Outstanding Lay Person of the Year - Melanie Venables

Melanie Venables was one of the Alaska Conference Winners of "Outstanding Lay Person of the year for 2023."

In nominating Melanie, Rev Kristi McGuire wrote:

"Melanie has been instrumental in making the hybrid worship service for Aldersgate UMC in this time of pandemic possible. They have continuously improved the quality of our in-person and online worship in many ways, in collaboration with the technical team of volunteers. I am told by the previous pastor and the laity of Aldersgate that this worship and tech team carried the church during the journey through the Covid 19 building closures."

Not only has Melanie led the church through this challenging time, but they have continued to reach out and welcome new people to Aldersgate UMC, with a particular focus on welcoming their youngest visitors. They have even created a space in the sanctuary where children can be fully present in worship and participate safely. It has provided a multi-generational setting for worship and widens the welcome of the congregation.

The benefit of this is seen and felt by all. Said one member of that congregation, “I don’t know where all these kids are coming from, but I sure do like it!” 

Rev. McGuire wrote:

"I have witnessed Melanie describe the loving and divine character of God to children, youth, and young adults. They share their faith with authenticity, and it is contagious. Melanie is a person who has encountered spiritual harm in the past in churches. Instead of being cynical about organized religion, they demonstrate strength and trust in God. Without reservation, I can say that Melanie does all the good that they can, by all the means that they can, in all the ways that they can, in all the places that they can, at all the times that they can. We all know that this is not easy. Melanie does this in a church as a gender non-conforming parent of a toddler. That takes guts. It takes faith. It is a call."

Let us celebrate the work of one "Outstanding Layperson," Melanie Venables.

Ordinand - Rev. April Hall

Meet Rev. April Hall, Ordained Elder 2023

Rev. April Hall, who was pastoring Kenai and North Star United Methodist Churches, was ordained at the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference in June. This month she starts a new appointment in Battle Ground, Washington but writes a "Thank You" to the Alaska Conference.

I am April Hall. I was brought to Alaska through the Safe Harbor process. I am so grateful for Bishop Carlo Rapanut, Kathleen Weber, and for Bishop Stanovsky for the way they fought to bring me and my family to this beautiful place. I am grateful for all the ways this conference was supportive and welcoming. My time here was a beautiful and spiritual experience and one that hopefully someday I can come back to. Thanks to Alaska for making a dream come true as I have always wanted to be a part of the ministry here. I will never forget the Kenai Peninsula, the people, the fishing, and the memories I will hold forever dear to my heart. Thank you for supporting my calling and my dream of becoming an Ordained Elder within The United Methodist Church.

With Love,

April

Future of the Church interview

Derrick Luruth Scott, co-Lay Leader of the Florida Annual Conference, recently contacted Lonnie Brooks about interviewing him as part of a project Scott is pursuing with a group of students whom he leads as a campus minister. The project is to get a representative profile of what some folks think might be before the Church as it embarks on the next General Conference. They call the series "The Bar of the Conference." Lonnie has served as a lay person in various positions in the local church and the Alaska Conference. If you'd like to listen to the interview, click here. (You'll need a Spotify account to listen - it's free to sign up.) 

Mission u 2023

Alaska United Women in Faith invite you to Mission u 2023, meeting four Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 beginning Aug. 22. Rebecca Absher will lead the study of “Living the Kin-dom: Exploring the Lord’s Prayer as a Spiritual Practice for Social Transformation” by Riva Tabelisma.

Sign up here

Apportionment Report for 2023

The Apportionment report for the first half of the year is now posted on our conference website. You can view the document to see where your church and the other UM Churches in the state are in their apportioned giving.

View it here

Draw the Circle Wide

Alaska United Women in Faith will be holding their Annual Gathering at Anchor Park UMC September 29 - October 1, 2023.

The scripture focus for the weekend is Romans 15:7, "So reach out and welcome one another to God's glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! (The Message)"

The keynote speaker will be the United Women in Faith National Board President 'Ainise 'Isama'u and the worship leader will be Rev. Bennie Grace Nabua of UMC of Sitka.

Registration form will come out soon. Save the date now! Learn more about the schedule here.

Deaconess Chivi's journal now available to order

If you were in Fairbanks during Annual Conference, you heard Bishop Cedrick promoting my self-published book titled "A JOURNAL TO LIBERATE YOUR HEART". I finally created an order form, linked at the bottom of this paragraph.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please feel free to contact me at deaconesschivi@gmail.com.

Journals are $9.00 each, and I can mail them to you, or deliver them if you are in the area.

You can find the order form here: https://forms.gle/6JWemuzV3wQyVBkN6

Thank you for your support!

-Deaconess Chivi Capezio Crookes

Belonging: An Intergenerational Soul Care Retreat

United Women in Faith is offering a new approach to personal enrichment focused on giving care to your whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Our approach to Soul Care embraces both self-care and spiritual rejuvenation.

