 p.m. U.S. Pacific time Sept. 21. The event will cover Indian massacres, forced-march relocations, the so-called "Indian wars," deaths by starvation and disease, and boarding schools where Native Americans were taught to reject their own culture.
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Celebrating Asbury's impact on 2 shores
The 250th anniversary of Francis Asbury’s crossing of the Atlantic from England to America is being celebrated jointly by the Methodist Church of Britain and The United Methodist Church. Though virtually unknown in England, Asbury went on to build the Methodist movement in America and became one of the first two bishops of what is today The United Methodist Church.
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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 each year in the United States. The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has an infographic with facts about Hispanics' impact on The United Methodist Church and suggestions for ways to celebrate. United Methodist News has an overview in Spanish about the month’s development. The article can be read in English through Google Translate.
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LDS church agrees to pay into BSA victims fund
The United Methodist Church continues to be part of negotiations in the Boy Scouts of America’s sex abuse-related bankruptcy. But another religious group that has sponsored many Scouting troops — the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — has agreed to pay $250 million to a fund for abuse victims.
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International Podcast Day is September 30
Join United Methodist Communications in celebrating the power of podcasts on International Podcast Day on September 30 at UMCom.org/PodcastDay. Podcasts have exploded in popularity, and provide a new way to do ministry. According to PodcastHosting.org, there are now more than 2,000,000 podcasts and 48 million+ episodes. Throughout the day, the agency will unveil new podcast episodes and discussions that can be accessed at the celebration webpage and on their Facebook page.
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Congo church relaunches FM radio station
After years of silence, Lokole Methodist Radio is up and running, enabling The United Methodist Church in Congo to reach millions of people in Kinshasa and surrounding areas, and intensifying the fight against COVID-19. Pastor Fiston Okito has the story.
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Webinar looks at baseball, racism and faith
With the World Series on the horizon, the United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends and Park Hill United Methodist Church have planned a webinar, "Baseball, Racism and Religion," for 6:30 p.m. U.S. Mountain time Sept. 30. Speakers include Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Carlotta Walls LaNier, a United Methodist who was part of the Little Rock Nine; Christopher Evans, Boston University School of Theology professor; and the Rev. Nathan Adams of Park Hill.
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World Communion Sunday October 3
On October 3, United Methodists will join Christians of different traditions to recognize our ecumenical oneness in Christ and to bring Christians together in a spirit of unity and peace. Prepare for your World Communion Sunday service by exploring the Pastor and Leaders’ Kit, full of helpful resources in Spanish, Korean, French and English.
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20-24: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
24-25: Alaska United Methodist Women Virtual Annual Gathering
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11: Indigenous Peoples' Day
19-21: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
31: Halloween
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
September 22 -
Won Jea Keum
September 28 -
Darla Bradley
October 8 -
Andy Bartel
October 10 -
Luke Jones
October 12 -
Bishop Stanovsky
October 18 -
Dan Wilcox
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent - Carlo Rapanut
Director of Connectional Ministries - Lisa Talbott
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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 Tuesday at 9:00 am for consideration.
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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 in God's preferred future. |
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