October 3, 2019
Entrusted

It is again time for our Stewardship Campaign. The Stewardship theme for this year is "Entrusted". God has entrusted us with the responsibility to care for the gifts we have been given. Sermons will focus on four of those gifts:  Creation, Resources, Relationships, and Ministry. I hope you all will be in church for this important sermon series as we look at what we have been entrusted with, and what we might give back to God, as we make our pledges for 2020.  You will be receiving a letter in the mail with more information. Consecration Sunday will be Nov. 3, when we will offer our pledges to God in support of these gifts we have been entrusted with.

I thought I would share what Pastor Alyssa said about the Celebration on September 8, 2019. "we held our 2nd Annual Open Door Church Celebration Worship! This year our theme was Celebrating our Diversity and it was a great joy to hear from the many diverse groups within Open Door Churches. During worship, each diverse group answered the question: How do I practice my faith as part of the body of Christ? It was wonderful to hear how everyone practices their faith individually and how being a part of the Open Door Community shapes their faith and provides a place to live out that faith in community. As we continue to live in community as Open Door Churches, I encourage you to find ways you can continue to experience the diversity that is Open Door Churches."

I am thankful that rainy weather did not deter us, even as we moved to the MICAH building. Plans are being made now for next year's Celebration. Please take a look at the other events happening in the churches and join us when you can!
 
See you in church!

Blessings,
Pastor Sandy
 


In This Issue
Open Door Churches newsletters are sent out every other Thursday.
Open Door Churches Webpage

Our webpage is live!!  Go to  opendoorchurches.org to see information about 
each of the churches and ways you can be involved.
Open Door Communitea
October 12, 2019 - 10-11 a.m.
Keizer Clear Lake

Welcome to the first of many "meet and greets". The Open Door Church Board would like to invite you to our first event to meet and connect with your pastors in a different setting.  
 
Keizer Clear Lake will be hosting the first meet and greet. Join us on Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 am- 11:00 am for a cup of tea and to be in community with each other. There is no cost for this event and it is open for all in our Open Door Community to attend. Please RSVP to Keizer Clear Lake office (503- 393-2402) for the event so we know how many to prepare for.  
 
If you would like to help with Communitea please contact the church office.
 



Open Door Churches Discipleship Group Options Are Here!

It's here! The discipleship group options for the various meetings hosted through the Open Door Churches this fall.

Dialogues: On the Refugee Crisis
Refugees in America,...it's a rough topic, both at a local community level and from a national policy perspective. To bring perspective and meaningful conversations around this topic, the book offers 8 unique perspectives from experienced authors from renowned organization such as World Relief and Church World Service that provide insight into refugee stories and experiences. The DVD provides weekly helpful input and is created as a documentary which give viewers an inside look at the center of the refugee crisis and how it plays out in real life. [8 weeks / $18]
  • 6:30 pm Tuesday starting on October 1-Meeting at Morningside UMC, 3674 12th St. SE
White Fragility: Why It's so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
In this 2018 book, antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to bad people. Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively in this important dialogue. [9 weeks / $10]
  • 1:30 pm Tuesday starting on October 1-Meeting at Morningside UMC, 3674 12th St. SE
  • 10:00 am Wednesday starting on October 2-Meeting at Trinity UMC, 590 Elma St. SE
Bible Study: Scriptures for the Upcoming Sunday
Bring your own Bible and join others in a great study focusing on the scripture which will serve as the focus for worship in all the ODC churches the upcoming Sunday. Led by Pastor Alyssa, this promises to be great opportunity to ground yourself in the scriptures used in worship.
  • 6:30 pm Thursday starting on September 12-Meeting at Keizer Clear Lake UMC (At Salem FUMC on October 3rd), 1110 17th St. SE
We Make the Road by Walking: Bishop's Study of a Cross Over Year
This Tuesday afternoon group has chosen to accept the Bishops invitation to participate in a Cross Over Year. The study is reading Brian McLaren's "We Make the Road by Walking". While this is a year-long study by the group at Keizer-Clear Lake, if this topic is of interest to you, you are very welcome to join the group for some or all the fall discipleship group season. You can even stay with the group in 2020 if you wish. Go on-line to get your book.
  • 1:00 pm Tuesday starting on September 10-Meeting at Keizer-Clear Lake UMC, 7920 Wheatland Rd. N.
Open Door Churches Charge Conference
Monday, Nov. 25, 6 PM
Morningside UMC
 
Please mark you calendars and plan to join our sister Open Door Churches members as we welcome District Superintendent Tim Overton-Harris for an annual review of our Open Door Churches organization. All are welcome.

Sermon Series:"Psalms of the Heart"
September 15-October 6, 2019 
 
Join us each week as we explore the power of the Psalms! 
 



Upcoming:
 
 Volunteers Needed at West Salem Food Bank 
 
The West Salem UMC food bank is in need of a few more volunteers.  
  • A person is needed on Monday mornings from 9:00 am - 10:00 to unload food delivered to the food bank.  
  • Another person or two are needed to record and help intake the food deliveries on either Monday or Wednesdays 1:00-3:00 pm.

If you can help, please let Dan Pitney or the FUMC church office know, 503-364-6709.

Thank you to those who have responded to the request for help! 

