News

Pastor’s Note, July 2022

Dear Aldersgate,

It was a joy to be with all of you for my first Sunday on July 3rd. What a wonderful and warm welcome. Thank you. I look forward to getting to know you better after our family moves into the parsonage in another week. Stay tuned for plans to connect!

We are finishing our second week of Freedom School at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church. It has been a joy-filled experience to see our 28 scholars singing, chanting, reading, and making new friendships within the spaces at the church. One of the guardians of three of our scholars said it well. He said, “Thank you for opening your home to us.”

We invite you to join us as a guest reader from 8:30 am to 9:00 am during Harambe. We also invited you to the “Finale” at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church on July 15th at 3 pm. Please contact Pastor Kristi ([email protected]) or Pastor Tracey Wolff ([email protected]) to participate.

We acknowledge the help and participation from so many of you. Thank you for providing resources, meals, housing, transportation, and hospitality to the scholars and to Pastor Tracey, Zaheer, Sheilah, Karly, Dr. Sabrina & Mr. Shakespeare. We are so very fortunate that they have come to Juneau to share their gifts and talents with us. We would not have a Freedom School without the support and love from so many gracious souls.

We held our last Cooperative Youth Group for this season on June 26th. It has been such an honor to be able to work with our amazing youth and to grow with them in discipleship and in ministry. I will carry the joy that I have for each of you in my heart as I move into a new ministry. I will continue to advocate for you, pray for you, and cheer for your continued growth and success.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Kristi

Pastors Note, June 2022

Dear Aldersgate,

It is hard to believe that this is my last newsletter.

I want to thank you for six very interesting years. For me the first three years were the best, when I was able to serve full time at Aldersgate. I loved almost every minute of those first three years.

I especially have happy memories of making espresso coffee and baking scones in the church kitchen for those who wanted to come early to church on Sunday morning. From mystery dinners, to caroling in the snow, from Advent stars to hosting Forest Rangers for soup supper, and many hours of worship and prayer together, from working at the Glory Hall to playing, we had some wonderful and good times. Alas, many of those things that meant the most to me, and maybe to you as well, went to the wayside when we went to a 1/2 time appointment. That, followed by the pandemic, really put a damper on things. I have had to mourn what could have been as I have processed leaving and moving to a new appointment.

The losses of the past 3 years are why I am so happy that you will have a 3/4 time minister with Pastor Kristi. I firmly believe that going above 1/2 time will give the ministries at Aldersgate a tremendous boost. I am confident that this congregation will be a flourishing full time ministry before you know it!

Many of us had the opportunity to work with Pastor Kristi for the past few years with the youth programs and building our online worship. We know what an amazing pastor she is and are excited about the gifts and graces that she is bringing, as your new pastor, to this new era in ministry in the Mendenhall Valley.

Aldersgate has a strong and committed worship team with strong and gifted young adult leadership. Young adult leaders are a rare and beautiful thing these days in ministry settings. Welcoming these folks to the existing leadership of Aldersgate and supporting their new vision for us will surely make for a season of renewal and rebirth for our congregation.

Thank you for your partnership the past 6 years. I pray God’s abundant blessings on your ministry together in the years ahead.

Pastor Karen

Appointment Announcement, Rev. Kristi McGuire

Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky intends to appoint the Rev. Kristi McGuire as pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Juneau, Alaska, three quarter-time, beginning July 1, 2022.

Pastor Kristi is not new to the folks at Aldersgate because of her current appointment as associate pastor for cooperative youth ministry at Ḵunéix ̱Hídi Northern Light United Church in Juneau, Alaska. She also helped facilitate the strategic planning process for the church and has preached for us on multiple occasions. Kristi is a provisional elder from the Missouri Annual Conference. Notes to welcome and congratulate Pastor Kristi may be sent to: [email protected]

Appointment Announcement, Rev. Karen Dammann

Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky intends to appoint Rev. Karen Dammann as Pastor of Langley United Methodist Church on Whidbey Island in Langley, Washington beginning July 1, 2022.

The Bishop and cabinet continues to discern our next appointed pastor, in consultation with our SPRC through our Conference Superintendent.

Pastor Karen’s last Sunday will be June 26th.