February Link 2016 - Anchor Park United Methodist Church

A N e w s le t t e r o f A n c h o r Pa r k U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h
Feb r u a r y 2 0 1 6
OUR LENTEN JOURNEY
Lent is the period of time, a season of preparation for Christians that leads us to the
holy celebration of Easter. Easter is the holy
day upon which all our being rests. It's the
day that we celebrate new life, ultimate
hope, and the hope of resurrection.
Pastor’s Report
2
New Single Board
3
Leadership 2016
3
Calendar
4
Idita-Walk
5
Ways to Connect
6
Youth Ministry
6
United Methodist Women
7
UMCOR
8
Ash Wednesday Service
As in years past we will begin Lent with an
Ash Wednesday service. The service of ashes is a long held tradition in the church that
dates back to the 6th century. Wednesday,
February 10 at 12 noon we will celebrate
the imposition of ashes as we begin the
journey of Lent. I hope you will join us.
make any difference?” Our study is a videobased curriculum that goes hand-in-hand
with the book. Books and study guides are
available through the office, or through
Cokesbury.org. If you would like to purchase
a book, a study guide or both, please let us
know. You can also download the book for
your Kindle or IPad.
Lenten Communion Service
Also during Lent we will be doing something
we have never done before. Beginning on
Sunday, February 14th we will have a 9:00
AM worship service. The worship service will
be a time of music, prayers, and the celebration of Holy Communion each week. I hope
you will plan on attending.
Lenten Study
Beginning on Wednesday, February 17, we
will begin our six-week Lenten study on pray- I am looking forward to our Lenten journey
er. This will start at 5:30 as we share a meal this year. I hope you are too.
together before our study. This year study
will be based upon the book “Prayer; Does it
Our Pastor:
Doug Handlong
pastordoughandlong@gmail.com
PASTOR’S REPORT2015 CHURCH CONFERENCE
January 11, 2016
The Newsletter is published
monthly. Articles and material
should be to the church office by
the 21st of each month.
We encourage you to send
material electronically if you can.
You may email Patti, the Office
Administrator at:
office@anchorpark.org
some evaluation and asI give thanks to God for the opportunity to
sessment of
continue to serve as your pastor here at An- ourselves
chor Park. We live and serve in a great com- and of the community and having strategic
munity and I receive it as a privilege to do so. conversations around ministry in the comWhat a great gift.
munity.
As I consider our ministry together, I am inspired and blessed as I look ahead to the
coming year.
This year in the spring we completed our two
year process that was the Beta Vitality project. We began in the fall of 2013 and in and
through this process we accomplished some
important work. Process involved doing
Conversations were focused around small
group ministry, becoming a welcoming
church, who is my neighbor, how do we tell
our story, and generosity.
These holy conversations prompted us to
consider things that we hadn't considered
before.
Continued on page 2
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PASTORS REPORT-CONTINUED
February 2016
FROM PAGE
They also prompted us to think about some things in a new
way, thus giving us some traction to move forward.
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God’s people. Although formal action and decisions about
full inclusion to all people can only be made by the General
Church Conference (meeting in May of 2016 in Portland), we
at Anchor Park can always do better in broadening the circle
and being more welcoming to more people
During the latter half of this past year, your Church Council
appointed a task force to begin doing some important work
as we restructured the leadership for 2016. A single board
governance task force was formed. This body evaluated our
current Church Council structure, did research, collaborated
and recommended that we move forward with adopting a
new structure, although not very different from our existing
structure.
The single board model is one that includes a large board,
and an executive committee. We also plan on using Town
Hall meetings to get greater feedback from more members
at Anchor Park. It will provide a certain level of adaptability
and flexibility that will allow us to be more creative and faithfully live into our call to ministry. Your Church Council adopted this model to be used in the 2016 year and will evaluate
at the end of this year its feasibility and determine if we will
use it going forward.
2015 marked an 11% worship attendance increase over
2014. At the same, we continue to re-deploy families from
the Anchorage area to all over the world. Families going forward not only with the military but those finding that it's time
to live and serve in a different season in a different time in a
different place. We are grateful for all those who will forever
be with us in spirit, and have gone forward to shine and live
and serve elsewhere.
Finally this spring will mark an end to our Imagine No Malaria
campaign. Since October of 2013, we have raised over
$7,000 towards our $10,000 goal. Having met 75% of our
goal, we have contributed to the Annual Conference reaching
above and beyond the goal of $150,000. To date, the
churches of the Alaska Conference have raised in excess of
$175,000 and are on their way to a new goal of $200,000.
