July - Northern Light United Church

Northern light united church news
JULY 2013
Phil’s Thoughts
The opening worship
at the recent United
Methodist Annual
Conference in Anchorage featured
“Stories of Hope”
about vital ministries
throughout the Conference. The ministries that were highlighted are community outreach in Nome,
a garden project in
East Anchorage, a
new missional community in the Anchorage area, and our
Juneau Youth Ministry Cooperative that I
was asked to speak
about. Here’s what I
said.
We can do better together
than any of us can do
alone. We can be better
together than any of us
can be alone. Last year,
this conviction motivated
the three Juneau area
United Methodist affiliated congregations to form
Juneau Cooperative
Youth Ministries, a progressive, God seeking,
justice loving ministry of
fellowship and discipleship. The Douglas,
Northern Light and Aldersgate Cooperative
Youth Ministry, or
DNA as it is known,
provides a safe space to
Inside this issue:
ask questions, and a
nurturing environment for
faith development that is
outwardly focused on serving the community.
DNA is staffed by Allyn Steele, our intern
from the Vanderbilt Divinity School.
DNA does not tolerate
difference; it celebrates
diversity! It is a sign of
hope in a divided and
cynical world, and a beacon of light that shines
forth with God’s inclusive
joy and love. We are having a great year and look
forward to what the spirit
will bring forth in the
years ahead, not only for
the three churches, but for
possibilities for youth
engagement throughout
the Juneau community.
Cooperation, partnership,
commitment, unity, and
hope. It is in our DNA.
Thanks be to God for
this ministry we share.
The Youth Ministry
Cooperative is but
one of many ways we
work together with
others for the common good. I am encouraged by the great
beginning we are having this year for and
with youth in Juneau.
Allyn has provided
excellent leadership
and established a solid foundation upon
which we will continue to build. His last
Sunday morning at
Northern Light will
be July 21. I hope
that those of you
who are in Juneau
can be present to
thank him and wish
him well as he returns
to Vanderbilt to finish his ministry studies. In addition, plan
to attend Allyn’s going-away potluck
party on Sunday,
July 28, 5:30 at
Twin Lakes.
July Worship Information
2
Youth News
2
$25,000 Matching
Gift for Roof Received
3
Eagle River and Rain- 5
bow Glacier Camp
Opportunities
Annual Methodist
Conference Report
5
Camp Champ
6
Northern Light Worship-Time Well Spent
8
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NORTHERN LIGHT UNITED CHURCH NEWS
Page 2
Youth Corner
My parents visited this
past month, and their stay
in Juneau was rewarded
by the amazing weather
(HOT weather!) we’ve
been having. As we
shared coffee on their last
morning here in town,
they couldn’t stop talking
about the hospitality Juneau folks offered them.
They asked that I pass
along a big “Thank you!”
No matter the
narrative or its
cause, we can be
mindful that new
insights might
inspire us to see
all things as
new
Having visitors can have a
strange affect on how I
relate to a place. On the
one hand, it helps me
root myself more deeply
here in Juneau, even as I
prepare to leave in August. On the other hand, I
am left with more questions than answers, wondering where home is in
the first place.
Before I moved to Juneau, and before I started
seminary in Nashville,
Tennessee, I lived in a
town called Spartanburg,
South Carolina, a once-
bustling textile town that
sits in the foothills of the
Appalachian mountains. I
lived there for 10 years,
experiencing the community as a college student, a
school teacher, a community organizer, and, now,
as a former resident who
visits once or twice a year.
During my last few
months in Spartanburg, I
would embark on miniadventures in neighborhoods I hadn’t visited
before, often running into
unofficial sites of natural
or historic interest. Sometimes, I’d strike up a conversation with a resident
to get a better sense of
their relationship to the
town.
tunity to recognize the
multiple layers, dimensions, and realities of a
place that exist simultaneously. In other words, my
mobility comes with a
responsibility to shine a
light on the struggles and
successes of all kinds of
people. Sometimes, it requires action, but it mostly requires listening.
