Fellowship Groups
2005 Women's Fellowship Report
By Sister Carrie Paton
Jan 21, 2006, 22:32

ANCHORAGE MORAVIAN CHURCH

Women’s Fellowship Report for Church Council

January 15, 2006

Prepared by Carrie Paton

2005 AncMC Women’s Fellowship Officers

Carrie Paton, President

Anna Leonard, Vice-President

Marie Miller, Treasurer

Ina Carpenter, Secretary

Andrea Nielsen through 5/05 and Alice Hess 9/05-present, Spiritual Leaders

A little History of the Alaska Moravian Women’s Fellowship

The Alaska Moravian Church Province has had an active group of Moravian Women in the Moravian Villages since the formation of the Moravian Church in Southwest Alaska.  In the early years, when the material goods were scarce the women were taught how to sew and make garments, helped with the church functions, sewed baby gowns for newborns, which were then donated to the area hospital. 

In more recent years, the Women’s Fellowship formed officers, book of order, and by-laws adopted from the North Carolina Moravian Province. In most of the villages, the women meet weekly and have a church service, give funds toward the Alaska Moravian Province and help the local church and community as needed; mainly with fundraising activities, such as craftwork and bake sales. In the past, the Ladies Aid were formed in the villages but to date only the West Coast District villages have viable Ladies Aid Groups that meet regularly and provide aid to their local pastor in their community.  

The Anchorage Moravian Women’s Fellowship

The AncMC Women’s Fellowship started with Mickey Romer initially. Bonnie Alexie and Anna Anvil continued meeting over many years in their homes.  They continued faithfully over the years even though the numbers dwindled.  They made crafts and were able to give funds annually to the Province.

In December 2001 the Women’s Fellowship group reorganized with an election of officers.  We felt our way through without much written guidance, like new babes trying to walk on wobbly feet.  Since then it has been actively moving forward with 5 officers working together growing spiritually and meeting the annual financial giving to the Alaska Moravian Province ($450-800+) and helping families during their bereavement ($200+).  

Over the last 3 years I have seen growth and success of our organization and I commend the officers and the Fellowship members for their faithful work in making the Women’s Fellowship what it is today with the help of our heavenly Father.  We have business meetings to regroup, work on the schedule and upcoming activities.  Our devotional time and studies has helped us to grow together spiritually over the years; our prayer time has brought us closer as Women of Prayer as we pray for our Church, families, and for those who need prayer.

The Anchorage Moravian Church Women’s Fellowship is a circle of women from the Anchorage Moravian Church congregation.  Our prayer is for the women to unite and to grow spiritually by meeting regularly on a weekly basis.  During 2005, we met on Tuesday evenings at TUMC from 6:30 to 8 PM. During 2005 we did craft work for the first 30-45 minutes, then go into our devotion, offering, prayer time, and sing a song for a special on Sunday.  Each officer took a turn leading on a rotational basis; which helped each of us to get into the word and to be actively involved with leadership.

This past year we have done fundraising activities, such as selling bags, crafts, and a dinner.  We helped with the Easter Love Feast, Thanksgiving Love Feast, Church Family Pot-lucks, sewing Angel costumes for the Christmas Play, Christmas Candle trimming, sang Christmas Carols at the Alaska Native Medical Center with the Church Choir.  We went Christmas Caroling on Christmas Eve to three shut-ins and at Larson’s one-year feast for AJ, Walter and Martha Larson's son.

We had our annual Christmas party and elections in December.  At this meeting I put together a written form of explaining who we are, and what we do.  Also, I put together a job description of what each officer is expected to do taking into consideration all the things we do as a Women’s Fellowship.  One person cannot be expected to do most of it.  It has to be a shared responsibility between all elected officers in order to run successfully with the help of our almighty God.  We have included in an outreach coordinator (who will be partnering with the Spiritual Leader) and AncMC Functions coordinator.  I am trusting that our mission and our work will be more effective with these expectations written down.

The 2006 Officers are:

Carrie Paton, President

Carrie Anvil-Kiana, Vice-President

Natalie Angapak, Treasurer

Lucy Skolnick, Secretary

Alice Hess, Spiritual Leader

Grace Haroldsen, Activities Coordinator

Elena Franks, AncMC Functions Coordinator

We had our business meeting on January 10, 2006 and at that time we put together a schedule to meet every Thursday at TUMC.  We are will have a Women’s Fellowship Church Service first Thursday of every month. Everyone, including the men of the Church are invited to worship with us.  We plan visitation outreach to a home every last Thursday.  We are also going to have a sewing hour with Anna Anvil once a week in her home on Saturdays.  So if you want to learn skin sewing or can’t find time to teach your child, come along with your daughter or granddaughter and Anna will help us get sewing done.

We invite other women to come join us and become actively involved in this endeavor toward working and growing together in our Spiritual walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

            “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”                                      Luke 9:23

Prayerfully and Respectfully submitted by,

Carrie Paton,

AncMC Women’s Fellowship President