God bless you for your great work that is impacting Anchorage, Alaska, and the world.
The conversation around who is my neighbor is one that
stands out for me. Thinking not only of those who live immediately nearby but groups and communities that were in
proximity to us. Our neighbors include the Davenport Baseball Fields-home of City View Little League, Medical Park Plaza, Lake Otis Elementary, Wendler Middle school, Airport
Heights Elementary, the Eastridge Community, etc.
From that we have become more intentional with our neighbors at Airport Heights stepping up the mittens and the hats
that we have been giving monthly now. We are looking ahead
to see how we can strengthen and deepen that relationship
with Airport Heights Elementary, one of Anchorages poorest
schools. In 2016 we look forward to making a greater impact in the lives of our Airport Heights neighbors.
We are blessed to have a bridge built in the form of a parking lot rental from the Medical Park Plaza. Their reaching out
to us has opened doors of communication and partnership
that we are grateful for. We look ahead to how this relationship might grow.
Some conversation came around partnering with the Davenport Ballfields and the City View Little League. Little was
accomplished in the short 2015 baseball season. This year
is another year. I am excited about this possibility.
Important conversations also came out of our facilities assessment and being a welcoming church. Addressing issues
of safety around the parking lot prompted some very important work that led to the completion of that project in
2015. I cannot offer enough thanks and appreciation. For all
those who were a part of this process, and that includes all
of us, THANK YOU. Issues of exterior signage were also addressed in our Beta Vitality conversations. Along with the
parking completion came the construction and installation of
a new sign that is seen by an estimated 17,000 people per
day.
Thank you God and thank you Anchor Park for your good
work.
I am grateful also for the work of those at Anchor Park who
have challenged us to be more open and welcoming, loving, Pastor Doug Handlong
and serving of all people. The social justice committee under
the direction of Bob Mitchell, began prompting us to have
conversations about how we can be more welcoming to all
NEW SINGLE BOARD GOVERNANCE FOR 2016
This year we are trying something very new and different. Although, it's really not all that different. Some might call it a
grand experiment. What I am referring to is a single board
model of governance which we have adopted for 2016.
What it amounts to for us at Anchor Park is a restructuring of
our Church Council to oversee our ministries in a different
way.
In the past, various committees would meet sometimes
monthly to oversee their work. Trustees would do work over
property, finance over money matters, Staff Parish oversees
personnel matters. These groups will still in fact exist, but will
do their work as a part of a larger body, a single board.
The single board model is adaptable, flexible, and I believe
more efficient.
This larger body will meet quarterly, with a smaller executive
committee that will meet in between meetings to oversee the
P age 3
monthly work of the church. Another exciting
element of this model is the opportunity for
Town Hall meetings twice a year. We are looking
forward to one in the spring, and one in the fall
where we can engage the larger congregation in
conversation around the mission and ministry
of Anchor Park.
It is an exciting time at Anchor Park and I look
forward to how this model will empower us and
free us to do greater ministries together. Be-
low is the nominations sheet that shows the
officers elected to the new structure. If you
have questions don't hesitate to contact Pastor
Doug, or your Council Chair, Judy Pendleton.
We are looking forward to this journey together.
Pastor Doug
LEADERS FOR 2016
Full Board consists of the following 19 members:
Meets quarterly
1.
Pastor
Doug Handlong
2.
Council Chair
Judy Pendleton
3. Trustees – All 3 members
Ben Fish(16) Mike Stichick(17) Matt Stichick(18)
4.
SPRC – All 3 members
Jim Allen(16); Makaleta Berry(17); TBA (18)
5.
Finance – All 3 members
Ruth Durr (16) chair; Bobbie Allen (17) Financial
Secretary; Owen Bell (treasurer)
6.
Tongan Representative
Loleini Saafi
7.
Lay Leader
TBA
8.
Lay Delegate to Annual Conference
Lupe Saafi
9.
UMW Representative
Nancy Mattson
10.
Social Justice Representative
Sheri Whitethorn
11.
Education Representative
Vicki Packer
12.
Worship Ministries Representative
Lupe Saafi
13.
Administrative Assistant (serves the role of
recording secretary)
Executive Committee consists of the following 8
members: Meets quarterly and as needed
1.
Pastor
Doug Handlong
2.
Council Chair
Judy Pendleton
3.
