20/20 Vision: Leading to God's New Horizons
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Upcoming Clergy
Birthdays!
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Contact Information
Supt. Carlo Rapanut cell 907-854-8340
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2014 Conference Journal
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.
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 Reflections of a Running Reverend
Carlo is attending cabinet meetings today. He is looking forward to seeing you all this weekend at the learning event and winter meetings!
To catch-up on previous blog posts you may have missed, click here.Have a great week! |
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 Diana Butler Bass Learning Event
Diana Butler Bass will be here THIS FRIDAY and SATURDAY! Her learning event will be held at St. John UMC and the FREE public lecture will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Here is the information sheet and registration form. You can visit her website for more information about her. You can still register at the door but will now pay a higher fee. We hope to see you there!
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 Conference Committee Meetings
The Conference Winter Rendezvous meetings are this Friday and Saturday. The registration deadline has passed but if you haven't sent yours in yet, please do! The meetings will be held at St. John UMC January 30 and 31.
One person is still in need of a place to stay while they are here. If you are able to host, please contact the conference office at umc@gci.net or 333-5050. Thank you!
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 Imagine No Malaria
Our Imagine No Malaria field representative, Julia Frisbie, has written another article about using the Lenten Calender as a way to raise money and awareness for Imagine No Malaria. You can read her article here: Lenten Calendar as a Teaching Tool.
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 Mission u Event Registration
The Alaska United Methodist Women are hosting their annual Mission u Events soon! The first event is in the Anchorage area and will be held February 6-7 at Hope Community Resources. The three featured courses are Spiritual Growth: How is it With Your Soul?, Social Justice Understanding: The Church and People with Disabilities, and the Youth Study: Making a New Picture Together - Welcoming Persons with Disabilities Into Our Lives. Download the informational brochure and post a poster in your churches for advertisement. You can register online now at http://ttclms.org/class_detail.php?z_classid=105681. Early registration has passed but you can still register. Don't miss out on these greatly anticipated events! You can view the Mission u blog at http://aumwmissionu.blogspot.com/. The other events across the state will be: February 20-21 in Juneau at the Tlingit-Haida Voc-Training Resource Center, and March 27-28 in Kenai at the Dena'ina Wellness Center.
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 2015 Walk for Warmth & 5th Anniversary 5K!
With support from individuals and teams, Walk for Warmth raises money that goes directly to keeping Anchorage residents housed and financially stable. This year the walk will take place on February 21st. Last year, over 60 households received rent and utility assistance - with your support, we can help even more families. Set your team fundraising goal to $500 - can you hit your goal and help prevent family homelessness?
Help spread the word about Walk for Warmth and invite your friends, families and co-workers to join your team. Or, challenge them to start their own team and see who can get the most team members and raise the most money!
This year, we hope individuals become Warm Hearted Warriors: Raise $500 or more and receive a swag bag with gifts from local businesses, thanking you for your support. We can't wait to see you on February 21st! For more info go to the event website - https://www.classy.org/anchorage/events/walk-for-warmth/e38065. |
 Early Bird Registration Deadline Days Away for YOUTH 2015
Three-plus packed days of inspiring speakers and top-flight Christian musical artists await youth and youth leaders who attend YOUTH 2015 in June, but the deadline for early bird registration is just a few days away.
The best possible price for the national gathering for United Methodist youth is available only until Jan. 31. The event, scheduled for June 24-28 at the Orlando World Center Marriott, is sponsored by Young People's Ministries (YPM), a division of Discipleship Ministries.
YOUTH 2015 is designed specifically for youth ages 12-18. Youth leaders are responsible for registering their groups at www.YOUTH2015.com. The early bird registration fee is $420 per person, a $30 savings over the regular cost of $450 which will apply from February through March. A deposit of $105 per person is accepted. Beginning in April, the late registration fee will be $475 per person, with only paid registrations accepted. No tickets will be available at the door. Each registration includes four nights at the World Center Marriott, dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday, all hotel amenities and all YOUTH 2015 programming.
In addition to the website www.YOUTH2015.com, up-to-date information about speakers, programming, schedule and more can be found on Facebook and Twitter @youth2015. Youth leaders who register will receive a downloadable four-session resource to help prepare their youth for the main event. A free downloadable resource for groups to use after the event will also be available.
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 Hospitality Ministry Opportunity
Each summer Ketchikan First United Methodist Church offers a ministry of hospitality by operating a hostel in its building. Manager(s) are needed from July 5 to August 31. Housing and a daily stipend of $40/day are provided. The hostel is closed from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. allowing the manager(s) an opportunity to explore and enjoy Ketchikan and the island. You may visit the hostel website at www.ketchikanhostel.com. For more information please contact Judy Shoup at 1jashoup@kpunet.net or call the United Methodist Church at 907-225-3780.
