Anchorage, Alaska

September 14, 2021

No children's choir

A previous announcement update indicated that there would be no live choir at any of this year’s Feast of Tabernacles. To avoid any confusion, it should be noted that there will also be no children’s choir. Thank you all for your kind consideration.

Jon Pinelli

September 14, 2021

Updated schedule

The updated schedule link was not included in the last email. Here is that link: feast.cogwa.org/uploads/Anchorage_Schedule_2021_3.pdf

Again, if you have any questions, please contact the Feast coordinator, Jon Pinelli, at jon.pinelli@cogwa.org.

September 14, 2021

Daily service and activity changes

We are looking forward to seeing all of you in Alaska for the Feast in approximately a week’s time.

During the Feast, we want to remind all attendees to be mindful of concerns that exist as a result of the more infectious Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. With this more contagious variant, we feel it is important for the brethren to minimize crowded indoor settings, and we plan to provide distanced seating at each of the U.S. Feast sites. In Anchorage, this will require adjusting our seating plans.

In order to accomplish a socially distanced seating environment, we will need to separate attendees into two groups, and groups will alternate days they attend services in person. All services will be webcast, so on days you do not attend in person you will be able to view the webcast of services. Please remember to bring a laptop computer, tablet or other device that will allow you to watch the webcast.

To facilitate this alternating schedule, there will be no opening night service in Anchorage. Instead, there will be two services (morning and afternoon) on the first day of the Feast. GROUP A will meet in the morning on the first day, followed by GROUP B in the afternoon. After the first day, all groups will then alternate days until the Last Great Day. On that day, GROUP A will meet in the morning, and GROUP B will meet in the afternoon. This will allow each group to attend an equal number of in-person services. The Friday night Bible study will be open to all attendees.

Due to the late nature of this decision, we will be using a simplified alphabetical split to designate GROUP A and GROUP B. Here are the group details:

• GROUP A (last names of Allwine-Mastauskas)
• GROUP B (last names of McMillen-Zimmerman)

We wish we could facilitate people’s individual requests to be in different groups. Unfortunately, due to the tight time constraints, we are not able to fulfill these requests. In addition, consideration has to be given to allow key personnel to be at each service (for instance, speakers, song leaders, special music performers—and their families). You are, of course, free to fellowship in the foyer and lobby of the hotel prior to and after services. We simply need to abide by the seat groupings for services.

This change in daily services also necessitates certain changes in some of our activities:

1. The brunch originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, Sept. 21, will be moved to Saturday, Sept. 25.
2. In addition, we regret that we will have to cancel the senior citizens’ luncheon on Friday, Sept. 24. We will, however, have a boxed lunch for all seniors to take with them after services to enjoy at their leisure.

An updated daily schedule for the Feast is located here: feast.cogwa.org/uploads/Anchorage_Schedule_2021_3.pdf. Please note: The schedule shows which group is meeting in person under each service, each day.

We realize this is not what any of us anticipated or desired. We thank you all in advance for your patience and understanding as we rehearse God’s plan during this very exciting time of the year. If you have any questions, please contact the Feast coordinator, Jon Pinelli, at jon.pinelli@cogwa.org. (Please do not reply to this email.)

September 1, 2021

Brunch and Last Great Day Lunch

The Hotel Captain Cook will be hosting two special food events for the Feast this year in Alaska. These events help the Church pay for the meeting space at the hotel for the duration of our stay. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

Brunch – Tuesday, Sept. 21

The Hotel Captain Cook will be the location for a very special first day of the Feast brunch. Tuesday from 9-11:30 a.m., a brunch buffet will be served. The brunch buffet will include eggs, breakfast potatoes, chicken sausage, turkey bacon, fresh Alaskan smoked salmon lox, as well as waffles with fruit compote and syrup. Coffee, tea and juice will also be provided.  The cost for the buffet is $55 per adult aged 13 and up, $35 per child aged 6-12 and free for children aged 5 and under.

Lunch – Tuesday, Sept. 28

The Hotel Captain Cook will be the location for a deli buffet between services on the Last Great Day. Lunch will be served from 12:15-1:45 p.m. The deli buffet will include:

• Premium cold cuts, cheese, sandwich spreads, green leaf lettuce, sliced tomatoes and red onions
• Potato salad
• Deli-style breads and rolls
• Kosher pickles and pepperoncinis
• Soup du jour
• Assorted fresh baked cookies and brownies
• Coffee and tea

The cost for the buffet will be $30 per adult aged 13 and up, $24 per child aged 6-12 and free for children aged 5 and under.