Trustee Chair
Ben Fish
4.
SPRC Chair
Jim Allen
5.
Finance Chair
Ruth Durr
6.
Tongan Representative
Loleini Saafi
7.
Lay Delegate to Annual Conference
Lupe Saafi
8.
Recording Secretary - Administrative Assistant of Anchor Park UMC will fulfill this role
Lay Leadership and Nominations
Pastor (chair)
Doug Handlong
Leadership team Chair
Judy Pendleton
SPRC Chair
Jim Allen
Lay Delegate to Annual Conference
Lupe Saafi
At Large Representative TBA (16)
At Large Representative TBA (17)
At Large Representative TBA (18)
Assistants to financial secretary (Counting, sorting
and deposits)
Ruth Durr
Dina Russ
Rita Spencer
Cindy Kirkham
Judy Pendleton Sherri Poling
Michelle Sims
Ben Fish
Eileen Benton
Our first meeting of the Full Board will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 6:30 PM.
CHOIR
NEWS
Wednesdays
Hand bell
Choir
6:00
Adult Choir
6:45
Thursdays
Children’s
Choir
5:45
P age 4
FEBRUARY 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
3
Thursday
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1
9:45 AM Sunday
School
10:00 AM Strong Women 1:00 PM Exercise
& Men Exercise Program
Group
1:00 PM Tongan
Worship
10:00 AM Strong
1:00 PM ExerWomen & Men Exer- cise Group
cise Program
4:30 PM Yoga
5:30 PM Boy
Scouts
2:00 PM Tongan
Bible Study
6:30 PM Fiber Fellowship
6:45 PM Choir Rehearsal
11:00 AM Worship
2
Wednesday
11:11 AM Prayer Group
6:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal
4
Friday
Saturday
5
6
10:00 AM
Yoga
10:00 AM Quilting
Group
5:45 PM Children's
Choir Practice
6:00 PM Tongan Choir
8:00 PM Men's AA
6:30 PM Men's Ping
Pong
7:00 PM Al Anon
7
8
9:45 AM Sunday
School
12:00 PM All
Church Potluck
10:00 AM Strong
1:00 PM ExerWomen & Men Exer- cise Group
cise Program
4:30 PM Yoga
5:30 PM Boy
Scouts
1:00 PM Tongan
Worship
6:00 PM Faithful
Paper Crafters
2:00 PM Tongan
Bible Study
6:30 PM Men's Ping
Pong
11:00 AM Worship
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10
11
12
13
1:00 PM Exercise
Group
Mission U
Event @
APUMC
Mission U Event @
APUMC
5:45 PM Children's
Choir Practice
6:00 PM Tongan Choir
8:00 PM Men's AA
10:00 AM
Yoga
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19
20
10:00 AM
Yoga
6:00 PM Tongan Choir
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10:00 AM
Yoga
6:00 PM Tongan Choir
4
5
10:00 AM
Yoga
10:00 AM Quilting
Group
10:00 AM Strong Women
& Men Exercise Program
11:11 AM Prayer Group
7:00 PM Al Anon
12:00 PM Ash Wednesday Service
6:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal
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15
16
17
9:45 AM Sunday
School
7:30 AM Bean's
Cafe`
1:00 PM Exercise Group
10:00 AM Strong Women 1:00 PM Exercise
& Men Exercise Program
Group
11:00 AM Worship
10:00 AM Strong
4:30 PM Yoga
Women & Men Exercise Program
11:11 AM Prayer Group
1:00 PM Tongan
Worship
2:00 PM Tongan
Bible Study
5:30 PM Boy
Scouts
5:30 PM Lenten Study &
Soup Supper
6:30 PM Fiber Fellowship
6:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal
6:30 PM Men's Ping
Pong
6:45 PM Choir Rehearsal
12:00 PM UMW Forgetme-not Circle
5:45 PM Children's
Choir Practice
8:00 PM Men's AA
7:00 PM Al Anon
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22
9:45 AM Sunday
School
12:15 PM UMW
Potlatch Circle
10:00 AM Strong
1:00 PM ExerWomen & Men Exer- cise Group
cise Program
4:30 PM Yoga
5:30 PM Boy
6:30 PM Full
Scouts
Board Meeting
1:00 PM Tongan
Worship
6:00 PM Faithful
Paper Crafters
11:00 AM Worship
2:00 PM Tongan
Bible Study
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24
25
10:00 AM Strong Women 1:00 PM Exercise
& Men Exercise Program
Group
11:11 AM Prayer Group
8:00 PM Men's AA
5:30 PM Lenten Study &
Soup Supper
7:00 PM Reading 6:00 PM Handbell ReGroup/ Barnes & hearsal
6:30 PM Men's Ping Noble
6:45 PM Choir Rehearsal
