Christ First United Methodist Church in Wasilla, Alaska

Ministers:	Tori and Robert Hicks
Address:	5137 W. Fairview Loop, Wasilla, AK 99654
Directions:	Map From Parks Hwy (Anchorage) turn left at light on Knik-Goose Bay Road. 4.1 miles turn left on Fairview Loop (just before the Tesoro gas station). We are the first driveway on the left.
Phone:	(907)376-3109
Fax:	(907)357-3109
E-mail:	christ1st@mtaonline.net

Alaska Children's Services Information

Please join the Alaska Children's Services in the dedication and blessing of the Sue Cole Memorial Chapel on Thursday, July 2 at 5:30 pm.

Alaska Children's Services is also celebrating their Annual Flag Day. Thursday July 9 from 5:30-8:30 pm. Park at Service H.S. and ride the free shuttle to the event grounds. Admission: $20/Family and $5/Individual. There will be games, prizes, BBQ, Ice Cream, Face painting and live music with Melissa Mitchell.

Crystal Hayden
Administrative Assistant/Conference Benefits Officer
Alaska United Methodist Conference
1660 Patterson Street
Anchorage, AK 99504
www.alaskaumc.org
umc@gci.net
907-333-5050 office
907-333-2304 fax

CALENDAR

It’s that time again!

If your group, committee, club, or whatever wants to use the church building for your meetings, be sure to have Lila put you on the calendar!

We are already seeing some doubling of usage for the fall. Our building is not large enough to schedule more than one group at a time. We also need to know who is using the building and when - in case of emergency, or when the door is left open or even unlocked.

On June 6th and 7th I attended the Alaska United Methodist Conference at St. John’s UMC in Anchorage with Tori, Robert, and Phyllis Sullivan. The theme of this year’s conference was "Turn the World Upside Down!" I want to take this time to thank Phyllis for filling in for me on Friday, the 5th while I was at work.

I have been a United Methodist basically, since birth. I have sung in the children’s choir, played in the hand bell choir, been involved with the youth group, and taught Sunday School since I was in high school. This is the first time I had ever attended an annual conference and seen the "business side" of the church.

It wasn’t all fireworks and entertainment, but what was at the core of all that was going on was the importance of who we are as Christians and as United Methodists with our Wesleyan philosophy of mission and Christ-based love. We voted on things as simple as the wording in the Book of Discipline and as important as appointing clergy to the churches throughout Alaska.

I was able to put faces to names of clergy living and serving in places like Juneau, Ketchikan, Unalaska, Nome and Fairbanks. Throughout the two days that I was able to attend, worship and singing was led by our dynamic Bishop Grant Hagiya and other clergy and lay delegates. We talked about the fact that the Gates Foundation has heard that we are involved in global missions such as the "Nothing but Nets" and has offered to meet us dollar for dollar if we are able to raise $1 million to send nets to families in Africa.

It made me feel proud to be a United Methodist and realize that we can all make a difference through our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service. Come on fellow members of Christ First United Methodist Church in Wasilla, Alaska -- let’s turn the world upside down!

Worship Highlights for July

July 5: What would it be like to have Christ send you out to do God’s work, and be told to take nothing with you? "Taking Nothing" is today’s sermon title as we reflect God’s ability to provide. We will also be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. Scriptures are Mark 6:1-13 and Psalm 48.

July 12: The joy of David as he leads the Arc of the Covenant into the temple should be absolutely contagious! With no thought to his dignity or his power or his rank, he simply danced out his delight that God was being brought into the midst of the people. Join us for worship this day as we look at 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 and Psalm 24 and receive new members.

July 19: We continue on with the story of David the King, as we look at the covenant that God formed with David’s line, leading us to the gift of God’s presence in Christ. Please join us in worship today! Scriptures are 2 Samuel 7:1-14a.

July 26: "Where We’re Broken", those place might become stronger, but they are also filled with such enormous pain and loss. Today we deal with the painful story of David and Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. It is a service of lament and brokenness, and God’s willingness to be with us. The text today is 2 Samuel 11:1-15 and Psalm 13.

Pastor Robert and his PhD

Many of you may be aware that Pastor Robert has been working on finishing up his PhD in Wesleyan studies and leadership through Gonzaga University in Washington. Currently, he is preparing to defend his first three chapters of his dissertation. If his dissertation committee approves his work and his research, he will be taking study leave in September to complete his dissertation and degree. Please keep him in your prayers through the next few weeks and months, as he seeks to complete his degree and fulfill the goal that he set for himself almost 8 years ago.

Bread Baker Wanted!!

