A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Wear orange, honor 'Justice for Our Children' on October 6
Along with the United Methodist Church's Native American Comprehensive Plan and the International Native American Caucus, United Methodists in the Greater NW Area are encouraged to wear orange and advocate for 'justice for our children' on October 6 and every day. Kristina Gonzalez, director of innovation for an inclusive church on the GNW Area Innovation & Vitality (IV) Team offers her thoughts and helpful resources.
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Justice for our Children Online Event - Oct 6 at 5 pm AKDT
We are invited by Great Spirit Native American UMC in Portland and First Indigenous Nations Society to “join with us, other relatives and ancestors demanding -Justice for our Children. Those in Alaska may participate online using this link.
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Alaska Professional Church Workers' Retreat
The annual AUMC Professional Church Workers’ Retreat will be held on October 7th. Out of an abundance of care and caution, the event will be held virtually via Zoom. Please hold our clergy, deaconesses and other professional church workers in prayer as they gather for a much needed day of support, accountability and learning. We thank all local churches and ministry settings for making adjustments to meetings and work schedules in order for your church worker(s) to be fully present for this important work of covenant community.
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National Pastor Appreciation Month is here!
In October, we celebrate clergy across the denomination who dedicate their lives to ministry.
2020 and 2021 have been especially challenging years for clergy. The impacts of COVID-19, social/racial injustice, and the ongoing uncertainty within the UMC weighed heavily on clergy. Healthy clergy are essential for a healthy Church.
Please consider taking action in October to show appreciation. A few suggestions for responding include:
- Encourage pastors to use their vacation time and schedule renewal time!
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Lay Leaders and S/PPRCs can show gratitude! Here are 50 suggestions that might spark some ideas. The Lewis Center also has several ideas.
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Apportionment Report
The Treasurer's Office has provided us with the September apportionment report. It has been posted to the conference website.
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Save the date: GNW Disaster Preparedness + Response Special Sunday Nov. 14
Churches across the GNW are encouraged to honor Sunday, Nov. 14, as Disaster Response + Preparedness Awareness Sunday. Helping your church and community prepare for and respond to disasters is one of the many ways we put our love of God into action. We are living in a time when it seems there is one disaster after another – flooding, wildfires, global warming, a pandemic, and so much more. That is why Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky has made disaster response and preparedness – caring for our earth and communities – a missional priority of our area.
The GNW Disaster Response Team is putting together resources – namely bulletin inserts and a video – that churches can share on Nov. 14 (or any time) to encourage members ages 5 to 105 to help with this vital work. Materials will be available to review and download by mid-October.
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Alaska & PNW Conferences partner to issue more than $111k in hybrid worship grants
Over the summer, the Alaska and PNW Conference partnered to issue over $111k in grant funding to support hybrid worship projects in over 119 United Methodist local churches and camping ministries. Patrick Scriven offers an overview and some lessons learned. Fran Lynch focuses on the impact on ministries in Alaska and the emerging partnership with the PNW Conference.
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Native caucus calls for action on boarding schools
The Native American International Caucus of The United Methodist Church issued a statement in support of the federal legislation establishing a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies. The caucus urges United Methodists, ecumenical partners and the church's boards and agencies to take action, including "engaging in an accountable process of fact-finding and truth-telling."
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Book reimagines Advent story
The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has created an Advent 2021 resource for congregations, with the theme of "decolonizing" the Advent journey. "Reimagine Advent. Discover The Liberating Christ" looks at the Advent story through the eyes of Jesus as a Hebrew child born and living under Roman colonialism. It offers sermon starters based on the lectionary, plus suggested songs and hymns, original litanies and children's activities that local congregations may use this season.
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Diverse people of God
Throughout October, the People of God campaign is celebrating the diversity of our connection. We join in a common mission, yet still honor our unique identities. Share this message, and an invitation to #BeUMC, with your congregation by downloading resources available in English and Spanish.
