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Last Updated: Nov 25th, 2009 - 17:42:06 |
Pastor's Corner
Viewing & Memorial Service
Brother David Wassillie passed away peacefully on November 24, 2009 at the Alaska Native Medical Center. A viewing for Mr. Wassillie will be held at the Anchorage Moravian Church on November 27, 2009, 2 PM, at 3512 Robin Street in East Anchorage. Viewing will be followed by a Memorial Service at 3 PM. Officiants will be Bishop William Nicholson & Pastor Fred Nielsen.
Nov 25, 2009, 17:33
Pastor's Corner
Advent Information
We will celebrate 1st Sunday of Advent & Communion Service this coming Sunday November 29, 2009, at 11 AM. Everyone please prepare for this time of fellowship and God's grace. We may have our first advent star hanging in the sanctuary. This will be a moving and meaningful service for all of us.
The Christmas season is not very far away. What is new this season is something very special that Moravian families can order for themselves or share as gifts for others. This is entitled "Loving Hearts United" (a PREORDER) a first-ever family devotional guide and Daily Texts Bundle. It sells for $24.95.
According to Moravian Publications Loving Hearts United is a "new Moravian Guide for Family Living. This new Christian resource for forming a spiritual bond in family, church, and home comes complete with our workbook containing activities, organized weekly for the 52 weeks of the year, plus more for liturgical celebrations. A CD accompanies the workbook with hymns and interactive songs for the whole family. A 2010 Daily Texts, Paperback version, is included with this bundle. You save $5 off the cover price of purchasing these book separately."
If you are interested order before December 15, 2009. You may order online at the following address http://www.moravian.org/publications/catalog/
Nov 25, 2009, 08:48
Pastor's Corner
Karmen & Greg
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| Greg's Entrance on Hot Wheels |
Anchorage Moravian Youth Enjoy an Evening with Karmen & Greg, November 17, 2009, 7PM, at 3512 Robin Street. A good number of Anchorage Moravian Church youth showed up for a delightful joy filled evening with Karmen & Greg Bernacchi at our beautiful new Church location at Robin Street. As the husband and wife team shared Christ's message in comedy, music and drama, it was evident that Christ's presence was there through the joy and humility displayed.
At least two youth responded to God's love to dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ. Truly everyone there laughed a bit; they forgot themselves for a while. And they went away with more than what they came with, more joy, but most importantly an awareness of our need of a Savior. A high point for the pastor was when Brother Greg pulled at our heart strings when he sang of Christ, "He loved me much, but I turned him down!" The challenge was for everyone to respond to Christ to be saved for eternity. Sister Karmen shared of her struggles and desire to have a family. As she sang she shared her humanity in a very touching way.
Pastor Billy Olsen shared afterwards that Karmen & Greg should be challenged to travel into rural Alaska to share their spiritual gifts of faith, joy and love. This ministry is needed to challenge our young people to Christ. Karmen & Greg expressed desire if they were to be invited.
Note: More photos of event on title above.
Nov 18, 2009, 10:10
Pastor's Corner
Drama & Singing Event Tonight
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| Karmen & Greg |
Anchorage Moravians! You are Invited to a Special Event Coming Up November 17, 2009, 7PM - tonight, at 3512 Robin Street.
This is an encouragement for all to attend the gathering, tonight, and watch Karmen & Greg bring glory to Jesus Christ through drama and song!
Karmen & Greg Bernacchi are a husband and wife music and drama team dedicated to ministering the gospel through comedy, music and drama.
Karmen and Greg are from Wisconsin where Greg can be heard every morning on their local radio station as the morning-air personality and program director. Prior to answering God’s call into music and drama ministry, Greg’s love of theatre landed him several leading roles in productions in the Fox Valley, Kenosha, and Mauston, Wisconsin areas. Recently Greg received his minister’s license and is serving at Faith Christian Church in Mauston, Wisconsin.
Karmen has performed with professional Christian theatre group “The Stained Glass Theatre,” in Springfield, Missouri. She has also performed in the Minneapolis, Minnesota based productions of “The Gospel According to Scrooge” and “The Twin Cities Passion Play.” She was also a member of the Christian singing group “Latter Rain.”
