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e~Aurora (a weekly news update)
The Alaska United Methodist ConferenceMay 5, 2015
In This Issue
~Superintendent's Blog
~Apportionment Report
~Annual Conference Awards
~Annual Conference Info
~Alternative for Sexuality Debate
~Technology at GC2016
~Tablets Available at GC2016
~Where does the Money Go?
~GBGM Approves Grants
~New Officers for Council of Bishops
~Cook Needed at Birchwood Camp
~Worship Booklets Needed
~Prayers for Nepal
~Rummage & Bake Sale
~UMM Program on Habitat for Humanity
~UMC Youth Event!
~Birchwood Camp
~Eagle River Camp
~FREE Webinars


ACS Print  

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


 

Upcoming  Clergy
 Birthdays!   



May 9 -
Ron Myers

May 18 -
Cindy Roberts

June 8 -
Jim Doepken

June 10 -
Carlo Rapanut

June 27 -
Teri Erbele


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.


Superintendent's Blog
My blog for this week is: On Motherhood.

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

Have a great week!
Money Apportionment Report
The April apportionment report is complete for the churches in the Alaska Conference.  You can view it here.
Annual Conference Awards
Don't forget that Annual Conference award nominations are due May 12th.  Every year there is an opportunity to nominate a clergy person, a lay person, and a youth for the Harry Denman Evangelism award.  You can read more about this award here.  Our conference also has an award for Outstanding Lay Person of the Year.  If you know of a lay person in your church that you think deserves this award, please make sure you nominate them by May 12th!
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.

 

PRE-CONFERENCE HANDBOOK

The pre-conference handbook is now complete and ready for download or mailing.  Just visit the conference website and click on the Annual Conference tab to find the information!  If you need it mailed to you, please contact the conference office. 

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

The registration process is now open.  It will close on May 15.  You have 10 more days to register for Annual Conference!  You can register and pay online through this link.  If you would like to download a paper copy, you can do it here.

 

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.  

 

FORMS

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.

Alternative Process Offered for Sexuality Debate

Organizers of the 2016 General Conference, The United Methodist Church's top lawmaking assembly, plan to offer an alternative process for considering legislation related to the denomination's stance on homosexuality. The hope is to bring out middle voices that often go unheard. Heather Hahn reports on how the proposed process would work.
Read story

Technology Will Bridge Languages at 2016 General Conference
A "Bring Your Own Device" system that allows the use of a smart-phone app in connection with a dedicated wireless network to stream audio might be the way to ensure that language differences are dealt with as fairly as possible at General Conference 2016. Greg Nelson, director of communications in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, reports.  Read story
Tablets to be Available for General Conference 2016
The Commission on General Conference expects to provide electronic tablets to delegates from the central conferences - church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines - who do not already have them. Tablets will include a Bible app, Skype, the 2012 Book of Discipline, and a portable hotspot to connect to the Internet, as well as proposed legislation for General Conference. The cost is about $170,000 and will be paid with higher-than-budgeted collections for the General Administration Fund, which pays for General Conference.    
Why the tablet program was started
Imagine No Malaria Where Does the Money Go?
Imagine No Malaria field coordinator, Julia Frisbie, has written an article about where the donated funds to INM go.  It explains how we work through two implementing partners, UMCOR and The Global Fund.  Read her post here.
GBGM Global Ministries Directors Approve Grants

A busy April 16-18 meeting of the directors of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries included approving $1 million in grants for mission programs and $7 million for ongoing disaster response and longer-term development needs. The directors were briefed on the agency's move to Atlanta, and on plans for a new global health initiative focused on children. Melissa Hinnen reports for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
Read press release

Council of Bishops Council of Bishops Elects New Officers

Meeting in Berlin last week, the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church elected new officers who will assume their leadership roles in 2016.

