Oregon has sustained great damage and devastation due to the wildfires this past week. Many people have lost their homes and property has been damaged.
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This just received from CaN (Churches As Neighborhood) - Salem Leadership Foundation:
CaN Partners,
Many of you have generously asked how you can best support victims of local wildfires, especially those individuals and families that have been displaced.
Right now there is a coordinated effort by the United Way of the MId-Willamette Valley to accept in-kind donations along with coordinating volunteers to help organize donated items and get them out to evacuees.
Here's where we could definitely use support from you and your congregation:
- Collecting donated items from your congregation (tents, sleeping bags, pillows, air mattresses, bedding, blankets, masks, cleaning supplies, diapers, bottles, formula, hygiene supplies, water, pre-packaged food items, etc)
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Or directly having church members drop off donated items at 1705 Silverton Rd NE on Friday (9/11) from 8:00-11:00-am and 3:00-6:00pm, on Saturday (9/12) from 9:00-5:00pm, or Sunday (9/13) from 9:00-5:00pm.
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Volunteers willing to help can arrive at 1705 Silverton Rd NE on Friday (9/11) from 8:00-Noon to help organize and/or from 12:00-4:00pm for crowd management and help loading & unloading. Volunteers can also help out on Saturday (9/12) from 8:00-5:00pm or on Sunday (9/13) from 8:00-5:00pm. Volunteers can also sign up to volunteer on the United Way Mid-Willamette Valley website. United Way will be sharing this list with their community partners that might have volunteer opportunities as well. This will help sustain the level of supports throughout our community.
- Additional Donation Times will be sent out as soon as we can confirm them.
Thanks, again, for your heart to see God bringing comfort and healing to those in our community. Thanks also for your continued servant-leadership in our community to usher in God's peace and hope.
Please let us know if you've got questions, concerns, or need more information. We're hoping to have more information out to everyone in the coming day about additional ways to help out.
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Here are Additional Opportunities
- Clothing Drop-off for Fire Relief (Hosted by Stayton High School): Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 at 9 AM – 6 PM, Stayton High School, 757 W Locust St, Stayton
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Fairgrounds Evacuation Center - Volunteer Sign-up: CLICK THIS LINK
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Sermon Series - "This is My Story"
Each week one of our Open Door Churches clergy will offer their stories and share their thoughts on that week's scripture. We'll even finish the month with a special guest, Rev. Jeff, who works with our Youth Ministry.
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Saturday, Oct. 10th
Dear Friends,
The Morningside UMC congregation has supported the Walk to End Alzheimer's for TEAM DIANE for the past six years. Diane is the daughter of Brigitte Rolph (long-time MUMC member) and was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's in 2012 when she was 49 years old.
We are planning to support the cause again this year and would love to expand the support and participation to include all Open Door Churches members.
The Alzheimer's Association is organizing a Walk to End Alzheimer's in the Outer Salem Area on October 10, 2020. Because of the pandemic, health and safety is a top priority and the walk will be different this year. There will not be a large-in-person gathering as in the past. Sorry!!!!
However, we invite you to walk in small teams of family and friends anywhere in your own neighborhoods. Other teams in our community will do the same.
We are walking and fund-raising for the same cause, awareness, advocacy, support and prevention - A world without Alzheimer's and other dementia.
Thanks to Anni Powell, Sally Neff and Brigitte Rolph, who formed a committee to make the walk possible.
There are several ways to register and donate for the walk:
1. You can register and donate online.
2. You can mail a check made out to Alzheimer Association, to:
MORNINGSIDE UMC, PO BOX 3076, SALEM, OR 97302
3. You can also join us on Saturday October 10th from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm for a safe DRIVE-BY-EVENT at Morningside UMC.
THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING THE WALK2ENDALZHEIMER'S
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The Open Door Churches' Pastoral Team is pleased to offer you the chance to join in Midweek Devotionals brought to you each Wednesday! We will send out a special newsletter on Wednesdays letting you know what the link is in the future.
Join Pastor John this week for a special time of worship, prayer and devotion on the topic of forgiveness.
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Pastors' Weekly Blog Posts |
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In addition to the weekly devotional, our pastors will also be sharing written messages on the blog area of our Open Door Churches website. Pastor John, Pastor Alyssa, and Pastor Kalina want to continue to create ways to connect during these times when we cannot be together -- they will encourage, inspire, and lift you up in prayer!
