Morningside United Methodist Church | February 2020
February 2021 Newsletter
Sunday Worship Services
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Open Door Sunday Worship
Sunday, February 7th @ 10:00 AM
Reflecting the Light - Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving (Communion Sunday)
As we continue our Reflecting the Light sermon series, you are invited to join us for worship and communion this Sunday for "Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving."

All are invited to join us via our Open Door Churches Facebook page or the Open Door Churches YouTube Channel. Share this invitation with your family, friends and neighbors. These online services are a wonderful opportunity to share the love of our faith community with everyone, near and far!

See you online! โค๏ธ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’œ
Ash Wednesday
Lent 2021 -
Ash Wednesday Worship
Wed., February 17th, 7:00 PM
To participate in our Ash Wednesday worship service this year, you are invited to pick up ashes during our drive-thru distribution event on Saturday, February 13th. Come by any time between 9:00 - 11:00 AM to pick up your ashes from Pastor John.
Open Door Churches
Sunday, Jan. 31st, 2021 Worship
Video Now Available
In case you weren't able to join us on Open Door Churches YouTube Worship this past Sunday, here is the video from our service "Reflecting the Light - The Authority of Christ."

It is loaded on YouTube so no Facebook account is needed. This is a wonderful way to be connected with our entire Open Door Churches family during these challenging times!
This Week's Pastor's Blog
Caring for the environment was an important part of Pastor Kalina's work in her undergraduate degree in environmental studies.

In her blog post this week, read how her passion and appreciation of all of God's creatures having become so important in her life and ministry.

CLICK HERE for read Pastor Kalina's blog.

Note: These devotionals are uploaded
on the Open Door Churches YouTube page scheduled for Wednesdays each week.
Our Church Family
In our prayers...
Those with health concerns, illness, and loss of loved ones:

Harriet Mock, Ron and Lynn Ham, Duane Medicine Crow, Fred Wiedner, Jim and Phyllis Boston, Norm & Nancy Johnson, Nahnie Williams, Liz Toy, Allen Patterson-Sterling, Susi Bromley, Lyle Dragoo, Diane and Brigitte Rolph, Robert Kuenzli, Arlen Hollinshead, and Elisa Reckendorf.
- Lori Phillips -

  • I got to ride in a Goodyear Blimp
  • I climbed and summited Mt. Hood
  • I want to learn to tap dance
Better Know Your MUMC Friends
So, you think you know your Morningside friends pretty well? Did you know one us raised pigs growing up? Or someone grew up on a remote island in the Pacific?

Let's have some fun... click this link and email me your name and 3 fun and unexpected facts about you. I'll share them here over the next few weeks.

Let's get to know a little bit more about each other. I'll begin...

Who's next? Send me your fun facts!

Staying Connected
Kids Connection
What's New for Kids and Families?

Family Zoom Parties - Please email [email protected] and ask to be sent the updated Zoom link for the twice a month online activity! The Zoom party precedes worship (9:30 a.m.) on those Sundays!

Family Fun with Tes - Open to anyone (singles, couples and families) from Morningside or Open Door Churches! A chance to visit, laugh, check in and have some fun! Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM via Zoom: https://greaternw.zoom.us/j/96441061184
Open Door Churches Youth Group - February
Youth group continues to meet on Thursday evenings from 7-8:30 for Jackbox games and on Sunday afternoons from 1-2:30. This month on Sunday we will have a Super Trivia Quiz Bowl on Feb 7, a special Valentine's Day "Eat it or Yeet It" and we'll meet with our friends from Auburn Washington on Feb 21. Confirmation class meets on Wed Feb 17. Stay tuned for more details in the weekly emails.

Contact Rev. Jeff Lowery: [email protected] for the link information.

You may also contact Maddy Hickerson [email protected];
and Kelly Mason [email protected] for more information.
If you have questions or would like the Zoom codes contact Jeff Lowery and [email protected]

Our Youth Group Leaders:
Rev. Jeff Lowery
541-654-1878

Kelly Mason

Maddy Hickerson
Open Door Churches Young Adults - February
The Young Adult Group meets twice a month online. This month the group will meet Wednesdays, February 10 and 24, at 7:00 p.m. for a time of spiritual conversation and community on Zoom online!

Please contact Alyssa Baker for information and for the link!
Christian Education Opportunities
Christian education is our invitation to understand Godโ€™s world and our experience in that world in deep and transformational ways.

Our country and our communities are engaging in urgent conversations about racism, police brutality, power, government, creation care, and so much more. We are providing opportunities for us as a faith community to learn, discuss, and inspire one another toward action for justice.

As we continue to move into 2021 many of our classes are regrouping or changing topics, that makes for a great time to join a new class. If you have any questions, contact Rev. Jeff Lowery at:

Prayers of the Heart - meets via Zoom every Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
This group gathers to share a short reading, a time of meditation, and lectio Divina. Contact Dennis Lundeen [email protected] for the Zoom link.

Digging Deeper - meets via Zoom every Sunday morning at 11:15 a.m. Further details about our topics will follow. All are welcome. Contact Charlie Wallace [email protected] for the Zoom link.

  • February 7 -- Black History Month: John Wesley and early American Methodism on slavery

  • February 14 -- Black History Month: Slavery and Liberation in subsequent American Methodist history

Modern Christian Life: Getting Educated on Race & Racism - Meets Monday evenings, Zoom โ€“ 7:00-8:00 p.m.

