Listen to the audio by phone - 888-655-8086 |
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Zoom Fellowship Time on Sundays
Join us for a Zoom Coffee/Fellowship Time after worship each Sunday so that we can have virtual fellowship after worship. Bring your own coffee!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 961 2898 5576
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Worship Development Update |
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An Update from the Pastoral Team about Worship Development
In December of 2020, as we approached a new year together, all of us wondered what that new year might bring. Most of us had high hopes that within a few months, we might be gathering again in our sacred spaces for worship, seeing friends face to face that we may not have seen in person since March, celebrating joyously and, probably, weeping a bit as we entered those spaces again, finally.
In an effort to help offer some hope that we would be preparing for that day, the Pastoral Team of the Open Door Churches (ODC), in consultation with the ODC Board, offered a proposal for that process. The plan addressed some of the things we knew needed to be considered as we turned our attention toward the eventual return of in-person worship. In order to make the plan more manageable, we shared it in terms of goals by “quarter”—what we hoped to accomplish in the first quarter of 2021 and what we hoped to accomplish in the second quarter.
We are happy to share that, so far, we are on track with that plan. The primary goal we identified in the first quarter was to experiment with the technology that would allow us to livestream worship, so that when we opened our spaces for the return of in-person worship, we would be able to include those for whom online worship had been a godsend. Furthermore, we have been able to expand our fellowship through online worship, opening the doors of Open Doors to people who have never been in one of our sacred spaces and allowing people to worship with us while traveling or even living in places as far away as New Zealand! Think about this: we have just recently received a request from a worshiper in Brazil who wants to become a member of the Open Door Churches! BRAZIL!
These are wonderful things, but we know that preparing for the opening of our buildings is equally as important. From here, the project grows in complexity and will require a great deal of thought, input, and care.
In order to be sure we are making thoughtful decisions together, the Pastoral Team is working with the ODC Board to hold intentional discussions that will include the opportunity for dialogue among each of our congregations and our ODC community. We do not yet have any specific plans to open our spaces and, at least at this time, we have not even been given a timeline from the OR-ID Conference as to when we will be allowed to hold in-person gatherings the size we will need to hold in order to accommodate people in our spaces.
Our first step will be to orchestrate a series of conversations during the month of April that will give us the greatest chance for broad input from all our congregations. Here are the key points of that dialogue:
- ODC “Worship Summit,” April 11: The ODC Board, with representation from each of our congregations, will hold a structured discussion about what our hopes are, what our needs are, and how we will accomplish our goals.
- Council and Leadership Meetings, third week of April: ODC Board representatives will be responsible for meeting with and discussing the ideas formulated at the Worship Summit. A dynamic dialogue will allow leaders from each congregation to bring perspectives back to the ODC Board to shape the conversation.
- ODC Board Meeting, April 26: Board reps from each congregation will bring back reports to the Board for further discussion. Some decisions about timelines and processes may be made at this meeting, if that seems possible, or it may be the decision of the Board to continue discussions.
We, the Pastoral Team, want to assure you that the process going forward will allow for input from as wide a range of perspectives as possible. But we also ask for your patience: These are completely unprecedented times and none of us knows exactly what these conversations should look like. There simply is no expert opinion to guide us in this, because no one has ever had to deal with these issue before.
We are, as Brian McLaren has so aptly suggested, making “the road by walking.” Please walk with us into this bright, bold future.
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Rev. Jeff Lowery: Community Organizer |
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The past 5 years the United Methodist Churches of Salem/Keizer have been working towards a common goal, to create a unified expression of United Methodism in our community that shows that we can do more together than we can working separately. The past year as we faced a pandemic it has become even more evident that Open Door movement has been a success. As we have worshipped together and experienced a new model of leadership, it feels like we are in a very different place than we were one year ago. We want to celebrate the journey thus far and at the same time ask the inevitable question, “what next?” The Open Door leadership are attempting to answer that question in a number of different ways.
The Open Door Churches Board has hired Rev. Jeff Lowery as a Community Organizer for Mission and Outreach. This is a six month position that will explore the many ways that our Open Door Churches are engaged with the community through mission in Salem/Keizer. It will explore how we use our facilities and how those spaces could be optimized for ministry. And Jeff will connect with agencies in the community who are engaged in service to see what opportunities God may be leading Open Door Ministries in the future. Jeff will be gathering information, asking questions, and helping the Open Door board imagine and dream.
We are pleased to say that “Rev. Jeff” will continue to lead our ODC Youth ministries as he takes on this additional new role.
Rev. Jeff Lowery is an Ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church and a deacon’s call is to be a bridge from the church to the world. Jeff has extensive community outreach experience as the creator of the service learning program L.A.S.T. and has worked on a number of church redevelopment projects in recent years.
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The Open Door Churches blog is on break this week. |
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Every Monday we will release a new video on YouTube featuring one of music groups that contribute to our worship music! |
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Did you miss any of our Holy Week services? |
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Mark your calendar for April
Saturdays of Service
Community Day
When:
Saturday, April 17, 1-3pm
Where:
You Choose:
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Hoover Elementary School, working with Salem Parks, laying down bark dust, weeding, ice storm clean-up (unlimited #s, perfect for kids and families)
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Lee Cemetery clean-up and weeding (unlimited #s)
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Trinity UMC Food Bank (limited #s)
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Write letters or call Open Door Church members and friends to stay connected.
