A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference | |
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Giving Tuesday is today!
Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. There are several United Methodist related projects that would love your gifts of generosity, including places within our own state, TODAY!
Alaska Churches - Advance #931027
Birchwood Camp - Advance #931068
Downtown Ministries, First Ketchikan - Advance #3020487
Girdwood Chapel - Advance # 931007
Unalaska Outreach and Community Ministry - Advance #931855
Willow UMC - Advance #931511
Willow Church & Community Ministry - Advance #931520
Donate here on Giving Tuesday
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You're invited to support women, children, and youth
Anchor Park's Annual Holiday Auction, organized by the United Women In Faith, is scheduled for Saturday, December 3rd, at 2300 Oak Drive, Anchorage. Mark your calendars and plan to come with a friend! It is great fun. The event will begin at 10:45 am and go to 2:15. $20 will get you a hearty lunch of soup, lasagna, salad, rolls, and dessert. Contact Jo Anne Hayden or Susan Williams to make a reservation.
Reach out if you would like to donate an item for the auction as well! This is a great way to have fun and support mission projects focused on women, children, and youth in Alaska, the United States, as well as the world.
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Administrative Assistant/ Bookkeeper position open at Anchor Park UMC
Anchor Park is looking for the right person to fill our Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper, part-time position of support. If you or someone you know might be interested in learning more about this position, please contact Pastor Ken Hagler at 907-277-0152 or Jo Anne Hayden at 907-903-5025. Please help us share this opportunity with those who might possess the needed skills to be a match for us. Thanks for helping spread the word!
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Church and Clergy Profile forms due Dec.1
With the transition to retirement for our Bishop and the start of our new Bishop, all Clergy and Churches are being asked to update their profiles. Several weeks ago, a follow up email went out to clergy with instructions on how to access the People Portal. Once you have successfully logged into your personal People Portal, you will find your Clergy Profile form to the left. If you have problems, please contact the conference office and I can assist you. In addition to the Clergy Profile, this Biographical Information form needs to be filled out and returned. | PDF | Word
Each Church Profile also needs to be updated and that will be done through the Church Dashboard. Once you are on your church dashboard, you will find the Church Profile link to the left.
Both of these profiles need to be completed online through these means. They are to be completed by December 1, 2022. Both the Church Dashboard and the People Portal can be accessed from the Conference website at the bottom of the page.
If you need assistance, please reach out to Crystal. She can help you with login information if needed.
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Come bake cookies and register for Youth camp
Winter Youth Break-Away Camp
Registration for Winter Youth Break-Away is now open. January 4th-7th. For 6th through 12th graders. Register here.
Annual Community Cookie Baking Party
Birchwood Camp's Annual Community Cookie Baking Party is December 11th, 2022
Click here to register your family or here for more information
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National and International News | |
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3 bishops, including first woman, elected in Philippines
Delegates of The United Methodist Church’s Philippines Central Conference elected three bishops during their Nov. 24-26 meeting, including the first female bishop. The Rev. Ruby-Nell Estrella, conference treasurer, said she was “truly humbled and thankful to God for this historic election.” The Rev. Rodel M. Acdal, president of John Wesley College, and the Rev. Israel Painit, country director of mission in Southeast Asia, also were elected.
Rodel M. Acdal
Ruby-Nell Estrella
Israel Painit
See all of UM News' 2022 episcopal election coverage
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New bishop's haircut says '#BeUMC'
Bishop Dee Williamston and the Rev. Jeff Clinger followed through on their promise to get special haircuts if she was elected to the episcopacy. A skillful barber has them sporting “#BeUMC” in their respective scalps.
Read the story
UM News: Williamston elected South Central's first Black female Bishop
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Advent Missionary Study 2022
This six-part Advent Study with 7 UM Missionaries begins with readings for Christ the King Sunday and concludes with the Christmas Eve lectionary reading. Each week includes missionaries reading from the Old Testament and Gospel texts, interviews with them in their context of their lives and work as United Methodist Missionaries; a Psalm based breath prayer; and study questions based up on the texts and interviews.
Visit the site to learn more
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Advocacy group launches new website, resources
Following a historic period of growth after the 2019 special General Conference, the unofficial advocacy group Reconciling Ministries Network has built an improved website. The group, which advocates for LGBTQ and racial equality in The United Methodist Church, also has updated its virtual resources and governing statements for a more intersectional approach to justice.
Read the press release
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29: Charge Conference - UMC of Sitka | |
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1: Professional Ministries Unit meeting
1: Charge Conference - Homer UMC
4: Charge Conference - First UMC Fairbanks
4: Charge Conference - Every Nation UMC
5-8: Cabinet Meeting
11: Charge Conference - UMC of Chugiak
13: Charge Conference - St. John UMC & First UMC Anchorage
15: Charge Conference - First UMC Ketchikan
24: Office Closed
24: Christmas Eve
25: Christmas Day
26: Office Closed
31: New Year's Eve
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
December 23 - Christina DowlingSoka
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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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