A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference | |
Called to Preach: A Lay Servant Ministries advanced course
For those looking to take what they've learned in a Lay Servant Ministries basic course a little bit farther, this class is open to anyone in the GNW Area to attend. It runs on Thursday evenings, starting Oct. 19.
Learn more + register on the OR-ID Conference website.
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Living Our United Methodist Beliefs - Advanced Lay Servant Ministries course offering on Zoom
Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (United Methodist Heritage) explores the special gifts of theology, witness, and organization that The United Methodist Church brings to the church universal, how we got where we are today, and how our distinctive emphases are still needed in the 21st-century church. This is an Advanced LSM course.
Learn more + register on the OR-ID Conference website.
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Fall Market at Turnagain UMC
Turnagain UMC is inviting everyone to their 2nd Annual Fall Market on September 30, 2023, rain or shine!
They have over 20 vendors confirmed. Know what that means? Lots of great things for you to get your holiday shopping started or just to treat yourself!
They have 2 wonderful bakers who will be selling their delicious treats! They have hand painted gold pans, handmade jewelry, signs, clothing, and tumblers. They will also have a community garage sale that will be happening too!
This is free and open to the public!
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Alaska Blanket Exercise workshop
The Alaska Blanket Exercise Program is pleased to invite you to our upcoming in-person Alaska Blanket Exercise (ABE) workshop, located in Anchorage, Alaska.
These workshops are open to the public. Registration is limited and early registration is encouraged.
Registration Links:
Disclaimer: Topics will include boarding school experiences, substance use, racism, sexual abuse, and suicide. We will have an emotional support facilitator and you are welcome to take self-care breaks.
If you have any questions, please contact us at: akblanketexercise@anthc.org.
http://www.anthc.org/alaska-blanket-exercise
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Barbershop A Cappella Chorus
Pastor Andy Bartel has been singing with the Midnight Sons for the last five months or so and their fall show is this Saturday evening at 7pm at East High School. Fellow United Methodists Sam and Easter Sua and their family will also be performing.
Tickets can be purchased at MSC23.eventbrite.com
More info can be found at midnightsons.com
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Who I am Called to Be
For laity in The United Methodist Church who feel called by God to make a lifetime commitment to full-time ministries of love, justice, and service, there is an opportunity to become part of a covenant community.
Join on September 28, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET to learn more about what it means to be a deaconess and home missioner.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/DHMSept2023
If you would like to have more information, but can't attend the event, contact Deaconess Chivi at deaconesschivi@gmail.com
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Upcoming event at Birchwood Camp - Save the date!
You are invited to join Birchwood Camp on December 3, 2023 for Cookie Decorating, Annual Auction and Dinner. The event will be held at Birchwood Camp from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM. More details to follow. Mark your calendars now!
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Register today for free 'Using A.I. Tools in the Church' training
Wondering what A.I. is all about and how it can be used in the church? Are you a little nervous about what is and isn’t legal? Just not sure that A.I. is for you?
Those questions and more will be answered in the Using A.I. Tools in the Church webinar on Monday, November 6, 2023 (4:30 p.m. MT • 3:30 p.m. PT • 2:30 p.m. AKT). The training will last approximately 2.5 hours. Amazon bestselling author and consultant Jason Moore will guide a conversation about what A.I. is and which tools are most useful for various aspects of ministry and will demonstrate how to use them. Best of all, most A.I. tools are free to use or are very affordable. Regardless of your church size, budget, and worship style, this A.I. primer will be helpful for you.
Click Here to Register Today!
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Draw the Circle Wide
Alaska United Women in Faith will be holding their Annual Gathering at Anchor Park UMC September 29 - October 1, 2023. All are welcome!
Register to attend the 2023 Annual Gathering here
Host Family needed!
United Women in Faith National President, ‘Ainise ‘Isama’u, is presenting at our UWIF Annual Gathering September 29-October 1, 2023. We are looking for a host family to put her up. She will be traveling with her teenage daughter. If you are able to open your home to her, please contact Susan Williams smwilliams@gci.net or 907-317-0406. Thank you for your consideration.
