Wear Blue Tomorrow; Arctic Village; Palm Sunday; Virtual Yoga; Pandemic Poem
Dear friends,
I’m so proud of how everyone is practicing social distancing and following the health mandates to keep everyone safe. And there are some blessings. We are learning how to use Zoom, email, phone, and Facebook to still keep in touch. Younger friends are grocery shopping and running errands for elders. And with almost all of us slowing down–we have more time for the beautiful outdoors, calling our friends, family time, prayer–and helping others Check out the Pandemic Poem a little later in this newsletter.
This week we at St. George’s and all of Cordova received a wonderful gift–an audio recording–a message of encouragement with stories, prayers, and blessings from the Rev. Dr. Trimble Gilbert from Arctic Village. Trimble is 84 years young and lives with his wife Mary in the land where he grew up. Hunting and fishing, spending time with his family, traveling by dog team–was his schooling. His dad was an Episcopal priest, too. Trimble plays fiddle and guitar and he and his wife still speak their first language–Gwich’in. I hope you will be able to gather this week with your household family and take time to listen to this 49 minute recording of wisdom from the land–recorded by Dustin Solberg and his son Peter.
Here’s a picture of the Rev. Dr. Trimble Gilbert and two musician friends at St. Stephen’s Church in Fort Yukon.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and on Friday April 3 there is a virtual rally to Wear Blue to highlight the issue (poster attached). With the Pandemic going on, people are under enormous pressure, so it’s good to highlight this issue. Everyone has the opportunity to have a positive impact on a child’s life. Check out this website for more ideas on how you can help our precious children, https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/child-abuse-prevention-month
WAYS TO HELP YOUR FELLOW CORDOVANS
Note from Sandie Ponte: We are trying to supply Sunset View tenants with at least two dinners a week. If anyone would like to contribute we are looking for donations of food. Enough to feed 20. This could be raw ingredients that we cook and deliver, or meals. Please pm me if you are interested in helping out. These are vulnerable people that really don’t need to be out in the community. Thank you for your help. Message her on Facebook.
Expect more opportunities to help our fellow Cordovans! There are two Facebook groups Cordova Neighborhood Watch and Cordova Prepared that will hopefully be coming up with ways to love our neighbors.
FOOD DRIVE!
Help Cordovans in need by donating your canned goods, non-perishable and frozen items! The Native Village of Eyak (424-7738) is a food pantry for the Food Bank of Alaska. Call them in the case of food emergencies. AND THE SALVATION ARMY has reopened their food bank on their Main Street building and they can use food. Call Pastor Steve at 429-6262.
FILL OUT YOUR CENSUS FORM on line https://www.2020census.gov
WEEKLY NEWS BRIEFINGS: Moving forward the City of Cordova’s COVID-19 Incident Management Team will be hosting live-streamed Press Briefings each Friday at 4:00pm which will be streamed live and available in the archive afterward at youtube.com/c/cityofcordovaalaska
Please consult these resources for information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – coronavirus.gov
State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) – coronavirus.alaska.gov
Dial 211 – The State of Alaska information line for non-clinical questions
City of Cordova – cityofcordova.net
Cordova Prepared is the comprehensive source for answers to any questions you have. Please do not call CCMC or the Clinic with COVID questions unless related directly to your health. We do not want to take time away from the cordovaprepared@yahoo.com which goes directly to the City’s Public Information and Incident Management Teams.
Let’s do our part and practice the CDC guidance to keep Cordova free of COVID-19 for as long as possible. Please take every precaution to care for yourself and loved ones. Updates will be posted regularly on the Cordova Prepared page of the City of Cordova Website and Facebook.com/groups/cordovaprepared/. General local questions can be directed to cordovaprepared@yahoo.com.
ENCLOSED ARE THE WAYS OUR CHURCHES ARE ADJUSTING TO THIS CRISIS.
THIS is PALM SUNDAY April 5 at St. George’s—we will be meeting at 10:30 am on line via Zoom You can call in early and wait for the meeting to start. Zoom’s really pretty fun. We’ll have singing, a little something for kids, and be studying Matthew 21:1-11 about Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem to the shouts of Hosanna! Pick some willow branches this week and we will be “parading” and waving them across the airways!