Pong
7:00 PM Al Anon
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29
9:45 AM Sunday
School
10:00 AM Strong Women 1:00 PM Exercise
& Men Exercise Program
Group
12:15 PM UMW
Girls at Heart Circle
10:00 AM Strong
1:00 PM ExerWomen & Men Exer- cise Group
cise Program
4:30 PM Yoga
5:30 PM Boy
Scouts
1:00 PM Tongan
Worship
6:30 PM Men's Ping
Pong
6:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal
2:00 PM Tongan
Bible Study
7:00 PM Al Anon
6:45 PM Choir Rehearsal
11:00 AM Worship
1
2
11:11 AM Prayer Group
5:30 PM Lenten Study &
Soup Supper
3
5:45 PM Children's
Choir Practice
8:00 PM Men's AA
6:00 PM Tongan Choir
P age 5
THANK YOU TO OUR LEADERS
Thank you to everyone who served in any
Pam Bell-Church Council Chair
leadership role during 2015. We appreciate Ben Fish– Chair of Finance Committee
all the ways you have served God through the
Michael Stichick –Chair of Trustees
church.
Don Hadley, Kathy McIntosh-Trustees
We want to say a special thank you to those Kathy Fakasiieiki-Lay Leader
who are stepping off committees. We espe- Judy Pendleton-Financial Secretary
cially appreciate your willingness to faithfully
answer the call to leadership and service.
We praise God for all
Those who have completed an area of lead- who faithfully serve
ership are:
as leaders in our
Mike Knapp– SPRC Chair
church.
Tom Packer, Loleini Saafi, Judy Pendleton &
Bill McIntosh-SPRC
Birthdays
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2
7
8
9
10
I D I TA - W A L K F U N D R A I S E R F O R N O M E
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
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14
16
17
21
24
25
26
27
Latu Tu’uholoaki
Jobe Berry
Dean Hyatt
Sue Gaston
Geneva Smith
Marta McCracken
Michelle Saafi
Deanna Platner
Don Hadley
Macy Whitaker
Raven Hamilton
Khloie Vea
Judy Pendleton
Kaylin Kirkham
Maria Shawback
Debbie Warner
Dina Russ
Tsuguo Arai
Alexander Linton
Nicholas Linton
Cathy Feaster
Jo Michalski
Sione Tu’uholoaki
Nia Chigach
Les Sheppard
Carolyn Downie
Viliami Malupo
CONNECT! COMMUNICATE! CELEBRATE!
Check out the church’s website at www.anchorpark.org
Like us on Facebook!
The monthly Link and the weekly Mini Link are posted to the website under
“Newsletter and Calendar”.
You can now listen to the audio of Sunday's sermons, they are posted to the
website under “Welcome”.
Sunday, February 7
following worship.
P age 6
February 2016
COME-STUDY-SERVE-PRAY-FELLOWSHIP-CONNECT!
Sunday School
Sunday mornings at 9:45am.
Classes for all ages.
Fiber Fellowship
Come and join this group of women, who knit
and crochet, for a time of prayer, devotions and
fellowship. This group meets on the 1st & 3rd
Mondays from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Beginners are
welcomed!
Faithful Paper Crafters
Join this group of scrap bookers and card makers! Meets on the 2nd & 4th Mondays from
6:00 - 8:00 pm. Come Join Us!
Strong Women Exercise
Mondays and Wednesdays at 10am & Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1pm
Yoga
Tuesdays at 4:30pm and Fridays at 10am–
bring your own mat and props
Children’s Choir
The children’s choir is open to kids ages 7-12.
Thursday evenings at 5:45- 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Take time to Pray…
Come join us in the Sanctuary at 11:11am
every Wednesday morning for prayer. If you’re
not able to join us in person, take a moment
wherever you are at 11:11 and join us in spirit
as you take a moment to pray.
Quilting Group
Are you a quilter? Come join us for our Quilting
Group the first Saturday of each month from
10:00 - 4:00 in the Tongan room. We also enjoy a pot luck lunch together. Bring your supplies and sewing machine and join the fun!
Men’s Ping Pong
Meets on Monday nights at 6:30pm. All men
invited to come play and fellowship.
