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e~Aurora (a weekly news update)
The Alaska United Methodist ConferenceFebruary 24, 2015
In This Issue
~Bishop's Blog
~Superintendent's Blog
~AK Child & Family
~Easter Quiz
~Making Discipline Global
~Pulpit Swap in Ohio
~Job Opportunity
~INM is a Superhero!
~FUMC Anchorage Offers Grants
~LGBT Meeting
~Mission u Event
~Book Review
~FREE Webinars
~Eco-Palms
~Pick.Click.Give


ACS Print  

20/20 Vision:
Leading to God's New Horizons


 

Upcoming  Clergy
 Birthdays!   


March 11 -
Carl Landerholm

March 25 -
Evelyn Erbele

March 29 -
Doug Handlong




Contact Information

 

Supt. Carlo Rapanut 
cell 907-854-8340  





Ministry Quicklinks




Join Our Mailing List





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.


Bishop Grant Hagiya Bishop's Blog
Bishop Hagiya's new blog talks about his recent visit with Military Chaplains in Europe and the important work they do for our military personnel.  He also talks about how we should not overlook Good Friday just to experience Easter morning.  Read it here.
Reflections of a Running Reverend
My blog for this week is: Giving up Anger and Bitterness.

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


Have a great week!
AK Child & Family AK Child & Family

2015 is AK Child & Family's 125th anniversary! Help us celebrate!  Come see our float in the Fur Rondy parade Saturday February 28th and join us at AK Child & Family night at the Alaska Aces' game Saturday March 14th!

 

Donation needed:

AK Child & Family is looking for a Wii U to run a teen therapy group that will teach emotional regulation, social skill building, patience, stress management, personal presentation, self-awareness and sportsmanship. We're looking specifically for a Wii U because of the capability it has for team games.  Donations would be deeply appreciated!

Quiz: Why are Eggs Associated with Easter?

Easter eggs are among the best know symbols of the Easter season. Take the daily quiz to find out why we have so many eggs around at Easter.  Take quiz

Methodist Logo Plans Underway to Make Discipline Global

What are the essentials that bind all United Methodists and what can be adapted for use outside the United States? That is the heart of the debate before an international body of church leaders, who met last week in Maputo, Mozambique. The hope is that a truly global Book of Discipline can answer these questions. Read more of this United Methodist News Service story.

Pulpit Swap in Ohio
Clergy in 30 United Methodist Churches in Cleveland, Ohio swapped pulpits to promote diversity and spark dialogue.  The effort grew out of "Circles of Grace" conversations taking place in the district.  You can read more about it here.
ERUMC Job Opportunity

Eagle River United Methodist Camp is looking for innovative leadership to assess community needs in Juneau and SE Alaska, develop programming to meet those needs, broaden community support in meeting those needs, and formulate a strategic plan for program and facilities enhancement.

 

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR will promote active community participation, develop fiscal sustainability, and provide management in the following areas: volunteers, resources, budget and finance, fundraising and marketing.  Excellent organizational and communication skills required.  Helpful background includes:  non-profit experience, demonstrated strong leadership, and fund-raising.  This is a flex time 10 months a year position.  Salary is $1,000 per month for 10 months.

 

Eagle River United Methodist Camp is a community based non-profit 501(c)3 operated by an independent local board of directors.  Details at www.methodistcamp.org.  Please submit cover letter with resume to [email protected]

Imagine No Malaria Imagine No Malaria Recognized as Superhero at Global Meeting
Imagine No Malaria, an initiative of The United Methodist Church to prevent and treat malaria, has received a Superhero Award from the Rotarians Action Group on Malaria. The award was given during the recent annual meeting of the Alliance for Malaria Prevention in Geneva.

Imagine No Malaria, the only faith-based organization represented among the award recipients, was recognized for its grassroots efforts in reaching rural and hard to reach areas with its prevention methods. Dr. Olusimbo Ige, executive director, Global Health for the General Board of Global Ministries was on hand to receive the award, which was signified by the bestowing of a red "superhero" cape. Drake Zimmerman, vice chair of the Rotarians Action Group on Malaria, made the presentation.

Read more here.

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
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.

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.  Don't miss out on this greatly anticipated event!  The last event will be March 27-28 in Kenai at the Dena'ina Wellness Center.  You can view the Mission u blog at http://aumwmissionu.blogspot.com/.
Book Review: Forever Beginning

Are you letting your parishioners know that the Conference has a research room they can use?  There are lots of books, photographs, newsletters, not only about their church but all the others in Alaska and some in  the Western Jurisdiction plus other denominations.  If anyone has curiosity about church management, strategic plans, or lots of things, they can investigate in the resource room at East Anchorage UMC. Contact LaVern Beck at 333-1140 or Larry Hayden 222-1938 for access.

 

One of the books your conference historian just skimmed through was by Bishop T. Otto Nall called Forever Beginning - A History of the United Methodist Church and her Antecedents in Minnesota to 1968.  Even though it focuses on Minnesota, it has relevance for Alaskans as well, as the story is universal.  It talks about beginning as a Mission, the Wesleyan movement growing up with the new America in the late 1700s, touches heavily on the immigration issue focusing on the German and Scandinavian people coming into the Indian country, working with youth and women, how churches started in rural settings and evolved into urban environments, and how the people dealt with social concerns.

 

Bishop Nall also dwells on the various mergers of the movement like in 1939 with the Evangelical United Brethren, and the Uniting effort in 1968.  It is a 1973 book still quite relevant today.  This, other books, and journals are available for checkout anytime.  Please use this resource.

 

Larry Hayden, Chair, AUMC Commission on Archives and History
GBOD FREE Webinars

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

 

Tuesday, February 24: Christian Community: Grounded in Faith

Thursday, February 26: Flipping the Classroom

Monday, March 2: Engaging Families and Children with Special Needs (part 2)

Wednesday, March 4: Ministry Milestones

Thursday, March 12: AUDIT is Not a Four-Letter Word!

Tuesday, March 17: Creating Your Plan for Christian Faith and Discipleship

Tuesday, March 31: Helping Children Make Sense of the World

Tuesday, April 14: Re-Imagining Your Retirement

Tuesday, April 14: The UM Way

Thursday, April 16: Worship in Contemporary Settings

Tuesday, April 21: Family - Creating Rituals in the Home 

Eco-Palms 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.
Pick Click Give 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!

Upcoming Events

February
     25: Carlo at Benefits Conference in Portland
     26: Carlo at Greater Northwest Cabinet meeting in Portland

March
     3-4: Giving Voice in Anchorage
     18-20: Carlo attending Cabinet Meeting in Seattle

April
     9-18: Crystal on vacation
     9: Carlo in Seattle for a Young Clergy Recruitment event
     13: FACT Meeting 1 at Conference Office
     17-18: Carlo attending Circles of Presence Retreat in Seattle
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