AUMC Banner
e~Aurora (a weekly news update)
The Alaska United Methodist ConferenceMarch 31, 2015
In This Issue
~Superintendent's Blog
~Apportionment Records
~Kid Power Fuels Mission Mania
~Newscope to Cease Publication
~Birchwood Camp
~Show You Love Kids
~UMM Retreat
~Guatemala Mission Trip
~Annual Conference Info
~Eagle River Camp
~Lent Quizes
~FREE Webinars


ACS Print  

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


 

Upcoming  Clergy
 Birthdays!   


April 12 -
Robert Hicks

April 16 -
Julie Wasser

April 23 -
Karen Martin Tichenor




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.


Reflections of a Running Reverend
My blog for this week is: That We May Truly Live.

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


Have a great week!
Money Record Number of Conferences at 100% Giving

If The United Methodist Church had a "Paid in Full" rubber stamp, it would likely need more ink. That's because a record number of U.S. conferences - looking at recent history at least - have paid 100 percent of their apportionments, part of an overall bright picture in denominational giving.  Read story here.

Kid Power Fuels Mission Mania

One United Methodist church in Maryland sets aside a Sunday each month to let the little ones take charge and participate in outreach programs they choose. The results have been powerful, say church members.
Watch video

Newscope to Cease Publication
The United Methodist Publishing House announced that its "Newscope" publication will cease distribution as of the April 1 issue, after 43 years of serving the denomination's leaders with weekly news and information.  Read press release
Birchwood Camp Birchwood Camp

Register for Summer Camp at Birchwood Camp

Online registration is now open for Birchwood Camp's Summer Programs. These camp programs provide safe spaces for spiritual formation, genuine community, and character development at Birchwood Camp's beautiful site in Chugiak. Online registration & detailed information is available at  www.birchwoodcamp.org/camps. Register before April 1 to receive a $10 discount per registration.

Show You Love Kids
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awaremenss and provide resources about ways in which communities can ensure children are safe.  The faith based community plays a key role in our communities across the state.  They help strengthen families and build safe, stable and nurturing environments for our children.

Will you help raise awareness by selecting one Sunday in the month of April to host a day of worship focused on the importance of strengthening families to ensure our children are safe?

Each year, nearly 12,000 babies are born in Alaska - approximately 25% of Alaska's population is under the age of 18.  Alaska has one of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in the nation.  Nearly 22% of the children maltreated are under age 2.  You can help us change these statistics.  To help raise awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, please Go Blue!  Wear Blue on April 10th.  To find out more information, please go to www.alaskachildrenstrust.org.  You can also email [email protected] if you have any questions.
UMM Yearly Retreat at Hope Retreat Center
The Alaska Conference United Methodist Men will hold their annual retreat in Hope on April 18th.  You can find the details about the retreat here.  The theme of this year's retreat is "Decisions that will change your Life."  Reverend John Campbell will be facilitating the Retreat.  The cost is $45 and will include Lunch and Dinner.
Guatemala Mission Trip Dentist, Assistant & Carpenter Needed

The 2015 Alaska VIM Team is in need of a dentist, dental assistant and a carpenter/ handyman as it prepares for service in Guatemala July 25-Augsut 3. The team will build on the work and contacts made by the Alaska Guatemala 2013 Team.

 

The carpenter/handyman is needed to be the "lead" for team members that will do basic home repair. The Dentist and assistant are needed to expand the rural clinics that will be held under the supervision of Salud y Paz (Health and Peace), a United Methodist Health Project that reaches out to an under-served Mayan Population of over 6,000.

 

To date the team has raised $8,000 in gifts and pledges from church gifts, service clubs and individuals to underwrite these projects. Costs for the VIM Team experience is $700.00 for ground expenses (that includes most meals, lodging, in-country transportation and travel accident insurance) plus participants need to book round trip airfare to Guatemala City.

 

For Information and an application contact: Walt Hays/JoAnn Shore, 4051 E. Birch View Dr., Wasilla, AK 99654, [email protected] 907/631-4134 or cell 907/350-6259
AUMC Logo Annual Conference Information

Annual Conference will be held at St. John UMC in Anchorage on June 5th & 6th with workshops on June 4th.

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

The registration process is now open.  You can register and pay online through this link.  If you would like to download a paper copy, you can do it here.  There is an early bird rate so make sure you take advantage of it by April 30th. 

 

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

There will be a day of workshops on June 4th.  You can find a list of the workshops and their descriptions here. One of the workshops has been moved from the morning to the afternoon.  The links and forms have been updated to reflect this change.  You can sign up for these workshops when you register to attend Annual Conference.  If you decide to change your workshop after you have already registered, please contact the conference office to change it.  If you do not plan on attending Annual Conference but want to participate in one of the workshops, you can fill out this form.  

 

GENERAL CONFERENCE DELEGATES

If you are interested in being one of the clergy or laity delegates to General Conference in 2016, there are some guidelines for you to read.  You can find them on page 90 of the 2014 Conference Journal or you can find them here.  Please submit your interest, per the guidelines, to the conference office by April 13th. 

 

AWARDS 

You can start nominating clergy, laity, or youth for the Harry Denman Evangelism Award.  You can also nominate someone for being an Outstanding Lay Person.

 

FORMS

If you would like to propose a change in the rules via a petition, you can find the form here.  If you need to write a report for the pre-conference handbook because of your role within the conference, you can find the guidelines here.  Churches can submit their names for the memorial service on this form.  If you are part of an organization that would like to reserve a table for a display, fill out this form.

ERUMC Eagle River United Methodist Camp

Eagle River United Methodist Camp located in Juneau, Alaska will be having Discovery Camp for kids going into 3rd thru 8th grade. The dates for camp are July 12th - July 16th. This year's theme is "Get Real". To sign-up please contact the Sitka United Methodist Church at 907-747-8775 for a registration form. Children from other communities in Southeast Alaska and beyond are welcome to participate.   Let's get together for camp!!!

Lent Quizes
Many images that depict Jesus riding into Jerusalem before his trial and execution show Jesus riding upon a donkey. Does Scripture actually say he rode such a steed? Take the quiz.
 
Two Gospels mention that palm branches were laid on the path as Jesus rode into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. What is the symbolism? Take the quiz.

Palm Sunday, the last Sunday in Lent and first day of Holy Week, is also referred to by another title. Do you know what it is? Take the quiz. 

 

When Jesus took the bread and cup and instituted our Sacrament of Holy Communion, he was celebrating a holiday with his disciples. Do you know which one?  Take the quiz


When Jesus asks "Why have you forsaken me?" the question is actually a quote from another book. Which book was it? Take the quiz. 

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, 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 

Upcoming Events

April
     7-8: Carlo in Unalaska for a consultation
     9-18: Crystal on vacation
     9: Carlo in Seattle for a Young Clergy Recruitment event
     11: Leadership Team meeting
     13: FACT Meeting at Conference Office from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
     17-18: Carlo attending Circles of Presence Retreat in Seattle
     18: United Methodist Men Retreat at Hope Retreat Center

May
     1-3: Conference UMW Executive Team meeting at Turnagain UMC
     14-15: Carlo attending Greater Northwest Cabinet Meeting in Seattle
     17: Asian-Pacific Islander joint gathering
     26-28: Carlo at Transforming Ministries 4 in Los Angeles

June
     1-2: Greater Northwest Transitions Workshop in Portland
     4: Pre-Conference Workshops at St. John UMC in Anchorage
     5-6: Annual Conference at St. John UMC in Anchorage
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