Today At Our Fellowship

Thursday, October 30, 2025

The Forum 

Sunday November 2, 2025 9:00-10:15 AM

IN- PERSON and on Zoom

This Sunday, November 2, our Forum program is “From Micro-Units To the Big Picture: How is Anchorage Addressing Homelessness?”  We’ll have presentations from the municipality’s point person on homelessness, Special Assistant to the Mayor Thea Agnew Bemben, joined by the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Susanne Fleek-Green, and also from Julie Greene-Graham, Chair of the nonprofit, In Our Backyard—who transformed the idea of using “tiny houses” or micro-units into a reality on the grounds of Central Lutheran Church.  We’ll hear from these experts about what’s being done, what comes next, and some serious challenges on the horizon. Please join us in person if you can.  We’re glad to enable participation by Zoom, too. But it is so much more satisfying for speakers who generously take their Sunday morning to be there for us to be able to look out in the room and see people in the chairs, and engage with them.

Click here to join on Zoom.

Sunday Worship Service

Sunday November 2, 2025 11:00 AM

IN- PERSON and on Zoom

Click here to join on Zoom.

AUUF Auction Starts this Saturday November 1st 

The AUUF Online auction goes live Saturday Nov 1st at noon but ends in 7 short days! The Auction Team has a plethora of pleasing auction pieces, escapades and explorations. You’ll find gift cards, lessons, group dinners, hikes, bikes, clothes, jewelry, games, puzzles and much more. Alibaba would be jealous. 

Go online to hunt for deals and discover hidden “easter eggs” that popup throughout the week! Get ready to bid this Saturday before the 40 thieves beat you to it. Watch for email on Saturday with your personalized link. Some experiences fill up quickly so don’t wait!

Also, the Annual Awards Potluck Dinner is on November 8th at 5:30 p.m. The evening will feature a raffle for a beautiful quilt. (Buy your raffle tickets in advance at the auction website). You can pick up your auction winnings at the same time or on Sunday. 

Here’s the link and QR code. We hope to see you online and at the dinner. 

Questions? Call Jay Van Alstine

907-240-4901



Click here to view the AUUF online auction.

LAST CHANCE!

VOTE FOR THE 2026 HALF PORTION!

Deadline Nov. 1

Dennis Arashiro and Sara Hannon

The word “fellowship” is derived from the Greek word “koinonia,” which can be defined as “holding something in common.” While this clearly refers to what we Fellowship members have in common with one another, we can take it a step further in what we have in common with those beyond our walls. This is why only half of our Sunday collections go to supporting ourselves; the other half goes to causes and organizations supporting the larger community. The Half Portion for Social Action goes to 12 recipients each year, with each assigned to a specific month. One month is reserved for PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes). Who will be the other ten 2026 recipients? The decision is yours.

The nomination process took place from September 11 to October 1, and the final list of nominees was vetted and set in the past two weeks. Now begins the voting period for selecting the 2026 recipients of the Half Portion for Social Action. You will have from now until November 1, 2025, to choose 11 from the list of nominees.

NEW THIS YEAR: Out of the nominees, we will select at least two non-incumbent causes that received the highest number of votes and at least one indigenous cause which received the highest number of votes out of the total of ten organizations selected.

All the fifth Sundays in the months that have them are reserved for the Minister’s Caring Fund or a cause designated by Rev. Lise. The actual 2026 schedule of Half Portion recipients will be announced no later than November 17. 

Click here to make your Half Portion selections.

AUUF is getting a new website!

Hi Everyone,

We are launching our new website tomorrow! The website at the link below, will replace the old website tomorrow. If you have questions or concerns don't hesitate to reach out. Also the links "Click here to join on Zoom" in this email may not work on Sunday, so please use the links on the new homepage.

Here's the link!

Click here to see the new website.

Sincerely,

Kelly Strycker

Communications@anchorageuuf.org

Lost And Found Emptying

November 13

The lost and found boxes (by the entrance and under the coat rack) are quite full and will be emptied on 11/13. If you suspect you have items in either of those boxes, please be sure to come grab them before this happens!

AUUF Safer Congregation Team will be conducting emergency drills 
Fire and Earthquake, 11/16/25 immediately following both the Forum and Sunday Service. 

In addition, we’ll be sponsoring several safety-related training courses (Active Shooter Preparedness; Senior Disaster Preparedness; STAR’s “Stewards of Children”, 3/1/26; Family & Friends CPR/AED/Narcan, spring 2026).  

Are you familiar with our building evacuation protocols, and post-event gathering locations? Do you know how our children will be evacuated from their RE classrooms, and where to retrieve them? Do you know the locations of our Fire Extinguishers, Fire Blanket, Disability Evacuation Chair, First Aid Kits, Bleeding Control Kit, AED (automated external defibrillator), Narcan Rescue Kits? Do you know how to use them? We’ll be reviewing it all in the upcoming drills and training.

AUUF Religious Exploration November 2025 Updates

Click here to read.

Grades 10-12 OWL Registration is now open

Our Whole Lives:

Sexuality Education for Grades 10‐12, 2nd edition

Our Whole Lives (OWL) values:

•Self-Worth

•Sexual Health

•Responsibility

•Justice and Inclusivity

OWL provides a safe setting for teens to explore their attitudes, values, and

beliefs about their own and others’ sexuality. This developmentally

appropriate, field-tested curriculum addresses important topics through

dialogue and engaging activities. It promotes decision-making informed by

accurate information and a foundation of personal values and life goals. 