The new officers of the Council are:

President - Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area President Designate - Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr., Florida Episcopal Area
Secretary - Bishop Cynthia Harvey, Louisiana Episcopal Area (re-elected for two years) 
Connectional Table Chairperson - Bishop Christian Alsted, Nordic and Baltic Episcopal Area
Executive Secretary - Bishop Marcus Matthews, Washington Episcopal Area
Ecumenical Officer - Bishop B. Michael Watson, North Georgia Episcopal area

 

The Ecumenical Officer, Executive Secretary and Chair of the Connectional Table each serve four-year terms. The President, President-Designate and Secretary serve two-year terms, which begin on the third day of the General Conference. 

 

In accordance with the Council's bylaws, an eight-member Leadership Discernment Committee of the Council (which is composed of one bishop from each U.S. jurisdiction and three Central Conference bishops) selected a slate of officers to present to the Council for election by a two-thirds majority. Nominations for secretary and ecumenical officer may also be presented from the floor.

Cook Needed at Birchwood Camp

Birchwood Camp is seeking an extra cook to help provide nutritious & delicious meals to our campers and guests during the summer. Our camp cooks work under the supervision of our Food Service Manager. Position requires 20-40 hours/week during the summer; off-season work is available if interested. $11-$14/hour DOE.

Position Responsibilities include:

  • Preparation of meals
  • Help with serving meals
  • Cleanup following meals
  • Prepare snacks for campers and staff
  • Assistant Cook or Lead Cook positions available
More information & application available online:  http://birchwoodcamp.org/get-involved/job-opportunities/
Music Looking for Worship Booklets
Willow United Methodist Church is hoping to start a casual, outdoor service for this summer.  They are looking for about 20 of the same worship/chorus books - like camp books or something (not hymnals or Faith We Sing), that can be used in an outside setting.  If you know of something like this that is available, please contact Dan Wilcox at  [email protected] or 907.495.6638.  Thank you!
Prayers and Support for Nepal

The United Methodist Church is responding to the earthquake in Nepal in a variety of ways.  One of these ways is via UMCOR, which approved a $90,000 grant for international partner GlobalMedic, to provide much needed clean water to communities in Nepal. GlobalMedic will provide public and household water filtration units to the survivors of the quake. 

 

To learn more about how the United Methodist Church is responding and what you can do, please click here.

Yard Sale Rummage & Bake Sale

There will be a rummage sale and bake sale at First United Methodist Church, Anchorage on Saturday, May 9th from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Half of the proceeds from the sales will be sent to the Nome Community Center.  They are accepting donations of household items and clothes from infants to adults.  No beds, couches, or heavy items please.  Please contact 272-2112 for more information. 

UMM United Methodist Men Schedule May Program on Habitat for Humanity

Von Cawvey will present an overview program on Habitat for Humanity and lift up opportunities for service this coming construction season.  It will be held following the 9AM breakfast on Saturday, May 16th in the fellowship hall at St. John UMC.

 

All area men of United Methodist churches are welcome to attend. Bring a friend.

Youth Ministry UMC Youth Event!
First UMC, Anchorage would like to invite all middle and high school youth in the Anchorage area to a fun filled day of games, prizes and food on May 23rd from 10 AM to 2 PM!  You will be having a fun time while learning about hose to keep yourselves and your friends safe in the world.  Special guest Julie Dale from STAR will be MCing the event.  EVERYONE is encouraged to attend. For more information contact Jenn Miller at [email protected] or call 272-2112.
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.

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!!!

FREE Webinars

Below you will find a list of webinars for church leaders offered by Discipleship Ministries.  These webinars are free of charge. You can register by going to www.umcdiscipleship.org/webinars.

 

Tuesday, May 12: Budget-Friendly Creative Ideas in Children's Ministry

Tuesday, May 12: Supporting Your Teachers' Spiritual Formation

Thursday, May 14: Supporting Covenant Discipleship in the Congregation

Thursday, May 14: Stewardship in the Digital World - Has Your Church Made the Leap?

Tuesday, June 9: Children's Ministry - Staying Connected with Families Over the Summer Months

Tuesday, June 9: Where to Get Started with Older Adult Ministry

Thursday, June 18: Planning Children's Sabbath 

Upcoming Events

May
     14-15: Carlo attending Greater Northwest Cabinet Meeting in Seattle
     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