The duo’s slogan is “Come for the Entertainment … Go Away With a Whole Lot More.” “That really sums up our vision,” says Greg. “Our comedy may make people laugh, our music may make people forget their troubles for a while … and that’s great, but when all is said and done, our desire is to clearly point the way to Christ.”
This Drama/Music event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. A special love offering will be taken. Call Pastor Nicholson at 907-240-8102 for more information.
Nov 17, 2009, 10:48
Pastor's Corner
First Worship
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| Main Sanctuary |
ANCHORAGE MORAVIANS CONDUCT FIRST WORSHIP IN NEW BUILDING TODAY!!! Our worship 11 AM on November 15, 2009 was full of joyful worshippers in the main sanctuary, upstairs kitchen area as well as downstairs fellowship hall where there is a video & audio monitor. Praise be to God!
We are now out of the Turnagain United Methodist Church! Those that made it possible this last week are as follows: Church volunteers (Billy Olsen, Fred Nielsen & Leif Swanson) headed up by Trustee Tyde Riopelle are to be thanked for moving all of the church hymnals, sound system, etc., out of TUMC this last week. They also moved much of the office equipment to the new facility. AncMC Women’s Fellowship Group (Fay Romer, Carrie Kiana, Nastasia Wahlbeg, Roxanne Anaruk, Julie Brown, Barbara Nicholson, Shawna Nicholson, and Silvia Hembree) are to be thanked for doing general cleaning and readying the Church for worship, today.
Thanks to Pastor Grant Shimanek for working on an Anchorage Moravian Church temporary sign raised in the Church parking area. A permanent one will be commissioned by the Joint Boards in the near future. Also Paul Kiunya Jr., Charlie Carl, Fred Nielsen, and others, thank you for setting up the permanent sound system.
Paukins Cleaning & Restoration company professionally shampooed the floors and pew bench upholstery on Friday, November 13, 2009. Earlier, a concerned raised by one of our members that asbestos may be in the carpet, but after talks on site with an abatement contractor and our testing contractor, this was cleared up as not being a problem. We have a letter from the abatement contractor and the same will be supplied by the testing contractor to this affect. It is indeed safe to move in!
Brother Tyde Riopelle, who is a certified project engineer, continues to project manage church boiler replacement/repair. Fix-ups to the building will continue over the weeks ahead with parking area and drainage repair to be done by Spring 2010. The Joint Board will be meeting soon to discuss what to do with the Parsonage building.
Complete movement of the office to the new location may not happen until later this week. The new Church location main office number is (907) 868-3177. If anyone would like help with church and/or parsonage fixups, please contact Brother Tyde at (907) 715-0013 or Pastor Nicholson at (907) 240-8102.
Praise God the AncMC is now established thanks to all of you who faithfully support the work of our Lord Jesus!
Note: There are additional pictures of inside the church by clicking on First Worship (above)
Nov 15, 2009, 13:38
Pastor's Corner
Last Message at TUMC
Reflections: Where've We've Been and Where We're Going
The Anchorage Moravian fellowship era ended in 2001; since then we entered into the Church development span of time. Now as of November 5, 2009 with the Joint Boards signing of a purchase of a new Church at 3500 Robin Street, in East Anchorage, we have evolved into a fully established era of the Anchorage Moravian Church.
Another era has ended but that doesn't mean that our work is over. Quite to the contrary we have much to do to firmly establish ourselves as an influential Christ-centered Church and we must further implement our strategic plan, expand our membership base, empower our members to use their gifts for the Lord, and continue to support doing outreaches to our younger generation and even maybe even looking at expansion into other communities.
Nov 11, 2009, 16:37
Pastor's Corner
Anchorage Moravian Now Own a Building
ANCHORAGE MORAVIANS NOW OWN A BUILDING!!!
The New Church deal closed on Monday November 5, 2009 with signatures by Elder Fay Romer and Trustee Carrie Kiana (shown right with Realtor Steward Smith and Trustee Flora Demantle. At far left is First National Bank Representative). This is Anchorage’s first Moravian Church property; now we can moved forward together to accomplish what God want us to do for His Kingdom!
