Jan 06issue.pub (Read-Only)

Ordination of Pastor Joel Celebrated
On November 6, 2005 the Unalakleet
Covenant Church celebrated
the ordination of Pastor Joel Oyoumick.
The recognition came late
in the Fall as he was actually ordained
earlier in the summer of
2005 in Denver, Colorado.
The Unalakleet Covenant Church
Board felt it a blessing and a joyous
occasion that one of ours would be
selected to such a coveted position,
especially in a remote village in
Alaska.
At left, Mat-Su Covenant Pastor
Tom Luchsinger explains the
Covenant Churches of America’s
process and direction for any pastor
ing right through the building like there
was no plywood to stop the wind. Her
comeback on a temporary basis is a big
plus the us.
NVU’s Tribal Enrolment Officer
Yvonne Sarren is the new Tribal Enrolment
Officer for the Native Village of
Unalakleet. She came on board September
15, 2005. If you want to become a member
of the Native Village of Unalakleet,
Yvonne is the official for this matter.
To be a member you must be at least 1/4
blood Native and from the village of
Unalakleet. See Yvonne for other specific
information or if you qualify.
Yvonne Anniaq Sarren, pictured below,
always reminds us of our Inupiaq name(s).
Eleanor Bahr, wife of Irwin Bahr, was
recently hired to be NVU’s transcriber and
recorder for all NVU Council meetings.
Writing and recording minutes is a lengthy
and tedious task if one is not programmed
to type and record minutes. Eleanor has
done this for many years and does an excellent
job for the Native Village of
Unalakleet. She only works a few hours
per month and has many memories of the
old building when the weather was blow-
obtaining the status as “ordained.”
A warm luncheon was given to all
after the morning church service.
Pastor Joel received a joyous celebration
from the members of
Unalakleet Covenant Church and
from non-members from the community.
Joel had left Unalakleet in 2002
with his family and went to school
at North Park Seminary located in
Chicago, Illinois. This 2-year
study meant much self-motivation
and self-determination to heed to
God’s word and apply that study in
a church that has many roots for the
Evangelical Covenant Missions.
Yvonne is a proud Inupiaq from Ft. Wainwright,
Alaska and an excellent person for
correct pronunciation and spelling of our
language. Her dialect is so similar to most
Unalits and she will attempt to give a
meaning for your name.
Ralph W. Ivanoff is the Environmental
Specialist and started in Dec 05. His expertise
is with the EPA and issues relating
to the environment.
Below, R. Weaver Ivanoff sits in his
office with hopes to find projects for
NVU.
Volume 3, Issue 1 The Unalit, page 5