LAST SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2022, ANCMC ANNUAL CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING WAS WELL ATTENDED AND A BIG BLESSING. Following is the AncMC Pastor & Elders report for 2021.We welcome all of you to the 22th annual meeting of the Anchorage Moravian Church (AncMC).
2021 has been a difficult but fruitful year for all of us. Near the beginning of the New Year, it was sad to officiate at Pastor Pete Stephan Jr.’s funeral at Legacy/Bragaw Chapel. Brother Pete began attending the AncMC in 2012. He was very active as a Pastor serving as one of our worship leaders and special speakers. He had a servant’s heart. He died on January 10, 2021. He is missed because he was a fixture at the AncMC offices. He was always encouraging and praying for staff members. A hard man to replace.
Throughout the entire year our worship programs have mainly been held at 3512 Robin Street, Anchorage, Alaska, where we are presently. For our special programs the church sanctuary has proven still to be too small. During the 2021 Candlelight service on December 24, 2021, the sanctuary was maxed out.
Emphasis continuing is teaching and preaching discipleship. For an entire year we have been praying for and encouraging young people to attend and participate in the Anchorage Moravian Church worship services. While the 2 pm worship services average, a smaller number of people, the Sunday evening Singspirations have been bringing in a growing number of attendees. Indeed again, as in previous years, thanks goes out to Mae Moses, Billy Olsen and Paul Kiunya Jr. (and others) for providing music with their instruments and voices.
Together, we have been in unity, working, and a goal has been to assure that our people tithe their “first fruits”. Very helpful was an unexpected donation from an Anchorage Businessman for $15,000 and another check for $7,000 from a Church member. Thankfully, there has been some improvements in our leadership being more visible in weekly worship services and special services. If a Church Elder or Trustee or other leaders cannot be present at the weekly Wednesday night, 6 pm, Bible Study & Prayer, they are encouraged to pray daily for the various important needs we have on our Prayer Bulletin.
Bishop Nicholson continues to maintain daily office hours. UIMM captures a bit of his time. For the AncMC, a big part of his daily work is to draft weekly worship bulletins and assuring general administration of the Church. He attempts to assure everyone knows what is going on. Outside of the monthly board meetings, he maintains weekly communication through the AncMC Facebook sites and the worldwide web site at www.alaskamoravian.com. He continues as main speaker for the regular liturgical service at 2 pm. The four core preachers for the 6 pm Singspirations have been Pastors Milton Cross, Ron Moo, Frederick Nielsen, Robert Monette, and Bishop William Nicholson.
During June, July and most of August, when our bishop is away commercial fishing, thanks goes out to Pastors Ron Moo, Bob Monette, and Milton Cross for keeping our Church running under the 2021 AncMC Summer Administrative Pastor, Bob Monette. These men have been effective and assuring that tithing is emphasized, which has effectively strengthened our Church. Bishop Nicholson assured that the summer worship bulletins following our Moravian Lexicon were finished before departure in late May. Bishop Nicholson continued live-streaming Sermons, Sunday’s weekly from Dillingham, Alaska, until boarding his fishing vessel in mid June.
During 2021, the Church programs including Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer time (with Pastor Milton Cross’s assistance when bishop is travelling) and regularly scheduled Sunday worship continued efficiently. Facebook life-streaming continued throughout the year for the two Sunday Worship services as well as the mid-week Bible Study & Prayer time.
Significantly beginning in August 2021, there has been notice in our bulletins and on facebook that Pastors of the Alaska Moravian Province are welcome to attend our services and also speak from our pulpits. Also emphasized is the importance of “holiness” and keeping separate from the world in order to grow in the Grace & Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As usual, we have assured that we follow the Moravian Calendar for worship. Also the following significant activities, while not conclusive, have happened on our Church grounds. The activities are approved formally by the Elders of the Anchorage Moravian church:
1. 10th General Church Conference of UIMM’s Churches and Fellowships on February 4, 2021 with AncMC delegates attending.
2. Special speakers and Church events include the following:
a. Spiritual Warfare Conference happened on March 26-28, 2021. Two days of training for UIMM pastors on March 26-27 at 624. Instructors were Pastors Nellie Huffman and Valerie Penz.
b. Postponed a couple of months, but The Rev. Dr. Doug Norwood was able to be a trainer for UIMM Pastors on April 16-17, 2021. He also served as special speaker for three nights on the Great Commission theme. Potluck afterwards.
c. Bishop Nicholson and Pastor Monette traveled to four Indian Reservations March 12-23. This opened up new doors of ministry.
d. Passion Week Holy Week Readings were held on March 29 – April 2, 2021.
e. Easter Sunrise Service was held at Anchorage Memorial Park cemetery, April 4, 2021, 7 am.
f. There was a well-attended Easter Love Feast service, April 4, 2021, 2 pm at 3512 Robin Street.
g. September 10-12, 2021, Revival services were held at Central Lutheran Church (downstairs) with The Rev. Carlos Marin from Arizona. Healing & Deliverance were themes at this gathering.
h. Held Zoom Memorial Service for The Rev. Dr. Doug Norwood Jr. at 624, 6 am.
i. Bishop Nicholson and Pastor Monette traveled to Honduras, October 8-15, 2021 to attend Pastor’s Conference. There in Tegucigalpa, Bishop Nicholson consecrated three pastors, two Presbyters, and a new bishop of Honduras – Bishop Isai Granwell of La Ceiba. On their return they traveled to Roseburg to meet with The Rev. Earl Carlson, where the first UIMM Sunday worship was held in a home. This service was live-streamed on Facebook.
j. Pastor’s Training and three nights of revival November 12-14, with The Rev. Dr. Matt Ayers, President of Wesley Biblical Seminary from Jackson, MS and The Rev. Dr. Charles Lake from Florida. Theme was Holiness & Christian Life.
k. Bishop Nicholson, Pastor Monette, and Bishop’s wife, Barbara traveled on a Mission trip to Oregon and Arizona. This was November 13 – December 9, 2021. A big event on December 4, 2021 was Bishop Nicholson’s consecration of The Rev. Carlos Marin as a UIMM minister. Another aim in Oregon was a meeting with two pastors for start up of Indigenous ministry east of Roseburg, Oregon.
3. Monthly Elders, Trustees, and Joint Board meetings as scheduled.
4. Two UIMM Friday Night Singspirations held concurrently continued until spring of 2021; one at Robin Street and the other at 624 West International Airport Rd. In October 2021, Pastor Leon Kiana took over the Friday night ministry from Pastor Tim Sergie, which happens weekly at 3512 Robin Street. Approved by UIMM’s Directors, Pastor Leon Kiana was consecrated (reaffirmed) as a UIMM pastor by Bishop Nicholson, at the end of year, Friday night ministry held December 31, 2021, at 624, 6 pm.
5. Thanks to the leadership of Nellie C. Kiunya and Theresa Bowles, Candle Trimming, bagging parties were held in preparation for Christmas Eve Candle service on December 20 & 21, 2021, which was held at 3512 Robin Street.
6. New Year’s Watchnight service at 624, 11 pm, officiated by Bishop William Nicholson.
According to our Church Registry during 2021, the following activities happened:
1. Memorial and/or Funeral services – 9
2. Baptisms – 0
3. Marriages – 2
4. Holy Communions – 3 (held April 1, Maundy Thursday, September 12, Autumn celebration, and November 14 in preparation for Advent)
Lastly, a big thank you to all of you who support and tithe at the AncMC bringing salvation, discipleship, empowerment, and expansion of the Kingdom. Everything we do is for Christ’s glory. And, together, we work for His agenda; not ours!
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William Nicholson