I learned two things from
those jaunts: (1) my ability
to walk around and
“experience” new places
is, in many ways, borne
from of a variety of privileges; and (2) what that
privileged mobility affords me is the oppor-
No matter the narrative
or its cause, we can be
mindful that new insights
might inspire us to see all
things as new.
What different—and perhaps new—narratives of
Juneau can we seek to
understand through experiencing the community
in a new way? Will it
come from a conversation, a walk, a new activity, a visit, or a new relationship?
Peace,
Allyn
Our Church Family
A Memorial Service for William D. (Bill) Overstreet will be held Monday, July 8 3:00-5:00 pm at the Centennial Hall.
July Worship Notes
July 7 – Paul Beran will be our guest preacher
July 14 – We will learn about the United Methodist Church’s “Imagine No Malaria” campaign and receive a special offering to support this effort.
July 21 – This will be our intern, Allyn Steele’s last Sunday at Northern Light. Communion will be celebrated.
Come bid Allyn farewell and give thanks for his wonderful work with us this year!
JULY 2013
Page 3
$25,000 Challenge Gift made to the Roof Campaign
Thanks to a Northern
Light member’s generous
offer, new financial gifts
in support of the church’s
Capital Campaign to replace the roof can now
double their value! A
member of our church
who wishes to remain
anonymous has pledged a
matching gift of up to
$25,000. Every roof
contribution received
between June 22 and
October 1 will be
matched dollar-fordollar up to $25,000.
Thus, if other contributors give $25,000, the
family will also give
$25,000, producing a
grand total of $50,000
toward the cost of replacing our roof.
As many of you have
heard previously, the roof
over the 11th Street addi-
tion to the church is leaking badly and is in need of
major repair. In addition,
the shingles over the entire structure need to be
replaced. In May, the congregation authorized the
expenditure for the roof
and we are in the midst of
a $250,000 capital drive to
fund the effort. Many
thanks all of you who
have already contributed
to the roof replacement.
This new matching gift
provides the opportunity
for others to give as well
as the occasion for those
who have given and are
able to consider a
“second mile” donation
to do so. The $50,000
that can be generated will
take us a long way toward
a successful completion
of the campaign.
Replacing our roof is a
large and complex project. The Committee on
Property Management is
working with our architect to seek the right contractor for the job. As we
go to press, it is not
known whether we will be
able to start the work yet
this summer, or do it in
its entirety first thing next
spring. Either way, your
gifts are needed and
greatly appreciated. To
contribute, you may make
a check to Northern Light
United Church with
“roof” in the memo line,
or call or email the church
office, 586-3131,
nluc@ak.net, to arrange
for a credit card donation.
Together, we can assure
that Northern Light United Church will remain a
warm and welcoming
place for all the wonderful things that happen
under our roof!
Together, we can
assure that
northern light
united church will
remain a warm and
welcoming place
for all the
wonderful things
that happen under
our roof!
NORTHERN LIGHT UNITED CHURCH NEWS
Page 4
Another way to support to Roof Campaign:
Buy Rhubarb Sherbet on the 4th of July
Friend and neighbor of Northern Light,
Marc Wheeler, will be selling rhubarb
sherbet and sorbet at Savikko Park (Sandy
Beach in Douglas) on the 4th of July as a
fundraiser for the church roof. Head on
over to Douglas after the parade and get
some! 90% of the profits will go to the
roof. If you would like to help with this
or have rhubarb to donate, please contact
Marc, gommista.ak@gmail.com.
JULY 2013
Page 5
Report from the Alaska United Methodist Conference
by Averyl Veliz
Imagine No Malaria, Lay School of Theology, and Ethics Training Highlighted
As the Lay Delegate for the United Methodist side of Northern Light, I represented our congregation at the Annual Alaska Methodist Conference that was held in
Anchorage on May 30-June 1. St. John’s United Methodist Church is the largest
Methodist congregation in Alaska, and was extremely hospitable and accommodating;
they lent me a car, had fantastic care for Vincenzo (including his naps), wonderful
food, and great fellowship.