The retreat will enrich us through thought-provoking speakers, music, poetry,

playshops, sacred circle discussions, networking and more! The retreat provides us opportunity to bring new women into our United Women in Faith Sisterhood. Each woman registering is to invite a friend not already in UWF, and because this will be an intergenerational retreat, we are striving for a diverse blend of women.

Our “BELONGING” retreat theme will bring us into intentional community as we slow down, reflect and renew. While we do, we claim the joy, the hope, and the fulfillment of being in harmony with self and spirit.

Registration is Open!

Early Registration $180 June 15—July 15 After July 15: $200

Registration ends August 1.

Click here: Registration Form

For more information contact

Bonita Miller 907-440-1636 OR

Janice Nightingale 907-398-7844

Certified Lay Ministry courses being offered

Pastor Andy Bartel will teach a Certified Lay Servant Ministry Basic Course on Wednesday evenings in August from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 2-30. This class will meet both in person at St. John UMC and via Zoom, with a limit of 12 people. Sign up here.

Pastor Andy will also teach a Certified Lay Servant Ministry Preaching Course on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 15-Nov. 12. This will be a hybrid class as well, meeting in person at St. John or via Zoom with a limit of 6 people. Completion of the Lay Servant Basic Course is required before taking this course. Sign up here.

Now hiring a Project Manager (PM) for the Citywide Childcare Cooperative (CCC) at First UMC, Anchorage

This project will create an innovative Worker-Owned Cooperative childcare start-up in downtown Anchorage serving up to 52 children and their families. The PM will manage the CCC program launch including coordination with community partners to achieve stated goals: 1) develop business model, 2) develop operations and licensing, 3) complete building renovations and safety upgrades, and 4) CCC pilot program launch.

Full-time, salary exempt position in Anchorage, Alaska, $60,000-$75,000.

Interested candidates should submit resume and cover-letter to citywidechildcarecoop@outlook.com.

See full position description here.

Survey looks at online, in-person services

About a quarter of U.S. adults regularly watch religious services online or on TV, and most of them are highly satisfied with the experience, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. At the same time, Americans tend to give higher marks to worshipping together in person. Michelle Faverio, Justin Nortey, Jeff Diamant and Gregory A. Smith report.

Read the story

Korean Methodists continue work on reunification

The Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula will be in August, after being postponed by COVID-19. Immediately afterward, the Korean Methodists and United Methodists will have a mission consultation to enhance the partnership between the two denominations. In a previously unpublished 2021 interview, Bishop Chungsuk Kim of the Korean Methodist Church talks about his hopes for the event.

Read the story

Bishops pledge to continue dismantling racism

The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is pledging its ongoing dedication to anti-racism work, both within the church and in our communities. A revival of the Dismantling Racism campaign, launched in June 2020, will strengthen efforts to recognize racism as a sin and challenge unjust systems of power and access. Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, Council of Bishops president, talks about this effort in a video message.

Watch the video

Farhadieh joins Wespath

An executive from the Illinois State Board of Investment has been tapped as the new deputy chief investment officer of Wespath Benefits and Investments. Johara F. Farhadieh will replace Dave Zellner, chief investment officer, who is retiring in 2024. “She will bring a deep understanding of capital markets, fresh perspectives from her life’s experiences and relational talents with diverse stakeholders to Wespath and our mission of caring for those who serve,” said Andy Hendren, top executive at Wespath.

Read the press release

Meet a bishop

In the newest “Get Your Spirit in Shape” episode, meet Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth and learn about his cross-country faith journey that has taken the newly elected bishop from Alabama to Alaska.

Listen

As trial date set, bishop reflects on ministry

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño faces a church trial, now scheduled for Aug. 21-25. The bishop, suspended from her church duties for more than a year, discussed her decades of ministry with The United Methodist Church and her experience with suspension.

Read the story

Planting churches in war-torn Ukraine

The Rev. Fred Vanderwerf is the new coordinator for United Methodist efforts to help victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Vanderwerf, also an assistant to Bishop Lanette Plambeck in the Minnesota Conference, plans to go to Ukraine this fall. He served as a missionary there from 2000 to 2008, and one of his priorities is planting churches in the midst of the crisis.

Read the story

UM News: United Methodist ministry with Ukraine

Group condemns rights abuses in Philippines

The World Council of Churches' central committee released a statement on the human rights situation in the Philippines. The central committee affirmed the work of The United Methodist Church of the Philippines and other members of the country’s National Council of Churches. The central committee also condemned extrajudicial killings and expressed condolences to the families of victims.

Read the statement

UM News: United Methodists decry 'red-tagging' of church council

Pilot Prayer Partners project launches fall 2023

Do you pray? Do you want to grow as a follower of Jesus Christ? Do you want to have someone you can trust and with whom you can share? If you answered "yes," sign up for the Pilot Prayer Partner Project!

Pre-Register Today!

Classes on Methodism are online

Classes about John Wesley and The United Methodist Church — some of them free — are being offered online by the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History on its U.M. History Hub. “Local Church Historians School” is free. “Splits, Separations and Reconciliations: Rooted in Wesleyan Grace” is $35. See the link below for a full list of classes and how much they cost.

Read the press release