The Conference Journal is posted on our website and you can access it anytime you would like. Download it onto your computer desktop for easy research.

Conference Journal

Dave's Dibble

Read my latest blog, Memorization .

Grace Always,

Dave

Prayer Request
We have received word that Bishop Jack Tuell has entered into hospice care. The family requests no phone calls right now, but please keep Bishop Jack and Marjorie in your prayers. May God provide comfort and care during this life transition time for Bishop Tuell and Marji.

Bishop Tuell served as resident bishop of the Portland Area (including the Alaska Conference) from 1972 - 1980. He and Marjorie currently reside in the Seattle area.

Financial Deadline
ALL FINANCES ARE DUE TO THE CONFERENCE TREASURER BY FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 AT NOON PST.
This is the absolute last day that they will receive money designated for 2013 or that they accept a personal phone call from the local treasurer advising them of the precise amount of the check that has been placed in the mail that day to be applied to 2013 apportionments.

Professional Church Workers Retreat and Winter Rendezvous Meetings
The information regarding the Professional Church Workers Retreat and the Winter Rendezvous meetings is now posted on the website. Please begin registering for these events now!

Info for Professional Church Workers Retreat
Info for Winter Rendezvous
Registration for Winter Rendezvous/Professional Church Workers Retreat

Please contact the conference office if you are able to help house people who fly/drive in for the meetings. We appreciate all of those that can help!

Appointment Announcement
The Rev. Peter Perry, current pastor at St. John UMC, has announced that he will be leaving Alaska after his current appointment comes to an end. He has not been assigned a church yet so please keep him, his family, and St. John in your prayers.

PFD Time in Alaska - Donate Now!
The residents of Alaska are now eligible to apply for their Permanent Fund Dividend. Through that process you will be given an opportunity to donate through Pick.Click.Give. AK Child and Family (formerly Alaska Children's Services) is an United Methodist related entity that you are able to donate to. Please consider giving them some of your PFD!

Scholarship Application

Between January 6, 2014 and March 5, 2014, United Methodist students enrolled in a degree program in the 2014-2015 academic year at an accredited college/university can complete a single on-line scholarship application at www.gbhem.org/scholarshipapplication to be considered for a variety of scholarships available through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Check out what our church is doing to support students' pursuit of postsecondary education!

Please share this information with all of the members of your congregations.

UMM Meeting

Jim LaBau, Co-President of the Alaska Conference United Methodist Men (UMM) will present a program that will give a meditation on the great "Dust Bowl" of the 1930's at a breakfast meeting for area men at St. John UMC this Saturday,January 9 at 9AM.

The focus of the presentation will be the travels of "The Chair," a family heirloom of James Campbell, former Alaskan pastor and author. Campbell uses the metaphor of "The Chair" in his new book to recall the geography, mystique and stories of this tragic chapter of US history when huge numbers of families were displaced from their farms and ranches

All men are welcome.

Certified Study Leaders needed

The United Methodist Women are seeking individuals to become certified study leaders to teach at their local Mission u events around the state in the fall of 2014 and spring of 2015. The topics are: The Church and People with Disabilities - Awareness, Accessibility, and Advocacy; How is it With Your Soul?; Making a New Picture: Welcoming Persons with Disabilities Into our Lives. If this sounds interesting to you, please read more about it on the conference website or here and fill out the application. The application deadline is January 10th.

Anchorage Area Mission u Event

This event will be held January 17 - 18 at Anchor Park UMC. With the theme, "Put Your Arms Around the World," we will embrace the studies of The Roma of Europe, The Call: Living Sacramentally and Walking Justly and Leaving Home, Finding Home, our children's study.

Mission U Flyer, Registration form, poster

We urge you each to register as soon as possible, so that our planning process for you will run smoothly. Early registration ($25) ends January 13th and then registration becomes $35. Please contact Bonnie Miller at 907-776-8555/907-440-1636 or bonitajane@yahoo.com if you have any questions!

Youth Mission Immersion

All youth grades 7-12 are invited to a Youth Mission Immersion on January 17-19, 2014 in Anchorage. Hosted by PLUME (Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Methodist & Episcopal) churches, youth will spend a weekend serving others in Anchorage. Visit www.plumeyouthAK.com for info, schedule, to register and pay online. Cost is $35 which includes lodging, food and a T-shirt!

FREE Webinars

The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church is offering free orientation webinars for church leaders in January on the following topics:

- Church Council Leadership, January 7, 2014 TODAY

- Stewardship and Finance: Getting it right at the starting line, January 9, 2014
- SPRC Overview of a Year of Leadership, January 14, 2014
- Lay Leader: What's My Job? January 16, 2014
- Nominations Committee Develops Leaders, January 23, 2014
- Trustees Manage for Ministry, January 28, 2014

Visit GBOD to find out more and to register. For more information and additional resources, contact Betsey Heavner, bheavner@gbod.org.

Upcoming Events

January

     7: St. John Church Conference
     8: First Anchorage Church Conference
     12: Willow Church Conference
     14: Sitka Church Conference
     14-20: DCM meeting
     17-18: Mission u Event at Anchor Park UMC
     17-19: Youth Mission Immersion
     19: Jewel Lake Church Conference
     22: Girdwood Church Conference
     24-26: UMW Meetings at Birchwood Camp
     26: Northern Light Church Conference
     30: Chugiak Church Conference

February

5-7: Clergy Retreat
7-8: Winter Rendezvous meetings @ East Anchorage UMC

Submissions

If you have an article or event that you would like the rest of the conference to know about and participate in, feel free to submit them to me each week by Monday evening. I ask that you type up what you want included and let me know how many weeks you want it published for. Thank you!

Contact Info

Crystal Feaster

Administrative Assistant

907-333-5050 phone

907-333-2304 fax

www.alaskaumc.org

umc@gci.net