Healthy Boundaries & Sexual Ethics
I arrived a day early to participate in Pastor Phil’s Healthy Boundaries & Sexual Ethics Training class. To paraphrase a comment from a pastor at my table, “You
don’t have any control over other people’s boundaries, so it’s important to know and
set your own boundaries.” We discussed issues about setting limits to avoid being
taken advantage of or overworked, as well as how to heed warning signs that we may
be close to crossing the line intimately with a congregant or person we have power
over. A truly interesting conversation arose when we started talking about the use of
Continued on page 7
Rainbow Glacier Camp
Rainbow Glacier Camp is a Christian Ministry located just outside of Haines, Alaska. The Camp is at the north end of the inside passage in South East Alaska. We are
4 1/2 hours north of Juneau by way of the
Alaska Marine Highway.
Rainbow Glacier Camp is a non-profit organization committed to providing an exciting,
quality camping experience. We program 6
weeks of camp for a variety of age groups and
have a few weeks of guest groups using our
facilities.
camping experience for your child, send
them to Rainbow Glacier Camp!
Summer 2013 Calendar
July 8-12 High School Camp
(entering 9th grade - recent graduates) $195
July 15-19 Sonshine Day Camp ages 5
-8 $120
For more info go to
http://www.rainbowglaciercamp.com
When you are considering a Christ-Centered
Eagle River United Methodist Camp
2013 Summer Camp Dates:
Discovery Counselor Training: July 12-13
Discovery Camp for those entering 3rd grade to 8th grade: July 14 -19 $175
To register, pick up registration forms at the church office, or for more info
go to http://www.methodistcamp.org
NORTHERN LIGHT UNITED CHURCH NEWS
Page 6
Camp Champ 2013 a Success
Some 53 campers and 20
caring staff had Eagle
River Methodist Camp
rocking and rolling for
four days in June. Camp
Champ is a camp for
young people in challenging life circumstances
who otherwise would not
have a camp experience.
This year’s theme “Finding
the Hero Within” was
launched with Tlingit Elder David Katzeek’s cultural story telling of how
every child was gifted
with intelligence, courage
and knowledge. The
camp was sponsored by
Eagle River United Methodist Camp, Juneau
School District and Cath-
olic Community Services.
A generous grant from
the Juneau Community
Foundation – Blue Herron Fund and many generous individual donations made this a great
camp for so many deserving kids.
JULY 2013
Page 7
Alaska United Methodist Conference cont. from page 5
social media in the church, particularly
with Facebook. It seemed to me that
there were just as many pros as there
were cons. Most older members don’t
have computer access or a Facebook account; most younger members depend
almost solely on social media for their
information. It brings people together to
know what’s going on throughout the
week; but, it also reveals too much and
becomes a gossip chain.
Who is
“friended”; what if you want to
“unfriend” someone for whatever reason,
but you still have the awkwardness of
seeing them in church every Sunday?
The end result is that we clearly need to
set boundaries within our church regarding what can be and cannot be posted,
who can be included, and who’s in charge
of managing the site.
Imagine No Malaria
Nationally, the United Methodist
Church has decided to push a campaign
called Imagine No Malaria. As Americans, especially as Alaskans, we don’t
have to imagine no malaria, because most
likely neither ourselves nor anyone we
know has ever had the disease. But
worldwide, most particularly in SubSaharan Africa, malaria kills one person
every 60 seconds - mostly children and
pregnant women. This is a preventable
disease! UMC is working hard with our
partners (United Nations Foundations,
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria) to educate people in
dangerous areas, raise money, and provide nets so they can sleep safely. The
mosquitoes that carry malaria mostly attack after dark, striking their victims
while they sleep. Just the use of nets
alone has reduced the death rate of one
every 30 seconds in 2010 when the initiative was launched to one every 60 sec-
onds recorded at the end of 2012. (It
was noted that we might be even closer
to one every 90 seconds half way through
2013.)