We are looking for someone who would be willing to provide bread and make sure we have grape juice available for our worship services when we celebrate Holy Communion. This is usually done on the first Sunday of the month. The bread can be dropped off at the church and put in the freezer anytime during the week, and if the juice is purchased in individual serving cans, several month’s worth can be stored in the Communion cupboard. We already have a volunteer who will make sure the bread and juice are set out and do the clean up after worship, so if you are someone who likes to bake and would be willing to serve your church in this way, please call the church office (376-3109) or talk to Robert or Tori.

New Members Being Received

We will be receiving new members into worship on July 12 during worship. If you would like to find out more about becoming a member of Christ First UMC, please talk to Robert or Tori.

A Peek Ahead to Fall’s Children’s Programming!!

We’re already looking ahead to the fall and the programming that we will offer for our children and their families. Just to give you a little tease, so you can pray about how you will be involved and what best suits your family and your gifts and graces, here is the outline for our Christian Education Fall program beginning September 13, 2009:

Sundays

10:30	Sunday School classes for Children K-6 and Adults. Childcare for birth through Kindergarten available
11:30	Children’s Church [following the Children’s Moment during worship] Programs for Toddlers and for Preschool - 2nd Grade.

Wednesdays "Inspire" program for the whole family

5:45	Free family-friendly hot meal
6:15	Classes for Preschool through 6th Grade and Adults. [Childcare provided]
6:15	Youth Group
7:00	Choir rehearsal

How can you help? We are looking for some shepherds for our Sunday morning programs. Shepherds do not have to teach or prepare a lesson, they are simply an extra set of hands to assist. Each shepherd only serves one Sunday a month, for example: every third Sunday and so forth. We are also looking for five volunteers to teach in the Children’s "Inspire" program. The lessons are all very user-friendly, hands-on activities such as cooking projects, art or craft activities, games, dramas, and science experiments and are prepared for you in advance. If you are approached by one of our pastors to serve in our Children’s Education program, please prayerfully consider if this is something God is calling you to do.

[In order to protect all of our children, volunteer teachers, and staff, we require at least two adults present in the nursery and with all children’s classes or activities. Please help us offer the best and safest program possible for our children!]

Thank you to our Church Mice, Big and Small!!

First: Our Technical Mice!!

Noah Ripley who faithfully operates our sound system, runs the PowerPoint and occasionally is asked to run video and music clips as well. He is having to juggle two cordless microphones (and keep track of who is using which - as well as where the pastor last left the cordless), the pulpit mics, at least one or two standing microphones, the master volume as well as dealing with an old (and very cantankerous) computer to try to keep the song lyrics moving at the right time. Not many of us could juggle things as well as he has, and he is always gracious, pleasant and cooperative! Thank you, Noah, for being such a joy to work with and never telling the Pastor she is insane when she asks you to do one more thing at the last moment!

Bob Dehn who slips in during the week and keeps working with our microphones and sound system so that everything works and our sound is as good as it can be. He also records the services (sometimes also video) so that we will be able to put links on our website and blog if people want to hear or watch a service they missed or that they particularly enjoyed. He also has been adding some amazing guitar accompaniment to Susan’s piano during worship on Sunday mornings. An additional Thank You to his lovely wife, Carmel, who helps him test microphones, adjust settings, and thousands of other tasks that go into making our technology work on Sunday morning.

And our Green Thumb Mice:

Phyllis Sullivan and Debbie Lunsford have been spotted potting planters and hanging baskets to help beautify our outdoors and caring for the plants within the building. Also: thanks to Elizabeth Ripley and Sherry Fetzner for mowing the church lawn and again to Sherry for creating our new entrance ramp to the church.

Hard-Working Mice were running all over the church on May 31st, painting trim, clearing out brush and overgrown shrubs, cleaning out the sheds, hauling away a ton of junk, clearing off our back porch, and putting up trim in the sanctuary. Thank you to all of you who did such amazing work (the Mice Tracker heard that there were over 25 people who helped!!!), you made a HUGE difference in our building and grounds! A special thank you to chef Ed Ripley who planned, prepared, and served the wonderful barbecue lunch for all the busy little mice. He did such a great job, that there is talk of having another summer barbecue after worship - especially since our outside is so much more pleasant now!!

An additional Thank You to Amy Wright for the time she spends listing and coordinating the sale of items the church no longer needs on Craig’s List. All proceeds go to our Building Fund to help us continue to improve and expand our Church.

And to all the other little mice out there who volunteer and serve in countless ways: we may not catch you all, but we know you are there and we are very grateful

URGENT HELP NEEDED

I am sorry to say we have not had a good response from our "Frontiersman" ad for a nursery attendant. If parents (or others) would like to volunteer their time one Sunday a month to spend time with little ones in the nursery (children up to 5 years), or if you have other suggestions, please let me know.

