The Alaska United Methodist Conference

Sharing God's Message and Love By Putting Christ First.

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

What's going on . . .

Regular Schedule
Sundays

10:00 - 10:45 Adult Sunday School with childcare available.
Youth Grade 7 and up may join us!
10:45 - Choir Rehearsal
10:30 - Sunday School classes for Children K-6 and Adults.
(Childcare for birth through Kindergarten available)
11:30 - Children’s Church
Programs for Toddlers and Preschool - 1st Grade.
(following Children’s Moment during worship)
12:30 - Fellowship Coffee Hour

Wednesdays - "Inspire" program for the whole family

5:45 - Free family-friendly hot meal (arrive earlier to help set up)
6:15 - Classes for Preschool through 6th Grade and Adults.
(Childcare provided)
6:15 - Youth Group
7:00 - Choir rehearsal

Links

The Passion: Opportunities for Discipleship

Sledding on Sunday, March 14

An OPEN INVITATION to ALL:

The Taylor family is headed up to Hatcher Pass for some sledding. We will provide hot chocolate and some snacks to keep folks going. So pack a sandwich for the drive up after church, Sunday, March 14 and meet us up there with your sled or snowboard.

Once you get through the curvy part of the road just past the Little Su Bridge, you’ll look for the first turn on the left. Follow the road up and park in the parking lot. There is a porta-potty in the parking lot for public use. If you want to come sit in your rig and watch, that would be fun too. The sledding is visible from the parking lot, and sledding is easy to a moderate level.

We will have two extra seats in our rig; call us at 746-7671

Brian and Wendy

Prayers for Imelda Ramos

Pastor Imelda Ramos of Douglas Community UMC and her husband Bob Woolf are stuck in the Philippines. Long story short, they would not allow her to board her plane and so the two of them have been visiting the Embassy regularly over the last week to get this straightened out. They have an appointment at the embassy on Tuesday, around 7:00-10:00am. However, because Manila is 17 hours ahead of Alaska, that would be today, Monday, between 2:00-5:00pm.

Please join Douglas Community UMC in prayer for Imelda and Bob during this time so that they can return to the US.

VIM team transportation

There is a possibility that we will have a VIM team around the first of July. They will need transportation. Do any of you have a van you would loan, or would you be willing to be their transportation while they are here? They will need transportation to and from the airport, including their luggage, and possibly trips to the grocery store and other places.
It will be a group of around 15 people - teenage, women and men. Sounds like a really fun group from Washington.
Please let us know.

Daylight Saving Time Begins!

Daylight savings time starts Sunday!
It was easy to fall back, but this time we have to SPRING FORWARD and lose an hours sleep.
See you Sunday an hour earlier than usual. Still 11:30, but someone's playing with sun time.

Mosquito Bytes March eNewsletter

We can help fight malaria by supporting our kids with their "Nothing But Nets" program. $10 buys a net that can protect 4 people from the mosquitos that carry the malaria virus.

Check out the website.

Blogspot

The new blog is up! You can find it at www.christ1stumc.blogspot.com.

News from the Alaska United Methodist Conference

Alaska United Methodist Conference e~Aurora from March 2, 2010.

Sermon and children 2/28/10 NEW URLs

If you missed the kids time or Tori's sermon, here they are. I just previewed them and they came through fine here. Hope you enjoy!

Latest Messenger posted

View it here.

News from the Alaska United Methodist Conference

Alaska United Methodist Conference e~Aurora from February 9, 2010.

News from the Alaska United Methodist Conference

Alaska United Methodist Conference e~Aurora from February 16, 2010.

Another opportunity to help!

There has been another fire in which the residents lost everything. They need household items, and the son wears a size 6 to 7 shirt and a size 8 reg. pants. They can not use furniture right now as they have no place to put it. They will be staying with a sister in law until summer because they had plans on building a home this summer. She also said to say big thank you to everyone.
If someone wishes to donate anything could they bring it to church and we will get it to her. There already has been a tv, some bedding and tupperware and dishes donated.
If you have any questions you can send me an email. Thanks Lois

UMCOR Haiti Update

This information may be useful as you celebrate what you have given to UMCOR for Haiti and answer the questions people ask about what is being done with the money.

I give praise to God for the Generosity of the UMC.