On Sunday, July 14, our worship will
feature the Imagine No Malaria campaign with a video and take-home information. We will also be collecting a special offering to send to UMC to buy and
distribute mosquito nets. The Alaska
Conference has pledged to raise $30,000
between now and the next conference in
June 2014. We are one of the larger congregations in the state, and we would like
to set a pledge goal of $1500 for Northern Light.
Lay School of Theology
Every year there is an opportunity in the fall to attend the Lay School of
Theology. This year, it is being held at
St. John’s in Anchorage (the same wonderful church who hosted the conference) September 20-21. Through one of
two education courses, you would be exploring issues of spirituality, theology,
religion, and church leadership with faculty from Perkins School of Theology in
Dallas, Texas. This would be an excellent course for anyone interested in spiritual and/or theological leadership, including our wonderful laity (fellow congregant members) who have provided
Sunday sermons.
Registration is $65, or $75 at the door. If
you pre-register, the conference has set
aside funds to cover travel expenses.
Please come see me, or contact me directly if you’re interested in attending. I
have flyers with registration forms available.
Averyl Veliz
Cell: 310.962.8492
averylveliz@gmail.com
NORTHERN LIGHT UNITED CHURCH NEWS
Page 8
Time Well Spent
Thankfully, our
collective
praying gave me
hope that
Time. On a personal level it may be our most valuable resources. There is
never enough of it. Each
of us has so many ways to
use it. Moreover, many
of those choices seem so
important. How to sort
out these competing demands?
change for the
good can happen
During a recent Sunday
worship service at Northern Light, I was reminded
again how valuable that 2
hours of my week is. On
a value-returned for timespent basis: it was the
most valuable two hours I
spent that week.
During the 5 to 10
minutes of the children’s
moment, Pastor Phil totally connected with the
group of children gath-
ered around him (and the
congregation as a whole
(the sanctuary was dead
silent during the last half
of the moment)). In his
quiet, loving, and eloquent way, Phil focused
on the connection between parents and children. I was, literally, on
the verge of tears.
15 minutes later I was
totally caught up in another of Phil’s engaging
and originally thoughtful
sermons (this time about
justification through faith)
with no simplistic answers
for life but definitely connected to the serious issues of my (and our) life.
By the end of the sermon
I felt ready to go out into
the world and, in my own
way, try again to translate
important human values
in which I believe into
daily living.
The prayer time following
the sermon reminded me
that real people have lives
which are far from simple
or easy -- loaded with
pain and suffering as well
as joy. Thankfully, our
collective praying gave me
hope that change for the
good can happen.
Is going to Sunday worship service at Northern
Light a silver bullet for
my life? Hardly. Did I
gain more than the 1% of
my weekly time which I
invested in coming?
Many, many times over.
Jim Alter
JULY 2013
Page 9
United Methodist Women’s Reading Program
There is an opportunity
for women of Northern
Light to participate in the
United Methodist Women’s Reading Program.
Books fall into five categories - Education for
Mission, Nurturing for
Community, Social Action, Spiritual Growth
and Leadership Development. Currently we are
reading “In Our Backyard” a disturbing look at
human trafficking.
There is always an emphasis on social justice
and how our Christian
faith can respond.
The reading group is
meeting on Wednesdays
at 6:30pm at the church.
If you received a book or
are interested in joining
this new endeavor we will
be meeting again on July
10 at 6:30pm at the
church. We will be
choosing a new book
soon so We need to know
how many to order. You
can contact Marion
Gotschall at 586-3132 or
gotschall@gci.net to get a
book.
June’s Giving Swinging Positive
Congregational giving in
support of day-to-day operations has taken a big
swing to the positive during the first three fourths
of June. In sharp contrast
to May, as of June 23,
operational giving during
June is about $1800 greater than the 2013 budget
assumed it would be. (In
May the giving was about
$5100 less than what it
was budgeted to be.)
