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Conference Journal

Reflections of a Running Reverend

My blog for this week is: Celebrate the Small Milestones.

To catch-up on previous blog posts you may have missed, click here.

Have a great week!

Learning Event Evaluation/Survey
For those of you that attended the Learning Event with Diana Butler Bass on January 30-31, we would like you to take a few moments to fill out an evaluation/survey. You can find the survey here. We would like to pass on the information back to Diana Butler Bass as well as keep the information for us as we think about planning future learning events. It is anonymous and we always appreciate your feedback.

Prayer Update
People have asked about Phil Campbell and how he is doing. Phil says, "The surgery went well although they did have to remove the entire kidney. This said, my remaining one is functioning well and I shouldn't have any ongoing problems. I was released from the hospital a week ago Sunday, Feb. 1 in time to see the Seahawks lose the Super Bowl. I am sore and still tire easily, but I am up and around and going for walks. I am healing and I am feeling better each day. The prognosis is good, but I will remain here in Denver a couple more weeks for a follow up appointment. I will be back in Juneau on Feb 24. I am grateful for all the prayers and good wishes." Let us continue to pray for Phil as he continues the healing phase.

Eco-Palms

Palm Sunday is March 29. Celebrate the triumphal entry of Christ using palm fronds that are fairly traded.

Through the Eco-Palm Project, palms bought from harvesters are purchased at a fair price and cut down in a way that protects the environment. Proceeds from palm sales help harvesters send their children to school, improve their communities, and provide necessary healthcare.

Place your eco-palm order now, and watch this informational video to learn more. Orders must be placed by no later than March 6 for delivery during the week of March 22.

Anchorage UM Community LGBT Meeting

The LGBT Outreach Ministry Team at St. John would like to invite members from other Anchorage United Methodist Churches to join us at our next monthly meeting at 6:30 PM on Thursday, March 5th. We're hoping to have a combined United Methodist presence at upcoming community events (Celebration of Change in March, Pride Prom in April, Pride Fest in June). We're also brainstorming ways to revitalize PFLAG here in Anchorage.

Please join us for a time of brainstorming, sharing, and planning. Points of contact for this meeting are Debbie Pintsch, 240-7409 and Art Carpenter, 865-9168.

Spread Love on Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is a wonderful time to celebrate love for people in our lives and it's also an opportunity to give love to those who are affected by or infected with HIV or AIDS. The UMC Global AIDS Fund (UMGAF) has prepared a one-page, downloadable resource that provides ways to highlight the issue of AIDS, and how we can make a difference in people's lives in the United States and around the globe. Check It Out!

You can also go to: United Methodist Global AIDS Fund and go to the "Resources" tab.

Reaching out to the community and being present with people who live with HIV/AIDS? Let Melissa, the HIV/AIDS ministries ambassador for Alaska, know: mengel@iliff.edu. Thanks!

Youth Leader Sought for Anchorage Korean United Methodist Church

AKUMC is currently looking for a youth leader for their Sunday School.

Here is the job description they provided:
1. Have a meeting with Pastor Keum on the first Tuesday every month from 7AM-8AM.
2. Teach Sunday school students (K-6th grade) every Sunday from 11:00 AM-12:30 PM.
3. Lead worship service for youth group every Sunday from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM (prepare sermon manuscript and present to Pastor Keum before service).
4. Try to understand Korean-American culture.
5. An additional 2-3 hours per week may be added if special activities are planned.

Wage: $1000.00/Month

If you are interested or know someone who may be, please your resume to Yong H. Pak at pakyoungho@yahoo.co.kr or Pastor Won Jea Keum at rma0691@gmail.com.

Your Chance to Make a Difference
Pick.Click.Give. allows Alaskans to share their Permanent Fund Dividend with causes they care about. Please consider donating to AK Child & Family and Nome Community Center when you sign up for your PFD. They are both national mission institutions of the church. You can also choose First City Homeless Services Day Shelter which is located in Ketchikan and is affiliated with First UMC in Ketchikan. If you have already filed your application but have changed your mind and want to donate, it isn't too late! You have until March 31st. Visit the donation website to find out more!

Imagine No Malaria
Julia Frisbie has been busy writing articles on the Imagine No Malaria website to update us on important news regarding INM. You can read about how we are more than halfway to our million dollar goal here. You can also read about how a recent New York Times article about the bed nets has brought light to some improper uses of the nets. You can read about that here.

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.

Mission u Events
The Alaska United Methodist Women are hosting their annual Mission u Events! 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. The next event will be February 20-21 at Aldersgate UMC in Juneau. Download the informational brochure. You can register online now at http://ttclms.org/class_detail.php?z_classid=105851. Don't miss out on these greatly anticipated events! You can view the Mission u blog at http://aumwmissionu.blogspot.com/. The last event will be March 27-28 in Kenai at the Dena'ina Wellness Center.

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

FREE Webinars

Below you will find a list of webinars for church leaders offered in February by the GBOD Leadership Ministries division. These webinars are free of charge. You can register by going to www.gbod.org/webinars .

Tuesday, February 17: Creating and Nurturing an Intergenerational Ministry

Thursday, February 19: Children's Ministry in the New Church Start

Thursday, February 19: Covenant Discipleship Groups

Tuesday, February 24: Christian Community: Grounded in Faith

Thursday, February 26: Flipping the Classroom

Upcoming Events

February

26: Carlo at Greater Northwest Cabinet meeting in Portland

March

2-4: GNW Younger Clergy Gathering - Carlo attending
4-5: Carlo in Seattle for Cabinet Meeting

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