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New Zoom Series!
Race, Racism and the Legal System
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Mondays at 7pm from September 14-October 19, Modern Christian Life will look at the justice system and the role of race and racism.
We’ll start the class on September 14th with a discussion about Ava DuVernay’s Academy Award nominated documentary 13th. You can watch the documentary on YouTube or on Netflix.
Future classes will look at civil rights acts, laws to address racial discrimination and disparity, and what it’s like to volunteer with and teach people who are incarcerated.
Sound interesting? Want to participate? If you haven’t signed up before, please email Cesie Delve Scheuermann and get added to the email list. This class is open everyone in Open Door Churches.
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Participate in a Sunday Service! |
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Do you want to participate in an upcoming Sunday service by reading a verse, playing music, or offering a prayer? We are looking for people throughout Open Door Churches to join in by recording a piece for our worship times together.
We can talk you through how to video yourself and upload it to our Dropbox folder.
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Watch below for tips and tricks on how to record yourself. The only thing that has changed since this video was created is we now send you a link to directly upload your video via Dropbox. Let us know if you have any questions! |
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Jason Lee Food Bank
JLFB has reopened with some social distancing modifications. The hours are Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
Donations of food are greatly appreciated and are welcome any time they are open but encouraged before opening those days. The volunteer staff usually arrives by 8:00 AM on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Donations of grocery sacks are also welcome.
Lord's Cupboard @ Trinity UMC
Reopening Saturday, September 5th!
1:00 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.
With the reopening of Lord's Cupboard food
bank after a six month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trinity UMC will be filling a vital need in the community to assist persons affected by the corona virus.
This new model will be a drive-thru from the Marion-Polk Food Share and will help service clients on Saturday afternoons. NO direct client contact and there will be adherence to strict CDC protocols.
We are especially in need of LARGE grocery sacks or small to medium size cardboard boxes. If you can help supply those, please leave on the porch on the SE side of the church by the French Doors and we will get them.
Please contact Jerry Rempel, 503-393-8875 or 503-881-5141 for more information or concerns.
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Looking for Content Contributors! |
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Open Door Churches and our churches are looking for additional content contributors and more in-depth stories for our newsletters.
Do you have inspirational stories to share? Stories of God's grace at work in our world? How about stories of local charities in the area and ways they are helping families in need during these crazy times?
We'd love to hear from you. CLICK HERE to send Vicki at Morningside a message about your idea for a story and sign up to be a Content Contributor!
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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 summer, 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.
We have several options for gathering online throughout the summer to do that:
Let’s Read: Open Door Churches Summer Book Study (See above)
Prayers of the Heart – Sundays at 9 AM on Zoom
This group gathers to share a short reading, a time of meditation, and lectio divina.
Tuesday Evening Women’s Book Group- Tuesdays at 7 PM on Zoom
Join for a lively engaged discussion of a new book each month.
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Open Door Churches Directory |
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This is an on-going project and we will let you know when it is ready to share, but to complete it we need you!!
Send us your pics as soon as possible!!
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It has been quite a week. So much to process, to pray for, and to do. Many of our families have young children, and our children all have different levels of exposure to current realities of racism and anti-racist work being done in the world right now. Throughout our time together, I will be introducing the subject, and giving families the opportunity and resources to go deeper into the subject.
Kid's Opportunities
Children's Connect Zoom: We will meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday's at 4:30 and the 2nd and 4th Sundays will be a story time or activity video posted. Here is our schedule for June:
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Children's Time: Each week there is a children's time during the worship service.
Parent Opportunities
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Parent Happy Hour continues on Fridays at 8:30
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Book Club: The CE Committee is starting up a book club with opportunities to read and reflect together. Look for information soon.
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Stories from the Inside: We are doing a series of interview with church members/families as a way to keep connected to one another stories throughout the summer.
Prayers about for peace, justice, hope, healing, and love during this time.
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A Message from Heather Ingersoll,
Christian Education Director
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Greetings, all!
I was recently offered a full-time position as Executive Director of Godly Play, and will be starting that position within the next month.
So, sadly this means I have to leave my role at FUMC. My final day on staff will be September 30th.
