A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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Singleton receives 2020 Denman Evangelism Award for Lay
Donna Singleton of Palmer United Methodist Fellowship has been named as one of the recipients of the Denman Evangelism Award for Lay in the Alaska Conference for 2020. The award was presented by Superintendent Carlo Rapanut on Sunday at Palmer Fellowship’s 1st Sunday of Advent worship service. In her nomination letter, Palmer’s Lay Leader Kathy Jordan writes, “Donna has felt God’s great love claim her life. Like Harry Denman, she is humble, hard-working, patient and dedicated to the task of making disciples. This outstanding laywoman is indeed worthy of this singular award."
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Palmer Fellowship receives One Matters Award 2020
This year’s One Matters Award recipient for the Alaska Conference is Palmer Fellowship. Through this award, established in 2015, Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church has been urging each conference to use the award to recognize one church that is turning zeros into positive numbers with a renewed focus on discipleship. From years of reporting zeros in baptisms and professions of faith, Palmer Fellowship, reported one profession of faith in 2019. The award, which includes a plaque and $1,000 from Discipleship Ministries, was presented by Superintendent Carlo Rapanut on Sunday at Palmer’s worship service.
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America is overdue for a conversation on racism and reparations
Rev. Emily Carroll and the members of St. John UMC Anti-Racism Book Club and Church Council wrote an op-ed that was published in the Anchorage Daily News on Sunday.
"Since George Floyd’s unjust death at the hands of police officers, white Americans have begun to reckon with the reality of racial injustice in America. Book clubs across America picked up books like “Between the World and Me” by Ta Ne-hisi Coates and “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson. Here at St. John United Methodist Church in Anchorage, we joined in, rushing to educate ourselves about white privilege and racial justice in our city and in our country.
Over the past 15-20 years, despite cell phone and video evidence capturing an epidemic of Black deaths through police brutality, white Americans still largely considered racism a thing of the past. Most had never heard of systemic racism. Most of us never thought we were racist or were playing a role in perpetuating these racist systems."
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Special Church Anniversaries to celebrate
Church anniversaries are a great way to remind everyone in your community what the people are doing in the name of Jesus. Webster defines anniversary as an annual return of a past event; a celebration. From a list that Bea Shepard, Claudia Kelsey and Verda Carey developed in the early 1990s it was noted that in 2020 (apparently with no celebrations due to the coronavirus) that Ketchikan had their 120th, Girdwood had their 70th, and Unalsaka had their 30th anniversaries. Some dates are arbitrary until proof is found of the charter date.
In 2021 We can celebrate Homers' 70th, Jewel Lakes' 50th, Kenai's 70th and St. Peter the Fisherman's 70th.
In 2022 we can recognize Fairbanks at 70, St. John at 60, Willow at 40, and Northern Light at 50.
The conference office has many photos and research material available to help your church plan an anniversary event. The recently published Conference History book also has a great deal of current information and each church will be getting one for their library.
Contact Conference Historian Larry Hayden with any questions or comments.
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A note from Pastor Andy Bartel
In November, I once again had the blessing of facilitating the Lay Servant Ministry Advanced course on Preaching. We were blessed to have guest instructors Emily Carroll, Charles Brower, and Erin Day. Participants learned how to select a text, research it, structure and format a message, edit, practice, deliver and receive feedback. These persons have all felt the call of God to preach the Word and some may be available for Pulpit Supply. Please join me in congratulating the following graduates:
Betty Hertz, Tammy Smith, Susan Bates - St John United Methodist Church in Anchorage
Madonna Singleton - Palmer United Methodist Fellowship
David Means - Aldersgate UMC in Juneau
Debra Gerrish - Douglas Community & Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Linda Haynes - Christ First UMC in Wasilla
Clayton Hancock - First UMC of Ketchikan
Stephanie Ganaway-Palsey - Jermiah UMC in Hemingway South Carolina
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Next round of Certified Lay Ministry Classes
Here are the registration links to Pastor Andy Bartel's next offering of the CLM Basic and Preaching classes in Jan/Feb or 2021.
BASIC
Preaching
He will also be opening these to members of his home conference, the Dakotas, in which to participate.
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Kits for Christmas!
If your church or family is looking for an outreach idea for the Advent season, consider putting together Relief Kits that can be used when disaster strikes. You can find information on both the Hygiene Kits and Cleaning Kits on UMCOR's website, with each kit's contents and helpful videos on assembling.
Once assembled, please hold on to the kit until we can collect them for the entire state. This will help us be ready for when the next disaster strikes. If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Wilcox, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator at danielpwilcox@gmail.com or 907.414.7078.
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Alaska United Methodist Disaster Response is on Facebook
Rev. Daniel Wilcox, the Conference Coordinator for Disaster Response has formed an Alaska United Methodist Disaster Response Facebook page. He will be sharing updates on current responses, training opportunities, and what is happening in the greater UMCOR community. If this interests you, like the Facebook page here.
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#GivingTuesday is today
Today is the international day of giving known as #GivingTuesday!
This year, please consider a gift that will convey the love of Christ to people around the world and here in the U.S.
Want a few ideas of what to give this season?
Click on the link below and read about the wonderful ways the love of Christ is demonstrated through the work of Global Ministries and UMCOR – and you when you pray and give!
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Keeping resolve to end gender-based violence
Nov. 25 marked the start of the "16 Days" campaign that focuses on the elimination of violence against women and on human rights. This year, the World Council of Churches is highlighting the links between the household of God and the fundamental need to make our homes safe and loving spaces. In a unified statement, the WCC's 17 "Thursdays in Black" ambassadors reflect on why it is so important to protect those who are vulnerable and abused.
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Salvaging Christmas amid coronavirus concerns
Pastors already dealing with a stressful 2020 now must lead United Methodists through the Advent and Christmas seasons while the coronavirus pandemic is reaching new heights. They're using creativity and flexibility to get it done.
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Online worship permissions extended to July 31
The United Methodist Publishing House is extending full permission to all churches for use of its copyrighted worship materials through July 2021. Due to the extraordinary challenges that churches face, the publisher is assuring easy access to essential worship aids.
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Taking concrete steps to move against racism
In the aftermath of the shooting of Walter Wallace Jr., Philadelphia Area Bishop Peggy A. Johnson called for prayer but also took action, organizing a Zoom call with pastors and laity to come up with concrete steps on dismantling racism. Other United Methodist conferences are responding in similar ways.
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Pray as one people: 2021 Prayer Calendar
Published by United Methodist Women in collaboration with Global Ministries, the 2021 prayer calendar is now available for purchase for $14. The prayer calendar includes information about mission projects, prayers written by missionaries, and the birthdays and contact information for missionaries serving around the world.
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1-3: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo attending virtually
2: Charge Conference - Seward Memorial UMC
3: Charge Conference - Moose Pass UMC
7: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC
8: Charge Conference - UMC of Sitka
9: Charge Conference - Willow UMC
11: Leadership Team meeting
11: Charge Conference - Ola Toe Fuataina UM Samoan Fellowship
14: Charge Conference - Anchor Park UMC
15: Charge Conference - St. John UMC
16: Charge Conference - Fairbanks 1st UMC
17: Charge Conference - Anchorage 1st UMC
24: Christmas Eve - Office Closed half day
25: Christmas Day - Office Closed
31: New Year's Eve - Office Closed half day
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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 10 -
David Hall
December 23 -
Christina DowlingSoka
Curtis Matz
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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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