Youth Group

Our middle school youth spent a week serving and learning on their mission trip to Portland in August. Seven youth from Open Door Churches joined 35 other youth from around the Portland area. they stayed at Portland First UMC and each day went out to do a variety of service projects. Among them were serving a meal at Blanchet House in downtown Portland, sorting onions at the Oregon Food Bank, helping guests fill their food boxes at Bethlehem House of Bread, and serving under the Burnside Bridge on Thursday night at Nightstrike. Our youth learned, worked hard and had a great time.
The youth group schedule for the month of October is as follows:
  • October 6 - Service Project off site, meet at First UMC - Salem
  • October 13 - Work on Barn Dance preparations at First UMC - Salem
  • October 19 - Saturday of Service
  • October 20 - Project at KCLUMC
  • October 26 - Barn Dance
  • October 27 - NO Youth Group
Future Events
  • November 17th - Costa Rica Presentation at Morningside UMC and Trinity UMC
  • February 15-17 - Winter Retreat @ Suttle Lake
  • February 22nd - Youth Auction      
Open Door Churches Young Adults  

In September, the Open Door Church Young Adult Group shared in conversations on the book of Psalms.Together we have looked at the Psalms each Open Door pastor chose and searched for ways the Psalm informs our lives today. We are looking forward to taking what we have learned and applying it as we write our own Psalms. It was a great joy this past month to be asked to speak at the Open Door Church Park Worship Service as one of the diverse groups within Open Door Churches. Together we reflected on how we individually and as a community practice our faith as a part of the body of Christ.  
 
This month we have also been using our new Instagram page to share who we are and what we are up to. Please check us out on social media.  Please contact Pastor Alyssa (alyssabaker08@gmail.com) or see our social media pages for times and places. Thank you for your continued support of the Open Door Church Young Adults. 
 

The Open Door Young Adult group meets on Wednesday's from 7-8:30. Please email Pastor Alyssa her email to get on our email list. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of the Open Door Young Adults. 
                                   
Upcoming Events  
  • Wednesday October 2nd - Coffee, Conversation, & Community at IKE Box at 7 for modern day Psalms
  • Wednesday October 9th - Coffee, Conversation, & Community
  • Wednesday October 16th - Coffee, Conversation, & Community
  • Wednesday October 23rd - No Young Adult Group
  • Wednesday October 30th - Halloween Movie Night at Pastor Alyssa's home
Union Gospel Mission's annual Harvest Celebration Dessert
 
Union Gospel Mission's annual Harvest Celebration Dessert is on Friday, October 4, 7-8:30 p.m.  The celebration will be at the Salem Convention Center (200 Commercial Street SE).  We are sooooo delighted that Open Door Churches has once again been invited to host a BIG table for this amazingly joyful community event that brings many community supporters to hear about UGM's success in helping thousands of hungry, hurting, and homeless men, women, and children who come to UGM in need.  UGM is able to meet the immediate needs of those who walk through their doors--and most importantly!--UGM shares God's Love, Grace, and Compassion with them.  This year
Mike Yankoski will be speaking.  He wrote the book UNDER THE OVERPASS that tells the true story of his his living homeless in some of America's largest cities.  He's an excellent speaker!   
 
Let Mary Ann Robinson (503.393.7377) know if you'd like to join our Open Door Churches' table--or borrow
Yankoski's book.  We'll all be served a yummy dessert, and a $25 donation from each participant is greatly appreciated by UGM and can be given at the event.  Hope that you can join us!
 
Congregations Helping People is Seeking Volunteers
 
Congregations Helping People is overflowing with our neighbors who face the crisis of eviction or utility shut-off. Thank you for your ongoing financial support. CHP is in need of morning volunteers for our Monday-Thursday 9-12 office hours. If you'd like more information, please contact Rebecca Strader at 503-391-4365 or Rebecca.strader@chpsalem.org. We are also looking for new ideas and "new blood" for our Board of Directors beginning in January 2020. If you would like more information, please contact Roberta Moore (503) 510-9006 or Albert@ipa.net
Halloween Fun For Everyone!
Saturday, October 26th
2325 Egan Rd. NE, Silverton

Our Open Door Churches Halloween Family Fun Barn and Youth Group Halloween Barn Dance are on the schedule again this year!

The fun begins at 5:30 with a kid-friendly spooktacular event for families and kids ages 0 - 12. Costumes are encouraged, there'[ll be food and drink, pumpkins, games and activities. For questions or to offer your help as a volunteer, contact David Deckelmann at 503-508-5085.

Following the Family Fun Barn, the teens take over the barn for their annual Halloween Barn Dance. All youth from 6th grade to 18 are invited and encouraged to bring friends! There will be a costume contest, a DJ with music, a photo booth games and much more!

 
 
 
Open Door Churches Board Meeting

The Board will meet next at Trinity UMC on Monday, October 28,  2019 at 6:00 pm.

It is a busy time for the Open Door Churches Board as we work on some of the following:
  • Finalizing the new designation as a Cooperative Parish. Bylaws are being written and incorporation is pending.
  • Since two pastors will be retiring at the end of June, the Board is trying to determine what skills in new members of the Pastoral Team will be needed.
  • It is also Charge Conference time and 2020 budget time.
The Celebration Worship Service was a great success and planning is underway for next year's service.

Additionally, the West Salem UMC congregation has now joined the Open Door churches, and we welcome their participation.
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.
  • West Salem - 11 a.m.