A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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You are receiving this e~Aurora a day late because the host we use for our newsletters, Constant Contact, was having some problems yesterday and we were unable to send it. |
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An Advent message for the Greater Northwest Area from Bishop Elaine Stanovsky
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Winter Youth Break Away camp at Birchwood
Online registration is now open for Winter Youth Break Away (WYBA) to be held at Birchwood Camp on December 28-31, 2021. We invite your kids to join us for this exciting winter camp for students in grades 6-12. Campers will have the opportunity to build community, make new friends, try new winter activities, experience different and unique worship styles and have some fun during their winter break!
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Apportionment report for November
The November apportionment report has been posted to the conference website. There is less than a month left to pay 100% of your apportionments.
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Churches told to oppose BSA bankruptcy plan
More than 9,000 United Methodist churches that sponsored Scouting troops have a say in the Boy Scouts of America’s sex abuse-related bankruptcy proceedings. United Methodist leaders are advising the churches to vote "no" on a proposed BSA bankruptcy reorganization plan.
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Restoring a bit of Methodist history
On a bright, cool day, descendants of Samuel Burdine joined with United Methodists and history lovers to dedicate and bless the Burdine Lodge. Bishop Francis Asbury used the one-room log cabin, built by Burdine in 1796, as a lodging place. The cabin also served as a meeting place for a Methodist Society that became a church.
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An accidental Christmas hymn
Learn how “Joy to the World,” one of the most popular carols, was never intended to be sung at Christmas.
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UMC.org: A retrospective
Join us as we take a look at stories, videos, and podcast episodes from the past 12 months that rank among our favorites. We hope they are some of yours, too!
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Pastor sees music as a tool for building community
For Pastor Juhee Lee, a former professional musician, music is a tool that should be put into as many hands as possible. To do that, she started a music school at Haven United Methodist Church. At Haven Music School, Lee and volunteers she's recruited from the community and nearby Brown University teach students of all ages piano, violin, and hand chime bells for free.
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Wesley Pilgrimage opens application for scholarship
The 2022 Wesley Pilgrimage in England, an eleven-day event that helps leaders deepen their understanding of Wesleyan heritage by engaging in spiritual practices while exploring historic Methodist sites, is quickly filling up.
The 2022 pilgrimage will take place July 9–July 19. It features visits to six cities important to the Wesley family and the founding of Methodism, and it will include talks from faculty members who specialize in Methodism.
Scholarship funds are available for those preparing for Christian service, including United Methodist Church commissioned provisional elders and deacons, licensed local pastors, lay servants, lay speakers, and certified lay ministers. Scholarship recipients pay a reduced registration fee of $1,095. Scholarship applications must be submitted no later than January 30, 2022. To apply, visit here.
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Local churches welcome Afghan refugees
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey is one of eight in the United States where tens of thousands of Afghans who were evacuated from Kabul are being housed. Area United Methodist churches have mobilized to welcome their new neighbors, hosting fundraisers, donating clothing and other items and helping connect them with potential area sponsors.
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Pastor leaves church after TV appearance in drag
The Rev. Craig Duke was relieved from his pastoral duties last week at Newburgh United Methodist Church after receiving pushback from congregants over his appearance on HBO's "We're Here," where locals in small towns across the U.S. are transformed into drag queens. A statement from the Indiana Conference clarified that Duke did not resign and was not fired, but that "he and the Conference felt that he was no longer able to effectively serve in parish ministry with the Newburgh congregation."
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Making sure all are mourned
A United Methodist pastor is recruiting clergy to conduct graveside funeral services for homeless people and others who might not otherwise be mourned. The Rev. Jay Voorhees, lead pastor at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, has fashioned a funeral service that briefly pays tribute to the deceased, saying repeatedly that, "we remember them."
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Faith Foundation Christmas greeting
This Christmas, we give thanks to God for the opportunity to continue supporting United Methodist churches, retreat ministries, and agencies in the Northwest.
Merry Christmas!
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8: Charge Conference - Willow UMC
9: Charge Conference - Anchor Park UMC
13-15: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending virtually
16: Leadership Team meeting
20-30: Carlo on vacation
23: Office Closed
24: Christmas Eve - Office Closed
25: Christmas Day
30: Office Closed
31: New Year's Eve - Office Closed
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1: New Year's Day
11-14: GNW Cabeinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
17: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
December 23 -
Christina DowlingSoka
January 4 -
David Owsley
January 18 -
Karen Dammann
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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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