November 27, 2019
Happy Thanksgiving!

Tonight on the eve of Thanksgiving, let's remember we all have a great deal to be thankful for while there are many people who are also struggling with challenges, including ourselves. Wherever tomorrow finds you, remember to give grace to others and to yourself, share joy, and treasure the moments whatever they bring. It is a gift just to be alive.

Sarah Katreen Hoggatt

A poem to reflect on this Thanksgiving...

Oh, Heavenly Father,
We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank Thee for health and remember the sick.
We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service.
That Thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.

By Pauline Phillips
Advent Events 2019
christmas_ornaments.jpg
Advent Class: “Light of the World”
Tuesdays @ 1:30 (11/26, 12/3, 10 and 17) or Sundays @ 9:30 (12/1, 8, 15 and 22)
Taught by Rev. Wendy Woodworth at Morningside, we will trace the Christmas narrative through stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, the journey to Bethlehem and the visit from the Magi using the book Light of the World: A Guide to Advent by Amy-Jill Levine. You can purchase a book through Amazon or Cokesbury. The class will include a 10 minute video along with scripture and discussion. Reading the book is not a necessity.

Advent Abend Festival
December 1st (Sunday) - 11:30 a.m. at Morningside
Join in our celebration of Advent. This family friendly, multi-generational event will feature a soup lunch, crafts for all ages, cookies, ornament stations, a photo wall and music for the season. Invite friends and family (bring Grandma & Grandpa). Our festival is open to the public. All are welcome!

Cookies & Carols Advent Event
December 1st (Sunday) - 10-11 a.m. at Salem First
Join us for a festive event for all ages to kick-off the Advent season! Bring cookies or fruit to share, and a donation to the Mission Café!

Alternative Christmas Market
December 7th (Saturday) - 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
December 8th (Sunday) - 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Salem First’s Social Concerns Committee sponsors this market featuring local and global non-profits. It’s a great place to shop for inspiring gifts uplifting many people!

Blue Christmas
December 13th (Friday) - 7 p.m.
If you’re struggling with the upcoming holidays for any reason, whether you’re experiencing loss, hurting, or just not feeling the joy of the season, Stephen Ministers are hosting a “Blue Christmas” at Salem First. We’ll light candles, share our pictures and pray together. Stephen Ministers will be available for support and light refreshments will be provided. Come join us.

Young Adult Christmas Party
December 18th (Wednesday) - 7 p.m.
Young Adults are invited to get together for our annual Christmas gathering at Keizer Clear Lake. We’ll share a time of festive fellowship with crafts, games, and treats. All in the young adult community are welcome for this festive fun! For questions please contact Pastor Alyssa.

John Nilsen in Concert
December 21st (Saturday) - 2 p.m.
John Nilsen will be in concert at Keizer Clear Lake. A pianist, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, he is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most successful performance & recording artists.

Children’s Christmas Pageant
December 22nd (Sunday) - 11a.m.-12 p.m.
The children will bring the Christmas message during a combined service at Salem First which will also include carols and singing in our historic sanctuary.
wreath and candle
Christmas Eve Services: “Shepherds & Angels”
Iglesia Metodista Unida Las Naciones
  • TBA   Christmas Eve Service

Keizer Clear Lake
  • 7 p.m.   Christmas Eve Service

Morningside
  • 5 p.m.   Family Worship Service: Interactive kid-friendly Christmas Eve service for the whole family.
  • 7 p.m.   Candlelight service with praise band, organ and chancel choir

Salem First: (All services in sanctuary except 9 p.m. in MICAH.)
  • 7 p.m.   Candlelight & beautiful music in the historic sanctuary
  • 9 p.m.   Candlelight & contemporary praise in MICAH Worship Center
  • 11 p.m.   Candlelight & communion in the historic sanctuary
Trinity
  • 5 p.m. Candlelight and Carols
Frozen 2 Movie and Pizza Party!
Come join us for a Frozen 2 movie and pizza party!
December 15th around 4 p.m.

See the movie with FUMC’s Dave Metzger who arranged and co-produced the songs and orchestrated songs and part of the score. We would love to see you - everyone is invited!  Families, individuals, snowmen and women - It will be super-fun!

Meet at the theater to watch the movie together (No Host) on December 15th in the late afternoon around 4 p.m. (The specific time and theater will be announced once movie times come out.) Afterwards, come to Taplin Hall in the Micah Building and join us for pizza, drinks, and cake.

