October 20, 2023



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Included in this edition:



Weekly Lectionary


Online Worship Services


From the Bishop


Diocesan Wide Survey

  • "Future Conventions: How?"


Fit Grants

  • "Applications Received"


News from You

  • Meditation, Centering Prayer, and the Inward Journey- Holy Trinity, Juneau
  • Announcement of Call-Catherine Amy Kropp
  • South Central Deanery Newsletter



Safe Church Announcement


The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition


The Episcopal Church (new articles in italic)


My Tidbits:

  • Weekly Quote
  • Newsletter for Visually Impaired Available
  • Donations and Payments
  • Links


Examples of links you can click on in the newsletter.
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Weekly Lectionary


Sunday closest to

October 12



Track 1


Exodus 33:12-23

Psalm 99

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Matthew 22:15-22

Proper 24



Year A

RCL

Track 2


Isaiah 45:1-7

Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Matthew 22:15-22

Gospel:

Matthew 22:15-22

Full Lectionary
Online Worship Services

If you would like to see the list of available online worship services, please Check our Website!
View Online Worship Services

Diocesan Wide Survey "Future Conventions: How?"




  



The Episcopal Diocese of Alaska


Format of Future Convention Gatherings

 




The Episcopal Diocese of Alaska's administration team and Standing Committee have been looking forward to future Diocesan Convention meetings and we are preparing for the financial needs of these convenings in the coming years. Our convention meetings have historically been held in-person and have rotated to communities around the state.

In prior years, we have been able to make this happen financially by having most of the delegates stay in the homes of the local congregation members. This helped off-set the cost of travel and meeting locations. In recent years, this practice has not been an option and we do not anticipate being able to return to using host homes given the changing nature of our public health needs and the make-up of our congregations.  

We are examining options and alternatives and asking questions. Do we want to continue meeting in-person every year? Do we want to alternate in-person and Zoom? How much are our congregations willing and/or able to pay for delegate fees? (The cost per delegate when using a hotel is $1,000 - $1,400) What is most important to you about attending convention? What else do you want to share?


We want to hear from you! Please complete the Future Convention Survey and let your voice be heard. 

 

Direct link to the survey:

Future Convention Survey  

Or QR Code

A pdf version of the survey is on the Convention & Conference page of the diocesan website, 2023 Convention and Clergy Conference – Episcopal Diocese of Alaska (episcopalak.org).

DEADLINE: November 1, 2023  



FIT Grants

"Applications Recieved"


FIT - Faith Into Tomorrow


Thank you to those who submitted FIT Grant Applications. The FIT Committee meets on November 7th to review the applications and forward a recommendation to the Standing Committee for approval. The Standing Committee meets in mid-November and applicants will be notified shortly after their meeting with a funding determination.


Case 4 Youth Ministry – The purpose of this grant is to enrich our youth ministries. “Youth” is defined as birth to age 25, for the purpose of this grant.  Four applications were submitted: 

Good Shepherd, Huslia – Joining Hands

St. Mary’s, Anchorage – Youth Ministries

St. James’, Tanana – Warm Hands Warm Hearts

Dancing with the Spirit – Gospel Videos & Songbooks


Case 5 Caring for Victims of Poverty and Abuse – The purpose of this grant is to support programs and services for the poor, hungry, homeless, destitute, victims of substance abuse, victims of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and their perpetrators.  Seven applications were submitted:

The AK Cubs Closet, Anchorage – The AK Cubs Closet

St. Jude’s, North Pole – Food Pantry

St. John’s, Ketchikan – Lord’s Table

St. Christopher’s, Anchorage – Food Pantry

St. George’s in the Arctic, Kotzebue – Cudd Hall Community Kitchen

Love Alaska, Anchorage - Priceless

St. James, Tanana – Soup & Breakfast Ministry


Case 6 Encouraging Spiritual Growth or Outreach – The purpose of this grant is to provide opportunities for spiritual growth or outreach for the people of God, the unchurched and the inactive.  Three applications were submitted:

         St. Bartholomew’s, Palmer – Music

         Arctic Village Church Group – Arctic Village Youth Group

         St. Peter’s, Seward – Worship Music Infrastructure



News From You

This series is intended for those curious about centering prayer—a contemplative or meditative practice

made popular in modern times by Trappiest monks, but its origin dates back many hundreds of years.