UPDATE ON VBS

The dates for VBS and Christian Arts Camp have been changed to August 3 - 7. We still haven’t received any details, but it will be coming soon. Stay tuned for the latest information on this important part of our children’s summer fun and education.

The Food Pantry of Wasilla

The Board of Directors of the Food Pantry of Wasilla is delighted to announce that Mat-Su Health Foundation has awarded Food Bank of Alaska $100,000.00 to fund a two-year staff position. The person filling that post will be working full-time for FPW.

Why was the grant request submitted as it was? FBA already has all the personnel accounts set up with the State and Federal governments. Those would be expensive and cumbersome for FPW to set up for one employee. FBA also has a full benefit package: insurances, vacation and sick-leave schedules, etc. FPW could not offer benefits.

Why is FBA willing to do this for FPW? The person selected, as an employee of FBA, will be able to represent FBA, as well as FPW, in the Valley. FBA has not given up plans to open a branch facility here, when funds can be raised and an appropriate building located. Additionally, they already deal with Valley stores, farms and other entities securing donations for distribution in the anti-hunger network.

What will the person do for FPW? The successful applicant will have a background combining administrative experience and hands-on service. (S)he will represent FPW to the business and organizational community; do public speaking at venues such as schools, clubs and civic organizations; and foster relationships with businesses. (S)he will also be warehouse manager, helping to move freight, meeting the trucks that don’t arrive during the magic 10-1 time frame and helping keep the storage areas organized. Direction of the overall, day-to-day operation of the pantry will also fall to the employee. What the person will NOT do is replace the 70+ incredible people who operate FPW now! Some things may change about how things are done. But the need for every volunteer will remain as strong as ever.

Does this mean FBA and FPW are merging? Or, is FBA taking over FPW? The answer to both those questions is a resounding NO. The organizations remain autonomous. We have always worked closely together. We admire and respect each other for the way we each operate in our own spheres. This is a co-operative effort, not a merger.

We are actively seeking applicants for the new position. If you know anyone who might make a good Director of FPW, please suggest they submit their resume to me at ajhpt@pocketmail.com.

FYI

As a fire safety matter, the Fire Department has requested that we close all the inside doors before we leave the building. The Sunday School rooms, the store room and the nursery doors should be closed, as well as the two doors marked as Fire Doors.

ESTATE PLANNING

The estate planning and endowment seminar held on June 4 was, according to those who attended, a rousing success that should have follow-up regularly. If you missed it or if you just need the hand-outs, we have some available on the table in the sanctuary.

For more information, talk to Elizabeth Ripley, our lay leader. She is really knowledgeable on this subject.

GOD’S HIDDEN TREASURE

Scholarships are available, both locally and at the conference level. For more information, contact Frances Graves

HOSPICE OF MAT-SU

Hospice of Mat-Su, Inc. is bringing Greg Yoder to Wasilla on Saturday, August 1, 2009 for a 1-day seminar entitled "Companioning the Dying". If you are interested or just would like more information, please contact Pat Karella, 745-4540.

NEW NAMES TO BEGIN IN JUNE 2009

MVCCA/Treasure Loft thrift store has supported Valley residents for over 40 years. Unfortunately, due to the Treasure Loft’s transient history, most believe we arrived in the community June 2008. Additionally, our corporate name is lost among other organizations such as MSSCA and MVFCU. Our lack of presence was further highlighted during a January 2009 board retreat. The MVCCA Board of Directors contemplated the messaging to decorate our donation collection vehicle. After the discussion, it was apparent that MVCCA and the Treasure Loft thrift store were not linked to a logo or message that identified who we are. The Palmer company, "whittington evans communications", was hired to create a logo and identity that would link our past with our future.

As a result of their work, beginning in late June, both stores will be called "turn A leaf" thrift stores. The store addresses will distinguish them from each other. The name is derived from the phrase "Turning over a new leaf". The Treasure Loft and MVCCA have been helping people through life-changing experiences for over 40 years. This name and logo is a great way to message the impacts made daily through our thrift stores.

Our new box truck and donation collection bins will be donning the new name and logo immediately, but the stores will be operating under their current names until we receive an updated business license and tax exemption status from the city of Wasilla. The license will be granted when we present the City with our updated IRS letter confirming our name change.

Lastly, the "Mat-Valley Community Charities Agency" name is being changed to "Valley Charities, Inc". The new name will be one that people can now say and remember more easily. You can find more information about all the things that we do at our website (www.valleycharities.org).

When you see our logo on the truck or clothing collection bins, remember the phrase "Turning over a new leaf". We nurture and support change in the lives of Valley individuals and families daily.