Coming December 15

Pastor Andy Bartel brings the message "Zephaniah's Song" this third Sunday of Advent. Services are at 8:00, 9:15 and 11:30 a.m. Watch services live or later on our YouTube channel. It's also Christmas Sweater Sunday! Wear your favorite holiday sweater to church - there might even be prizes.

Wednesday Night Supper

Join us Wednesday, Dec. 11, Uncle Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream. Wednesday Night Supper runs from 5:15 to 6 p.m., with a suggested donation of $10 per plate or $5 per half plate but please just pay as you can. This is the last Wednesday night of 2024 with supper and programming. All will resume Jan. 15.

Christmas brunch

Wednesday is the final day to purchase tickets for the St. John United Women in Faith Annual Christmas Brunch on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 9:30 a.m. We will again have music, fellowship, delectable treats and a silent auction to support our mission efforts. Tickets can be purchased in the office for $10. Additionally, UWF will be collecting baby food for donation to a local organization. Please bring baby food to St. John by Dec. 15.

Parent's Night Out

Need a date night? Let St. John youth watch your kids on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. RSVP with Pastor Autumn by Dec. 11. Suggested donation $40 per child/$80 per family. All proceeds support youth service projects.

LGBTQ+ holiday fun

The LGBTQ+ Outreach Team will be hosting its Christmas Party on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Pizza will be provided, and everyone is encouraged to bring sides, desserts, drinks, etc. All are welcome to join, so bring family and friends! We will play a fun game or two and enjoy each other's company. 

Giving Tree

Remember to return your gifts, unwrapped, by Dec. 15. There is a red bucket in the office collecting the gifts. Please check off your gift when you put it in the bucket. We will bless these gifts at the LGBTQ+ Christmas Party on Dec. 15. Covenant House staff will wrap the gifts and deliver them. Thank you all for responding so quickly to this expression of sharing God's light with our neighbors!!

Christmas Eve services

Christmas Eve services will be at 5, 7, 9, and 11 p.m. Creche-building will occur at the 5 and 7 p.m. services. The Praise Band will play at the 5 p.m. service. The St. John Choir will sing at 7 and 9 p.m. Harp music and communion will be at the 11 p.m. service. Evening candlelight will be at all services. The 5 and 7 p.m. services will be livestreamed.

Be like an elf and sort toys

The Salvation Army needs your help sorting and packing toy donations for 2,000 Anchorage children. They are packing toys at a rented warehouse then transferring them to one of their locations on distribution day. Volunteers are needed for 2-hour shifts on various days between now and Dec. 17 at 2100 Viking Drive. Older minors can volunteer with parents. Sign up here.

Vending machine giving

A Light the World Giving Machine will be at Dimond Center from Dec. 13-31. It will be located near the Dave & Buster's entrance facing Dimond Blvd. A Giving Machine is a vending machine with a twist - instead of getting a candy bar, you choose an item to give to local and international charity organizations. The Dimond Center machine will benefit Catholic Social Services, Downtown Hope Center, Love Inc. of the Kenai Peninsula, Lutheran Social Services, Challenge Alaska and iDE (International Development Enterprises) and UNICEF. The project is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Remembering veterans

In past years, Troop 210 has sold wreaths at St. John as a fund-raiser. This year, the Scouts are selling for Wreaths Across America. These are not wreaths for one’s home - they are for the National Cemetery at Fort Richardson. Currently the cemetery gets about 2,500 donated, which only cover about 1/4 of the headstones. Troop 210 is trying to help increase that, so that one day every site will have a wreath and memorialize everyone who has sacrificed for our country. Purchase a wreath here.

St. John UMC Advent Devotional

We are sending out a daily devotional for Advent this year. If you would like to write one, please contact Pastor Autumn at pastorautumn@stjohnanchorage.org.

Winter Youth Camp

December 27-30 is Winter Youth Camp at Birchwood. This is an awesome winter camp for middle school and high school students. Enjoy four days full of fantastic fellowship, food, snow and ice activities! The registration fee covers 10 delicious meals, plenty of snacks, lodging in the cozy (heated!) cabins and all the program & activities. Register for camp here.