DIRECTIONS. Go to the following website.…and download the free app and then type in the meeting ID.
So this is the link to our meeting https://zoom.us/j/427807416
Meeting ID: 427 807 416
One tap mobile phone numbers
+13462487799,,788514994# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,788514994# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
US Toll Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adpzsM2SOs
During this time St. George’s will have services on line on Zoom—instead of church in our building or on our grounds. Our address is Box 849, Cordova, Alaska 99574 if you want to make a donation. Check out our webpages at www.cordovaepiscopal.org or www.reddragoncordova.org We also have a village music program www.dancingwiththespirit.org Over the last two years we have spent 70 weeks teaching music in village schools.
Please pray for all those suffering from the corona virus and healing for them, for the doctors and nurses and medical and emergency personnel–and for Robbie Glasen who had open heart surgery, Sharin Leppert, Mark, Marvin Thurman, Heidi, Hannah, Ampy’s sister—and all their families and friends.
I had good news from my brother George this week that the chemo and your prayers are working! The doctor said that the cancer cells in his body are now in the normal range… He still has another month of chemo—but I’m so grateful that he is getting better!! Thanks again and keep praying!
Send condolence cards for Alfredo Hernandez’s family to Rita Hernandez, P.O. Box 686, Cordova, Alaska 99574. And send cards to Deb Ethier and her husband Chip on the death of her mom ”Honey”at Box 2304, Cordova, Alaska 99574 And to Ampy Benninger for the death of her niece Ruby. Ampy’s address is Box 1178, Cordova, Alaska 99574
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH is open daily for private prayer—but there are no masses or meetings. Mass on Sunday is at 10 am on Facebook Live. Father Michael will be saying a private mass every day for Cordova and the world—and is available for prayers and confessions. Plus Father Michael is doing a church service on Facebook Live at 5:30 pm every day. Call him at 424-3637
THE CORDOVA COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH is meeting not in person—but streaming their church services on Facebook Live. Call or text Pastor Mike Glover for more info Email: pastor@cordovabaptist.church Call or Text: (352)318-2906 He is also doing daily video devotionals.
THE CORDOVA CHURCH of the NAZARENE is going to Facebook Live services and meetings—with no in person meetings. Call or text Pastor Steve Leppert at 429-6262. Sunday service is at 11 am; Sunday night Jr. high gathering 7 pm; Wednesday night Prayers 7 pm; Thursday night Bible Study 7 pm. Plus Pastor Steve is posting daily devotionals on Facebook.
THE LITTLE CHAPEL has gone to all on-line services. Contact Pastor Brandyn Dyer for more information at 907-370-3019.
THE MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH is holding services on Facebook Live. Contact Pastor Leslie at 864-607-8519.
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST of LATTER DAY SAINTS has cancelled all services and meetings and is urging families to gather at home for worship and bible study.
Prayer for a Pandemic
By Cameron Bellm
May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country,
let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.
SIGN UP WITH YOUR FRIENDS (Teams of 5) TO WALK for health and prizes. The Walking Competition ends April 11t. Count your steps. Get out and exercise!! Call Victoria or Jessica at Ilanka Clinic at 424-3622 for more details. The Health Fair was cancelled—but we can still walk!!
Many Local Businesses are closed—but are taking phone and on line orders. This includes the Net Loft, Copper River Fleece, Cordova Gear, the Powderhouse (carry out).
