A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference | |
Save the Date!
The Alaska Professional Church Workers' Fall Retreat will be October 7, 8, 9. In order to be as inclusive as possible of all our siblings in professional ministry, particularly those who are bivocational, these dates are a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you are outside of the Anchorage area, please plan on traveling the 6th and 10th so you don't miss any of the activities. Anchorage area clergy, you should also plan on taking that Sunday morning off as there will be other worship activities planned. More information about the theme and agenda will follow. Please direct questions to Lisa Talbott.
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Abundant Health ministries to host virtual training
Abundant Health ministries will be hosting a virtual event on Tues., Aug. 23, from 6-7 p.m. PT on the topic ‘Nutrition and Healthy Eating on a Budget.” The presenter will be Siew Guan Lee, MS, RD, who is an extension educator in family & consumer sciences for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho Extension in Twin Falls County.
Read more on the Greater Northwest Area events calendar.
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Mission u 2022
Great news— COMMUNITY is God’s desire for us! Please join us at Mission u 2022 as we reflect on the community that Jesus is calling us to be!
This year, as we study Luke 13, we find ourselves in a period of disruption and uncertainty. In the midst of a devastating pandemic, divisive political climate, unaddressed systemic racism, ecological crises and economic turmoil, we turn to the stories of Jesus that have anchored Christian communities for two millennia.
Our hope is that we will leave Mission u with a bigger and broader vision of the community Christ is calling us to be in times of loss, grief and massive disruption. What would be possible if we tend to the needs of our communities in small yet radical ways, as Jesus did in Luke 13?
Join us September 6, 8, 13, and 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Each session will cover two chapters of the study book.
Who Can We Be Together? is the book and it can be found at the e-store.
Register here. Deadline is September 1st. Zoom links will be sent to registered participants.
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United Women in Faith Annual Gathering
"Finding Joy in Faith and Action: Changing the World from Where We Are" is our theme for the hybrid meeting (live and zoom) at St. John UMC in Anchorage on September 30 - October 2.
Our very own retired Deaconess Fran Lynch will be doing a 2-part Bible Study.
Our scripture focus is Romans 15:4-6 and James 2: 14-17. While we would love to have everyone physically present, we are offering ZOOM as well. Masks are encouraged and we will make every attempt to provide safe space for us all.
Showered in Grace is a mobile shower trailer which is used to offer showers to the homeless in and around the Anchorage area. They will be the recipient of the tangible giving with supplies such as soap, shampoo, etc. There will also be a silent auction and an online auction with proceeds going to AK Child and Family and Nome Community Center.
Hoping to see you in September where we can spend time to get acquainted, get revived, educated, inspired and sent home with joy to change the world.
Susie Smalley, AUWF Vice President
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Nome Mission Trip (Sept. 18-24) -- STILL Looking for 2-3 more team members
Pastor Jim Doepken (UMC of Chugiak) and three members from a July trip are headed back to Nome Community UMC to install more vinyl flooring and are looking for 2-3 more team members. No experience necessary but good knees are a requirement. This is a great way to learn about Nome and see future work that your church could do there.
Our work: installing underlayment and vinyl flooring in the parsonage.
Our accommodations: Multiple rooms at the church available for sleeping. We will share kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Skills needed: None really. But experience with table and circular saws would be helpful and flooring experience would be awesome.
Travel arrangements: Once confirmed you are joining the team, you would make your own arrangements to get to Nome the afternoon of Sunday September 18th and leave Nome on the evening/later flight on Saturday, September 24th. Your home churches may be willing to help with airline miles to get you there.
If interested, please CONTACT PASTOR JIM DOEPKEN.
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2023 Mission season requests
The 2023 mission season is approaching, and I pray it will be a blessed and busy one. Alaska VIM Coordinator, Don Olson, would like Alaska churches, camps, and any other Alaska ministries to please contact him if you would like to host a mission team for a mission project (repairs, community service, VBS, etc.). Contact him or the conference office to get three Host Church information forms that will need to be filled out and then given to Don. It is information that will be provided to the incoming mission church, with the details of the project’s needs, skill levels required, your ability to house the missioners, and local attractions. Don will then have the information on hand if mission teams ask about missioning in Alaska. Completed forms need to be completed and sent to Don by 15 October as mission churches need time to organize and raise funds. When he has the forms from both Host and Mission churches, he will exchange the information and allow the churches to work out the details. Blessings to all. Stay safe.
