Coming Sunday, October 11

Pastor Autumn Krueger will bring the message “God Alone: Teresa of Avila" this Sunday. Services are at 8:00, 9:15 and 11:30 a.m. Watch services live or later on our YouTube Channel.

Sloppy Joe's & Tater Tots

This Wednesday we're having sloppy joes, tater tots, and funfetti cake! 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!

Potato Pull Wednesday

The Jesus Garden potatoes are eagerly awaiting their emergence from underground to pantries and tables! Helping hands will harvest a heaping haul. Jump in and join this Wednesday after supper, October 7. 

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.

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.

Next Bike Ride October 18

While most fall months the St. John Men's Group will ride during the 2nd Sunday of the month, October looks a little different. Join with your mountain bike (unless it snows, then have your fat bike ready) October 18! 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!

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.

St. John Trunk or Treat

Get your costumes on and join us at the St. John Trunk or Treat on October 24 from 4-5 p.m.

• We need folks that want to have fun and decorate their trunks to make this event possible! Sign up here to host a trunk.
• We are hosting a trunk that allows us to give back and "treat" others. The elders at the Anchorage Pioneer Home have a wish list we'd love to support. Check out some items from the list and sign up here. "Treats" aka items from their wish list, can be brought during the Trunk or Treat and placed in the Pioneer Home Trunk that we will be hosting. Let's fill a trunk for the Pioneer Home community!

Pastor Autumn Receives Youth Worker of the Year Award

Join us in celebrating Pastor Autumn in her accomplishments around Youth Ministry. Read the article from the South Dakota Conference.

$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.

Monday Morning Women & FISH

This past Monday, Monday Morning Women took over the FISH Food Pantry. They packed food for 16 food-insecure families plus repackaged diapers, made snack packs, and made bags. Wow! Way to go MMW!

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.

PFD Tithe Challenge

Every year the Mission and Outreach committee encourages the congregation to consider tithing (giving 10% or more) of their PFD to a special project. This year we are supporting the new childcare center opening in downtown Anchorage at First United Methodist Church. You can designate your gift as PFD tithe challenge by selecting the drop down in electronic giving, or by writing it on the memo line of your check. Thank you for your generosity!

Helping Hands

We need more hands to help. The current need is giving rides to church on Sundays and Wednesdays in addition to household repair. To offer your hands contact Debbie Pintsch.

Survey to Identify Health & Wellness Outcomes

Pastor Andy has been serving on the Advisory Committee for a new collaboration between the State of Alaska, The University, and faith communities to improve health and wellness outcomes. He is hoping you might be willing to help pilot/test-drive a survey we have been developing. If you are willing, he would love your feedback on your experience of the survey. Thank you for those willing to participate!

We are conducting a congregational health assessment to learn more about the health-related needs

and priorities of faith-based organizations (e.g., churches, temple, mosques, etc...) across Alaska.

Findings from this assessment will be used to develop health and wellness programming for faith-based

organizations in Alaska. To be eligible for participation, you must currently be 18 years or older and

attending a faith-based organization located in Alaska. If you are eligible and agree to participate, this

survey should take about 5-10 minutes of your time. The survey asks some basic demographic questions

about who you are (e.g., age, gender), your faith-based organization, and health-related needs present

in your faith community (e.g., depression/anxiety, cancer, food insecurity). If you have any questions

about this study, please feel free to contact Nathan West.

Click here to take the survey.

Launch Party Luau for 3 Elements Educare

We are so excited to announce the First UMC Child Care Center is opening its doors thanks to so many helping hands. See below for more information and a letter from Pastor Emily.

Anchorage Concert Chorus

Nearly a dozen St. John members participate in Anchorage Concert Chorus. The next concert is Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.

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

Dear Friends,

I write with so much gratitude for the support of St. John UMC. In February of 2024 we gathered for an auction to support kitchen updates for both St. John and First. That auction raised $12,000 for First, and gave us the jump-start we needed for additional fundraising to completely build out a new commercial kitchen in our building. At that time, renovations also commenced for a new childcare center with capacity for 82 children that will officially open its doors on October 1st (next week!) welcoming infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and a school-aged program to our space. Plans are also underway to launch a food service program in 2027 that will provide healthy homemade meals to 7 childcare entities in Anchorage, supporting over 250 children with daily lunch, snack, and supper. The halls and classrooms of First UMC are filled again, the congregation is engaged in vital ministry, and the love of Christ is actively being shared with our downtown neighbors. THANK YOU, St. John, for your role in helping make this happen. We couldn’t have done it without you!

With deep gratitude and love for you all,

Pastor Emily

P.S. — if you have any gently used classroom toys, gym toys, baby items, toddler playground equipment, preschool art supplies, wooden blocks, children's books or more items that you think would be helpful in infant, toddler, preschool, school-aged classrooms, or the playground we are happy to receive material donations!

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Luau to Celebrate at First UMC Child Care Center Opening

First UMC is hosting a Launch Party Luau to celebrate the opening of 3 Elements Educare. Your early investment in this project helped open the doors to make all this possible. 

It’s OFFICIAL! A new worker-led childcare entity is opened its doors October 1 to welcome childcare space for 10 infants, 12 toddlers, and 20 preschoolers. No one entity made this happen – it took investment from federal, state, municipal, philanthropic, corporate, and individual levels. It literally took a village, as they say! YOU have been part of this success, and we want to thank you by inviting you to join us for a dinner and celebration on Friday, October 23 from 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church (725 W. 9th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501). Come meet the team, see the vision, and share in the success with all who helped make it happen! 

Please register here.

Ticket cost: $30/adult, childcare $25/child

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Address change?

Please send any contact information changes to Colleen Runty at members@stjohnanchorage.org

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