A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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A Christmas message from Bishop Elaine
"I'm ready for that familiar, but odd cast of characters in the Christmas story to tell us the story of what happened that night. Time for the animals, the star, the angels, the shepherds, the wise ones to tell their story about where love lives ..."
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A Christmas gift and a message of hope as we journey toward the manger
This year has challenged us in so many ways – fear, devastation, distrust and anger. Our hearts and minds are nearly overwhelmed as we’ve watched lives change dramatically and perceptions of what is real and normal shift. Even the spiritual practices we often rely upon were challenged as we disrupted church life to do no harm.
But, as people of faith, we still follow the star toward a manger in Bethlehem, where God’s love was born into our world through Jesus. We listen to the angels sing this – the world is to be a place where love lives.
In shared expectation, we present the poem “With Us,” written by retired United Methodist pastor Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes, specially commissioned by the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area for the Where Love Lives campaign of the Western Jurisdiction. Alaska Conference Superintendent, Rev. Carlo Rapanut, lends his vocal talents to the project and the Rev. David Valera, Director of Connectional Ministries for the Pacific Northwest Conference, brings his audio/visual gifts to this project.
May it bless you in these days with little light, and remind us all that love is near!
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Merry Christmas from the Alaska United Methodist staff in Alaska! We hope you have a blessed holiday! From the Rapanut and Feaster families - Carlo,Titus, Radie, and Caleb Rapanut; Crystal, Caleb, and Thomas Feaster
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Celebrate Christmas with Vheneka Marimba!
For those who missed the live premiere yesterday, here's a link to Homer United Methodist Church's Vheneka Marimba Band playing the tunes of the season!
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Virtual Pageant
Enjoy this creative retelling of the Christmas story. Many thanks to Rev. Nico Reijns of Girdwood Chapel UMC for coordinating this offering- a collaboration of United Methodist children, youth and adults in Alaska.
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Williams receives 2020 Denman Evangelism Award for Lay
Ola Williams of Willow United Methodist Church and Director of the Willow Community Food Pantry has been named as the other recipient of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Lay in the Alaska Conference for 2020. The award was presented by Superintendent Carlo Rapanut on December 9 during Willow UMC’s Charge Conference. Originally nominated for the Outstanding Lay Person of the Year, the awards committee deemed it more fitting to give Ola the evangelism award. In her nomination letter, Willow UMC’s Pastor Christina DowlingSoka writes, “As I think of Matthew 25 Christians I think of Ola Williams. She finds great delight in being the hands and feet and heart of Christ, and finds countless ways of leading us in loving our neighbors. She is there when you are hungry, there when you need a listening ear, there when you need a cookie baker or a warm meal, there when you need to know you are a person of worth. She has empowered all of us to reach out and continue to serve the most vulnerable in our communities with love and with grace, with courage and with faith, even in these most challenging of days."
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Calling all people of faith not to gather during the pandemic
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky wrote an oped to the Anchorage Daily News that was published December 19th. She writes: “By the grace of God, and through the everyday miracles of science, social cooperation and sacrificial love of neighbor, we know that help is on the way. Christians can share tidings of comfort and joy this season, even if we cannot gather for worship. We must make these sacrifices for a season. Not forever, but as long as necessary.”
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$100,000 UMCOR grant will aid wildfire relief
Recovery efforts from devastating wildfires in the state of Washington will be ramped up significantly in 2021 due to a $100,000 recovery grant the Pacific Northwest Conference received from the United Methodist Committee on Relief. "This sets us solidly on the path to do some significant work and we just feel blessed," said Dana Bryson, co-disaster response coordinator.
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Black Santa is back, and he is in a giant snow globe
Portland’s very own Black Santa, also known as Leroy Barber, is back visiting cities from Eugene to Seattle, and this year he’s in a giant 10-foot-tall inflatable globe.
