Coming Sunday, October 4

Pastor Adam Richards will bring the message “Contrarion for Love: St. Francis of Assisi" this Sunday. Services are at 8:00, 9:15 and 11:30 a.m. Watch services live or later on our YouTube Channel.

Serve Our Neighbor Sunday

We will have the items to assemble hygiene kits in between services this Sunday, October 4. Donated wool/warm socks and towels are very much appreciated for the month of October.

World Communion Sunday is Oct. 4

World Communion Sunday reminds us that Christ’s table is wide enough for the world. This special offering supports students of color and future clergy through scholarships and leadership development. Celebrate unity and help create a more complete church.

Animal Blessings

Kids: Bring your favorite stuffie to be blessed at Children's Time during the 9:15 or 11:30 a.m. services.

All: The Joyce Collajezzi Memorial Blessing of the Animals will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at St. John on the west porch. Pets of all species are welcome!

Welcome Point

The next Welcome Point Class will be meeting October 4. This class offers an opportunity to learn about St. John’s story, explore our beliefs and values, discover your spiritual gifts, and gain an understanding of the United Methodist Church’s denominational structure. It is also a time of discernment as you consider whether you feel called to join in membership. The class will meet from 10:30-11:20 a.m. in Room 163. If you have questions, contact Pastor Andy or Colleen Runty.

It's Spaghetti and Meatballs!

This Wednesday we're having spaghetti and meatballs and novelty ice cream! Supper starts at 5:15 and runs until “about” 6:00 or 6:15. Suggested donation is $10/plate and $5/half plate, but please just pay as you can. We hope to see you there!

In Our Backyard Help Request

In Our Backyard (IOBY) needs your help in putting the community garden to bed for the season. A work party is planned for Sunday, October 4, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at 15th and Cordova. We need lots of leaves (pesticide-free and dog poo-free). The leaf bags can be dropped off at IOBY any time, or Betty Hertz will pick them up.

On Sunday, the work will include:

Cutting down plants, harvesting the last of the rhubarb, spreading leaves, digging up dahlia tubers, spreading out the last of the wood chip pile, and other fun tasks.

BYOR (Bring your own rake)!

Flu and Covid Vaccine Pop Up Clinic

St John will be hosting a Vaccine clinic on Sunday mornings from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on October 11 and again on October 25. Flu shots are free of charge, and covid shots are billed through your health insurance. Roll up your sleeve and help protect yourself and our community this winter.

$10,000 Possibility Grant is Live!

Each year our Mission & Outreach team gives out $10k to fund projects aligned with St. John's mission & values that aid the Anchorage community, and our application for this year is live now! We'll be closing the application after the first 15 responses, so don't delay! For more information and to findthe application form itself please check out the link here.

Book Study: How to Fight Racism

The Rev. Andy Bartel, Lead Pastor of St. John UMC Anchorage will facilitate a Sunday School Book Study focused on the text How to Fight Racism by Jemar Tisby. The class will begin October 11 and take place during the Sunday School hour, from 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Group Soul Care

Does your soul feel weary or disconnected? Would you like to connect deeper with God and others but unsure how to? Group Soul Care is an opportunity to learn how to listen to others and oneself so that we can be better guests in each other’s stories as well as our own. Colleen Runty, Director of Spiritual Formation, will be the spine for the group offering support, structure, and safety. Groups will be limited to 4 individuals. Schedules will be determined based upon groups availability, location (Zoom or in-person) and group preference. A definite desire and ability to attend consistently is needed to support group cohesiveness. An informational meeting will be scheduled once all interested participants have been identified. Notify interest in participating by September 30. Groups will begin in October. If this feels like a spiritual nudge, contact Colleen Runty to share interest or ask for more information.

Dinner for 9

Dinner for 9 is an opportunity to get to know other people from the church. To participate register by September 30.

This is how it works:

• Groups of “9ish” people are put together by Colleen Runty, the Director of Spiritual Formation, based on your input in the Registration Form. (Fill out form here.)
• Most groups meet monthly. At the first dinner, the group should decide what meeting schedule will work best for them.
• Each dinner is hosted by a different group member, usually at the host’s house. Every participant is expected to host at least once. Some may prefer to host at a restaurant, park or at the church, for a nice change of pace.
• The host prepares the entree, and other group members bring an appetizer, side dish, salad, beverage, bread, or dessert.

If you have questions, contact Colleen Runty.

Lay Ministry: Come to the Table

Join us as we explore the sacrament of Holy Communion. We’ll look at the service of “Word and Table” through the lens of its Biblical and theological roots. Some questions we will pursue: What do all those words mean? Why does the pastor do all those actions? How can a better understanding of Communion enhance our spiritual journey? This will be a hybrid class, meeting in person (Room 160) at St. John UMC Anchorage or via Zoom. Class limit is 12 people. This course meets the continuing education requirement for re-certification for Certified Lay Servants and Certified Lay Speakers.

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When: October 11,18, 25, November 1, 8 from 3-5 p.m. AKST

Instructor: Betty Hertz, Certified Lay Speaker, St. John UMC Anchorage Lay Leader

Register here.

Questions? Contact Betty Hertz.

Stephen Ministry Training Course

Stephen Ministers are St. John congregation members who are trained to offer high quality, one-on-one, confidential, Christ-centered spiritual care to people who are going through tough times. We offer a 50-hour training course every two years to people interested in becoming Stephen Ministers. The next course will begin January 9, 2027. We will meet at the church on Saturday mornings from 8:00 to noon for 12 sessions. For more information, talk to anyone at church wearing one of the blue Stephen Minister badges or contact one of the pastors. We will hold an informational meeting at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 6.

Bike Ride Moves Back to Sundays

As fall approaches, the St. John Men's Group is switching their bike ride back to the 2nd Sunday of the month. The group rides a variety of the excellent trails on the Hillside and throughout Far North Bicentennial Park. They meet at the Service High School trailhead next to the little gym at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome, so please come join us!

• December 8, 2026: Annual Charge Conference
• February 26-28, 2027: Women's Retreat

Voting

The US General Midterm Elections are coming up on November 3, 2026. So, if you’re a US Citizen, your most impactful action in October might be to vote with God’s creation in mind. Voting in the United States is a privilege and a responsibility, an important part of caring for the “garden” God has placed in our charge. The Creation Justic Working Group urges you to first check that you’re registered to vote, even if you were registered in 2025. Eligible voters in some states have been removed from the rolls. Go here to check your status. Follow these steps for more info:

1) Click on "Voters"

2) Click on "My Voter Information"

At that same site, you can also see who is running for office in Alaska & congressional district. Other sources of that information are:

ballotpedia.org

theballotbrief.com

Then, we encourage you, as a Christian and a United Methodist, to evaluate how well those candidates’ voting records cohere with the Social Principles, see Chapter 1 on "Community of All Creation."

Our personal lifestyle choices—recycling, replacing car miles with bicycle miles, eating more plants and less meat, etc.—are important. Even so, voting responsibly is another key part of caring for God’s creation, since governmental policy decisions have profound and lasting impacts on the planet’s health and our neighbors health.

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 Colleen Runty at members@stjohnanchorage.org

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