What's Happening
Coming December 7
This communion Sunday Pastor Andy Bartel brings the message “Christ for All.” Services are at 8:00, 9:15 and 11:30 a.m., with the later two services livestreamed on YouTube.
Dottie Westberg Memorial Service
The memorial service for Dorothy “Dottie” Westberg will be Thursday, December 4, at 4:00 p.m. The service will be livestreamed and can be viewed here.
Christmas Cookie Blessing
Start baking for St. John’s Christmas Cookie Blessing. We will deliver cookies to first responders and others working on Christmas Day. More to come on helping to box and deliver cookies.
Christmas Eve Services
Christmas Eve services will be at 5, 7, 9, and 11 p.m. Creche-building will occur at the 5 and 7 p.m. services. The Praise Band will play at the 5 p.m. service. The St. John Choir will sing at 7 and 9 p.m. Harp music and communion will be at the 11 p.m. service. Evening candlelight will be at all services. The 5 and 7 p.m. services will be livestreamed.
Wednesday Night Supper
Join us for our last Wednesday Night Supper of 2025! The menu for December 10 is Pizza with Novelty Ice Cream Bars. Supper starts at 5:15 and runs until “about” 6:00 or 6:15. Suggested donation is $10/plate and $5/half plate but please just pay as you can. Gluten free and vegetarian options are available.
Parent’s Night Out
Need a date night? Let St. John youth watch your kids on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. RSVP with Pastor Autumn by Dec. 10. Suggested donation $40 per child/$80 per family. All proceeds support youth service projects.
St. John UWFaith Christmas Brunch
Come join the St. John United Women in Faith for our "It's a Wonderful Year" Christmas Brunch on Saturday, December 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. We have a special guest speaker Erin Baldwin - former St. John member and current Anchorage Midtown Assembly Representative. There will be a performance by the St. John Players, a silent auction, and we'll be collecting baby food for the FISH Food Pantry. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on Sunday mornings, at the church office, or on the St. John online giving site.
Western Alaska Disaster Response
We join in prayer for all who have been impacted by Typhoon Halong. We know homes have been swept away and destroyed by flooding and hurricane-force winds, especially in the communities of Kwigillingok, Kipnuk, Napakiak, and Tuntutuliak where the storm hit the hardest. We pray especially for those who are missing, for their loved ones, and for those who have lost their livelihoods and homes. We know recovery support will be needed for these communities. You can support these efforts financially by giving here and choosing Western Alaska Disaster Response #674.
Greeters needed!
Are you looking for a chance to get involved at St. John, meet new friends, and be a welcoming presence in the community? If any of those apply to you, you’re ready to be a greeter on Sunday mornings! We’re hoping to get as many folks as possible involved, so if you’re available even one Sunday this year, reach out to Pastor Adam at pastoradam@stjohnanchorage.org and they will get you on the schedule!
Worship band song list is growing on Spotify
Our praise band literally ROCKS! Do you love singing along with them on Sundays but are not sure how the song goes? Well, now you can practice ahead of time! Our band leaders post Sunday's songs on a Spotify list a few days before worship. You can view this week’s songs or choose from a growing library of songs the praise band plays here. You'll need a Spotify account to listen (it's free).
Pickleball is on Sundays and (most) Thursdays
Come play pickleball on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in the gym (except the 3rd Thursday). All levels are welcome.
Cookies for Sundays
Fellowship time is better with a cookie! Can you help supply cookies for one Sunday? Sign up here to bring 3 dozen peanut-free/nut-free cookies - they can be homemade or store-bought. Cookies will need to be brought to the church by 10 a.m. Sunday, or by noon Friday.
Monthly Mobile Food Pantry
St. John’s Mobile Food Pantry is every 3rd Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. in the church parking lot. The next one is December 18. To volunteer at St. John’s MFP, sign up here.
To find other resources for food in Southcentral, check the Food Bank of Alaska website or F.I.S.H. (Friends in Serving Humanity). For other types of assistance, call 2-1-1 or go to Alaska211.org.
Do you have our church app?
St. John has a church app! Find all the important things in one place – current events, our Giving link, the Connect Card, the newsletter, the prayer chain and more. If you enable notifications, you can receive important announcements such as “Wednesday Night Supper and activities canceled due to snowstorm.” (We promise not to blast out too many notifications.)
Interested? Go to your app store and search for Ministry Keeper. The logo is gold with a black MK (see image above). Or use the links here for Apple and Android. When searching for our church, type in St. John United Methodist Church – and be sure to include the period in “St.” Check it out and let us know what you think!
