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Saturdays of Service
January 12th, 2019 at 12:00-3 p.m.
At Family Promise, what used to be called the Salem Interfaith Hospitality Network, there is now a dedicated pet area at the day center so families who are trying to get back on their feet don't have to lose a beloved part of their family in a time already turbulent and difficult. Inside is a new children's play area, freshly painted and colorful. The children love having a place of their own and it gives them a regular place to play at the day center as they move from church to church every week. Across town, children leave school with backpacks filled with food for the weekend, happy in the knowledge they will be able to eat that night.
These are just a few examples of the differences people have made through our Open Door Churches' program "Saturdays of Service." Held on a quarterly basis, the idea was first thought of five years ago by Dan Pitney who wanted a way for us to not only reach out into our community by helping wherever needed, but to also grow closer together while doing it. Melissa Berry has been the faithful organizer since then and the program is going strong!
What do we do?
Saturdays of Service are usually held from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday four times a year. Usually beginning with lunch (once a year we meet in the morning for breakfast), we have time to talk and be together before splitting up into smaller groups at 1 p.m. to head out to various project around the city. What we do depends on what is needed at the time and what non-profits are available during our work hours. From painting, to sorting, and cleaning, we have worked at:
- Marion-Polk County Food Share: sorting through food
- Community gardens: cleaning up and weeding the garden
- Jason Lee Cemetery: cleaning up gravesites
- Family Promise: painting, sorting donations, yard work, installing a pet area, spreading bark dust
- Union Gospel Mission: cleaning the kitchen, working in the thriftstore sorting items
- HOME (for homeless youth): painting
In addition to these projects around the city, we also always have something to work on in the dining hall for those who don't wish to travel of who have young children needing a place to play. Projects have included:
- Backpack Buddies: Along with several other churches, we adopted a school where 100-200 of their children don't know if they will be eating on the weekends when they aren't being fed at school. To help with this, we take turns packing backpacks filled with sandwiches and other food to help the kids get through the weekend. This is such a vital ministry to the kids that our Saturdays of Service are usually scheduled around our slot to fill the backpacks.
- Card making: It's lonely when you can't travel away from home so we make cards for the shut-ins in our community to remind them they are loved.
- Letter writing: We write letters to lawmakers on behalf of Bread for the Word and Amnesty International.
Laura Metzger, one of the organizers of Saturdays of Service, deeply values having a way to help the community and she loves being a part of a church community filled with people who use their hands to love those around them.
Everyone is always welcome to come and help. When you go, you will see all different ages from Willamette students, to adults, young children, and youth. With around 25-30 people, there is always someone new to get to know and a difference you can make in the lives of those around you.
When can I come?
This Saturday we all have another opportunity to get to know each other better and to serve our community in practical ways that make a huge difference. On January 12 from 12-3 p.m. we will be gathering in the dining hall of First United Methodist Church of Salem to share lunch and work on projects. Projects this time include:
- Backpack Buddies
- Card making
- Letter writing
- Family Promise
Whether you can come for the whole time or just a part of it, please join us! Everyone is welcome whether you're from Open Door Churches or a member of the community who just wants to join us for the afternoon!
Click here to sign up!
I have a project idea!
We are always looking for new organizations and areas we can help around Salem and Keizer. If you have an idea for a project we can help with, please contact
Laura Metzger or
Melissa Berry.
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Open Door Churches newsletters are sent out every other Thursday.
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Open Door Churches Webpage
each of the churches and ways you can be involved.
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Open Door Churches Youth Group January and February Schedule
Mark your calendars
for some great youth group activities!
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Open Door Churches Young Adults
January Schedule
The Open Door Churches Young Adult Group is made up of college students and young professionals ranging in age from 18-29 who are exploring questions of faith together. The group meets every Wednesday evening from 7-8:30, usually at IKE Box. Please look at our Facebook page for specific dates, times, and places.
Thank you for your continued support of The Open Door Young Adults. Please contact Pastor Alyssa at
alyssabaker08@gmail.com
with any questions.
Check out our group's Facebook Page: CLICK HERE
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Special General Conference 2019
January 14th at 7:00 p.m. @ Salem First
January 15th at 1:30 p.m. @ Morningside
- What is it all about?
- What are these three different plans I hear about?
- What did the Commission of a Way Forward decide?
- Could the United Methodist Church really split?
If you are curious about these questions, there will be a forum on January 15 at Morningside UMC at 1:30 for our Open Door Churches. Jan Nelson, our voting Lay Delegate to General Conference will lead the time together along with Wendy Woodworth, a clergy reserve delegate and possibly Mark Bateman, a lay reserve delegate.
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A Celebration of the Life & Ministry of Englewood United Methodist Church
Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 2 p.m.
Reception to follow.
