A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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Pandemic challenges music ministers, choirs
COVID-19 has disrupted United Methodist life in many ways, and it's done a number on choir singing, causing music ministers to scramble to keep music going and keep sidelined choir members engaged. You will find St. John UMC and their music ministry mentioned in this article.
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Girdwood Chapel Cabin/Parsonage
Please read a letter from Girdwood Chapel SPRC Chair, Jody Clingenpeel.
"We are getting closer to the finish line! This is truly an answer to prayer: affordable housing for our pastor! A donated cabin (last summer) placed on land we own and a unanimous decision not to take out any loans leaves us with an approximate deficit of $6,500. The cabin was recently moved to its permanent home, the foundation is in the process of completion and by fall we anticipate Pastor Nico and Laura will move into what will be the parsonage. Our immediate needs include: prayers, volunteer labor, and financial support."
Please
click on the link to learn more as well as to see a picture of the cabin. As you can see, in one month since the letter was written, they have already received $18,500!
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AK Flag Day Challenge
In honor of this year’s Alaska Flag Day (July 9), AK Child & Family has put together an “Alaska Flag Day Challenge.” They've teamed up with a local Alaskan dance company, Studio Pulse, and created a fun dance for you, your family, and your friends to perform for a chance to win a Nintendo Switch!
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Former Alaskan pastor has died
Former minister of the Kenai United Methodist Church, Richard Pippin, died on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 in Terre Haute, Indiana. His son, Randall, messaged “My dad just passed. He is now with the Lord he served for many years”.
Richard Pippin was the minister from 1985-1987. At that time, the church was named Church of the New Covenant.
Messages of sympathy can be sent to:
The Pippin Family
c/o Randall Pippin
308 Portlock St
Kenai AK 99611
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Jesse Lee Home update
It was brought to our attention that there were a few inaccuracies with the Jesse Lee Home article in last week's newsletter. Please find an update here: The Seward City Council approved a resolution on July 13 to use a state grant to perform hazmat abatement and to demolish Jesse Lee home. Historical artifacts will be documented. A memorial will be planned, after public involvement. There have been several failed attempts to do something with the buildings since it closed in 1966.
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UMFCU newsletter
Your United Methodist Federal Credit Union Summer Newsletter is now
here. Read about the upcoming new name for your credit union, summer auto loan specials and more. A wealth of additional information on credit union products and services can be found at
www.umfcu.org.
To receive a membership packet for yourself or your church call 800-245-0433.
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You now have until
July 28
to submit nominations for the Harry Denman and Outstanding Lay Person of the Year awards.
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Beware of fraudulent emails
Last Friday you may have received an email from "Bishop Stanovsky" asking for a favor. Please know that Bishop Elaine is never going to email or text such a request out to pastors or other leaders. If you ever do get a request that strikes you as questionable, please do reach out to the Conference office to confirm the request.
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Annual Conference dates set
Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky announced dates for the 2020 Sessions of the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho, and Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, with participants meeting remotely online in September. The sessions will be livestreamed with no registration required for “guests” of the conference. The Alaska Conference will meet 6-9 p.m. AKT, on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.
The bishop’s invitation was sent by email to persons with voice or voting privileges at Annual Conference.
Please contact the conference office if you did not receive this invitation and believe that you should have. Registration information will be available around the beginning of August.
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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.
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Native Americans joyful about SCOTUS decision
Native Americans, including United Methodists, are hailing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tribal jurisdiction as a decision that will be written about in history books and celebrated in museums.
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NFL team name change victory for Native people
United Methodist advocates say dropping Redskins as Washington’s NFL team's name marks the beginning of an era of understanding the negative impact such names have for Native people.
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Dismantle racist systems, UMW board says
The board of directors for United Methodist Women has affirmed a statement calling for the dismantling of racist systems "in our communities, agencies, workplaces, governments and churches."
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Church helps victims of flood and COVID-19
The U.S. Paycheck Protection Program, despite its flaws, threw a lifeline to hundreds of United Methodist ministries in the early days of the pandemic. Heather Hahn analyzed the data on United Methodist loan recipients.
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Leadership Institute registration now open
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection announced that registration is now open for
Leadership Institute 2020
, held online September 24-25.
The online format is packed with relevant and actionable leadership development content through a live-streamed event, plus on-demand bonus material spanning across all ministry areas.
Individual tickets are $49 through September 1.
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Discipleship Ministries' newest online course
Disciples Living Generously
now open!
This course will help you open up ways to communicate with your congregation with generosity as a key ingredient in a maturing disciple! As disciples of Jesus Christ, growing generosity should be second nature to us, part of our DNA. Jesus, in his teaching and presence, set us on a path that if we follow and pick up the cross of discipleship, we are to live generously in all aspects of our lives. So how could we ever say we are about the business of making disciples and not be prepared to lead people to live generous lives?
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Generosity365 Extra features great Methodist speakers
The Ecumenical Stewardship Center (ESC) is hosting an online event on Saturday, August 1st, beginning at 1:00pm EASTERN. The theme for the August event is “Faithful Generosity: Moving Forward” and will include presentations on new ideas for stewardship, resourcing and engagement.
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Camps revive with family options
Three camps that usually cater to children have revamped this summer to attract families for socially distanced camping. Camp Wanake, Camp Asbury and Camp Aldersgate are offering an unusual experience that observes mandates for keeping campers healthy and safe.
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3-16: Carlo on vacation
21: Leadership Team meeting
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
July 21 -
Lisa Talbott
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
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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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