Obviously, it is still prem-
ature to talk about giving
for the whole month of
June. But, on the basis of
the first 4 Sundays in
June: the month could
very well be the most
over budget of any month
this year.
Thanks to all who have
helped make June’s giving
so strong.
In spite of the strong giving in the first part of
June, cumulative giving
for the whole of 2013 (as
of June 23) is still about
$3300 below what is was
budgeted to be at this
point in time. Giving
similar in strength to what
was given in June for the
next two months will
bring our year-long giving
for 2013 back to its budgeted level -- thereby assuring that all of our
planned 2013 programs
will continue for the remainder of the year.
Recycling aluminum to benefit ERUMC
The last batch of donated aluminum cans and copper brought in $313 to benefit Eagle River United Methodist Camp! Thank you to all who donated. We are seeking
to continue this effort-pick up, sort and take to the buyer. Call Don Gotschall, 5863132 if you can help. Donations can be left in the bin in the parking lot of our
church.
NORTHERN LIGHT UNITED CHURCH NEWS
Page 10
Birthdays
1
Laura Doogan
2
Lillian Austin
3
Joseph Johnson
14
Kate Burkhart
21
Isaac Schlosser
Rachel Sanders
24
Corrine Conlon
Logan Sanders
26
Julie Williams
Myra Munson
15
John Borbridge
27
Myrna McKinley
5
Gerald Gotschall
17
Mike Miller
28
Flora Beierly
6
Nico Bus
18
Dabney Meachum
29
J Allan MacKinnon
10
Eleanor Dailey
11
Sara Paddock
19
Kathleen Jensen
Chuck Blankenship
20
Megan Sincic
12
Hunter Meachum
Roger Allington
Kevin Araki
Curt Stanghill
30
Jenifer Shapland
Kristy Germain
31
Callahan Fowler
Thank yous
Many people and groups are involved in making sure
things happen at NLUC. Each month we would like to
recognize some of those individuals and groups for their
special services. Special thanks to:
Nico & Susan Bus, Jean Overstreet, Joy Lyon, Margie
Thomson, Pua Maunu, Karen Dillon, Rachael Sanders,
Carol Barril, Judith Maier; special thanks to Judy Knight
and Peggy Metcalf for organizing and setting up.
*Liturgists for June: George Partlow, Tom Perkins,
John Evans, Kelly Henriksen, and Peggy Sue Wright
*Thank you from Andi Story and Melody Millard:
“We give thanks for the opportunity to follow the example of Jesus who came to serve and all who served
alongside us. Thanks to those who helped set up and
put away tables and chairs, in particular KJ Metcalf who
does this often. Thanks to Su Alexander and Alicia
Saulnier for providing fresh fruit and delicious baked
goods and helping set up, serve, and clean; thanks to
Betsy Brenneman for the lovely fruit salad; also to Peggy
Barnhill for her sharing her great snickerdoodle cookies;
and Marc Wheeler for the fantastic rhubarb sherbet! And all others who helped serve and pitched in to
clean. Many hands make light work! It was a joy to
serve with you!”
*Greeters/ushers for June: Olga Lipson, Karen Lipson, Betsy Brenneman, Carol Barril, Marianne Mills, and
George Partlow
*Tom Perkins, Carol Barril and Don & Janet Kussart
who assembled the June newsletter
*Refreshment hosts for June: Andi Story, Melody
Millard, Myra Munson, Jean Ann Alter, Peggy and KJ
Metcalf, and King Island Christmas
*Those who provided flowers: Dean Williams family,
Gail O’Dell, Carol Barril, and Kate Burkhart
*All Northern Lighters who helped with the CelebraIf you have a suggestion for a thank you, call Christina at the
tion of Life service and reception for Dean Williams:
church office, 586-3131 or e-mail her at nluc@ak.net.