PLEASE NOTE – You do not need to send any money at this time. Payment will be taken care of at the Feast. However, in order to get an accurate count for each event, please send an email to Festival coordinator, Jon Pinelli, at jon.pinelli@cogwa.org.

In that email, please specify what event(s) you are signing up for. Please specify the following:

• Name
• Number of adults (aged 13 and up)
• Number of children (aged 6-12)
• Number of children (aged 5 and under)

Please provide this information no later than Monday, Sept. 6.

August 18, 2021

Pre- and Post-Feast Boat Trip Activity and Services in Homer

Information Needed

The members in Homer, AK, look forward to hosting a good number of Feast-goers for services and boat trips, before and after the Feast this year! Thanks to everyone who let us know to reserve a spot for one of the boat trips. We are now just weeks away from the Feast, and it is time to send in your payment to cover the cost of lunch that will be provided for you on the trip. Let us know what your lunch choice is, and we will have it ready for you (see below).

If you will be joining us for services on the Day of Atonement (Thursday, Sept. 16), and/or the Sabbath before the Feast (Sept. 18), we will meet at Church on the Rock Homer, 1061 East End Rd., Homer, AK 99603, at 2 p.m. Services after the Feast, on Oct. 2, will resume at our usual hall at the Kachemak Community Center, 59906 Bear Creek Dr, Homer, AK 99603, at 1:30 p.m.

The boat trips will depart from the docks behind the Salty Dawg Saloon, located near the end of the Homer Spit. Park across the street from the Salty Dawg Saloon, and meet at the head of the dock ramp behind the Salty Dawg Saloon half an hour before your boat trip’s departure time.

We have two boats going out each day on Friday, Sept. 17, Sunday, Sept. 19 and Thursday, Sept. 30. Members will depart at 9 a.m. aboard the Sea Grace to cross Kachemak Bay and hike the Glacier Lake Trail. Lunches will be enjoyed on the trail, on the shore of Glacier Lake with the view of Grewingk Glacier across the water. The hike is a beautiful, but not difficult, seven-mile trip. 

Members will depart shortly after aboard the Star of Zebulun for the extended sightseeing cruise of the bay, exploring the coves and shoreline and sights on the east side of the bay. Lunch of soup and sandwich will be on board the boat—salmon chowder and choice of sandwich.

Both boats will return to port in Homer between 5 and 6 p.m. Be sure to wear shoes with soles that will not be slippery on the wet surface of the boat deck, and which are good for walking for the hikers, and dress in layers for comfort in the case of cooler weather and showers. Weather in September in Alaska can change fast and frequently, so please be prepared and everyone will have a great time.

Please send payment of $20/person, checks made out to “COGWA-Homer,” to Rick Barnard, 360 Paintbrush St., Homer, AK 99603. 

And please let us know your choice of sandwich(s) for you and your group.

Name(s):_________________________________________________________

Sandwich choice: _______Turkey _______Beef

Thank you! If you have any questions, please email james.capo@cogwa.org

August 13, 2021

Attention choir volunteers

Choir information has been emailed to those who volunteered in the COGWA portal. If you haven't received the email or would like to be added to the choir, please contact Jana Ellison at jana.ellison@gmail.com. Thank you!

August 10, 2021

Activities update

Family Day/Dinner–Thursday, Sept. 23

This is a reminder that our Family Day and dinner activity will be held at Kincaid Park in Anchorage. Located on Cook Inlet only nine miles from the Hotel Captain Cook, the park offers a variety of outdoor trails showcasing beautiful scenery and wildlife. Games for preteens will be part of our day activities. A very special dinner will be served onsite. The menu will be highlighted by fresh-caught Alaskan salmon, sides, dessert and drinks. *Please note sign up and pre-payment for the Family Day dinner will be required. If you have not already signed up for the dinner, please do so ASAP.  https://feast.cogwa.org/uploads/Anchorage-Family_Day_and_Dinner_Order_Form.pdf​*

Brunch–Hotel Captain Cook–Tuesday, Sept. 21, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

We will have a special first day of the Feast of Tabernacles brunch at the Hotel Captain Cook. Further details will be available as the event is finalized. Sign up and pre-payment will be required for this activity. PLEASE NOTE – We are still working with the hotel to finalize the details for the brunch. This is due to other business groups using space in the facility. Once it is finalized, we will send a sign-up form to all attendees. We had hoped to have the sign-up form to everyone by the end of July. We expect to have that sign-up form to you by the end of August.

Alyeska Resort Aerial Tram Ride–Sunday, Sept. 26, 1-5 p.m.

