A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
|
Alaska Conference Special Sunday - September 19
We’re celebrating Alaska Conference Special Sunday this Sunday, September 19th, or you can celebrate on the Sunday of your choosing this fall. Our focus this year will be on the statement of values that we agreed on at Annual Conference to guide our transition into a Mission District:
We acknowledge that the Methodist Church is complicit with and rooted in the colonization of Alaska and recognize that we live in that ongoing legacy. We lament the harm and trauma that our faith community causes. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Movement, summarized God's directives with three Rules: do no harm, do good, and attend to the ordinances of God. We also celebrate the grace, the love, and the good that our church does that calls us to re-imagine mission through intentional discipleship with one another.
We will live into the transition to a Mission District committed to:
1) The love of God, neighbor, and self demonstrated by the deliberate embracing and valuing of differences, the leveling of imbalances between people and systems, and the intentional dismantling of inequities in whatever forms they present themselves.
2) Healing, grace-filled mission with communities and churches that prioritizes local experiences and shares resources across time and distance through equitable relationships.
3) Living into connectionalism by belonging to and trusting in one another to nurture relationships that celebrate the gifts each of our communities bring, allowing us to move forward in a decolonized way.
Here are some suggestions of ways you can celebrate this special day in your local churches with actionable items according to our baptismal vows:
Prayers
- Incorporate the statement of values in your worship service as a confession, call and response or covenant statement.
- Research the tribe who originally lived on the land your church is located on and begin your worship service with a land acknowledgement.
Presence
- Make connections with your local tribal council or native corporation and build respectful relationships.
- Show up and support native artists, authors, speakers, groups and businesses.
Gifts
- Take a special offering and give to any or all of the following. This is not just an invitation to give financially but to explore ways to be in partnership and learn from the programs and ministries of these organizations:
-
Nome Community UMC - Our very own indigenous ministry in Nome, Alaska led by Pastor Bertha Koweluk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx1BeRes4G4
-
Alaska Native Justice Center - An organization that promotes justice through culturally based advocacy, prevention, and intervention services to restore dignity, respect, and humility to all Alaska Native people. https://anjc.org
- Your Local Tribal Organization/Native Corporation
Service
- Explore opportunities to support native programs, art, education and businesses in your community
Witness
- Research about the local tribes in your community and learn about Indigenous Values. Find ways to let these values inform how you live and do ministry.
|
|
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.
|
|
Passing of Marion Baker
The spouse of former Alaska UMC Pastor and Superintendent, Monte Baker, has died. Marion Baker passed away on September 9, 2021 after 5 years of cancer treatment.
Monte served Anchor Park from 1999-2004 and served on the Superintending Team from 2001-2004. If you would like to send your condolences, you can write to him at PO Box 148, Olathe, CO 81425 or email him at montejbaker@yahoo.com. |
|
Eagle River United Methodist Camp dedication of Coon Family Building
On Saturday, September 11, the Eagle River United Methodist Camp in Juneau had a grand opening and dedication of the camp's new Office and Storage Building, named the "Coon Family Building."
The late LeRoy Coon, along with his wife Sandie and children have been pillars of the ERUMC for more than five decades. Because of this, the Board of Directors of the camp named the newly constructed office and storage building, which was a vision of LeRoy for many years, "The Coon Family Building."
|
|
Church work continues in Afghanistan
The chaotic scene as people fled Afghanistan while the Taliban took over doesn’t mean that United Methodists are through trying to help there. The denomination is still working with ecumenical partners to improve conditions for Afghans. United Methodists in the U.S. also are working to strengthen Christian-Muslim relations.
|
|
20 years later: the transformative power of 9/11
A few United Methodists who survived those early days and months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks share how 9/11 shaped their faith. Crystal Caviness has the story. United Methodist Communications also has a video on how United Methodists took action amid the tragedy.
|
|
United Methodist connection kicks in after Ida
The days after Hurricane Ida have brought more reports of damage to United Methodist buildings in Louisiana and the Northeast, but also cheering accounts of the denomination's connectional strength. The Alabama-West Florida Conference sent $100,000 to the Louisiana Conference for relief and recovery.
|
|
Finding light in the darkness of 9/11
United Methodists remember two decades ago when they rose to the challenge of caring for survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but the trauma still affects many. Among the church's responses was a program in New Jersey to help people who lost jobs because of the attacks to pay their bills and find work.
|
|
Church court releases fall docket
The United Methodist Judicial Council has released a 22-item docket for its fall session. Because of the pandemic, the Judicial Council has been meeting online and deliberations are not yet scheduled. Briefs are due Oct. 13.
|
|
New Testament translated for Native Americans
A New Testament directed at Native Americans is now available, translated by the Rev. Terry Wildman, a licensed local pastor in The United Methodist Church. Wildman says “First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament” could also help non-Native Americans look at the Scriptures with fresh eyes.
|
|
General Commission on United Methodist Men Give Day 2021
October 18th is the third annual United Methodist Men Give Day. The General Commission on United Methodist Men receives less than 25% of its yearly budget funding from World Service Funds. Give Day is an essential funding source that enables the commission to provide resources and support to United Methodist Men in your conference and local churches.
Three easy and safe ways to contribute:
Text: UMMen to 44321
Send: a check to P.O. Box 440515., Nashville, TN 37244-0515
|
|
#StillInMission Episode 35
September 16, 2021 | 12:00 PM EDT
Featuring…
Daniel & Courtney Randall are serving as Jurisdictional Mission Advocates in the Western Jurisdiction in the United States.
Kathleen Peterson serves as the Director of Eastbrook Mission Barn in the United States.
Tazvionepi Nyarota is serving as the Mission Coordinator for the Zimbabwean Community in Western Canada.
Rebecca Parsons is serving as the Jurisdictional Mission Advocate for the Northeast Jurisdiction in the United States.
|
|
Honoring one another
Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15-October 15. Ask The UMC shares ideas for celebrating our diverse cultures.
|
|
Strolling with God
Spend a few minutes "In the Garden" as you enjoy beautiful images from God's creation set to piano music from the beloved hymn, No. 314 in the United Methodist Hymnal.
|
|
15: First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month
20-24: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
24-25: Alaska United Methodist Women Virtual Annual Gathering
|
|
11: Indigenous Peoples' Day
19-21: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
31: Halloween
|
|
Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
September 17 -
Autumn Krueger
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
|
|
|
Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent - Carlo Rapanut
Director of Connectional Ministries - Lisa Talbott
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
