AKP 50th Anniversary Jubilee

My thanks to CLP LeeAnn Crumbley for allowing me to use this report. She wrote it to send to people, who serve as prayer intercessors for the Chapel in the Mountains. I am under pressure to do other things this week, and was behind on this blog. Thank you, LeeAnn, for permission to use this for this week's blog.

For Facebook friends of Presbytery Yukon, check out our newest photo album for more pix.
Curt

The 50th Jubilee celebration in Anaktuvuk Pass, Aug. 27 -30, was a wonderful, encouraging event. There were folks from Anchorage, Atqasuk, Nuiqsut, Barrow, Fairbanks, California, and Washington in attendance. We enjoyed traditional singspirations, Eskimo dances, a traditional village potluck, a KFC dinner sponsored by the corporation, with chicken flown in from Fairbanks. There was lots of visiting. A number of folks went berry picking or toured the village, including a visit to the Arctic Research experimental house.

Worship services were held Friday and Saturday afternoons, including a rededication of the Chapel, and on Sunday morning. The weather was typical, some rainy and cool, some pretty cold breezes (winds?), and some lovely sunny times.

Caven Keith, son of Bill and Terry Keith, was there continuing work on a documentary DVD, telling the story of the Chapel, the village and the people as they look back at the last 50 years and ahead to what God may do in their midst. Caven will continue working on the project into the winter, hoping to complete it in about November. Anyone interested in purchasing a copy when it is finished can let me know and I'll make a list. The interviews with village elders, church elders, and others are so well-done,it's easy to see the heart of the church and village. Caven is so committed Chapel in Mts. Choir to the project, he will finish it even though the funds raised do not cover the expenses.

Our group from Trinity, was Jeff and Sandi Bentz, JoAnn Bantz, Jack and LeeAnn Crumbley, Bob and Joan White (Joan is daughter of the late Rev. Ralph Weeks, itinerant NorthSlope pastor in the early 1970s) and Bill and Terry Keith, joined by sons, David and Caven Keith.George Gilchrist (AKP acting moderator during the 1990s), now in CA,
and son Cameron, Anchorage, joined us, as did Kendall Lancaster, Michigan, who pastored in AKP 1993-95. Mary Tener Sanders, Homer, was an itinerant S.S. teacher and teacher trainer in the early 1970s. Rev. John Chambers, missionary pilot, served the church, flying in from Barrow, in the 1950s. He came from his home in California.

Rev. Bill Wartes was the missionary pilot/itinerant pastor who designed the church. Seven members of his family, including widow Bonnie, attended, along with Doreen Simmonds, the granddaughter of Rev. Samuel Simmonds. From Palmer, Rev. Leisa Carrick, moderator-elect of Yukon Presbytery, and Martha Guinotte, wife of Rev. Henry Guinotte, joined us. Rev. Curt Karns, Yukon Presbytery executive, and Heather Smith, Trinity, serving Nuiqsut as CLP, were there. And many of our native brothers and sisters in Christ.

From Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, the focus was on the hope and joy we have in God's promises and in his faithfulness to his children. Our prayer is that people will bedrawn to support and encourage each other through the Chapel In the Mountains. Please pray for Rev. Keith and Sally Johnston as they pour themselves into the Lord's service tothe people of AKP.

They expended a huge amount of energy and prayer in preparation for this event, and encouraged many villagers to take an active part in the planning and executing of the plans. Pray they now have some well-deserved rest and that they can see the fruit of their labor.
Pray that God will bring revival to Anaktuvuk Pass and that our dear friends there will respond to his invitation.

Thanks for your prayers,
LeeAnn

Jubilee: It's About Restoring Right Relationships Being (Lv. 25)













Captions:
Top Picture: The Original Chapel
Middle PIcture: Drummers Warming Up
Bottom Picture: The Mountains!!!