Save the date—October 26, 2013 CCW Bazaar
In just 4 months it will be time for the bazaar and we need all the help we can get to make it another success. Last
year so many crafted, helped, bought, baked, and gave in to raise funds for missions world-wide. Please consider
helping again! Put October 26 on your calendar and let Judy Knight, 586-9562, how you can help. Thank you!!!
july 2013
Page 11
Sun
JULY 2013
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1 11 Lifering
2
3 Noon ACOA
4
5
6
5:30 Chancel Choir
Noon-? Rhubarb
sherbet roof fundraiser Savikko
Park
7 Men's Breakfast
9am Bartlett Dads
11
12
12 Bartlett Toddlers 2:30 Guo Xia Violin Lessons
4:00 Girl Scouts
5:00 AYC
7:00 Haven House
5:15 JPPJ
7:00 Young Adult
Group—at Veliz’s
5:30 OA
Noon ACOA
4:00 Heartstrings
7:00 KIC
7
8
10:00 Worship Paul Beran
preaching
11 Lifering
5:30 Youth Douglas
14
9
10
2:30 Guo Xia Vio12 Bartlett Toddlers lin Lessons
7:00 Young Adult
4:00 Girl Scouts
Group—at Veliz’s
5:15 JPPJ
Noon ACOA
7 Men's Breakfast
5:30 Chancel Choir
Noon ACOA
13
4:00 Heartstrings
5:30 OA
15
10 :00 Worship - 11:00 Lifering
“Imagine No
12 Bartlett Toddlers
Malaria”
5:15 JPPJ
5:30 Youth 5:30 SPRC
Aldersgate
5:30 OA
16 Noon CPM
17
18
19
2:30 Guo Xia
Noon ACOA
7 Men's Breakfast
7:00 Young Adult
Group—at Veliz’s
5:30 Chancel Choir
5:15 Glory Hole
Board Meeting
5:30 AYC Board
20
Noon ACOA
4:00 Heartstrings
7:30 JLO
All Week Girl Scout Day Camp 9:-00-5:00
21
22
10 :00 Worship - 11:00 Lifering
23 Newsletter
Deadline
24
25
26
Noon ACOA
5:00 AYC
7 Men's Breakfast
12 Bartlett Toddlers 2:30 Guo Xia Violin Lessons
5:00 AYC
5:00 AYC
5:15 JPPJ
7:00 Young Adult
5:30 OA
Group—at Veliz’s
5:00 AYC
7:30 JLO
Noon ACOA
28
29
31
10:00 Worship
11:00 Lifering
Allyn Steele’s
last Sunday
5:30 Youth NLUC
5:30 Chancel Choir
4:00 Heartstrings
7:30 JLO
5:00 AYC
27
JPPJ - Juneau People for Peace & Justice
30
3:00 AYC Concert
2:30 Guo Xia Vio12 Bartlett Toddlers lin Lessons
7:00 Young Adult
5:00 AYC
Group—at Veliz’s
5:15 JPPJ
5:30 Allyn Party
5:30 OA
11:00 Deacons
Noon ACOA
5:00 AYC
5:30 Chancel Choir
OA - Overeaters Anonymous
ACOA - Adult Children of Alcoholics
CPM - Committee on Property Management
AYC Alaska Youth Choir
JLO Juneau Lyric Opera
NONPROFIT ORG
Northern Light United Church
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
400 West Eleventh Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1512
JUNEAU, AK
PERMIT NO. 13
Address Service Requested
Downtown at 11th and ‘A’ Street
T: (907) 586-3131
Email: nluc@ak.net
Pastor: Rev. Phil Campbell
E-mail: nlucpastor@ak.net
Intern: Allyn Steele
E-mail: youthprogram@gci.net
Now broadcasting Sunday Services at
https://new.livestream.com/nluchurchjuneau.
Sermons, newsletters and Juneau Empire articles also
can be found on our website: northernlightchurch.org
or you can find us on face book.
Summer Worship schedule
in effect
10:00am Worship
Breakfast to follow
(Sunday morning classes don't
meet in the summer)