THE NETLOFT has a virtual handcrafting gathering at Wednesday at noon. Follow the link us04web.zoom.us/j/342228580, Meeting ID 342 228 580 and sign in on Zoom to join from your computer or phone. For questions call Amy at 907-988-8000
CURRENT RHYTHMS DANCE has virtual YOGA CLASSES. . Call Alyssa at 424-3632 for more info. Their website is http://www.currentrhythms.com
CORDOVA GEAR SALE. Phone and Online Orders for pickup accepted. Operating hours 11 am to 6 pm Mon., Wed., and Sat. No walk in traffic—but you can still rent or buy bikes using social distancing. Don’t slip, get studded footwear – Icebugs are on sale now! Need a bike repaired? Drop off bikes on Saturdays. We have studded fat bikes ready to rent for fun winter rides! Looking to purchase an electric bike? Taking orders for Spring bike delivery now. We are excited to announce that Lee Collins has joined our crew at Cordova Gear! 424.5590 http://www.cordovagear.com
There will be a CORDOVA FARM this summer…sign up for weekly veggies! The farm (Kale’n Thyme) run by Kristy Andrew should be operational this Spring! The web site is kalenthyme.com They will be selling a variety of leafy greens and herbs. Locally grown and fresh!
DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS NEEDED to work with kids with disabilities on a one on one basis. Sound Alternatives is hiring. Call Barb Jewell 424-8249
Join a worldwide effort in this health crisis to pray for healing, peace, love, joy—and give to your favorite charities to help supply food, housing, jobs and health care to those who need them. Make personal choices to help with our climate crisis, too. One organization I really like is Episcopal Relief and Development https://www.episcopalrelief.org
MORNING MUSIC is working on a distance delivery plan for our wonderful kids. Contact Kim Menster 253-5223 or Belle Mickelson 424-5143 for more info.
Acupuncture & Wellness of Cordova is open year round to help with injury recovery and mental emotional support. Let us help you feel your best. 429-7797 or http://www.acucdv.com
ILANKA COMMUNITY WELLNESS & RECOVERY SUPPORT CIRCLE MEETINGS are SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Are you or someone you know interested in breaking free from alcohol or substance use or abuse? This session is culturally appropriate and connects you with others with similar struggles. It’s for those who want to learn to grow and develop skills for breaking free and learning to live free from substances in a safe environment. Call John at 424-3622 for more information.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY, a Christian program to overcome alcohol/drug or any other addictions or problems—IS NO LONGER MEETING. Call Alan Roemhilt 429-7667 or Amber Wasson 907-440-7347 for more info.
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are on hold…
AL-ANON for friends and families of alcoholics (and drug addicts). Meetings are temporarily postponed. Call Amber 907-440-7347 for more info.
TEMPORARILY CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE CORONA VIRUS–the TUESDAY GOSPEL SING ALONG for Hospital Residents and Staff from 4-5 pm. We are hoping for a distance delivery option.
WEDNESDAY 7 PM COMMUNITY PRAYER TIME! Set your alarm….and wherever you are stop for a minute or more and send your prayers to help friends and families–and everyone here and around the world through this crisis. Pray for love, joy, peace–and joining together so that everyone can feel safe and loved with adequate food, housing, meaningful work, and a sense of belonging and working together for the common good…
Recycle your Fishing Web
Fishing web can be dropped off at the Cordova City Baler in the fishing web recycling container. Please remove any non-nylon material (remove cork and lead line).
TO JOIN THE Recycling Action TEAM Call Shae Bowman 424-3334 or email shae@copperriver.org
THE CITY RECYCLES PAPER/CARDBOARD, ALUMINUM CANS, AND GLASS at the lot behind AC.
LEAD ACID BATTERY RECYCLING behind NVE building. Small batteries can be recycled at the PO–along with aluminum cans.
ILANKA Health Center offers 2 free appointments for those ready to do something about their addictions to drugs and/or alcohol. Call 424-3622.
ALSO A REMINDER THAT IT’S TIME TO RENEW MEDIVAC INSURANCE--$125 for a household. https://airmedcarenetwork.com or call 877-335-0274
Bryan Mills can fix your computer! Call the CDV Tech Guy at 424-3456 or http://www.cdvtechguy.com
The City of Cordova has an email newsletter, The CORDOVA CONVERSATION. The Conversation is published every Monday, and is designed to be a short, informative digest of issues relevant to most Cordovans. To sign up for this free publication, simply go to the city’s home page at http://www.cityofcordova.net, scroll down to the “Bulletin Board” and click on the “Stay up on News from City Hall.” That will take you to the sign- up sheet.
Love and blessings,
Belle
424-5143 home
907-388-3347 cell
St. George's Episcopal Church 