Registration Deadline is Thursday, December 18

Click here to register.

Connections Team Needs Volunteers for Sunday Hospitality in November!



Please consider signing up ahead of time to help make AUUF a warm and welcoming community. We need greeters, zoom ushers and ESPECIALLY Social Hour volunteers to keep our kitchen tidy and clean. If Connections ends up doing dishes all the time, they will have a hard time staffing the welcome tables as they should be doing. Below is a link to the Signup Genius which includes downloadable directions on what to do. All you need is an email address and you will be sent an automatic reminder 2 days ahead of time.

Thanks to all who continue to help! 

Western Alaska Disaster Relief 

How to help with Typhoon Halong Recovery in Western Alaska

Southcentral Foundation has partnered with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and dozens of other organizations to assist people impacted by the severe storms in Western Alaska. Hundreds of residents from the coastal communities were airlifted to Anchorage. Emergency shelters have been established at the Alaska Airlines Center and Egan Center.

At the shelters, SCF is providing medical services, pharmacy, behavioral, community resource specialists, family health resources, and learning circles. SCF is collaborating with other ANMC services as they are needed. SCF has also partnered with Alaska Native Heritage Center to coordinate Yupik translators.

For those interested, opportunities to support people who are affected by the storms are listed below.

Click here for Monetary Donations

Alaska Community Foundation has an online fundraiser for the Western Alaska Disaster Relief 2025 Fund.

Donating Items- Click here for Amazon wish list.

Only new items and nonperishable items can be donated at this time. Items of immediate need include:

• New clothes of all sizes (baby, toddler, kids, adults), including winter coats, shirts, layers, undergarments, socks, etc.
• New shoes (including slip-on kinds like Crocs) and boots of all sizes
• New hats and gloves
• Personal hygiene items (soap, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, lotion, hairbrushes/combs, hair ties, nail clippers, lip balm, etc.)
• New blankets and sleeping bags

Donations are accepted at the central donation warehouse operated by Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization, at 1120 East 1st Avenue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. Please do not bring donated items to AAC or Egan as space is limited. The warehouse is the central sorting and distribution center for all donations.

Bethel Community Services Foundation has an Amazon Wishlist where people can purchase items to go directly to the relief effort in the region.

Volunteering

Red Cross is coordinating volunteers—interested people can call 1-800-Red-Cross or visit Red Cross.

If you are a Southcentral Foundation employee who is interested in filling a shift as a medical or behavioral provider at the Alaska Airlines Center or Egan Center, please discuss the opportunity with your supervisor and contact LaZell Hammons (lhammons@southcentralfoundation.com) for more information.

OCTOBER HALF PORTION FOR SOCIAL ACTION:

ANCHORAGE COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS

Dennis Arashiro

The recipient of our Half Portion for Social Action for October, 2024, the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness. This is in recognition of Friday, October 10, 2025, as World Homeless Day. The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) began in 2004 as a grassroots collaboration of homeless service providers who recognized the need for a common community strategy and response to a continuing challenge of providing housing for all of our friends and neighbors. Since its creation, ACEH has grown in partnership with the larger community, established itself as an independent organization, and expanded its membership to include individuals and organizations across the city. ACEH remains the only Anchorage convener of community members, businesses and providers working toward the shared goal of making homelessness brief, rare and a one time experience. Turn your supportive thoughts into action by contributing during Sunday services in October and in commemoration of World Homeless Day on October 10.

You can contribute in person at our Sunday services or online by visiting anchorageuuf.org click on the Half-Portion note or Donate/ Pay at the bottom of the home page. Enter your donation under “Half-Portion for Social Action." 

Go to anchorageuuf.org

Click on the Half-Portion note or Donate/ Pay

at the bottom of the home page.

Enter your donation under

“Half-Portion for Social Action”

Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

2824 E. 18th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99508

(907) 248-3737

Website

Rev. Lise Adams Sherry, (she/her), Minister,

RevLise@anchorageuuf.org, 907-248-3737 x2,

Office hours are usually Tu 11-3; Th and F 11-3, and by appointment

Jennifer Bluntach, (she/her), Director of Religious Exploration

DRE@anchorageuuf.org

Office hours usually are:

Sun 9am-11am, Tu 11am-3pm, Thu 11am-3pm, and by appointment

Esme Danner, (she/her), Congregational Administrator

Admin@AnchorageUUF.org, 907.248.3737 x.1

Office Hours Usually Mon-Thu 11am - 3 pm, Please call first.

Esme Danner, (she/her), Music Director

907-248-3737 x4, Music@anchorageuuf.org

Kelly Strycker, (she/her), Communications Specialist, Communications@anchorageuuf.org

Kelly's remote office hours Mon, Tues, Wed, Friday 9 am - 1 pm. Thursday 7-9:30 am AK, & 1:30-3:00 pm

Rebecca Bernard, (she/her), Affiliated Community Minister

RBernard.AK@gmail.com

Dan Norton, AV Coordinator

907-248-3737



Contact the Connections Team for more information on how to get involved:

Connections@anchorageuuf.org 

Share the Care Team: sharethecare@anchorageuuf.org

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