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2020: Remembering notable United Methodists
United Methodists this year marked the passing of civil rights giants, groundbreaking bishops, founding leaders of Africa University and a mathematician who charted the way for astronauts. Heather Hahn has 34 remembrances of notable church members memorialized in 2020.
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Church replaces new Black Lives Matter banner
After demonstrators tore down and burned a Black Lives Matter banner from the front of Asbury United Methodist Church last weekend, a new banner has been dedicated. More than 400 clergy, laity and faith leaders — including Baltimore-Washington Conference Bishop LaTrelle Easterling — gathered virtually and on the front steps of the church to put up the banner.
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Commission on the General Conference establishes timeline for next steps
The Commission on the General Conference held a two-day virtual gathering December 11-12, 2020 to discuss complex matters concerning the postponed 2020 General Conference session that is currently set for August 29 - September 7, 2021.
It was decided that the Technology Study Team must submit their report to the Commission by January 31, 2021. This team is exploring the implications of options for accommodating full participation at General Conference including, but not limited to, the possibility of utilizing technology and online voting.
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Celebrate Human Relations Day
Continue the ministry of Jesus by advocating for the oppressed on Human Relations Day (January 17). This special offering allows us to join with United Methodists around the world and remember that the size of the table of divine love is unlimited. Get started with the help of a Pastor and Leaders’ Kit.
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How do United Methodists celebrate Epiphany?
Epiphany is the day Christians remember the coming of the Magi to visit Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It occurs on Jan. 6 every year, the 13th day of the Christmas season. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on the ancient celebration.
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Christmas trees signal hope
Lakewood United Methodist Church is spreading joy during the Christmas season with its Trees of Hope display. People in the congregation were invited to adopt a tree and come up with a theme for how to decorate it. There are about 30 decorated Christmas Trees of Hope on the front lawn of the church.
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Christmas choir videos to enjoy
Two Christmas choir videos are available for small groups, Sunday school classes, online worship services and other uses. The first is a Christmas medley and the other is a version of "Silent Night" in three languages.
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Virtual international watchnight service planned
United Methodist Men will post a virtual, international watchnight service on Facebook and YouTube. The one-hour service on Dec. 31 will include leaders of UM Men from Kenya, India, the Philippines, Estonia, Germany and the United States.
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UMC Support's Ministry Resource Guide
UMC Support is pleased to present our Ministry Resource Guide filled with opportunities for you and the United Methodist ministries you work with to learn and grow. We've compiled this guide to help ministries easily find vetted and trusted ministry partners who offer administrative solutions, including discounted PPE, facility repair resources, and digital engagement tools. Share this resource with your local churches and help them become more efficient in their mission work.
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Church Data Entry Update from GCFA
2020 has shifted how we do many things. Our Data Services team has provided important updates and helpful resources regarding attendance counting and financial reporting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Share this information with your local church ministries to reduce reporting confusion and ensure proper data entry.
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Publishing House among pandemic victims
The United Methodist Publishing House has seen its sales dive in the COVID-19 pandemic, as churches unable to meet in person cut back on orders. The self-supporting agency made big changes before the pandemic but has had to go further, laying off employees and putting its headquarters up for sale.
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Wrapping up West Virginia disaster work
In the years since the June 23, 2016, storms and flood disaster that impacted 44 of West Virginia's 55 counties, the West Virginia Conference Disaster Recovery Team oversaw repairs or rebuilds to hundreds of homes and churches. The team, which handled more than 160 personal claims and even replaced six bridges, is preparing to complete its mission on Dec. 31.
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24: Christmas Eve - Office Closed
25: Christmas Day - Office Closed
31: New Year's Eve - Office Closed
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1: New Year's Day - Office Closed
8-9: WJ Leadership Meetings - Carlo attending virtually
11-14: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo attending virtually
18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
December 23 -
Christina DowlingSoka
Curtis Matz
January 5 -
Janice Carlton
January 18 -
Karen Dammann
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
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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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