A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Alaska Conference Special Sunday - September 19
We’re celebrating Alaska Conference Special Sunday on September 19th. In the coming weeks we will be sharing suggestions on Our focus this year will be on the statement of values that we agreed on at Annual Conference to guide our transition into a Mission District:
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:
1) 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.
2) Healing, grace-filled mission with communities and churches that prioritizes local experiences and shares resources across time and distance through equitable relationships.
3) 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.
Here are some suggestions of ways you can celebrate this special day in your local churches with actionable items according to our baptismal vows:
Prayers
- Incorporate the statement of values in your worship service as a confession, call and response or covenant statement.
- Research the tribe who originally owns the land your church is located and begin your worship service with a land acknowledgement.
Presence
- Make connections with your local tribal council or native corporation and build respectful relationships.
- Show up and support native artists, authors, speakers, groups and businesses.
Gifts
- Take a special offering and give to any or all of the following. This is not just an invitation to give financially but to explore ways to be in partnership and learn from the programs and ministries of these organizations:
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Nome Community UMC - Our very own indigenous ministry in Nome, Alaska led by Pastor Bertha Koweluk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx1BeRes4G4
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Alaska Native Justice Center - An organization that promotes justice through culturally based advocacy, prevention, and intervention services to restore dignity, respect, and humility to all Alaska Native people. https://anjc.org
- Your Local Tribal Organization/Native Corporation
Service
- Explore opportunities to support native programs, art, education and businesses in your community
Witness
- Research about the local tribes in your community and learn about Indigenous Values. Find ways to let these values inform how you live and do ministry.
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Alaska United Methodist Women Annual Gathering | September 24-25 online
Where Do We Go From Here?”
We, as your Alaska Leadership Team, are so excited as we anticipate spending time with you at Alaska United Methodist Women’s Annual Gathering 2021 on September 24 and 25 via ZOOM. To many of us, it feels as if we have spent the past year and a half wandering through unknown settings, missing the familiar and lamenting and longing for sightings of our “normal” lives and our “normal” community, seeking the “You are here” location on our life’s map. Where, as God’s people and United Methodist Women, do we go from here?
We offer Annual Gathering 2021 as a unique opportunity to be together for worship and prayer, community building, doing the business of AUMC, learning, affirming and deepening our connections to our collective work. Garlinda Burton will be a guest speaker.
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Autumn Krueger: Called to wherever
The Dakotas Conference recently wrote an article about Rev. Krueger, who is serving in Alaska. They write, "Rev. Autumn Krueger was ordained a full elder in our Conference on June 11, 2021. Her path to ministry is unique– one that began in Harrisburg, South Dakota. Autumn was active in Harrisburg UMC from grade school age and grew into various leadership roles within the church there. It was a special calling that took her to the east coast for seminary and to the far west coast to serve, where she currently serves at St. John UMC in the Alaska Conference."
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Northwest United Methodist Foundation gets name change
After more than a year of discernment and visioning, Tom Wilson is excited to share with you that their organization is changing its name from the Northwest United Methodist Foundation to Faith Foundation Northwest. This change is happening because they recognize that our future is both diverse and inclusive:
•Diverse because denominational divisions are creating complexity around what it means to be United Methodist, and cultural shifts are driving new expressions of what it means to be church. There are many ways to express faithfulness.
•Inclusive because, no matter how the faith communities in our region choose to identify themselves, they will continue to serve alongside all of them.
Please rest assured knowing that the transition involves zero staff turnover. Tom will continue as their Executive Director, with Julia, David, Sara, Heidi, and Denise as their staff. Their office remains in Cashmere, WA and their phone number is still 800-488-4179.
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Ida takes out church buildings
The Revs. Michelle and Jason Harris, a clergy couple, serve United Methodist churches that took a direct hit from Hurricane Ida as it tore through southeastern Louisiana. Her church, in Destrehan, lost one of three buildings. He still awaits news on his church, in LaPlace, where flooding has been extreme and rendered roads impassable. Louisiana Conference Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey said damage is widespread among churches in and around New Orleans and more remote areas. Sam Hodges reports.
