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e~Aurora (a weekly news update)
The Alaska United Methodist ConferenceDecember 22, 2015
In This Issue
~Superintendent's Blog
~CCCG
~Apportionment Report
~Pillows for Comfort
~Methodist History
~UMCom Reorganization Plan
~Epiphany Breakfast
~Mission u Event
~FREE Webinars




ACS Print  

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



 

Upcoming  Clergy
 Birthdays!   


December 23 -
Curtis Matz

January 3 - 
Bishop Grant Hagiya

January 5 - 
Janice Carlton

January 18 - 
Karen Dammann



Contact Information

 

Superintendent
Carlo Rapanut

cell 907-854-8340  





Ministry Quicklinks





Join Our Mailing List





2015 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
Read my new blog post: Just One Candle.

You can always read past blog posts here.  Have a great week and Merry Christmas!
Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity
The informational flier and registration form are now posted on the the conference website.  We have also included the registration form for the Winter Rendezvous meetings as they coincide with the CCCG event.  Keep in mind that the pastor and one finance or stewardship person from each church will have their transportation and registration cost covered to attend the CCCG event.  More lay members are encouraged to attend if they are able but their transportation costs would not be covered.  We want to thank the Tuell Center again for their generosity with this event.  The CCCG event will be held at UMC of Chugiak on February 18-19, 2016.
Money Apportionment Report
Here is the apportionment report as of December 17th.  Twelve of our churches have paid 100% of their apportionments! Congratulations to you!  For those that haven't reached 100% yet, you have a few more days!
Boy's Pillows Comfort Children, Thrill Adults
Kingston Haynes, 7, designs his own line of comfort pillows for kids in need. He got the idea for Kingston's Kreatures during vacation Bible school at Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church, and some 250 of them have been made by his family so far.
Archives & History
Methodist History
The October 2015 issue of Methodist History is now available for reading at the General Commission website, www.gcah,org, This academic journal comes out 4 times a year in hardcopy.  Hard back issues as well as this issue are available for checkout from the Conference Reference Room at East Anchorage UMC.
 
This latest issue has stories on:  "A Step Back or a Step Forward? The Creation of the Central Jurisdiction," "The Central Jurisdiction," "The Reverend John Newton Mars (1804-1884): New England Cleric and Celebrated Standard Bearer in the Wesleyan Tradition," and "Black People in the Methodist Church: A Fierce Fidelity to a Church for Whom Grace is Central."
 
There is a Book Review of the book by Josh McMullen: Under the Big Top: Big Tent Revivalism and American Culture 1885-1925.
 
More information can be obtained from AUMC Historian Larry Hayden.
UM Communications United Methodist Communications Announces Reorganization Plan
United Methodist Communications announced a reorganization plan to structurally align its workforce in ways that better support the agency's strategic goals.
 
"United Methodist Communications has a legacy of communicating faith for the past 75 years," said Dan Krause, who became chief executive of United Methodist Communications in June 2015. "As we embark on a new era, we are creating an updated structure that I believe will make our agency stronger and position us to better live into our mission as we seek to communicate the story and messages of God's work through The United Methodist Church."
 
Krause said the reorganization should help achieve many goals by positively reshaping the agency to:
*    Better align messaging across the agency's various communication channels, fine-tuning the timing and the audiences to communicate proactively with dynamic content
*    Clarify a holistic brand identity for the agency within the United Methodist Church
*    Lead United Methodist Communications forward based on strategic initiatives
*    Listen to United Methodist members and leaders in order to develop appropriate resources and messages
*    More fully embrace the digital world
*    Think globally to support the international footprint of The United Methodist Church
*    Encourage collaboration across teams
*    Better leverage employees' skills across channels and media
The reorganization adds one additional position to the agency's executive team with the promotion of Jennifer Rodia to the newly created position of Chief Communications Officer. Rodia will oversee member communication, seeker advertising and communications, global communications training and development, connectional giving marketing, UMCom.org and productions.
 