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Facilitated training helps churches communicate during seasons of change
United Methodist Communications’ Training Team is launching the first in a new series of four week facilitated online courses. The Communicating During Seasons of Change course will run October 18th through November 12th, 2021. Webinar sessions will take place each Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00-2:00pm CT with weekly supplemental work. Registration is open through October 15th.
The classes will present facilitated live training sessions led by communications experts from United Methodist Communications. Participants will be prompted to utilize interactive eLearning modules, read articles, watch videos, engage in the live sessions and interact on a discussion board.
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Native American museum makes belated debut
The First Americans Museum is open to the public after a protracted birthing process. United Methodist Native Americans involved with the new museum say it's worth the wait.
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Exploring pandemic's impact on congregations
Hartford Seminary has been awarded a five-year, $5.3 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to fund research into how congregations are changing, innovating and establishing new ministry practices because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research will assist the Faith Communities Today project as it tracks the pandemic's effects on churches. United Methodist Communications, a member of Faith Communities Today, will be inviting United Methodist leaders and members to participate in the study.
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Native American artist graces church with mural
A 20-by-25-foot mural is taking shape at Dallas Indian United Methodist Church. Damon Neal, a young Native American artist, accepted the assignment from the Rev. J.B. Jackson. Neal, who in recent months lost his father to a heart attack and a brother to COVID-19, says working on the mural has been a form of prayer for him. The Rev. Katie Dawson's book "All Earth Is Waiting" helped inspire and direct the project.
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Applicants sought for mission program
Adults ages 20 to 30 are invited to apply for a two-year assignment with the Global Mission Fellows program. Those selected will leave their home state and serve two years in a U.S. community facing issues such as food insecurity, immigration and poverty. The fall application deadline is Nov. 30.
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Kayaking ministry builds and transforms community
This spring, when COVID restrictions were lifted and her two rural churches returned to in-person worship, the Rev. Amy Strom noticed that people were exhausted and had lost their ability to talk with and relate to one another. Strom, an avid kayaker, invited others to join her for a weekly paddle. At first, it was exclusively members of one church, but they began to invite relatives, friends and neighbors, and a vibrant community formed.
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Hispanic Heritage Month
Join us for United Methodist Women’s rescheduled Faith Talks commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month, Oct. 7, 2 pm ET.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of the contributions that Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South American and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean have made to U.S. society and culture.
Our guests for this edition of Faith Talks will include Rev. Lyssette Perez, president of MARCHA, the Hispanic caucus of The United Methodist Church.
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Advice across the centuries
When second thoughts emerge, Francis Asbury, who embarked on his historic journey 250 years ago, and Ted Lasso, the main character of the popular Apple TV+ series, give insight into dealing with doubt.
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Fried pies filled with love
One Virginia United Methodist church has sold these popular fruit-filled fried pies for more than 40 years. Here is the recipe.
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7: Professional Church Worker Retreat 9-4:30
11: Indigenous Peoples' Day
14: Charge Conference - Every Nation UMC
19-21: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
25: Charge Conference - Palmer UM Fellowship
26: Charge Conference - Kenai UMC
31: Halloween
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1: First day of American Indian Heritage Month
1: Charge Conference - Christ First UMC
2: Charge Conference - Homer UMC
3: Charge Conference - North Star UMC
4: Mission District Task Force
7: Daylight Savings Time ends
8: Charge Conference - Soldotna UMC
9: Charge Conference - Seward & Moose Pass UMC
10: Charge Conference - First Ketchikan UMC
11: Veterans Day
12: Charge Conference - St. Peter the Fisherman UMC
15: Charge Conference - St. John UMC
16-18: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
19: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC
22: Charge Conference - Aldersgate UMC
23: Charge Conference - Douglas Community UMC
25: Thanksgiving - Office Closed
26: Office Closed
29: Charge Conference - UMC of Sitka
30: Charge Conference - First Anchorage UMC
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
October 8 -
Andy Bartel
October 10 -
Luke Jones
October 12 -
Bishop Stanovsky
October 18 -
Dan Wilcox
November 6 -
Tafa Fulumua
November 9 -
Murray Crookes
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent - Carlo Rapanut
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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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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