It's pledge time

Please take the faithful step of making a plan for your giving this upcoming calendar year. Doing so helps us tremendously in planning the ministry of this congregation. Please know that you can change your pledge estimate at any time. Look for a yellow pledge card on Sunday or find the online form here.

Staff gift

We've all heard the saying "it takes a village." Here at St. John, we're blessed to have a wonderful team of clergy, program directors, office workers, music leaders, pre-school teachers, building maintenance crew, and audio-visual technicians. Our "village" simply would not be the well-oiled, dynamic, giving, and welcoming place that it is without them. To show our appreciation for the amazing job they have done this year, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee asks you to join us in making a special gift to the staff this Christmas season. This donation (designated “Staff Christmas Gift”) can be made either online or with a check mailed to the church office (1801 O’Malley Rd, 99507). Thank you!

- Pam Okeson, SPRC Chair

St. John is hiring

Childcare workers

• The program year is in full swing, and we need more childcare workers, especially adults. Do you enjoy 0–5-year-olds? Willing to serve once a month or more? Paid or volunteer and creative shifts negotiable! Contact the office to learn more.

Children's Ministry coodinator

• If you have interest in working with children at St. John (or know someone who does), please contact the church office.

Women's Retreat

Registration is now open for the Jan. 10-12 Women's Retreat at Mountain Streams Bed and Breakfast. The retreat will be a time for connection, reflection and spiritual growth. Registration will be maxed at 14 unless women are open to sleeping on top bunks. Then, registration can be expanded to 20. The cost for participants will be $125 per person. This includes two nights' lodging and 5 meals. 

Opportunity for young adults

Global Ministries Global Mission Fellows (GMF) program is now accepting new applications, for young adults ages 20-30 to be placed in social justice ministries for two years of service. The application deadline is January 15, 2025.

Who would be a great fellow? Someone who is

• A young adult between the ages of 20 to 30
• Willing to live outside their home context
• Called to put their Christian faith into action
• Dedicated to addressing systematic oppression and serving in solidarity with others
• Interested in having a living stipend and competitive benefits

Learn more at https://umcmission.org/become-a-fellow-international-track/

Save the date

Jan. 12 at 4 p.m. - St. John's annual Charge Conference. Please note the time change (previously 6 p.m.)

Biking Fellowship & Fun

Seven bikers hit the trails on Sunday despite the warm and rainy conditions. From left: Rose Lahdi, Scott Digert, Pastor Andy and Gary Dodson. The next St. John ride is Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. Photo by Don Hopwood

Youth Service Retreat

There is a youth service retreat Jan. 17-18. Retreat information and registration can be found here.

MLK Citywide Celebration

The MLK Foundation of Alaska invites the community to a holiday commemoration on Sunday, January 19th at 3pm at West High School.

Financial Peace University

If you've ever felt like you just can't get in control of your money, you're not alone. You'd be surprised how many people you know are struggling just like you. But it's time for your struggle to end. Join us on Wednesday evenings for a nine-session class beginning January 29, 2025 through April 16, led by coordinators Katie and Dan Marshall. Together we'll learn how to pay off debt, save more money, and build wealth. Child care is available. View the full schedule, sign up, and learn more here. Scholarships may be available upon request.

Cookbook Offering

Longtime St. John members Bill and Gail Harbin have put together a cookbook of their favorite recipes over 60 years of marriage, and they’d like to share it with anyone who might like to have a copy. In exchange for the electronic recipebook, they suggest a $20 donation be made to St. John, but a donation is not required to receive the book. Simply send an email to office@stjohnanchorage.org and you will be provided a copy of the cookbook in pdf format. A donation can be made online here or by sending a check to St. John (1801 O'Malley Rd, 99507). If you make an online donation, choose "Other" from the drop-down menu and type "cookbook" in the note.

Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to noon Friday

Ph: 907-344-3025 Email us Visit our website

Address change?

Please send any contact information changes to Patti Butcher at members@stjohnanchorage.org

Have you remembered the church in your will, like a child or grandchild?