No reduction-in-force was associated with the reorganization plan, which takes effect immediately.

Epiphany Breakfast
Christ 1st UMC in Wasilla will be having an Epiphany Breakfast on Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 9:30 AM.  It will be a fundraiser for Imagine No Malaria.  If you are in the area that morning, go support a great cause and eat some bacon!  If you have any questions, contact them at christ1st@mtaonline.net.
Mission u Event Scheduled for Kenai Peninsula
Every year the United Methodist Women of Alaska put on educational events based on study topics.  This year the studies are Created for Happiness: Understanding Your Life in God which will be led by Susie Smalley and Latin America: People and Faith led by Walt Hays.  The first event will take place on the Kenai Peninsula.  It will be held at North Star United Methodist Church on January 15-16, 2016.  Please contact Bonnie Miller or Jennifer Miller if you have any questions.
FREE Leadership Development Webinars
Contact: Jacqui King - Director, Leadership for Congregational Vitality - 615.340.7295
 
 
STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE: GETTING IT RIGHT AT THE STARTING LINE
Jan. 7 @ 6:30 PM CST - Ken Slone, Director of Stewardship & Connectional Ministries
Start with this webinar focused on the new member of the Stewardship Team, Finance Committee, or Church Council - those who are looking to get started on the right foot. If your work in the church deals with people's giving, you know the importance of that responsibility. Bathe your work in prayer. Remember, you are not alone; there are places to find help! As you enter the New Year, reflect on these ideas that could make your job the best one in the church!
 
 
SPRC: OVERVIEW OF A YEAR OF LEADERSHIP
Jan. 14 @ 6:30 PM CST - Jacqui King, Director, Leadership for Congregational Vitality
The S/PPR committee creates a healthy work place for staff so that ministry is vital and effective. The committee has responsibility for goal setting and staff accountability to your congregation's goals, benefit recommendations, and building positive relationships among staff and congregation. 
 
 
CHURCH COUNCIL: OVERVIEW AND FOCUS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR
Jan. 21 @ 6:30 PM CST - Jacqui King, Director, Leadership for Congregational Vitality
Begin the year for new and continuing leaders by connecting your leadership with an overview of the year ahead. The Church Council or Leadership Team will discover important support resources for building and overseeing a comprehensive plan for ministry and discipleship. Additional resources for single board leadership model are included in this webinar.
 
 
LOCAL CHURCH LAY LEADER/LAY MEMBER TO ANNUAL CONFERENCE: WHAT'S MY JOB?
Jan. 27 @ 6:30 PM CST - Jodi Cataldo, Director of Laity in Leadership
Local Church Lay Leaders and Lay Members to Annual Conference have a role and responsibility to promote the role of laity as we work to fulfill our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In partnership with clergy, lay servant ministries, the local church and the annual conference, the work of local church lay leaders and lay members to annual conference have significant potential for increased vitality throughout The United Methodist Church.

Upcoming Events

December
     24: Christmas Eve - Office open until 11:30
     25: Merry Christmas!
     28-31: Carlo on vacation
     31: New Years Eve - Office open until 11:30

January
     1: Happy New Year!
     3: First UMC Ketchikan UMC Church Conference
     9: UMC of Sitka Church Conference
     10: Aldersgate UMC Church Conference
     10: Douglas Community UMC Church Conference
     11: Anchor Park UMC Church Conference
     12-14: Carlo in Portland for GNW Cabinet meeting
     17: First UMC Fairbanks Church Conference
     17: Carlo visiting New Hope Methodist Presbyterian Church
     19: East Anchorage UMC Church Conference
     21-25: Carlo in Portland for Briefing of First Elected to General Conference and DCM Meeting
     28-31: Carlo in Cal/Nevada Conference for WJ Mission Cabinet meetings

February
     7-9: Carlo in Seattle for GNW Cabinet meeting
     18-19: Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity (CCCG) at UMC of Chugiak
     19-20: Winter Rendezvous meetings at East Anchorage UMC
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