The Trustees headed up by Tyde Riopelle are working in a feverish pace to ready the above Church facility for move in date, November 15, 2009. The Elders are announcing that on November 15th, Sunday School will begin at 10 AM, morning worship at 11 AM and evening service at 6:30 PM at 3500 Robin Street.
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| 3500 Robin Street, Anchorage, Alaska |
Raising sufficient dollars will continue to be a challenge, especially as we look to comfortably making monthly payments and maintaining the buildings and properties. We must all pray and work together on paying off this Church property as soon as we can.
There are certainly interesting thoughts being shared, which the Joint Board and Church Council must look at in the future. One of the ideas mentioned is to build a modern two story high worship structure between the two buildings to accommodate the main sanctuary (45’ X 70’), which may have a large Moravian cupola. The Chapel area (at left above in pic) can become the conference room, fellowship hall area. In time the entire complex may be modern looking and beautiful to behold as we all pray and work together to make this possible. One of the thoughts heard about the parsonage is that it could be managed by Ikayuun to provide housing for patients coming into the Alaska Native Medical Center.
Praise God the AncMC is now established thanks to all of you who faithfully support the work of our Lord Jesus.
Today, November 8, 2009 is our last Sunday to worship in the Turnagain United Methodist Church! As we move out the Turnagain congregation will begin renovation of the previously used Moravian Space week of November 15, 2009. We are thankful for the brothers and sisters of the TUMC who have allowed us use of their facility for over 31 years.
Nov 6, 2009, 17:56
Pastor's Corner
When Moravian Revival Happens, Will We Recognize It?
When Moravian Revival Happens, Will We Recognize It?
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| Moravian Youth |
Ever since I was a child in a little Moravian Church in Dillingham, over the years, I have heard missionaries, pastor’s, elders and even regular members praying for revival. Even today in some of our Moravian communities, I notice some church bulletins have prayer requests for revival listed. I believe that Moravians in Alaska have been praying for revival a long time. We sing about it; we pray for it, we wait for it, but I wonder if we will truly recognize it when it happens? Will you recognize revival when it happens? I am afraid that true revival when it happens will not be recognized by many of our leaders and people.
Within my heart of faith, I have always felt that revival is stirring within the Alaska Moravian Church because we have been praying for it for years, especially for it to happen among our young people. Revival will come, because too much evil and destruction is upon us in our society! Church history tells us that God chooses to move upon society at certain locations and times. For me I will recognize true revival when it begins to transform our Native society.
Sep 21, 2009, 15:34
Pastor's Corner
Ordaining Gay Clergy
Inerrancy of God’s Word and How It Applies to Subject of Ordaining Gay Clergy
Response to August 23, 2009 Decision by ELCA to Roster Gay Ordained Clergy
By Bishop William H. Nicholson, Pastor of Anchorage Moravian Church
September 14, 2009
Note: The following statements do not represent the position of the Alaska Moravian Church. It is written in the hopes to further stimulate discussion in whether the Moravian Churches in Alaska should continue talks on Full Communion status.
The Moravian Churches in America have been ecumenical in nature. Along with the American Churches, the Moravian Church in Alaska follows a Book of Order Statement of the Unity stating….“cherishes its unity as a valuable treasure entrusted to it by the Lord. It stands for the oneness of all mankind given by the reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Therefore the ecumenical movement is of its very lifeblood”.
Resolution on Approving Gay Ordained Clergy in ELCA Churches
On August 27, 2009, I received a letter addressed to me from the Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations Department of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). This written communication states that on August 23, 2009, the ELCA Church wide assembly voted to approve resolutions that commits the ELCA “to find a way for people in publically accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as rostered leaders.” Another resolution states that ELCA “will exercise flexibility within its existing structure and practices to allow Lutherans in same gender relationships to be approved for professional service in the Church. This resolution passed by a vote of 667-307. This action should call into question how we feel about our own theological and ethical concerns within our own Province in Alaska. In other words how would you feel if you reside in a village in Akiachak or Eek or Dillingham Moravian Church; would you accept an ordained avowed gay leader as your pastor? Or as a youth leader in the local Church?
