e~Aurora

A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference

Bishop Stanovsky's Juneteenth message On Juneteenth 2020, Bishop Elaine Stanovsky quoted a letter of John Wesley in 1791 addressing the”villainy” of racism against Black folks during his day and wrote: "Nearly 230 years later, this villainy has not been rooted out, but embedded in systems that we mask with words. A new generation of activists for the just treatment of Black people joins generations who have fought for decades and centuries to put right what is so very wrong and corrosive of the principle that all are created equal…I pray that God is using the people called 'Methodist' in our day to continue the struggle.” Read the Bishop’s full letter here.

Conference News

Resisting the Sin of Racism The Church has a role and responsibility to equip, empower, and embolden its members in the difficult work of resisting the sin of racism as it is found in society and within our congregations. A page on the Greater Northwest Area website has been created to collect some good resources to assist local churches in this important work. Visit the resource page Running on the Longest Day On the Summer Solstice, Superintendent Carlo Rapanut ran 48 miles (2 miles each hour on the hour for 24 hours) as a prayer run. Here’s why he did it.

Virtual Camp at Birchwood We know you may be missing your camp experience this summer. We are excited to announce quality programming on-line available every week Monday through Saturday; June 15 – August 1, 2020. Continue to learn about Virtual Camp! You can also get Camp in a Box! Order one here To register online for Virtual Camp, click this link Reimagining Life Together Linked below is a document titled Reimagining Life Together. It aspires to provide guidance on the requirements and recommendations for local churches and ministry settings to reopen buildings and return to in-person ministry activities during the COVID-19 crisis. An overview of the guiding principles behind this document and its intent was shared by Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky  during the Wednesday, May 20 webinar . Reimagining Life Together guidelines

National News

Preaching Courageously Against Racism In the next episode of GCORR  Real Talk, we've invited pastors for a conversation about what it means to preach courageously against racism in our world today. Join us on  Facebook on Wednesday, June 24, at 3 pm ET.

UMC Service of Lament on June 24 Be a part of Dismantling Racism: A Service of Lament, Wednesday, June 24, at noon CDT. Watch and participate in the denomination-wide observance at  UMC.org/EndRacism . United Methodists from around the world will gather to lament for the racism in our midst. We will also reflect on Psalm 22, have a time of communion and hear God’s call to join in the work of dismantling racism and pressing on to freedom for all. “Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom” is a multi-level initiative throughout the church to implement a sustained and coordinated effort to dismantle racism and promote collective action to work toward racial justice. Learn more

General Secretaries Table: Statement on Racism Along with leaders across the church, the General Secretaries of the boards and agencies of The United Methodist Church mark this moment as a time to recommit to urgent action to dismantle racism in the United States and in the church. The recent and callous killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery while the nation is already reeling from the disproportionate death rates of African American and Native Americans from COVID-19 have rightly sparked anger, lament, protest, and calls for action and reflection. We write to express our own anger, pain and determination to make change in our own spheres of influence and to support the church in the urgent and ongoing work to eliminate racism. Continue reading

Invitation ro reimagine United Methodism A group of current and former General Conference delegates from four continents invite United Methodists around the globe to start a conversation on a new way of conferencing and a new vision for the denomination. They have released a statement, "Out of Chaos, Creation: Seeds of a Vision for a Renewed United Methodism." They also invite United Methodists to join a webinar July 7. Read the statement Register for the webinar

Conference Calendar

26: Leadership Team meeting

4: Independence Day 13: WJ Mission Cabinet meeting 15: Tax Day

Upcoming Clergy Birthdays July 11 - Joseph DowlingSoka Bob Smith July 21 - Lisa Talbott

The United Methodist Church Bishop's Blog Superintendent's Blog Facebook Instagram Twitter

Conference Office alaskaumc@gmail.com www.alaskaumc.org 907-333-5050 Superintendent Carlo carlorapanut@gmail.com 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 Tuesday at 9:00 am 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 in God's preferred future.

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