Learning opportunities
United Women in Faith are excited to announce the learning opportunities scheduled at their Annual Gathering. View the learning opportunities here.
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More details on GNW housing conference Nov. 4
On Saturday, Nov. 4, the GNW housing summit will take place at Parkrose UMC in northeast Portland. The event – open to anyone in the GNW Area to attend – will run from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PT, and will be accessible online as well. Registration for this event will open next week, with fees of $30 for in-person participants and $10 for online participants to cover cost of meals + resources.
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Advanced Preaching class for Certified Lay Ministers and Lay Speakers
An Advanced Preaching Class is being offered for Certified Lay Ministers and Lay Speakers on Oct 21 & 28 via Zoom to provide students with advanced skills in preaching. Participants will receive feedback from experienced preachers on a sermon they prepare and deliver. This free course requires an Introductory Course in Preaching as a prerequisite. Do not delay in registering; space is limited to 9 students.
Learn more and register on the PNW Conference website.
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Bishop's church trial: Questions and answers
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño is facing the prospect of The United Methodist Church’s first trial of a bishop. Heather Hahn looks at some frequently asked questions about the denomination’s trial process.
Read questions and answers
How to watch jurisdictional trial
The jurisdictional trial in which Bishop Minerva Carcaño is a respondent will be accessible via a livestream. Online observers will need to complete a terms-of-use form. Upon accepting the terms, the livestream will be accessible for each individual session. This process will need to be completed for each court time — morning, afternoon and evening — as applicable. The trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. U.S. Central time Sept. 19, and at 8 a.m. on subsequent days. The trial is expected to proceed through Sept. 22.
Complete the form
Read the press release
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Call to Prayer
MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latino American) calls on the entire United Methodist Church to pray for the trial against Bishop Minerva Carcaño.
MARCHA calls the people to pray for the following topics:
- For a fair trial.
- For Bishop Minerva Carcaño and her family.
- For Bishop Alfred Gwinn, jury, complainants, attorneys, observers, and others involved in the trial.
- For God to bring healing and reconciliation to the entire church
Sign-up on their virtual prayer calendar:
When: September 19-23, 2023.
Link: https://signup.24-7prayer.com/signup/783517
Read more
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Praying for devastated Libya
Christian leaders in North Africa are expressing grief after the Mediterranean Cyclone Daniel killed thousands of people in the province of Cyrenaica in eastern Libya. Flooding has claimed the lives of at least 11,300 people with more than 10,000 still missing in the deeply divided country. The World Council of Churches reports.
Read the story
Another disaster in Morocco - AP: What to know about the Morocco earthquake and efforts to help
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Pope delighted with John Wesley bobblehead
Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, came “face to bobblehead” with Methodism founder John Wesley. During a general audience at St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff was given a John Wesley bobblehead by Ashley Boggan D., top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History. She says the gift made him smile and laugh.
Read the story
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Tips to teach creation care
It’s important to discuss taking care of the planet with family, friends and congregations, says Katherine Hayhoe, a climate scientist. She offers 10 ways this can be accomplished, including starting a church vegetable garden, keeping the car engine off when picking up children at school and finding out what happens to unused food at local schools.
Read the story
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Reviving the Sabbath
A documentary on American Public Television is promoting reconsideration of how Christians and others observe a Sabbath day each week. “Sabbath: An Ancient Tradition Meets the Modern World” is a two-hour documentary that looks at how various groups observe a weekly Sabbath and argues for the importance of the practice. United Methodists are part of the team that made the film and appear in it.
Read the story
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21: Mission District Task Force meeting @ Anchor Park UMC
21-24: Professional Church Workers Retreat @ Alaska Pacific University
24: Leadership Team Retreat @ Turnagain UMC
29-Oct 1: Alaska United Women in Faith Annual Gathering @ Anchor Park UMC
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9: Indigenous Peoples' Day - Office Closed
31: Halloween
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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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