1110 17th Street NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
Please RSVP to: ewoodumc@comcast.net,
(503) 364-4555
The Englewood congregation has a long and rich history. The first place of worship was a tent on Marion St. The church was chartered with 28 members in 1901, but when the tent had to be returned, Pastor Newton Crawford proclaimed that he believed that the Lord would provide another tent for them, and God did. That was a theme throughout the church's history... that God would provide. The church that began in a tent became a magnificent building, but it wasn't easy. Over the years, there were ups and downs and many changes. Those changes included changes in denominations from United Brethren, to the Evangelical United Brethren to the United Methodist Church. One pastor died while trying to build the current building. The Great Depression stopped construction for a while, but the Lord continued to provide.
The worshippers of this church have worked hard and reached out to the Englewood community for many, many years, and served God faithfully in this place. There is a rhythm to life, up and down, back and forth, life and death, and change happens. Englewood is closing but will leave an important legacy through gifts to continue ministry and fund new ministries. As well as a church building and parsonage which will house new ministries in the future.
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Position Available - Director of Congregational Life at FUMC of Salem
First United Methodist Church has a job opening for a Director of Congregational Life. This is a part time position - approx. 15-20 hours a week. Goals are developing and maintaining a system to welcome and guide new or existing people into meaningful volunteer opportunities that enhance their faith development and establish relationships within the congregation. Work under the direct supervision and direction of the pastor. On duty Sunday mornings for both worship services to greet and connect with visitors and return visitors. Administrative responsibilities include planning and goal setting, attending weekly Tuesday morning staff meetings, working collaboratively with all staff members, scheduling activities, providing publicity to the church secretary for announcements, newsletter or other communications, review website weekly for accuracy of information. A full job description will be provided upon request. $15,000-20,000 yearly salary.
For a detailed job description, click here.
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Seeking Youth Auction Items ~February 23, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
This year's youth auction is just around the corner and the committee is hard at work seeking out donations to make this fund raiser a great success!
As the youth are heading to Costa Rica to work on construction projects, the amount needed to support this work is greater than last year. All the proceeds from the auction will go to pay for the 18 youth to go (the adult chaperones pay their own way).
In addition to seeking donations, we are also looking for corporate sponsors or individuals who would like to donate money for a specific youth.
Do you want to donate an item to auction off but aren't sure what it should be? Providing an experience, teaching a skill, or offering a service are wonderful donations and are much in demand! Please let your church office know if you would like to donate something.
Thank you for all the effort and investment you put into the lives of our youth!
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Open Door Churches December Board Meeting Notes
- The Open Door Churches Board meeting was held at First UMC on Monday December 17th.
- There was a long discussion about the possibilities and the costs for installing solar heat on the Open Door Churches: First UMC, Morningside UMC, Keizer Clear Lake UMC, and Trinity UMC. The Board approved the proposed concept of moving forward with the project. This gives approval to move forward with pursuing the needed monies to begin the project. A committee will look into seeing what grants are available through the Oregon Clean Power Co-Op and the Oregon Energy Trust. Each church would still have to approve the project.
- A continued discussion about the funding for the paid position for the Youth Director. At this time, First UMC is funding the full amount. The ODC concept for compensating Jeff Lowery would be 2/3 raised by First UMC, with the remaining 1/3 raised from other resources..
- District Church Extension Grants: $2500.00 will go towards Open Door Churches new Native American Ministry and the remaining $500.00 to the Las Naciones' Youth Ministry.
- The Closing Celebration for Englewood UMC will be on January 27th at 2 p.m.
- We are looking into becoming a Co-operative Parish. We would need to elect a Parish Board of Trustees that would then be able to oversee the Open Door Churches potential property i.e. Jason Lee and Englewood properties.
- Leroy Barber will lead a meeting on January 9th at 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at First UMC about Asset Mapping. The first step was the intercultural competency and the second step is the asset mapping.
- "What's it all about?" Two meetings are available: 1. Monday, January 14, 7:00 p.m. at Salem First. 2. Tuesday, January 15, 1:30 p.m. at Morningside UMC. This will answer questions about the upcoming 2019 General Conference..
- The next board meeting will be held at Morningside UMC on Monday January 28, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
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Las Naciones Update
Re
verend Arturo Fernandez will be providing pastoral and ministerial leadership at Las Naciones beginning this week through January 31, 2019. Please contact Pastor Arturo for any questions or needs related to Las Naciones.
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Come Visit!
We, as Open Door Churches, are a wonderful community together. To continue building our relationships, it's good to visit each other. If you would like to visit one of the other Open Door Churches, here are all our Sunday service times:
- Trinity - 9:30 a.m.
- Morningside - (Face to Face) 8:30 a.m.,10:30 a.m.
- Salem 1st - 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
- Las Naciones - 12:30 p.m.
- Keizer Clear Lake - 10 a.m.
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