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e~Aurora (a weekly news update)
The Alaska United Methodist ConferenceFebruary 16, 2016
In This Issue
~1st Sunday Prayers
~CCCG & Winter Rendezvous
~GC Guide Available
~Need a VIM Team?
~Alaska and INM
~World Day of Prayer
~UMGAF Updates
~Food Drive Results
~Black History Month
~Run & Walk for Warmth
~One Great Hour of Sharing
~Idita-Walk Fundraiser
~UMW Quadrennial Meeting




ACS Print  

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



 

Upcoming  Clergy
 Birthdays!   



February 19 - 
Steve Fisher

March 11 - 
Sandra Hammett

March 21 - 
Nico Romeijn-Stout

March 25 -
Evelyn Erbele

March 29 - 
Doug Handlong




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.


1st Sunday Prayers - A Message from Bishop Grant Hagiya
Dear Friends and Colleagues in the Greater Northwest Area: 
 
Blessings to you in the name of Jesus Christ! May 2016 will soon be here, and during that time thousands of United Methodists from around the world will arrive in Portland, Oregon for General Conference. They will be coming to our Greater Northwest Area to worship, pray, and conduct the business of our church.  
 
As an Episcopal Area, we have the honor of serving as hosts. It will be a unique, unforgettable opportunity to be in fellowship with United Methodists who have traveled a great distance to be here. For us, it will be an chance to experience what it means to be a part of a truly global church.
CCCG & Winter Rendezvous
We want to thank the Tuell Center for making the upcoming Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity workshop possible.  The Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity workshop is being held this weekend at UMC of Chugiak.

The Winter Rendezvous meetings will be held after the CCCG event at East Anchorage UMC on February 19-20, 2016.
General Conference Guide Available Online
The 2016 General Conference Guide contains helpful information about the denomination's legislative assembly. Along with an overview, special events details and schedules, the 50-page guide also explains the legislative process, highlights major issues and offers basics about United Methodism. Compiled by the Rev. Joan Gray La Barr of Dallas and edited by United Methodist Communications staff, the resource is available as a PDF. Digital versions in French and Portuguese will follow.
Get this resource.
clasped-hands-sky.jpg Need a VIM Team?
There is a VIM team that is looking for placement in Alaska, potentially for August of this summer.  If your church is looking for help with a project or ministry, please contact Daniel Wilcox, danielpwilcox@gmail.com, 907.414.7078, Interim Conference VIM coordinator, so he can get you in touch with the group leader.
Alaska Highlighted in Imagine No Malaria News
The Alaska conference and two specific churches were highlighted in an article on the United Methodist Church's website.  Read the article here!
World Day of Prayer
Church Women United Alaska will celebrate World Day of Prayer on Friday March 4, 2016 at 11 a.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church (3230 Lake Otis Parkway, Anchorage, 99508).

The worship service was written by women of Cuba and the theme is "Receive Children, Receive Me".  For more info call Jan Wachsmuth at 862-0194.  Check out the website for World Day of Prayer 2016 www.wdp-usa.org.
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Newsletter
In February's UMGAF newsletter, you will find:

United Methodist Global AIDS Fund at General Conference
  • The 2016 General Conference of the UMC will be held May 10-20 in Portland, Oregon, and the UMC Global AIDS Fund (UMGAF) will be present! The day prior to the General Conference, the UMGAF will sponsor a one-day seminar. If you are planning on being at General Conference, please plan to join us for this exciting event.
A Snapshot from a Journey to India
  • India is a diverse country comprised of 1.27 billion human beings - 2.7 million living with AIDS - the third highest number worldwide next to South Africa and Nigeria. I traveled to this land in January 2016 to visit AIDS projects one of which received start-up funding from the UMC Global AIDS Fund.
On the Fast Track to End AIDS by 2030
  • This 2015 UNAIDS publication provides information country by country on what's happening to eradicate AIDS by 2030. Check out the projection data and how countries are progressing towards eradicating AIDS. This is an excellent resource filled with information local churches can use to inform members of what's happening around the globe.
Check out the newsletter update here!
Souper Bowl Cans
Carolina Pounds to Victory in Food Drive
The Panthers didn't prevail on the Super Bowl field, but their Carolina United Methodist fans can claim victory in another arena. No one lost in this competition between the Rocky Mountain and Western North Carolina conferences to feed the hungry. Michael Rich reports for the Western North Carolina Conference, and the Rev. Brad Laurvick reports for the Mountain Sky Episcopal Area.
Black History Month Resources from UMW
During Black History Month, please share: 
Anchorage Run & Walk for Warmth
For the past 6 years, First UMC Anchorage has partnered with United Way to help raise money that specifically goes to the 211 program in Anchorage.  This program helps families with financial support with utilities and rental assistance.  Their goal is to keep their neighbors housed and prevent family financial instability from ever reaching a crisis point!

The event will take place on February 20th at 9:00 at First UMC Anchorage.  Visit  http://bit.ly/RunWalkforWarmth to register yourself, form a team, or to just donate to the cause.
One Great Hour of Sharing - March 6
Now is the time to prepare for the One Great Hour of Sharing church-wide special Sunday.  You can get information specific to this special Sunday at umcgiving.org/oghs and download a free pastors toolkit for a series of resources so you can prepare, advertise and share the amazing opportunity of One Great Hour of Sharing with your congregation and social media audience.
Idita-Walk Fundraiser for Nome Community Center
The Nome Community Center, a UMW National Mission Institution,  is sponsoring the 1,049-minute walking event Idita-Walk, which draws participants from across Alaska, and around the globe.  Even your dog can participate in this walking event!

To participate in the Idita-Walk, keep track of how many minutes you walk per day on a paper form. Strive to reach the goal of 1,049 minutes - the same number of miles that sled dogs and mushers must trek across Alaska in order to reach the Iditarod finish line. If you walk an average of 35 minutes a day, you'll finish in 30 days. The Idita-Walk starts February 1st and ends March 31st.

The event benefits the Nome Community Center and all the services it provides Nome and the Bering Strait region, including the Nome Food Bank, the XYZ Senior Center, Nome Children's Home and Family Services.

It is $10 to register per person (or dog), $30 to register and order a T-shirt, and $50 to register and order a sweatshirt. If you're among the first 750 to sign up, you'll receive an official 2016 Idita-Walk pin upon registration
You can sign up for the 2016 Idita-Walk online at www.idita-walk.com.
UMW Quadrennial Meeting
The Western Jurisdiction Quadrennial Meeting for United Methodist Women will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah from April 22-24, 2016.  If you are interested in finding out more about the event or want to attend, click on the link above or visit their website www.wjumw.com.  Missionary Paul Jeffrey will have a special presentation during the Saturday evening banquet.

Upcoming Events

February
     18-19: Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity (CCCG) at UMC of Chugiak
     19-20: Winter Rendezvous meetings at East Anchorage UMC

March
     7-11: Carlo in Boise for GNW Cabinet meeting and NLI Conference
     13: Daylight Saving Time
     20: Palm Sunday
     21-23: Carlo in Seattle for GNW Cabinet meeting
     27: Easter Sunday
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