e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
LOCAL NEWS
A Greeting from Bishop Elaine Stanovsky
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky offers a short video message to the people and churches of the Greater Northwest Area as she begins her service as episcopal leader.  We look forward to seeing how God is at work in our world.

 Watch the video message
Fall Rendezvous Dates and Welcoming Event for Bishop Stanovsky
Save the Date
Make sure that you put October 14-15 on your calendar if you are on a conference committee.  We will be holding the Fall Rendezvous at the Conference office starting Friday afternoon and ending Saturday at lunch. An event is being planned to welcome our new Bishop, Elaine Stanovsky, on Friday evening.  Committees are requested to plan their meetings for either before the welcoming event on Friday or plan to meet Saturday morning. Registration information has been sent out so if you did not get it, please contact the conference office. Prior to the Rendezvous meetings, the Professional Church Workers Retreat will take place from October 12-14.
2016 CROP Hunger Walks begin
CROP Hunger Walk
The 2016 Anchorage CROP Walk will be held this Sunday, September 25, 2016 at First Congregational Church, 2610 E. Northern Lights Blvd.  Registration begins at 12:45 p.m. and the Walk starts at 1:30 p.m.  The Post-Walk Celebration with live music and home-made treats begins at 2:30 p.m. 
 
CROP Hunger Walks are community fundraising events sponsored by Church World Service (CWS). Twenty-five percent of the money raised in our CROP Hunger Walk is distributed to local hunger-alleviating agencies. This year's agencies are F.I.S.H. (Fellowship in Serving Humanity) and the Lutheran Social Services of Alaska Food Pantry.  There will also be a food drive on the day of the Walk to benefit the Food Bank of Alaska.  

If someone from your church has not picked up the registration materials, please contact Dave Boling at 272-0615 to arrange a pick-up time.
Do You Need a VIM?
UMVIM If your church or ministry is in need of a Volunteer in Mission team for next year, please contact Rev. Daniel Wilcox, UMVIM Coordinator for Alaska at 907.414.7078, or danielpwilcox@gmail.com.  We would like to have teams and projects matched up by the end of September.  Teams are able to do construction, Vacation Bible School, general upkeep, and other various projects.  The more quickly we know what is available, the more quickly you can start planning.
The Sisterhood of Quilters - Retreat
What a summer South Central Alaska has had! So many sunny days, who could stay inside to sew? Are you behind on your projects because you have been camping, fishing or hiking? It is time to start catching up. Come out and join us for a fun filled weekend! The quilt retreat has reached 40!!!! 40 years... with life's ups and downs, quilting weaved our lives together.  The retreat will be held September 22-25, 2016 at Laverne Griffin Youth Camp in Wasilla.  It will start Thursday at 3:30 pm.


Sponsored by Anchor Park United Methodist Women (UMW).
United Methodist Women Annual Gathering 2016
United Methodist Women's Annual Gathering is always a great event and wonderful opportunity to gather with other United Methodist Women throughout the state. We hope you will join us October 7-9 at Anchor Park United Methodist Church in Anchorage.  Attached is a copy of the 2016 Annual Gathering registration form that can be filled out online or printed off and sent in.

Here is the newsletter with all the information for the event.
 
Contact Bonnie Miller, President, if you have any questions!
NATIONAL NEWS
Leaders' Summit to Focus on Cultivating Vital Congregations
Vital Congregations
As a new quadrennium begins for The United Methodist Church, U.S. episcopal leaders and their extended cabinets will gather in Jacksonville, Fla. November 2-4, 2016 to focus on building strong and vital congregations. Similar gatherings will be held in Europe, the Philippines and two locations in Africa.
The bishops will lead the learning experience, the purpose of which is "to start the new quadrennium in a focused and disciplined way on the mission of cultivating vital congregations that make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

"We gather as a new quadrennial team of leaders whose primary task is to cultivate vital, healthy congregations to the end of making disciples and changing lives, our communities and the world," said Bishop Bruce Ough, president of the Council of Bishops.

The Council of Bishops has made a commitment to work toward increasing the number of vital congregations, churches that are engaged in developing principled Christian leaders, creating new places for new people, engaging in ministries with the poor, and improving global health. Over the next four years, the goal is to double the number of vital congregations.

While sharing knowledge and experiences regarding vital congregations is the central purpose of the Extended Cabinet Summit, participants will also get an update on progress toward forming the Commission on A Way Forward and related matters.

"As we gather, there will be much on our minds, and the minds of our leaders, regarding the tensions we face in our church. Much has transpired since we first proposed and began planning for this Summit," said Bishop Ough, referring to the direction taken by the General Conference on human sexuality and the subsequent actions since that time. "We need to acknowledge this context."

"Because we are a new Council team and many of our conference teams are also newly configured, we need to remember the "why" of our work and how far we have come," added Bishop Ough. "For those of us who have been engaged in this task for some time, we need to remember and claim again our purpose and priorities. For those new to our leadership tables, they need to know the work they are joining. Together, we need to imagine and be open to the ways in which the Holy Spirit will guide our next steps."
Save the Date: #GivingTuesday - November 29
We are excited to let you know that plans are underway for this year's UMC #GivingTuesday!

