Girdwood Chapel -- ChapelNews

All churches in the Alaska Conference are being asked to write a brief (less than 400 words) account of ministry over the past year to be included in the conference journal.  This is something that could not happen in a larger conference and hasn't been done here for several years.  This coming year, however, it's making a comeback.  I think it will be a wonderful historical snapshot in years to come.  Below is what Girdwood Chapel has submitted.

2008 Ministry Report from Girdwood Chapel UMC

In 2007 Girdwood Chapel had its third summer of construction for its new facility.  At this point, the building is enclosed and much of the interior electrical work is completed.  In 2008 we plan on getting sewer and water to the building and will be working on our full electric hook-up.  The installation of siding will improve the exterior.  This has been a long project for a little church and has been made possible by generous gifts from members, friends, and supporting churches.  While we had hoped to be in the building by fall of 2008, financial realities will be likely be pushing that back.  Therefore, we continue meeting in our 31’ x 31’ building with a port-a-potty out front.

Ministry is continuing in our small space.  Worship attendance remains mostly steady.  Sunday School takes place in three different locations after our second worship service.  And, youth group still meets on Sunday afternoons, with as few as two to as many as twenty-two youth attending from the congregation and the community.  In summer 2008 we plan on sending a group of youth to a mission event in Alabama.  Also, there is a women’s Wednesday Night Bible Study, nurtured by laypersons in the congregation.  We find that this study is reaching out beyond the walls of the church and including others in our sphere of ministry.  We’re hoping a men’s group might meet a similar spiritual need.

New this year, Girdwood Chapel is a pick-up location for organic food delivery in the community.  In addition, our plans of having a community garden appear to be shaping up nicely for this summer.  These two programs, along with our food pantry, are examples of how our church cares for the whole of the community around us.

Over the last five years, our congregation has, for good and bad, been shaped by our building process.  Much of our time, our talents, and resources have been directed to this process.  We long for the day that we can move into our new sanctuary and have the space to grow along with the surrounding Girdwood Community.  However, we have peace that God will complete it in His own time and our ministry and outreach will expand into our new ministry setting.