A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Winter Learning Event/Meetings Save the Date
Please save the dates of February 18-19 for the Winter Learning Event/Rendezvous meetings, which will be held virtually. More information will be available in the coming weeks.
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Final Apportionment Report for 2021
The final apportionment payments have been collected by the Treasurer's office and they have provided the following report. Thank you to everyone for their generosity. Special thanks to our churches that paid 100%.
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Save the Date! 2022 Local Church Leadership Training for Laity in the GNW
Laity serving on local church committees, especially those who chair administrative committees, are encouraged to save the date for a Greater Northwest Area-wide training on Saturday, February 26, 2022. The two-hour training will be offered online starting at 9 a.m. AKT (10 a.m. PT, 11 a.m. MT) by district superintendents and staff of the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences. Those new to their roles or to leadership of committees are strongly encouraged to attend. Translation will be offered in Spanish and Korean.
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UPDATE: Fifth session added to Abundant Health Fair this month
Earlier it was announced a virtual Abundant Health Fair would be starting Jan. 13 and running one hour, every Thursday through Feb. 3. Organizers note now that a fifth session has been added on Feb. 10 to learn more about "Love Beyond Borders: The Interfaith Movement to End the Pandemic." Registration for the five-week event featuring tai chi, meditation and more is still open. Those who have already registered for the four-week session will not need to register for the bonus session.
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Passing of former Alaskan pastor Tom Taylor
The Rev. Tom Taylor, who was pastor at First UMC Fairbanks and Homer in the 1980s & 1990s passed away on January 8th after suffering a stroke two days earlier.
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Anchor Park EPIC Youth Auction
Support the Anchor Park UMC youth as they fund raise for mission work, serve the greater Anchorage community, and attend Youth 2023 in Florida. They will have an online auction from February 4-6, 2022. A lot of Alaskan businesses have donated items for the auction. Follow this link to view the items between now and then and bid often.
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Newly-formed GNW Vitality Commission begins its work
Early in January, members of the newly-formed GNW Vitality Commission met for the first time to consider how to best structure and support innovation and vitality efforts across the area. In a letter inviting members in November, Bishop Elaine Stanovsky wrote, “The formation of the Vitality Commission is our opportunity to take a deep breath, learn from recent experience, and adapt how we support this work to involve more people in decision-making ..."
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Free webinar: "We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry"
Sponsored by the Cascadia District Church Extension Society of the Oregon-Idaho Conference, the webinar "We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry" is free and open to anyone in the Greater Northwest Area of The UMC to attend.
The webinar, which begins at 9 a.m. AK time, 10 a.m. PST, 11 a.m. MST on February 24th, will feature author of the book by the same title, Mark Elsdon. Bonus: Everyone who registers will receive a free copy of Elsdon's book.
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Central Conference bishops appalled by WCA on vaccine offers
The leadership of the Central Conference bishops of The United Methodist Church is appalled by the action of the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) to assist some United Methodists, mostly in Africa, with getting COVID-19 vaccinations for the sole purpose of making sure that those United Methodists who are delegates to the postponed General Conference would be able to travel to the United States.
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Filipino churches step up after super typhoon
Church leaders and relief groups are continuing to reach out to survivors in the wake of Typhoon Odette, which killed more than 400 people and destroyed homes and crops a week before Christmas. Several local churches are providing shelter, and United Methodists have been delivering food and other supplies.
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Happy 353rd birthday, Susanna
On January 20, we celebrate the woman who birthed John and Charles Wesley (and 17 other children). Learn more about her faith.
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Walking with Rev. King
As Americans celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we share a video of a United Methodist pastor who once worked alongside Rev King and has continued to fight for the rights of the oppressed.
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Remembering Jay Weaver of Big Daddy Weave
Fans of popular Christian rockers Big Daddy Weave are mourning the death of Jay Weaver, bassist and co-founding member of the band and a lifelong United Methodist. The 42-year-old died from complications of COVID-19 after suffering from diabetes and kidney issues for years. Friends and members of St. Paul United Methodist Church remember him as upbeat and funny even as his health declined.
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Bilingual appointments boost declining churches
The Wisconsin Conference has begun a creative new type of appointment, known as a bilingual appointment, to help respond to the trend of declining Korean and other ethnic churches. While such appointments can be challenging for pastors, there are benefits to assigning clergy to two congregations with different backgrounds.
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What is the Week of Prayer and Christian Unity?
During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25, Christians everywhere are invited to remember one another in prayer and strengthen the bonds of love and mutual mission in Jesus Christ. Ask The UMC has more on this annual observance, including why it lasts eight full days and how to download resources.
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Update aims to make Bible translation more accurate
One of the most popular Bible translations, the New Revised Standard Version, is getting an update. The new version is not a fresh translation but an update that modifies language, grammar and punctuation aimed at increasing its accuracy.
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More than $2 million in scholarships available
The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2022-23 academic year. Through March 1, United Methodist students are invited to apply for funds available to help pay for attending colleges, universities or seminaries related to The United Methodist Church.
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New clergy tax webinar coming soon!
Your corner tax preparer may not understand the unique situation of clergy, and finding a preparer who does can save you substantially in money and aggravation.
Join Discipleship Ministries on February 7th at 11am Central as the Rev. Don Joiner, a certified financial planner, helps us navigate the preparation of taxes and planning for a sound financial future.
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Free music offered for churches
The Florida Conference has put together the Worship Warehouse, a trove of free video material that churches can use to supplement their worship or midweek classes. There are about 100 items on the site now, but conference staff expects that number to grow as word spreads about what is available.
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Vance promoted to operations director
The Rev. Rick Vance has been appointed as operations director of United Methodist Men, replacing the retiring Martha Davis. Vance, an ordained elder from the Peninsula-Delaware Conference, has directed the Center for Men's Ministries for more than six years.
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20: Mission District Task Force meeting
24-Feb 4: Crystal on vacation
27: Leadership Team meeting 6-8 PM
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10: Mission District Task Force meeting
14: Valentine's Day
18-19: Winter Learning Event/Rendezvous meetings
21: Presidents' Day
22-24: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo and Lisa attending
26: Area wide Leadership Training for Laity
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
January 18 -
Karen Dammann
February 19 -
Steve Fisher
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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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