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#IGiveUMC campaign
Those who have a grandparent understand the special connection they have with children. Appreciate and honor them by giving, and inspiring others to give, on Grandparents Day, September 12. The #IGiveUMC campaign is designed help you treasure these special individuals while funding the ministries of your local church.
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Conferences begin affiliation under 1 bishop
Starting this month, the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware conferences are sharing a bishop for the first time since 1990. "This is not a merger!" said Bishop LaTrelle Easterling in a statement during a town hall. "This affiliation offers a fresh, new opportunity for collaboration, exploration and innovation."
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Prayers for the twentieth anniversary of 9/11
Anniversaries are important occasions for remembrance and for recognizing our need for healing.
Here are prayers to help us as we remember the fallen, mourn the loss, and give God thanks for his presence in our time of need.
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Research shows Black churches' resilience
In June, Gammon Theological Seminary joined with five United Methodist organizations, seeking to hear the voices of Black pastors and leaders who have faithfully led and served God's people amid the unprecedented COVID-19 global health pandemic.
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#StillInMission Episode 35
September 16, 2021 | 12:00 PM EDT
Featuring…
Daniel & Courtney Randall are serving as Jurisdictional Mission Advocates in the Western Jurisdiction in the United States.
Kathleen Peterson serves as the Director of Eastbrook Mission Barn in the United States.
Tazvionepi Nyarota is serving as the Mission Coordinator for the Zimbabwean Community in Western Canada.
Rebecca Parsons is serving as the Jurisdictional Mission Advocate for the Northeast Jurisdiction in the United States.
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Jesus wept. So should we
Modern culture teaches people to be brave and not show vulnerability, but even Jesus wept. What brings people to tears may reveal their most authentic selves, as well as offer a space to commune with God.
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Resilience conference set
Healthy spiritual practices will be explored during an online conference designed to help participants be more resilient in the wake of difficult events like the coronavirus pandemic and racial upheaval. "Resilience: Healing Practices for Mind, Body and Spirit" is set for Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
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Discussion series explores what it means to be United Methodist
“Tuesdays at the Table: Should I stay? Or should I go?” is a new discussion series for United Methodists, presented by the Connectional Table (CT) in cooperation with general agencies and contributors. Weekly segments will explore topics aimed at helping viewers better understand their faith, their church and themselves. The sessions will premiere every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. CT from October 5 – December 21 on Facebook, and will also be available for later viewing at UMC.org/ComeToTheTable and the UMC YouTube channel.
"This new series seeks to help us think through the issues that are confronting our church," said the Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, Chief Connectional Ministries Officer. "As the church navigates the realities presented by tensions within the denomination and the global coronavirus pandemic, it is essential that United Methodists explore and understand who we are, what we believe and how we live as people of God."
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UMW's 2021-2022 Program Resource book
In response to our lives during the pandemic, Program Resource 2021–2022: Healing and Joy on Our Journey to God focuses on finding healing and joy in our lives guided by those in the scriptures who felt a similar need to finding hope and purpose in the midst of hardship. Each quarter throughout the year considers different aspects of healing and joy in all the surprising ways offered by God.
New This Year: This past year we have learned that we, the United Methodist Women, can be much more creative than we knew, so each session (now helpfully organized into four quarters by season) will have options for in-person or online gathering, and devotions and questions that are appropriate for personal study, sharing with one neighbor or friend, or for discussion in large groups. Ideas on how to “Take the Next Most Faithful Step” close each program, suggesting ways you can put the ideas discussed here into action right now.
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9: Leadership Team meeting
15: First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month
20-24: GNW Cabinet meetings
24-25: Alaska United Methodist Women Virtual Annual Gathering
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11: Indigenous Peoples' Day
19-21: GNW Cabinet meetings
31: Halloween
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
September 11 -
Emily Carroll
September 17 -
Autumn Krueger
September 22 -
Won Jea Keum
September 28 -
Darla Bradley
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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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