e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CONFERENCE NEWS
You are invited to CrossOver to Life!
Greater Northwest Area Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky invites us all to a season of renewal through a year-long exploration of the bible and faith centered around the book, We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren.

Participants will receive weekly blog posts to expand their study, with reflections and prayers. There will also be a place for comments and conversation.

The study will begin on December 2, 2018.
Sign up for the Cross-Over Blog by clicking HERE

Read and Learn More!
Health Fair at Conference Center October 13
Community Health and Wellness Fair
Saturday, October 13, 2018
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Alaska Conference Center
1660 Patterson St. Anchorage, AK
 
Price: Free
Free Flu shots, Blood Bank Alaska blood drive, blood pressure screening, information on diabetes, child car seat safety, yoga, Tai Chi, senior services, Access Alaska, STAR, Girl Scouts, United Way and more. Co-sponsored by Charter College and the Alaska United Methodist Conference.
 
Contact Info
Sandra Woods
Charter College
[email protected]
Mission u opportunities
Mission u is a yearly event that United Methodist Women host for everyone around the state.  The first event is coming up in Anchorage, October 19-20 at Jewel Lake Parish.  You can view the flyer here.

The studies this year are What About Our Money? A Faith Response and Embracing Wholeness: An Earth Perspective.  You can register to attend here.

The other two events are scheduled for November 2-3 at North Star UMC in Nikiski and January 11-12 at UMC of Sitka.

Plan on joining!
Birchwood Camp auction
We warmly invite you to the 2018 Birchwood Camp Auction on October 27, 4-7 pm! It will be a time to reflect on all the amazing work that has been done in the past year, have some fun bidding on exciting live and silent auction items, enjoy some great food and reconnect with old friends and make some new ones!  Since it's fall, dress up in your favorite flannel or sweater and your Bogs or XtraTuffs! Click this link to learn more about this event and to preview the auction items.
 
Dinner is provided but seating is limited so please RSVP to the Camp office (907) 688-2734 or [email protected] by October 15th, or click  here to register online!
2019 Youth Mission Immersion
Join us January 18-19, 2019 as we explore what it means to be a servant of God through service to others. This Mission Immersion Weekend will offer opportunities to grow in our faith as we serve our local community. We will gather in fellowship with youth from across Alaska for this Mission Immersion Experience. Some of the places we've served at in past Mission Immersions include Habitat Restore, FISH, Pioneer Home, Anchorage Rescue Mission, Beans Café & Habitat for Humanity. We'll meet on Friday night and have a time of worship & fellowship. We stay overnight at St. John and then go out into Anchorage and serve all day Saturday! Cost is $30; scholarships are available!  All youth and their friends are invited to join us. We also need adults to help on Saturday as we go out into the community.

Please contact Robbie at [email protected] to register or for more information.
Your UMFCU offers over 30 locations in Alaska
Participation in the United Methodist Federal Credit Union CO-OP Network provides walk-in Shared Branch locations where UMFCU members can make deposits and withdrawals as well as Visa and loan payments.  Additionally there are over 40 surcharge free CO-OP ATMs in Alaska and over 30,000 nationwide.  Visit https://co-opcreditunions.org to find your nearest CO-OP Shared Branch and ATM locations.  Mobile banking with remote deposit is available via SPRIG  www.getsprig.com. UMFCU services are available to churches, clergy, church staff, UM affiliated organizations as well as congregation members.  For more information visit the UMFCU website www.umfcu.org or call 800-245-0433.
Another historic Methodist connection
Goodwill Industries, Inc was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were then resold or were given to the people who repaired them. The system worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of "a hand up, not a hand out" was born. Anchorage just opened its second Goodwill Thrift Store and has 3 donation centers.  Alaska churches can participate in this $5 billion nonprofit organization in many ways. The web site is www.goodwill.org.
Silver Anniversary for David Moore - you're invited!
You are invited to the SILVER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION of DAVID MOORE'S YEARS AS DIRECTOR OF UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRY FAIRBANKS this Saturday October 13, 2018 at 6:30PM. Dinner will be served at 7PM. Cost is $30.00
 
Please, come and join us. It will be an evening of good Christian fellowship. You will hear from David and this year's students who annually conduct the program of personal comments, distribution of door prizes, prayers, music and a video. This year's video will encompass 25 years and just maybe you'll see a student that you know. We are hoping that there will be many former students attending in order that you will see how UCM affects lives. Come and see what a worthwhile endeavor this is for college students in Fairbanks and in many other universities. We need your support. Your presence is important to us as we endeavor to show you that your contributions are greatly appreciated and UCM Fairbanks is worthy of being on your donor list.
 