~You are invited and encouraged to join any of
these groups!
Choir Schedule
Wednesday: Handbell Choir at 6:00 pm; Adult
Choir at 6:45pm. Consider joining the choir!
New Members always welcome!
YO U T H M I N I S T RY F U N ! ! !
We had a fun Lock-In last month on
Sunday night the 17th and woke up to
serve at Bean's Cafe on Monday morning. On the 24th we all went to see the
Ace's Game and many of the youth
brought their skates to "Skate with the
Aces" after the game.
We're currently taking orders for Sub
Sandwiches for Super Bowl Sunday! Please look for the Youth Table
after worship on Sunday to order your
subs for the big game or for a great
lunch too!
Youth Group in February ~
February 7th - we'll meet at 9:00 to
make our sub sandwiches and have
them ready for pick up after the worship
service
February 14th - We're having a Valentine's Day Party
February 21st - We're going ice skating! Hopefully to a lake but if the weather is bad, we'll go to the Dimond Center.
Thank you for all your support for the
Youth Group. We're looking forward to a
great year and a meaningful Mission trip
to Nome, Alaska this summer.
P age 7
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
A CIRCLE FOR EVERYO NE!
In February, the Potlatch Circle will meet for
lunch and a program about prayer beads on Sunday the 21st after worship. Childcare will be provided. A donation to cover the cost of lunch is
requested. RSVP on the Connect to help us know
how many to expect.
The ForgetForget-meme-not Circle will meet at noon in the
Lawhorn room on Wednesday the 17th. Bring a
brown bag lunch and enjoy a program.
Girls at Heart will meet on Sunday the 28th after church for lunch and an
activity.
All women are invited to join the United Methodist Women!
MISSION
U
EVENT SCHEDULED
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.
This event will take place at Anchor Park UMC. It
will be held February 12-13, 2016. The Early
FOR
G H
ANCHOR PARK UMC
Bird cost is $25. After February
5th and at the door, registration is
$30. Registration forms are in the
office, on the information table in
the back and on the UMW board.
This event is open to everyone men and women!
PROVIDING A MEAL FOR CLARE HOUSE 3RD SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH
Clare House is an emergency 24-hour shelter for
women with children and expectant mothers
(over 18). Residents receive daily meals and referrals for child care, substance abuse/mental
health, affordable permanent housing, employment and continuing educational opportunities.
Our Church will provide the dinner meal for the
Clare House on the 3rd Sunday of each month.
Next day will be Sunday, February 21. If you
ANCHORAGE RUN & WALK
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 assis-
would like to contribute to the
meal, please indicate your preferences on the Connect. You
may bring your donation on
Sunday morning and place it in the refrigerator
in the main kitchen marked Clare House. Call
Meghan Cornelison at 907-952-9741 or email
mecornelison@yahoo.com if you have any questions.
FOR
WARMTH
tance. 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.
ANCHOR PARK
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2300 Oak Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
"Open Hearts, Open Minds,
Open Doors “
Anchor Park UMC
2300 Oak Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Phone: 907-277-0152
Fax: 907-258-6038
E-mail: office@anchorpark.org
Office Hours: M-F 8:00 - 2:00
View the LINK online in
color at:
www.anchorpark.org
If you wish to only receive
the LINK electronically,
advise the office of your
decision.
80 countries, including the
United States. We provide
humanitarian relief when war,
conflict, or natural disaster
disrupt life to such an extent
that communities are unable
to recover on their own.
While UMCOR cooperates
with other aid organizations
The United Methodist Committee on Relief
to extend our reach, our most important
(UMCOR) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organizapartners are the people we serve. We are
tion dedicated to alleviating human sufferconfident that successful solutions to emering around the globe. UMCOR’s work ingency or chronic conditions begin with the
cludes programs and projects in disaster
affected population. UMCOR provides these
response, health, sustainable agriculture,
survivors not only temporary relief but longfood security, relief supplies, and more.
term education, training, and support.
UMCOR spends 100 percent of designated
UMCOR is a ministry of The United Method- donations on the projects our donors speciist Church through the General Board of
fy. When UMCOR donors give their time,
Global Ministries, and our goal is to assist
money, and supplies, they join UMCOR as
the most vulnerable persons affected by
the hands and feet of Christ.
crisis or chronic need without regard to their More information can be found at
race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. www.umcor.org
We believe all people have God-given worth
and dignity.
UMCOR’s work reaches people in more than