RSVP is requested (but not required) to Laura Metzger, metzgerlaura@mac.com, so we know how much pizza to order! 

Just let Laura know if you have any questions.

Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
Advent Class
Advent Study
Taught by Wendy Woodworth, Light of the World: A Guide to Advent by Amy-Jill Levine, is a new Advent class this fall.

Together we will trace the Christmas narrative through stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, the journey to Bethlehem, and the visit from the Magi.

You can purchase a book through Amazon or Cokesbury. The class will include a 10 minute video along with scripture and discussion. Reading the book is not a necessity. 

What: 4 Week Study for Open Door Churches                                     
Where: Morningside UMC
When: Tuesday's at 1:30; November 26, December 3, 10, and 17 OR         
Sunday’s at 9:30; December 1, 8, 15, 22.
New LGBTQ+ Fellowship Group

There is now a new LGBTQ+ Fellowship!

During our initial meeting, we discussed ways to help support each other and how we'd like to build a fellowship as a faith community.

Our next meeting is on December 18th at 7 p.m..

If you are interested in joining, contact Pastor Wendy through Morningside's church office.
Face to Face is on Break for the Winter

Face to Face is now on winter break. We will take a break during the rest of fall and winter and then begin meeting again in the spring.

If you haven't had a chance to join us yet, keep an eye out for when we start up again next year!
Wanted: Director of Family and Program Ministry
Morningside United Methodist Church
Open Door Churches of Salem-Keizer

Average 20 hours per week, annual salary of $15,000-17,000. Paid Vacation per personnel policy. Supervisor will be the lead pastor at Morningside UMC, Salem, Oregon.

Purpose
Direct and assist in the planning and carrying out of specified program ministries, involve volunteers at all levels of program ministries, communicate and market program plans and build participation within the local church(s) and community.

Our Program Ministry Includes:
  • Interactive Fellowship/Education/Worship Experiences       
  • Youth Ministry with Open Door Churches
  • Morningside Education Team                       
  • Family Enrichment Program: Parenting Classes and Children’s Activities               
  • VBS with Open Door Churches.
  • Parent’s Night Out

Application Process
  • Please send letter of interest and resume to pastorwendymumc@gmail.com
  • Position is open until filled. 
  • Full Job Description available upon request.
Youth Group
December is a busy month with lots of fun events for our youth group. Below are some of the highlights
  • December 1 - Youth group at First UMC 12:30-2: We know some of your are headed off to your Thanksgiving plans this weekend. For those that are still in town you can join Jeff, Kelly, and Maddy on Sunday at Pietros for some pizza and laser tag. 12:30-2:00, cost is $5. We will buy pizza and pay for the laser tag. Bring extra money for any drinks or other games. 1637 Hawthorne NE
  • December 6 - Cooking baking at Morningside
  • December 7-8 - Alternative Christmas Market First UMC (9-3 Saturday, 9-2 Sunday)
  • December 8 - Youth group at First UMC (Alternative Christmas shopping)
  • December 15 - Youth Group Christmas Party 12:30-2
  • December 22 - Keizer Festival of Lights Volunteering 6-8 p.m.
  • February 15-17 - Winter Retreat @ Suttle Lake: Our Open Door Youth Group will once again have the opportunity to participate in the conference winter retreat at Suttle Lake. This is always one of the highlights of our program year. Join us for fun, games, inter tubing (if we have snow), and a chance to meet youth from other churches and grow in our faith. Cost is $50 per person. If you would like to sign up let Jeff know by December 15th and make your check payable to "Open Door Youth"
  • February 22 - Youth Auction  
Young Adults 
In November, the Open Door Church Young Adult Group has been sharing in conversations about the future of The UMC in response to the Bishops announcement of Safe Harbor and the Western Jurisdictions All Belong statement and legislation.Together we have shared our thoughts on what the future of The UMC may look like along with our hopes and fears.

This month we also shared in an evening of remembering our saints and had a conversation about what being a saint means to us. At the beginning of November, Maddy and Hannah attended Exploration in Florida which is a conference for young adults to explore their call to ordained ministry. You can follow their journey on our Instagram Story Highlights.

The Open Door Young Adults meet weekly on Wednesday evenings. 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.
  • November 27th - NO YOUNG ADULT GROUP
  • December 4th @ 7 p.m.- Coffee, Conversation, & Community
  • December 11th @ 7 p.m.- Coffee, Conversation, & Community
  • December 18th @ 7 p.m. - Christmas Party


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 - 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.
Open Door Churches | Website