A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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COVID-19: Bishops Preface to Notice #9
This week I hope to issue COVID-19 Notice #9. Today I’ll set the stage, and invite you to pray and study with me about the wilderness we find ourselves in.
THE PANDEMIC
Headline: yesterday reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic. By the end of February, COVID-19 deaths are projected to double to 500,000[i] – about equal to the US death toll from World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars combined. Cases have been on the rise in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington states since early September.
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Accessibility is at the heart of of the Kingdom of God
by Emily Carroll
When Maria del Rosario came into my office in February of 2019 and asked me to assist her in completing an Accessibility Audit for St. John UMC (Anchorage), I thought, "Sure, this is a good thing, and won't take that long...." We sat down and pored over the list of questions, evaluating how well St. John met ADA requirements and how well we welcomed people with disabilities into our ministry. After discussions with staff, several walks around the building, and a consultation with Trustees, about a month later we stepped back from the list realizing that apparently, we had work to do.
A year and a half later we are finished. Finished... poring over the list, that is. On Sunday, August 9th, 2020 we celebrated our second Disability Awareness Sunday and announced
to the congregation the work that had been done. In doing so, we invited them to accept the Disability-Friendly and Accessible Gold Badge and enter into this lifelong work of inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the church.
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Have you felt God calling you to preach the Word?
Join us for the Advanced Lay Ministry class PREACHING. Sessions will be on Sundays November 1-29 from 3pm-5pm via ZOOM and led by the Rev. Andy Bartel of St John UMC in Anchorage. Attendance at all class sessions is mandatory for the successful completion of the course.
You will need to purchase a copy of the book and read From Pew to Pulpit: A beginner’s guide to preaching by Clifton F. Guthrie (available from Cokesbury, Amazon, etc).
This advanced class will work towards certification as a Lay Servant, Lay Speaker, and Lay Minister in the United Methodist Church.
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GNW Innovation Vitality Team offers free learning experiences to equip leaders for relational community work
Decolonizing our Mission. Engaging our Communities. Exercising Cultural Humility. These are essential practices for United Methodists seeking to create or deepen community partnerships and build or strengthen relationships of justice for a time such as this.
The Greater Northwest Area’s Innovation Vitality Team is partnering with three strong voices this November to deliver three learning experiences over Zoom introducing or refreshing participant’s understanding of these critical practices.
Register now to join us for this series of learning experiences with:
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Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, author, theologian and practitioner on the topic of Decolonizing Mission, Thursday, November 5, 2020, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. PST REGISTER HERE
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Maria-José (Coté) Soerens, pastor, innovator and community activist on the topic of Community Engagement and Community Development, Tuesday, November 10, 2020, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. PST REGISTER HERE
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Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, author, activist and practitioner on the topic of Cultural Humility, Thursday, November 12, 2020, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. PST REGISTER HERE
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Wildfires, COVID-19 put communities in survival mode
For the Hispanic and Latinx migrant communities working the fields and farms of the Willamette Valley to the southern border of Oregon and north through the landscape of central Washington, there has never been a safety net for them or their families. Wildfires and COVID-19 have added fuel to their fears. United Methodist Hispanic ministries are working to support them.
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Forever changed: The post-pandemic church
Suppose you were the owner and operator of the only grocery store in a town. You were vaguely aware that Uncle Harry’s Bar and Grill sold candy, chips, and soda pop, but Uncle Harry’s did not really compete for your business. For many years your store was the only food outlet in town. Things sharply changed in 2020—townspeople could buy food from Amazon and Walmart, and they marketed your customers aggressively.
Our local churches are like this grocery store. We were aware of Uncle Harry’s but we sold wholesome, nutritious foods as well as candy, chips, and soda pop. We were aware of the one room church down the road, but we rarely saw any cars parked in front. Like the grocer, we were not too concerned about this other outlet. We held a balanced Sunday worship service with a thoughtful message and enthusiastic music. Afterwards our members fellowshipped around the coffee urn and tray of baked goods.
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7-day prayer vigil and fast for voting
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century is holding a seven-day prayer gathering and fast for voting that began Oct. 26. The group is challenging pastors and clergy leaders to strive to have a 100% voting congregation. Join in prayer at 7:14 a.m. U.S. Central time and, if possible, then fast until 7:14 p.m. The prayers are via Zoom or Facebook.
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Should General Conference go virtual?
With COVID-19 still on the rise, a number of United Methodists urge that General Conference organizers plan for the denomination's top lawmaking assembly to transpire online. Others worry that internet connectivity and accessibility issues might put some delegates out of reach.
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New Dismantling Racism discussion
The next Dismantling Racism panel discussion is Wednesday, October 28, at noon CDT. The panel will be discussing intersectionality. Until then, view and share a collection of videos from previous discussions, as well as other denominational Stand Against Racism events.
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General Conference Commission names study team
The Commission on the General Conference has named a Technology Study Team to explore the implications of options for accommodating full participation at General Conference including, but not limited to, the possibility of utilizing technology and online voting.
The Commission made the decision to create the study team in response to a request from a group of young delegates to consider alternative methods of accommodating full participation due to concerns that the event would conflict with the start of the academic year in the U.S.
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Create a plan for re-engaging your community
We have been living into this new normal for over 7 months. For many of us our life has shifted. Some churches have returned to in person worship and gatherings, but our lives within the church has been altered, and many in our community are still in isolation.
But, this will not last forever.
Now is the time to have a plan for re-engaging our communities. Now is the time to create intentional disciple making systems.
#SeeAllThePeople will give you the foundation for you and your congregation to get started!
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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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Connecting the church in mission
Reconciliation is a complex concept. But in everyday practice, it is simple: the slow yet steady act of restoring relationships.
As the global church participating in God’s mission, reconciliation is not just a guide for our work together. It is the goal of our work together.
Mission exists where there are restored relationships with God, in one’s physical and mental self, between both friend and adversary, and among diverse communities and the created environment.
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Conference sessions go virtual, with mixed results
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly all U.S. annual conferences of The United Methodist Church to take their big yearly meetings online. Some have gone smoothly, with others struggling technologically. All over, delegates reported missing in-person time with colleagues.
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Holiday resources for local churches
Resources to help local churches experience All Saints' Day, Thanksgiving and Watchnight (New Year's Eve) through the lens of racial equity are available through Churches Uniting in Christ, an ecumenical multilateral dialogue among 10 U.S. Protestant faith communions, including The United Methodist Church.
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Côte d’Ivoire church to share its schools model
The Côte d’Ivoire United Methodist Church is planning to help build schools in the Central African Republic. The initiative aims to replicate the United Methodist schools model of Côte d’Ivoire with a goal of building 12 school complexes in 12 cities over the next five years.
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29: Charge Conference - Homer UMC
31: Halloween
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2-3: Crystal out of the office
1: Daylight Savings Time ends
3: Election Day
3: Charge Conference - Ola Toe Fuataina Fellowship
10: Charge Conference - Girdwood Chapel UMC
11: Veteran's Day
16: Charge Conference - Soldotna UMC
18: Charge Conference - Nome Community UMC
19: Charge Conference - UMC of Chugiak
23: Charge Conference - Ketchikan 1st UMC
26: Thanksgiving - Office Closed
27: Office Closed
28: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
November 6 -
Tafa Fulumua
November 9 -
Murray Crookes
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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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