Week 1—October 28, 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

Preparing for the inward journey. Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI


Week 2—November 4, 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

Centering prayer and 12-step spirituality. Jim McElroy


Week 3—November 11, 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

Welcoming prayer. Mary Dwyer


Week 4—November 18, 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

Facilitated panel discussion with people who have

been doing centering prayer in Juneau.


Week 5—November 25, 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

Letting go of the chaos. Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI


For a free Zoom invitation, or to get more information, e-mail the Church of the

Holy Trinity: holytrinity1895@gmail.com




Announcement of Call

Rev. Catherine Amy Kropp


We celebrate the call of Rev. Catherine Amy Kropp to serve as Vicar of Christ Memorial Episcopal Church in Kilauea, Hawai'i on the island of Kauai. Arriving in Alaska from the Diocese of Maine in 2019, Catherine Amy served as Associate Rector at St Mary's Anchorage and then as an itinerant priest throughout the diocese, including St Augustine's Homer, St George's Cordova, St Francis by the Sea Kenai, St James Tanana, as well as within the traveling music ministry Dancing With The Spirit in Arctic Village, Venetie, Beaver, Chalkyitsik, Fort Yukon, Circle, Allakaket, Anvik, Nulato, and Huslia. She helped organize and lead a trip and music camp for Gwich'in youth and elders to attend the Midway Lake Music Festival in the Northwest Territories, and she recently served abroad in Lebanon as part of an interfaith mission for vulnerable youth. Catherine Amy will miss the beloved lands and peoples of Alaska, and sends her gratitude, love and prayers to all. Her new position will begin in November 2023, and the announcement can also be found at http://www.christmemorialkauai.org/



South Central Deanery- Newsletter


Fall is here!

There is a lot going on in the South Central Deanery - click the link below to learn about what Southcentral parishes are doing!

Newsletter link



Safe Church Announcement


The Rev. Katherine Hunt is out on Sabbatical until November 2023. While she is out, please direct all questions or concerns to:


Melissa Ward

Bishop's Assistant

907-452-3040

Email Here




Dear Relatives,

 

We are honored to share that NABS received a grant from the Department of the Interior (DOI) to conduct video interviews with Indian boarding school survivors across the United States to create a permanent oral history collection. This effort is part of the DOI’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative



Click the button below to :

  • Sign up for Interview
  • Receive Future Updates
  • Donate to project
  • and More...



To Read Full Article

Apply Soon for General Convention Official Youth Presence

 

Deadline: Nov. 17

 

Episcopal teens ages 16 to 19 are invited to apply to become part of the 81st General Convention Official Youth Presence, a group whose members have seat and voice in the House of Deputies and can testify at hearings before and during the summer 2024 convention.

 

Up to two youth from each of the church’s nine provinces will be selected to participate in the Official Youth Presence from June 20-28 in Louisville, Kentucky. Youth who are selected must also attend orientation and training Feb. 16-19.

Read More Here

UTO: GRATITUDE MONTH

Make November an intentional gratitude month for you, your family, Sunday School class, or small group.


United Thank Offering offers free resources to help individuals, families, and groups focus on gratitude throughout November. Materials include:

  • 30 days of text reminders to practice gratitude
  • Thanksgiving Day liturgy
  • Bulletin inserts
  • Gratitude journals
  • Thanksgiving crafts
  • Children’s sermon prompts
  • Fill-in-the-blank thank-you cards
  • 30 Days of Gratitude calendar
  • Thanksgiving Day conversation dice, place cards, and prayers

And more.

Download Gratitude Resources

Committee completes initial review of possible presiding bishop nominees, renews call for prayers by

all Episcopalians




The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop has reviewed applications from the bishops who have entered the discernment process for the 2024 election of the 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church.


Read Full Article
Links to past Articles from the Episcopal Church










My Tidbits
Melissa Ward
Bishop's Assistant


Weekly Quote

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Special Announcements from the Diocese
Newsletter for the Visually Impaired!

We are now offering a copy of the newsletter to those who are Visually Impaired (VI). If you have trouble seeing the content in our regular newsletter, then the VI edition is just for you.

The VI edition of the newsletter will feature the SAME content as in our regular newsletter each week. The difference is how it is presented. To view a sample of the VI Edition, click the button below.

If you would like the VI Newsletter, Please Let me know and I will add you to the email list to receive that edition instead of the regular one. You can :


Or


Or

Call the office @ 907-452-3040 (Toll-Free- 800-478-3043)



Melissa Ward
Bishop's Assistant

View VI Newsletter
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