I am looking forward to one more month working with all of you. I feel an extra special connection to you all as we have walked beside each other navigating ministry during this pandemic. I'm grateful for you all and the FUMC community for your support, enthusiasm for serving each other and the world, and commitment to being a welcoming place for all people.
Blessings! Heather
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Open Door UM Youth Group Zoom meetings
Open Door Youth continues to meet online twice a week, on Thursday evening from 7-8:30 and Sunday afternoon from 1-2:30.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER
September 13 - Hang out with Pastor Alyssa
September 20 - "Eat it or Yeet it" Fall Edition
September 27 - Bob Ross Painting Class
Confirmation Class
One of the important milestones in the faith life of our youth is Confirmation. In the United Methodist Church we typically baptize infants in recognition that God is already present and working in our lives. Parents and congregations make promises to raise and nurture the child in the Christian faith. When that child becomes a youth, they can choose to go through a confirmation class, study the faith tradition of their church, explore the tenants of their faith and have a chance to claim their own story of faith for themselves.
Starting this September the Open Door Youth Ministry will be offering a confirmation class for youth 8th grade and older. We will meet once a month on the third Wednesday of the month. Each meeting will include a large group time where all participants will explore a topic together, led by Rev. Jeff and our pastoral team, and a chance to meet with their adult mentor individually. Some of the topics we will cover include; God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Salvation, the Bible, service, and Spiritual Gifts. We hope to be able to attend the April Suttle Lake Confirmation Retreat where we will learn more about our Methodist heritage with other youth from around the Annual Conference. Recognition of the confirmation journey will happen in worship at each individual church in May or June. Cost is $50 per youth.
Confirmation is one opportunity that we can offer as an Open Door Youth Ministry that truly makes us stronger. Anyone interested in joining our class should contact Jeff at revjeff@opendoorchurches.org or 541-654-1878.
Our Youth Group Leaders:
Rev. Jeff Lowery
541-654-1878
Kelly Mason
503-580-1475
Maddy Hickerson
503-999-5077
Book Club
We are reading a book together on race and discussing it. We have chosen the book "So You Want to Talk About Race" by Ijeoma Oluo. Any youth who wants to join us should purchase the book. Email Jeff at directoroflast@gmail.com to get the Zoom link.
Email any of the youth leaders below for information about joining Zoom on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. and at 1:00 p.m. on Sundays.
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Coffee, Conversation, & Community
The Open Door Young Adult Group is switching to meeting twice a month on Zoom. In September, the group will meet on the 9th and the 23rd - both Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Please email Pastor Alyssa for information on how to connect.
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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ODC Board Meeting Notes via Zoom |
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Monday - August 31
- Decision was made to invite David Parry to become a member at large. He is a transfer from Dallas UMC. He will be asked to consider becoming the ODC board secretary.
- Englewood church building title has been transferred and the Trustees will to continue to sell the property.
- ODC financial records need to be audited.
- Continuing to work our the details of the pastoral responsibilities and a plan will be presented at the September meeting.
- Budget and ODC stewardship campaign was discussed and the need for more info from the local churces.
- Young Adult Group continues to meet via ZOOM and will begin to meet twice a month.
- Half of the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loan funds are being distributed very soon. Open Door Churches' share is $36, 600.
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Trinity's Lord's Cupboard (food bank) is set to begin Saturday, September 5 for "drive-thru" only. Voluneers are needed and may contact Jerry Rempel jmrempel@comcast.net for more information.
- Phone Trees are still working and folks are calling each other.
- Jeff Lowery reported there will be a Confirmation Class via ZOOM on the 3rd Wednesday of each month during the school year.
- "Phone Worship" was discussed. We want to reach more people. Folks would be able to listen to the worship service through their phone. The cost for the program is $40 dollars a month with a $100 set-up charge. Anyone interested in supporting this program may contribute by mailing their contribution to : UM Open Door Churches Salem-Keizer, PO Box 4489, Salem OR 97302. Be sure to mark in the memo section of the check "New Phone Worship Program".
- Next ODC ZOOM meeting - Monday, September 28, 2020, 6:00 p.m.
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Rev. Alyssa Baker
Worship
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Rev. John Fleming
Administration
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Rev. John Fleming
Administration
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