A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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Doors Opening to God's Love in Action | Eagle River United Methodist Camp
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Children and youth today live hectic lives. So many things–school, sports, television, smartphones, video games, and organized activities can crowd out the time for kids to be kids. Conversely, some children have to take a caretaker role in their families, or live in families affected by poverty and its myriad of ills- being a kid can be tough under those circumstances.
In today’s world, where can kids hike in the woods; get muddy, swing on a rope swing, spend quality time with caring adults, hike down a deer trail, play outdoor games, or sit around a campfire, sing, talk about life, and learn about Jesus Christ? Here in Juneau, we have such a place.
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Start thinking about VIM teams
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Dear Friends,
I am Don Olson, the new Alaska VIM coordinator. If your church has a project and needs a VIM team, please e-mail me your contact information and I will e-mail you the paperwork to get started. I know some of you have hosted teams in the past, but, as I am new to this responsibility, I need all the aids available and I am still wedded to paper. Thank you.
Isaiah 57:14
Don Olson
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Does your church need a piano?
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Anchorage area: Does your church need a piano? St. John UMC has a piano that was gifted to the church many years ago and they no longer have a need for it within their programming. Is there a church in the conference that could use it? It plays fine and was given in memory of someone, so it would be nice to keep it within the UMC. If your church could use it, please contact the church at 344-3025 or
stjohn.sjumc@gmail.com
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First UMC Anchorage to celebrate 75th anniversary
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Come and join the celebration of First UMC Anchorage and their 75 years of faith. Their special worship service will be at 10:00 a.m. on November 10th with Rev. John Tindell leading the service; followed by a potluck to celebrate at 11:30 a.m.
They could not be where they are today without the stories of all who have been there. Share your story! Please send copies of pictures and stories to the
church office so they can have them on display to share.
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Memorial service for Aleen Fison
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Aleen Fison passed away on October 20, 2019.
A memorial service will take place at St. John UMC in Anchorage, AK led by Rev. Andy Bartel on Saturday, November 16th at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
AK Child & Family
and
St. John UMC
. If you would like to send a card of condolence to the family, send them to Jayne Mason at 25005 SE 384th St. Enumclaw, WA 98022.
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Bishops urged to act with convicted humility
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United Methodist bishops are meeting at a time when many already consider a denominational split as a given. However, Bishop Kenneth H. Carter — president of the Council of Bishops — suggested ways bishops can still seek the unity promised in their consecration vows.
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Church exit plan already in effect, court says
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Legislation setting special provisions for United Methodist churches that want to leave the denomination took effect last February, the church’s top court has ruled. The Judicial Council also issued no opinion on the “constitutionality, meaning, application or effect” of certain petitions of the Traditional Plan, adopted at the same special General Conference. And the court deferred until its next session a request on the question of improper voting related to the disaffiliation legislation.
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Bishop suggests hold on trials, trust clause
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Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, Council of Bishops president, suggests coupling a pause in church trials related to LGBTQ restrictions and a relaxation of the denomination’s trust clause.
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Top court raises questions at lively oral hearing
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A long-simmering investigation into improper voting during General Conference 2019 boiled over Oct. 30 as questions about lines of authority and a lack of information arose from several members of the United Methodist Judicial Council during a public oral hearing.
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Bishops seek court's guidance on Traditional Plan
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The United Methodist Council of Bishops explained at an oral hearing the need for assistance from the Judicial Council in implementing several provisions of the plan adopted by the 2019 General Conference.
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Faithful giving in a time of change
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A roundtable discussion of connectional giving in The United Methodist Church seeks to explain the role of giving in the church. The panelists, who work with giving and budgets at all levels of the denomination, also discuss what has happened with giving in the denomination since the special General Conference.
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Free on-line education, mobile-friendly content highlight website redesign
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Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church has launched its newly redesigned website to positive reviews from church leaders.
“The newly redesigned
UMCDiscipleship.org
is the public face of everything we offer the Church to assist leaders as they make disciples of Jesus Christ,” said the Rev. Junius B. Dotson, Discipleship Ministries general secretary. “The updated look and redesigned architecture are doorways to new and improved ways to resource the UMC. We are proud of what we do at Discipleship Ministries and how we offer on-line ministry resources to our denomination. Now people can find what they need faster and learn how to minister more effectively.”
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Bishop reflects on journey to GC2020
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Bishop Kenneth H. Carter has held multiple roles during a time of great stress in the church. The Council of Bishops president talked to UM News staff about the road from the Commission on a Way Forward, which he helped moderate, to yet another General Conference.
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Church goes big with Christmas bike giveaway
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A shipping error left the Rev. Cap McIlnay with two kids' bikes to give away at Christmas in 2017. And that led him and his church, First United Methodist of Blackwell, to commit to providing bikes to needy kids. With support from local businesses, they gave away more than 70 last Christmas, and they're shooting for 100 this time.
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UM News to host Pre-General Conference briefing
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United Methodist Communications and the UM News team will host the Pre-General Conference Briefing Jan. 23-24 at the Omni Hotel in Nashville in preparation for the 2020 General Conference. The briefing aims to help delegates, communicators, agency and annual conference staff and other interested parties prepare for the denomination's legislative body when it meets in Minneapolis May 5-15.
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New ad campaign addresses loneliness
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The United Methodist Church has launched the "Not the Only One" advertising campaign to offer encouragement through community. The new ads encourage people to visit a local United Methodist church and share their faith journey with others.
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United Methodist Student Day Pastor and Leader's kit
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Our connection allows us to provide essential scholarships to United Methodist students who seek financial support. These strong Christian leaders need our help to continue on the path of answering God’s call to further their education. Be a part of United Methodist Student Day on November 24 with the help of promotional resources, student stories and much more.
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7: Charge Conference - Willow UMC
10: Charge Conference - Girdwood Chapel UMC
10: Charge Conference - Jewel Lake Parish
11: Veterans Day
11-13: GNW Cabinet - Carlo attending
14-16: WJ Summit - Carlo attending
16-17: WJ Mission Cabinet - Carlo attending
18: Charge Conference - First Anchorage/First Samoan UMC
19: Charge Conference - Palmer UM Fellowship
20: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC
21: Charge Conference - UMC of Chugiak
23: Charge Conference - Kenai UMC
23: Charge Conference - North Star UMC
23: Charge Conference - St. Peter the Fisherman UMC
24: Charge Conference - Homer UMC
26: Charge Conference - Anchor Park UMC
28: Thanksgiving - Office closed
29: Office Closed
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1: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC
3: Charge Conference - Community UMC (Nome)
7: Leadership Team meeting
7: Charge Conference - Ola Toe Fuataina UM Samoan Fellowship
8: Charge Conference - First UMC, Fairbanks
10-12: GNW Cabinet - Carlo attending
13: Charge Conference - First UMC, Ketchikan
15: Charge Conference - St. John UMC
24: Christmas Eve - Office closed half day
25: Christmas Day - Office closed
31: New Year's Eve - Office closed half day
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
November 6 -
Fa'atafa Fulumu'a
November 9 -
Murray Crookes
December 10 -
David Hall
December 23 -
Christina DowlingSoka
Curtis Matz
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
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The NEW Conference Office hours are:
Monday - Friday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
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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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