Don Olson
olsondon44@yahoo.com
907-770-0792
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Bishops gather to discuss future of The United Methodist Church
In the midst of ongoing challenges related to Covid-19 and church disaffiliations, the Council of Bishops will meet August 22-26, 2022, to discuss the future of The United Methodist Church, prepare for new bishops to be elected later this year, and address other timely topics related to their ongoing work.
It will be the first COB meeting to be presided over by newly installed President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of New York Area. The more than 100 bishops from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America will be in attendance during the Zoom meeting that will also include continuing work to dismantle racism, promote discipleship; and strengthen mission strategies in the world-wide denomination.
Read more
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"It's an experience': Kickoff for Dotson Institute
The Junius B. Dotson Institute for Music and Worship in the Black Church and Beyond kicked off with celebrations Aug. 18-20 in Atlanta. The Rev. Cynthia A. Wilson, a close colleague of Dotson's before his death in 2021, explains her vision for the new venture. Rather than being based in one place, it will be a series of educational opportunities for church worship leaders at various venues.
Read the story
Watch the video interview with Wilson
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Bishop Webb plans to retire Dec. 31
After a season of prayer and discernment, Upper New York Conference Bishop Mark J. Webb announced that he has made the decision to retire from the active episcopacy on Dec. 31. "The divide within The United Methodist Church has lessened my joy for this role and changed my sense of whether my gifts, convictions and leadership as a residential Bishop are best for The United Methodist Church in the future," he wrote in a letter.
Read the announcement
Read Bishop Webb's letter
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The mission we share: Celebrating our call
Following God’s call to transform the world might seem impossible, but it’s a requirement for United Methodists. Together, our global connection provides and supports a wide variety of robust ministries that change and save lives every day, from health care to education to social justice, and much more. A new downloadable video from United Methodist Communications celebrates that call.
Watch the video
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Resources for bishop elections available
This November, the church in the United States and the Philippines will participate in the election process for new episcopal leadership. Delegations will have the opportunity to engage candidates in conversation about their vision, leadership, spirituality and more. The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has developed resources to help delegations and others in their discernment process.
View the resources
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General Conference parliamentarian dies
The recent death of Leonard M. Young Jr. was noted at this week’s Council of Bishops meeting. Young served as parliamentarian for the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church and was a key figure in the National Association of Parliamentarians.
Read his obituary
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Weekend spotlights Native culture
People danced, made art projects and contemplated serious issues during the Native Moccasins Rock conference at Camp Lake Benson. The latter included discussion of the alarming number of missing Native American women and the use of stereotypical characterizations of indigenous people as sports team mascots.
Read the story
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Grappling with mixed news on giving, church exits
The board of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency discussed the potential impact of rising church disaffiliations even as they celebrated an uptick in giving and the sale of the agency’s building.
Read the story
Read the press release
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Russian-speaking church supports Ukrainian refugees
While Russians and Ukrainians engage in war in various parts of Ukraine, a United Methodist congregation in Prague is finding ways to unite its Russian and Ukrainian members and help refugees.
Read the story
United Methodist ministry with Ukraine
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Grants for Deaf Awareness Week offered
Grants of $500 are available to churches and ministries that plan to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week Sept. 19-25. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministries Committee wishes to help those who highlight, promote and celebrate Deaf awareness, achievements and ministries. The deadline for applications is Aug. 25.
Read the press release
To apply
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Longstanding breakfast ministry feeds souls
Each Sunday for 17 years, Heritage at Houston United Methodist Church has served breakfast to anyone who has walked through the church's doors. The ministry, named Scrambled Eggs for Jesus, feeds between 60 and 100 people every Sunday, said leader and church member Ray Rover.
Read the story
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Gentrifying neighborhood complicates ministry
The Waughtown and Sunnyside neighborhoods in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, are gentrifying, pushing out of the community the people the Rev. Julie Wilson is trying to serve. The Open Arms Community center is looking into helping lower-income people get mortgages so they can remain in the area. The center continues to provide before- and after-school programs and summer activities for neighborhood children.
Read the story
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5: Labor Day - Office Closed
9: Cabinet meeting - Christina & Lisa attending
15-30: Lisa out of the office
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
September 4 - Ken Hagler
September 11 - Emily Carroll
September 17 - Autumn Krueger
September 22 - Won Jea Keum
September 28 - Darla Bradley
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent - Christina DowlingSoka
Director of Connectional Ministries - Lisa Talbott
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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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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:
Alaska Conference Values
- 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.
- Healing, grace-filled mission with communities and churches that prioritizes local experiences and shares resources across time and distance through equitable relationships.
- 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.
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