Located approximately 45 minutes south of Anchorage is the beautiful Alyeska Resort. We plan to take a three- to seven-minute scenic ride from the Hotel Alyeska to the top of Mount Alyeska. At an elevation of 2,300 feet, witness frosty views of the Turnagain Arm, up to seven “hanging” glaciers and endless peaks deep into the Chugach Mountain range.

We have been able to secure a group discount for the tram ride. Sign-up for this activity will take place at the Feast. We hope you can join us for a memorable experience!!

July 21, 2021

Teen activity

Calling all teens! This year at the FOT in Anchorage, AK we are hosting a teen event at The Dome on Wednesday, Sept. 22, from 2-5 p.m.

Get a chance to meet new friends and see old ones while playing Laser Tag, racing remote control cars, and trying out sports like Ultimate Frisbee, Flag Football, Kickball, Soccer etc. Snacks and drinks will be provided. All aged 12-19 years old are welcomed.

The cost is $20 per person (please bring cash on the day of). However, if the cost is going to be a hindrance, please join us anyway and just let Adam or Keri Sanders know. We could also use a few adults to help chaperone too (no cost).

If interested in attending, please RSVP to Adam or Keri Sanders at padtywagon@yahoo.com or outdoorschica@hotmail.com. Or you can text Adam at 740-877-5306 or Keri at 740-616-0861. We look forward to seeing everyone there! 

June 30, 2021

Activity descriptions and schedule

The Anchorage activity descriptions and schedule are now available.

June 9, 2021

Pre- and post-Feast activity (sign-up required)

Alaska Feastgoers that are planning (or willing) to drive to Homer before or after the Feast—about a 4.5-hour trip by car from Anchorage through majestic scenery—will have the opportunity to sightsee on the Kachemak Bay, courtesy of the members of the Homer congregation. Boarding a commercial salmon fishing boat for this tour, and starting from the harbor on the Homer Spit, members can tour the coves and islands, and see the seaside communities of Halibut Cove or Seldovia across the bay. Along the way you will pass Gull Island, teaming with sea birds like gulls, terns, kittiwakes and cormorants, and possibly eagles, and a late-season puffin or two. You will see sea otters frolic in the water, and there is the chance of seeing whales spout. 

For the adventurous willing to hike, we can offer a separate, full-day experience: disembark at the Glacier Lake Trailhead for a scenic 7+ mile loop hike that will include crossing a stream in a hand-operated tram (two people in the bucket at a time), and having lunch on the shore of Grewingk Glacier Lake with a view of the Grewink Glacier across the way. We will allow seven hours for the hike, which will be led by one of the Homer members, before being picked up again by the boat for the return trip across the bay to Homer. 

Lunch will be provided during the trip, for an estimated cost of $20 per person for sandwich and soup from a local cafe in Homer. Other than that, the members are offering these boat trips free on their family fishing vessels.

Trips will be limited in numbers but will be offered on two days before the Feast and one day after, if there is interest.  

If you would like to take part in one of these tours with the brethren, please email James Capo, pastor of the Homer congregation, with the following information:

Name:

Names and ages of those in your party:

Day of your desired trip (check one):

     ___ Friday, Sept. 17.

     ___ Sunday, Sept. 19. 

     ___ Thursday, Sept. 30.

Which tour are you interested in:

     ___ Scenic sightseeing cruise. 

     ___ Glacier Lake hike and cruise (limited to 12 per day).

Trips will depart from Homer harbor by 9 a.m. and return by 6 p.m.

Atonement services on Sept. 16 and Sabbath services on Sept. 18 will be held in Homer. If you are planning to attend either or both of those services, please let us know so we can make sure to have the room for everyone.

Please RSVP to james.capo@cogwa.org. 

Members should plan to make their own housing arrangements if staying overnight in Homer. There are a number of B&Bs and accommodations available through Airbnb and the like. Motels include Land's End Resort on the Spit, and the Best Western Bidarka Inn, Aspen Suites Hotel and others in town. A Google search will reveal multiple options.

Jon Pinelli

June 1, 2021

Hotel parking

Some have asked if there is a charge for daily parking at the Hotel Captain Cook. The hotel does not have its own parking structure. There is a covered parking facility across the street from the hotel, as well as three surface lots on the block the hotel is located. These locations are all independently owned and charge by the hour and/or day. There is also a very limited amount of on-street parking that is first come, first served. Here are some websites that may be of help:

• https://www.easyparkalaska.com/locations
• https://www.diamondparking.com/find-parking
• https://www.parkme.com/lot/92443/400-k-st
• https://anchoragedowntown.org/services-programs/downtown-parking

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact the Alaska Feast coordinator, Jon Pinelli, at jon.pinelli@cogwa.org.