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Collecting financial donations for BackPack Buddies – for gift cards to families at Hoover Elementary. You can stop by Clear Lake UMC in Keizer between 1-3 p.m. with your donation or donations can be made on-line at OpenDoorChurches.org
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Food donation: “What Kids Loooove to Eat!” Bring the following items for “Feed the Children” ministry (Drop off at Keizer ClearLake UMC):
- Peanut Butter
- Mac and Cheese
- Spaghetti Sauce
- Spaghetti Noodles
- Canned Tuna
- **financial donations welcome
Sign-ups are a must to participate. It’s Easy! If you are unable to sign up online and would like to participate, Call the church office and we will connect you with Melissa Berry.
We look forward to seeing you – in person but still socially distant, and please continue to wear a mask!
“Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.” 1 John 4:19 (TPT)
A Note about BackPack Buddies
- $20 will support one family
- $100 supports five families.
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Christian Education Opportunities |
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Christian education is our invitation to understand God’s world and our experience in that world in deep and transformational ways. We will not be able to gather in person this winter, while our country and our communities engage in urgent conversations about racism, police brutality, power, government, creation care, and so much more. We want to provide opportunities for us as a faith community to learn, discuss, and inspire one another toward action for justice.
Prayers of the Heart - Meets via Zoom every Sunday at 9am
This group gathers to share a short reading, a time of meditation, and lectio divina. Contact Dennis Lundeen ddlundeen@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
Modern Christian Life: Getting Educated on Race & Racism
This Monday evening online group continues to explore topics of "how we got here" in our thinking of racial issues. The group works hard to provide interesting and relevant guest speakers each week, so don't miss it!
Tuesday Evening Women’s Book Group - Tuesdays at 7 PM on Zoom
Sunday School for those Who May Not Believe in God. Once a month class via Zoom, 2-3pm on Sundays, contact Heather Hawkins for Zoom details. sharingourdream2020@gmail.com.
Christian Education for children.
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Upcoming Youth Activities
Open Door Youth Group continues to meet every Thursday evening from 7-8:30 for Jackbox Games and on Sunday afternoons from 1-2:30 for a variety of activities. All youth 6-12th grade are welcome to join us.
Two important dates to put on your calendar. Saturday April 24th our youth will be putting on a virtual Talent Show to showcase the many talents of our youth. Sunday May 23rd will be our confirmation Sunday, we will be confirming our youth in worship on Pentecost Sunday.
Come to the Zoom youth group -- Email any of the youth leaders below for information about joining Zoom. Contact Rev. Jeff Lowery: revjeff@opendoorchurches.org for the link information.
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Coffee, Conversation, & Community
The Young Adult Group meets twice a month online for a time of spiritual conversation and community on Zoom online!
At our March and April gatherings we will be continuing our series from theworkofthepeople.com "Creating Bigger Stories." We hope you can join us!
~Pastor Alyssa
Open Door Church Young Adult Instagram
Are you following Open Door Young Adults on Instagram?
Check out the Instagram page to see what is happening with Young Adult Group and to see what some of our Young Adults are up to!
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Open Door Churches Worship |
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Together we continue to reimagine how we worship in the middle of the pandemic while following our call to Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in love with God. As we continue to create spaces for worship costs come up and we need your help.
If you would like to financially support Open Door Churches Worship please make checks payable to Open Door Churches with Open Door Worship in the memo line and mail your check to our Open Door Churches PO Box.
Open Door Churches
PO Box 4489
Salem Oregon 97302
You can also give online
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Open Door Churches Board Meeting |
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LAST
OPEN DOOR CHURCHES ZOOM BOARD MEETING
Monday - March 22, 2021
- The sale of Englewood UMC to Evergreen Presbyterian for $450,000 is completed.
- Jason Lee's furnaces need to be replaced - C. E. Hanson is to replace four furnaces for $10,000. The funds are coming from Jason Lee UMC funds.
- Saturdays of Service collections have been very successful:
- Food for Keizer Clear Lake and Trinity UMC
- Diapers for Las Naciones
- Hygiene Kits and monetary donations for UMCOR
- Visioning: Mary Ann Robinson, Kathy Webb and David Parry are working to construct a proposal for the board on visioning by July 2021. Part of their data collection are surveys from Open Door Churches' congregations and in-depth feedback from personal interviews.
- Worship: Pastor John mentioned there is a growing need for new technology to continue our on-line worship. FUMC has been providing new equipment and Pastor John doesn't see any in-person worship in the near future. It was suggested ODC should have a funded worship budget. Training for live streaming is in the works.
- Discussion regarding forming an Open Door Churches wide worship committee to help relieve some of the stress on the pastor's doing all the planning.
Next Open Door Churches Board Meeting
via ZOOM on Monday, April 26, 2021 - 6:00 p.m.
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Pastor Alyssa Baker
Worship
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Pastor Kalina Malua Katoa
Pastoral Care
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Pastor John Fleming
Administration
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