Sep 15, 2009, 14:06
Pastor's Corner
Spiritual Feast Historical Information
This is a time for love, unity and Understanding! As far as the Spiritual Feast “movement” is concerned from what I know of it, I do not know of anything happening that goes against scripture or general Church history. This experience is changing some of our thinking, but what must never change is the proclamation of the Word of God. II Timothy 3:16,17 is very clear that all we need is God’s Word for the life of the Church. Another area that we must research is our understanding on dreams, visions, and revelation. Our Province does not have a position statement on this but the day is now here that we must evolve a church stance on this. Currently different viewpoints are circulating among our people. Praise the Lord as we study God’ Word more, speak together more, we will learn more and find the truth that will set us all free!
My personal assessment in regards to the Spiritual Feast worship services (over the last three years) is indeed showing many Christ glorifying fruits, i.e - souls being won for the eternal kingdom, souls rededicated, marriages being saved, people being set free from alcohol and drugs, young people “on fire” for the Lord. This movement has also positively impacted the crime rate. It is significantly down in one of our worse villages according to a Chief VPSO. Obviously the Holy Spirit is at work convicting souls for salvation. Since this is happening we need to be careful about speaking rashly or in carnality, without truly knowing the mind of Christ. The risk we may run into is grieving the Holy Spirit, opposing Christ’s Will, working against God and giving the Devil what he wants by bringing division.
Reflecting upon Synod 2009 last February close to 40% of the pastors, lay pastors and church delegates supported a Spiritual Feast resolution by voting in favor of it. Many are still in the dark about the movement chose not to vote for it or against it until they better understand it.
I know there is still a lot of confusion. So let’s continue to talk more, pray more, and try to understand if what is happening to our Churches is supported by God's Word. Presently if a Spiritual Feast is happening outside of the Moravian Church, it should be billed as a non-Moravian sponsored event, therefore it is a non-denominational event. When the two Spiritual Feasts happened in Anchorage, Alaska at the 1st Congregational Church and Anchorage Dena'ina Convention Center, I believe these were publicized as being non-Moravian sponsored events.
The Spiritual Feast concept may not die at this time. So I would kindly and prayerfully suggest that it may be helpful for more of our Moravian Church leaders to attend a Spiritual Feast when it happens and learn about it. If we find error, let us deal with it in a positive and loving way at Synod 2010. It sounds like the Manokotak Elders have approved a Spiritual Feast for October 2009. As Moravians we follow the Alaska Moravian Church Book of Order, but this does not mean that each church is a carbon copy of each other necessarily. Practically speaking, however each local Moravian Church Elder’s board has a certain amount of freedom to develop and approve their own worship schedule and worship the way they see fit based upon local needs in line with the Word of God and God’s Spirit.
Enclosed are copies of some reflections that I have had about the Spiritual Feast movement for your review. This should help us as we communicate in love and unity and as we seek truth.
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NOTE: My thoughts do not reflect APB, Inc. nor the Alaska Synod. My thoughts are constantly evolving as I learn more. The articles submitted are dated and are offered to promote dialogue. They are listed as follows:
1. Manokotak Spiritual Feast: An Amazing Outpouring of God's Spirit?
Dated November 6, 2008.
2. Thoughts on Spiritual Feast & Believer Priests. Dated November 26, 2008.
3. Renewal, Spiritual Gifts, and Danger of Pride. Dated December 6, 2008.
4. The Spirit Feast. Is this From Our Savior’s Heart? Dated December 10, 2008.
5. APB Inc., Bethel Moravian Church Elders, Moravian Bible Seminary and Bishops Meeting on Spiritual Feast. Dated January 6, 2009.
The commentary (over several months) that follows are mine alone and reflect an element of soul searching to make sense about what is happening among us. I am always open to understand and allow change in my life as I interpret and take in God’s Word. For all of us the theological task is to make biblical sense out of what is happening and to correct error if necessary. Where there is no error or falsehood, we must rejoice wholeheartedly for what God the Holy Spirit is doing in our midst to give glory to our crucified Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Aug 25, 2009, 15:58
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