On Nov. 29, you can extend the spirit of giving thanks into the Advent season again by participating in UMC #GivingTuesday. When you give online through The Advance at www.umcmission.org/give, 100 percent of your gifts goes directly to the project of your choice. 

The Advance remains committed to sustaining a strong foundation that allows projects and missionaries to build relationships and empower ministries. Over the past years, we were fortunate to offer matching funds to motivate giving. This year, while matching funds will not be available, we remain confident that your supporters will continue their commitment to your ministry. To keep this momentum going, The Advance continues to allocate 100 percent of all giving to the designated project and missionary. 

Through The Advance, United Methodists can give to more than 800 United Methodist-related projects worldwide. Donors can also provide support for more than 300 missionaries. The projects meet a range of needs, from helping survivors cope with natural or civil disasters to helping establish new faith communities, feed and educate children, and equip hospitals and clinics.
Shake and Bake: Western Jurisdiction Disaster Response Academy
Anyone interested in attending this event, March 10-13, 2017 in Ontario, California, please speak with Pastor Dan Wilcox, Disaster Response Coordinator for the Alaska Conference.  For more information, please see the Western Jurisdiction website.  This is for anyone interested in Disaster Response, or how UMCOR works, or anything else about how we respond as United Methodists in times of disasters.
Disaster Preparedness Month
Disaster Preparedness
September is recognized as National Preparedness Month (NPM) which serves as a reminder that we all must take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, and also where we visit. Due to the success of last year's theme, "Don't Wait, Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today," will be returning again this September with a continuing emphasis on preparedness for youth, older adults, and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.  Thank you for taking time to help make America more prepared for emergencies.

If you don't have current plans to recognize Disaster Preparedness month, maybe some of the information on the National Preparedness website will provide some ideas that will be simple to implement. 

https://www.ready.gov/september

Thank you for all you do!
World Communion Sunday is October 2
Our church is at its best when we reach out to sisters and brothers in need. World Communion Sunday calls the church to reach out to all people and model diversity among God's children. United Methodists relate to World Communion Sunday by celebrating communion with other Christians around the world on this special Sunday. Churches are also encouraged to receive an offering to support ethnic undergraduate and graduate students. Our gifts often enable first-generation students to attend college.

Download a free eBook.
Download the World Communion Sunday pastor's kit.

Order leaflet offering envelopes and posters to enhance your World Communion Sunday celebration at www.umcgiving.org/ss or call 888-346-3862.
CONFERENCE CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER
19-21: GNW Cabinet Retreat - Carlo attending
22-25: Quilt Retreat at Laverne Griffith Youth Camp
25: CROP Hunger Walk - Anchorage area

October
2: World Communion Sunday
4-5: GNW Cabinet meeting in Seattle - Carlo attending
7-9: UMW Annual Gathering at Anchor Park UMC
12-14: Professional Church Workers Retreat
14: Welcoming Worship for Bishop Elaine Stanovsky
14-15: Fall Rendezvous Meetings at Conference Center
19-22: GBGM Board Meeting in Atlanta - Carlo attending
26: Charge Conference - Palmer UM Fellowship
27: Charge Conference - Christ First UMC
29: Charge Conference - Aldersgate UMC
30: Charge Conference - Douglas Community UMC

November
2-4: Extended Cabinet Summit in Jacksonville, FL - Carlo attending
6: Daylight Savings Time ends
6: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC
8: Election Day
9: Charge Conference - Unalaska UMC
13: Charge Conference - Jewel Lake Parish
14-16: Crystal on vacation
14-15: GNW Cabinet meeting in Portland - Carlo attending
16: Charge Conference - UMC of Chugiak
18: Charge Conference - Seward UMC/ Moose Pass UMC
19: Charge Conference - Kenai UMC
19: Charge Conference - North Star UMC
20: Charge Conference - Girdwood Chapel UMC
24: Thanksgiving Day - Office Closed
29: UMC #GivingTuesday campaign
Conference Office Email Address has Changed
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We have begun the process of changing the conference office email from umc@gci.net to alaskaumc@gmail.com.  For workflow ease, we are consolidating everything to the Google platform (email, calendar, etc.).  Please update your address books/contacts lists and start using alaskaumc@gmail.com for your emails to the conference. Carlo's email (carlorapanut@gmail.com) will remain the same.
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Upcoming
Clergy Birthdays

September 22: Won Jea Keum
September 28: Darla Bradley

October 8: Andy Bartel
October 10: Luke Jones
October 18: Dan Wilcox


Conference Office
907-333-5050

Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
Submissions - If you have an article or event that you would like to share with the rest of the conference, submit it to the conference office by Monday evening for consideration.
AUMC Logo Mission Statement:
The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  Held and supported by the transforming relationship with God through Christ, we of the Alaska United Methodist Conference seek to be a community that creates a home for all peoples, finds our hope through grace and journeys together into God's preferred future.
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