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 First UMC-Anchorage Offering Grants
The First United Methodist Church Foundation is accepting applications for 2015 grants to be used as educational benefits, scholarships, out-reach to the community and the world. Applications should be a concise request that includes the following: Requesting Organization or Person, Contact Name, Contact e-mail, Contact physical/mailing address, Type of grant requested (scholarship, capital improvement, out-reach, education) and Description of how the funds will be used in 2015 that is no more than 250 words. Submissions must be received by February 27, 2015 at the address below. Awards will be posted in March 2015. Those receiving grant awards will be required to submit a report how the funds were used, with documentation, by December 1, 2015. Send your request to: FUMC Foundation - Grants 725 W 9th Ave Anchorage, AK 99501
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 Our Ink Jet Recycling Program Assists the World's Disabled
For a number of years some of our churches have been involved as a partner in collecting used ink jet cartridges that are recycled to raise funds to assist the PET Mobility Project. PET is an acronym for Personal Energy Transportation. A corps of over 800 volunteers - mostly seniors - raise the funds, build and ship these sturdy, hand-cranked carts to the disabled throughout the world. PET is faith-based, volunteer-driven and non-sectarian. Walt Hays, who has served as the volunteer coordinator for PET in Alaska for the past ten years, reports "PET is very grateful for this project that is environmentally sound and assists the disabled. Since January of 2009 13,408 cartridges (by actual count) have been recycled. This has generated over $4,400 in funds; this means that 17 persons now have a PET cart that gives them mobility, dignity and a chance for a better life." This past October, Walt and his wife, JoAnn Shore, attended the annual meeting of PET International, the umbrella organization that coordinates the work of the 22 PET Shops (affiliates). In celebration of PET's 20th anniversary, the guest of honor was Suen Oke of Nigeria, age 27, from Nigeria. Suen was stricken by polio at age ten. Assisted by a US doctor who knew the family, she was taken to Chicago for surgery for scoliosis. She received a PET cart nine years ago and it changed her life. She was able to finish high school and take certificate courses for computer skills. She now lives on her own, has a government job and commutes to work on her PET daily. Suen has become a strong advocate for the needs of the disabled." Walt comments, "It was such a joy to meet Suen, one of 50,000 persons whose lives have been transformed by a PET cart. We have now distributed PETs in 100 countries. To learn more about PET and see videos and read stories about the recipients, go to www.petinternational.org. |
 Council of Bishops Executive Committee Meets in Dallas
The Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church held its annual January meeting on the 13th and 14th in Dallas, Texas. They shared devotions, heard reports and took actions on a number of items in their quest to lead the church in "making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." THE GLOBAL NATURE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH was celebrated. A report was also presented on the new "Global Book of Discipline" which is being developed by the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, as requested by the 2012 General Conference, for presentation to the 2016 General Conference. A report from a team of seven bishops and sixteen young people, who have just visited India and the Council of Bishops of the Methodist Church of India (MCI), stimulated very fruitful conversations about the future of "relationship-building" with the MCI and the many "autonomous, affiliated" churches of The United Methodist Church around the world. DEVELOPING MORE VITAL CONGREGATIONS and the next steps the COB can take in helping to lead annual conferences as they resource local churches in this "adaptive challenge" were central on the agenda along with the progress that is being made in the Four Areas of Focus: 1) Creating New Places for New People; 2) Developing Principled Christian Leaders; 3) Engaging in Ministry with the Poor; 4) and Improving Health Globally. The outstanding response to "Imagine No Malaria" was celebrated as we near reaching the 75 million dollar goal that was set. A JUST RESOLUTION was reported in the complaint that was, with the encouragement of the COB, filed concerning Bishop Melvin Talbert. There was great appreciation for all who worked diligently to reach the resolution and release it publicly. Bishop Talbert and members of the complaint process acknowledged harm felt by others and a willingness to live within the Book of Discipline. Several suggestions were also made for the work of the COB Task Force on Human Sexuality, Race and Gender. THE CHURCH'S LIFE AND MISSION TOGETHER IN THE 2017-2020 QUADRENNIUM was also the subject of several items on the agenda including a proposed gathering of bishops and extended cabinet members from around the world early in the next quadrennium for spiritual centering and strategic sharing as we prepare to serve as God leads us into the future.
As the meeting concluded, Bishop Warner Brown, President of the COB, invited the bishops and the whole church to be in prayer for each other as we seek to be faithful to God and Christ's Gospel for all throughout the world.
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