Come and help us thank David for his work the past 25 years and show him that our prayers will be with him as he steps out to the future!!!
 
RAVEN LANDING CENTER
1222 Cowles Street Fairbanks, Alaska
 
Please RSVP by TOMORROW 10/10/18
907-474-7804 or 907-378-1959
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.

Week 10
Commission members Mazvita Machinga (laity, Zimbabwe East Conference), David Field (laity, Swiss Conference), and Myungrae Kim Lee (laity, New York Conference), share their thoughts about the work of the Commission. (Length 10:56)
Download: https://tinyurl.com/machinga-fields-lee
YouTube: https://youtu.be/rfL-en8wnho
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umcforward/videos/2122020988080283/ 
Plan approved for GC2019 decision-making
The Commission on General Conference has decided on a process to help delegates to the 2019 special session do the legislative work together.

Read the story
Read the press release
Bishop Yambasu: "It is God's church"
Bishop John Yambasu of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area acknowledges the anxiety stemming from debates about the future of The United Methodist Church, but insists that God "will lead his church to where he wants his church to be." Yambasu spoke with UM News as part of "Seeing a Way Forward," a video series featuring different perspectives of church leaders on the work of the Commission on a Way Forward.

Watch videos
Bishop Alsted: "It's important for us to stay in dialogue" 
Bishop Harvey: Seeing a way forward
Judicial Council hearings to be livestreamed
Three oral hearings on Oct. 23 will be livestreamed from the Judicial Council's fall meeting. One of the hearings is on a request by the Council of Bishops for the court to rule on whether the proposed legislation for the One Church, Connectional Conference and Traditional plans for the 2019 special General Conference is constitutional. The hearings in Zurich will be open to the public and broadcast at www.UMC.org/live, as well as via Facebook at www.facebook.com/resourceUMC.

Read the press release
Read the UMNS story
Pension staff plans for possible ways forward
Whatever delegates decide at the 2019 General Conference, the denomination's pension agency wants United Methodist clergy and lay workers to know their accrued benefits aren't going anywhere.

However, Wespath Benefits and Investments is also looking at ways to ensure the benefits' long-term sustainability.

"Our agency has been around for over 100 years. We've gone through world wars. We've gone through financial crises," said Barbara Boigegrain, Wespath's top executive. "As the whole world is changing, one thing we hope you can count on is Wespath and your benefits being there when you need them. That's our focus."

Read the story
Society of St. Andrew Advent devotions available
The Society of St. Andrew, a United Methodist partner that combats hunger, has released its annual Advent devotional booklet. The free booklet, titled "Surprises Along the Way," features all new meditations for 2018.

Order your booklet now!
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
October
8-16: Carlo attending Mama's memorial
21: Charge Conference - St. Peter the Fisherman UMC
21: Charge Conference - Seward Memorial UMC/Moose Pass UMC
22: AUMC General Conference delegation meeting
28: Charge Conference - Christ First UMC
29: Charge Conference - Community UMC

November
3: Charge Conference - Ola Toe Fuataina UM Samoan Fellowship
4: Charge Conference - Willow UMC
7: Charge Conference - Girdwood Chapel UMC
8: Charge Conference - UMC of Chugiak
10: Charge Conference - Homer UMC
10: Charge Conference - North Star UMC
11: Charge Conference - Kenai UMC
11: Charge Conference - Soldotna UMC
11: Charge Conference - Jewel Lake Parish
14: Charge Conference - Palmer UM Fellowship
15: Charge Conference - UMC of Sitka
16: Charge Conference - First UMC Ketchikan
17: Charge Conference - Douglas Community UMC
17: Charge Conference - Aldersgate UMC
25: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC

December
1: Leadership Team meeting via Zoom
4: Charge Conference - Anchor Park UMC

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
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
 
October 8 -  
Andy Bartel
 
October 10 -  
Luke Jones
 
October 12 -  
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky
 
October 13 -  
Erin Day
 
October 18 -  
Dan Wilcox 




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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