Peace, Leila

Leila M. Disburg
Director of Connectional Ministry
Alaska United Methodist Conference
1660 Patterson Street
Anchorage AK 99504
907-250-8539 cell
907-333-5050 office

Be the change you want to see in the world. Mahatma Gandi

UMCOR Haiti Update

A Weekly report of UMCOR's relief efforts in Haiti.
February 19, 2010

An version of this UMCOR Update is found online.

The Church Responds

Thanks so much for the outpouring of support for UMCOR's Haiti relief efforts - the generosity is amazing! As we work with the people in Haiti to address the long term recovery and development needs, we are thankful to move forward with the confidence that the people of the United Methodist Church will continue to partner with UMCOR in the years to come. Especially as Haiti prepares for the rainy season, and then hurricane season, please be in prayer with the people of Haiti and know that your support is critical.

As of February 18, 2010

$12 million has been received for UMCOR Haiti Relief
Hundreds of thousands of kits have been received at UMCOR Sager Brown and are being verified for shipment to Haiti.

From the Field

Since the January 12 earthquake, UMCOR has carried out an initial assessment of damages and needs, developed a five-year work plan, and shored up strategic partnerships with the United Nations, NGOs and the Methodist Church in Haiti.

The UMCOR work plan anticipates three phases of recovery: emergency, recovery and rehabilitation. Currently operating in the emergency phase -- from the time of the earthquake through April and including the start of the rainy season in March - UMCOR is addressing the most immediate needs of access to food, clean water and sanitation, temporary shelter and emotional and spiritual support.

This week’s highlights include:

While UMCOR has been working in Haiti since before the earthquake, this week, UMCOR re-opened the Haiti field office. UMCOR’s Kate Paik and Larry Powell have been in Port-au-Prince coordinating with the Methodist Church in Haiti and preparing the UMCOR Haiti field office.
Staff Recruitment:
- Anthony Jones was hired as an Emergency Response Consultant and has deployed to Haiti.
- Azim Akhtar was hired as the Operations Coordinator and will deploy to Haiti in the coming weeks.
- Key local staff have been hired.
- Positions are posted for: Head of Mission, Finance Director, Emergency Shelter Coordinator, and Income Generation Coordinator.
Kate Paik commented on the three days of remembrance in Haiti, Feb 12-14 which was "to stop and reflect on the past month of survival. Many were dressed in white and spent the three days, usually from 6 am until 1 or 2 pm, at church singing and praying. It [was] a time to gather their strength from God to go on still once more."

US Mission in Action

With recent reports indicating that 75 percent of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, will need to be rebuilt; volunteers soon will be needed to go to Haiti. Volunteer teams are beginning to mobilize by filling out the registration form.
Through Justice for our Neighbors clinics across the country, UMCOR is helping Haitian immigrants register for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) the US government has offered. A workshop was held in New York City on Wednesday to educate people about how to apply.
In addition to health kits, this week, volunteers began assembling and shipping layette kits and birthing kits to address the basic needs of babies born in displaced persons camps in Haiti.

Partner Spotlight

Western Jurisdiction: Promoting Operation Resurrection 2010 - A Compassionate Response to the Earthquake from the Western Jurisdiction
Methodist Church in Hong Kong: Collected $87,500 from church members to support UMCOR’s relief efforts in Haiti.
Brentwood United Methodist Church: Hosted a concert headlined by Christian artists, Point of Grace and Mark Schultz. The concert raised more than $50,000.
Mission Response Center: Delivered $102,657 in kits to UMCOR Sager Brown. NASCAR shared some shipping equipment and the trailer was loaned by Petty Enterprises.
United Methodist College Student, Casey Madsen: Promoted Hearts for Haiti for Valentine’s Day at the University of Indianapolis. Students "bought" paper hearts and wrote a message on them and the hearts were hung throughout the Student Center. Proceeds were donated to UMCOR.

VCC service

SERVICE OF CHRISTIAN UNITY
Valley Christian Conference
Sunday, February 28, 2010

First Presbyterian Church
Bogard Road, Wasilla

1:00 Pot Luck Dinner
2:00 Worship Service
Guest Preacher: Rev. David Beckett,
Conference Superintendent of the United Methodist Church

3:30-5:30 Youth Event

News from the Alaska United Methodist Conference

Alaska United Methodist Conference e~Aurora from February 22, 2010.

Request for map/children's church

I am looking for a World Map for this Sunday, Feb. 28 for use during Sunday school. If someone has a National Geographic stashed away with a map inside or a poster we can borrow that would be great!

Thank you,
Wendy Taylor

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