November 30, 2017
We have a lot of events coming up this weekend! There is the labyrinth walk, bazaars, two concerts, and festivals! Come and celebrate the beginning of the Advent season with us! 
Open Door Churches News

We are very excited for all the opportunities in our Open Door Churches for a meaningful Advent Season. There is something for everyone - Labyrinth Walk, Alternative Christmas Market, Concerts by the "Just for Fun Singers" and John Nilson, Family festivals and celebrations. and the Blue Christmas service. Attend a few events to nurture your spirit this season, prepare for the birth of Jesus and find yourself saying, "Yes, let's go to the manger!"
  • Winter clothing items are needed at the Jason Lee Food Bank. Particularly coats, hats, gloves, socks and items for children. Drop them off at your local church or Jason Lee.
  • An Open Door Churches Board planning retreat is scheduled for February 9-10 with leadership from Bill Gipson, Director of Strategic Faith Community Development for the Greater Northwest areas of the UMC and Tim Overton-Harris, our District Superintendent.
In This Issue
Open Door Churches newsletters are sent out every other Thursday.
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Advent Events
Labyrinth Walk
Decemeber 1st (Friday) - 6 p.m.
 
We will begin our Advent Labyrinth Journey in the Morningside sanctuary at 6:00 p.m. for worship and song. The labyrinth in Herrmann Hall will have a very special layout this year to mark a beginning of the journey through the Advent Season.
 
6:00-6:30 p.m. Worship in the Sanctuary
6:30-8:00 p.m. Labyrinth Walk in Herrmann Hall

Christmas Market
December 1st (Friday) - 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
December 2nd (Saturday) - 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Come shop for homemade baked goods and crafts at Englewood's Christmas bazaar!

Alternative Christmas Market - Salem First
December 2nd, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
December 3rd, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Salem First United Methodist Church's social concerns committee sponsors many non-profits by having this event and it is a great place to shop to purchase gifts that uplift many people.

All Church Christmas
December 2nd (Saturday) - 12-2 p.m.

Join Keizer Clear Lake as we head into the Advent Season! We'll enjoy a lunch of soup and bread then create crafts, snack on treats, and share stories. This will be a great time to fellowship with others as we enjoy the holiday season. All are welcome.

Advent Abend Festival
December 3rd (Sunday) - After Morningside worship

This is a wonderful time for families to engage in the Advent season. Come enjoy creating picture ornaments (among other crafts), sharing stories and songs, decorating cookies, and enjoying the Advent season together. This includes a free lunch!

Bob Bennett in Concert
December 3rd (Sunday) - 3 p.m.

Enjoy songs, friendly humor, precise fingerstyle guitar, warm vocals and a healthy dash of genuine hopefulness. These are the tools Bob Bennett brings to work with him every time he steps on stage. Salem First.

"Just for Fun Singers" Concert
December 2nd (Saturday) - 2 p.m. at Trinity
December 5th (Tuesday) - 7 p.m. at Keizer Clear Lake

The Just for Fun Singers will perform Christmas music at Trinity and Keizer Clear Lake. Everyone is invited to these free concerts. Refreshments will be served following the concerts. Donations will help fund Outreach projects. Please invite your friends, family, and neighbors to attend this fun holiday event.

Blue Christmas
December 15th (Friday) - 7 p.m.

If you're struggling with the upcoming holidays for any reason, 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.

Fiesta Church
December 17th (Sunday) - 4-6 p.m.

Please join us at Trinity for intergenerational Christmas crafts, fun activities, delicious treats, and lively games.

John Nilsen in Concert
December 23rd - 3 p.m.

John Nilsen will be in concert at
Keizer Clear Lake. He is a pianist, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter and one of the Pacific Northwest's most successful performance and recording artists. 

Messy Church
December 24th (Sunday) - 12-2 p.m.

Join us at Morningside to celebrate an intergenerational Christmas with food, treats, crafts, songs, games, and story time.
December Youth Group
  • December 3rd-Youth Group, Advent Abend
  • December 9th -youth group Giving Tree Shopping @ Keizer station @11am
  • December 10th -Youth at First UMC @12:30
  • December 17th-Youth at First UMC @12:30 (location potential for change for Christmas party)
No more youth group til January
 
Youth Group Changes
Beginning in January we will move to a rotation for Open Door Churches youth group. Morningside UMC will be hosting the youth group for the entire month of January. We will begin with a Potluck on January 7th.
  • January 7th-Spring Potluck @ 12:30
  • January 14th-no youth group, Youth at Suttle Lake
  • January 21st  --Youth at Morningside UMC @12:30
  • January 28th -Youth at Morningside UMC @12:30
We will need helping providing lunch for the youth on January 21st and 28th. If you are interested in signing up please let Yajaira know.


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:
  • Englewood - 11:15 a.m. 
  • Trinity - 9 a.m. (10 a.m. on August 20th)
  • Morningside - 10 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.