  • Starting on Monday nights February 8-22, Morningside UMCโ€™s Eva Johnson has organized a three-part series on โ€œIssues Facing Native Americans.โ€ (CLICK HERE for a downloadable information sheet about class topics)

This coming Monday, February 8 -- Native Americans and Decolonization, by Rev. Allen Buck. What is decolonization? What does decolonization mean to the individual? What does it mean to the United Methodist Church?

Rev. Buck is the pastor of Great Spirit PDX, a United Methodist congregation whose worship, when in person, includes Native and Christian themes, traditions, and practices. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

Tuesday Evening Lenten Study - All are invited! Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Jennie Pitney: [email protected] for Zoom link.

Sunday School for those Who May Not Believe in God - Once a month class via Zoom, on Sundays, from 4-5:30 p.m. Contact Heather Hawkins for Zoom details.: [email protected]

Christian Education for Children - Contact Christina Gordon at
[email protected] for more information about their Zoom gatherings.
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Open Door Churches - Shalom Prayer Group Invitation
All are welcome to join in our Open Door Churches online prayer community via Facebook. CLICK HERE or search for "Shalom Prayer Group - Open Door Churches" from your Facebook page.
News, Announcements & Opportunities
Donations for Coyote Marie - Update
Dear Morningsiders,

Thank you for your generous response to our plea for items for Coyote Marie, who lost everything in a house fire in the fall.

At this point we are still looking for a few furniture items, camping supplies, and garden tools. She is hoping to move into a house in March.

Another way you are able to help is through monetary donations. They can be made through Morningside UMC with a notation on the check for Coyote Marie. There will definitely be expenses involved in transporting items to her, especially the larger furniture items. There will also be items like mattresses, office supplies, and other expenses involved in setting up a home.

If you know anyone with a large enclosed truck or trailer who might be interested in transporting the furniture to the Medford/Ashland area, please let me know. Currently we are looking at renting a U-Haul one-way truck, probably at the end of February or the first part of March.

Please contact me if you still have items to share as we are trying to be careful about duplicates. I have been updating her list as items are donated.

Shalom,
Sara Amend

CLICK HERE for the updated list of items needed.
Opportunity to Help our Neighbors and Wildfire Victims
Sat., February 13th, 9:30 - 3:30
Hi, friends! A group of volunteers organized by the Mill City Christian Church meets every other Saturday in Mill City for a few hours of cleanup of areas that were destroyed by wildfire. They welcome our help!

If you are able and willing, please consider joining Laura Metzger on February 13th to help with this. We will meet in the back parking lot of FUMC at 8:45. We will drive our own cars due to social distancing considerations. Boots are recommended, and warm rain gear depending on the weather. They also invite you to bring hand tools, hammers, and prybars to use, if you have them. The work site frequently requires an N95 mask, gloves, and a Tyvek suit which are all provided, but a $15 donation is welcomed. Lunch is also provided for those who stay. The group works from 9:30 to 3:30, but we are welcome to work for just a couple of hours if that is all the time or energy that we have. Unfortunately, due to the damage and type of cleanup required, this is not a safe activity for children.

Use this link to learn more about this, knowing that the new date will be February 13th:


 If you are interested, please email Laura at [email protected] if you have questions or think you might want to come. It will be great to see you and to know that we can provide some desperately needed help!

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU!
The 31st Salem Peace Lecture
"Unfinished Democracy: Making Good Trouble for Racial Equity"
Presented by Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson
In these days following the inauguration, we are filled with hope for a new beginning, while being mindful that the road ahead will most certainly be rough. 

The insights gained both personally and collectively through viewing this lecture, "Unfinished Democracy: Making Good Trouble for Racial Equity," is worth your time in your journey to understand racial equity. Watch it here:
 
And if you are looking for a way to turn words into action, we suggest that you follow any one - or several - of these organizations that regularly post information, initiatives, and calls to action that foster peace, justice, and equity in our community:
 
Mano a Mano/LUS: https://manoamanofc.org/ 
 
Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality: https://skcequality.org/ 
 
Salem-Keizer NAACP: http://www.sknaacp1166.org/
  
Racial Justice Organizing Committee (RJOC): 
 
Oregon Marshallese Community Association: 
  
Dasmesh Darbar Sikh Temple: (call office for information)
 
Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN): https://pcun.org/ 
 
Oregon Fellowship of Reconciliation (OFOR): https://www.ofor.org/ 
 
Oregon Common Cause: https://www.commoncause.org/oregon/ 
 
 
Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (OADP): https://oadp.org/ 
 
Sincerely, The Salem Peace Lecture Committee
Jason Lee Food Bank - 2020 Year-End Report
2020 was a difficult year for us all but especially for our neighbors without shelter or jobless and in need of food support. However, as Morningside does, you all stepped up in a big way to help.

We just received a wonderful 2020 Year-End Report from Candace Nichols and our friends at Jason Lee Food Bank. They have some great news to share...

  • In 2020, 2,700 families received food; 10,700 individuals received food; 3,480 volunteer hours were given by 42 volunteers; 25,670 lbs. of food were donated (with an amazing 4,100 lbs. coming from MUMC!!); because of monetary donations, they were able to purchase $7,350 of food from local stores; and they received 125,790 lbs. of food from the Marion Polk Food Share!

Thanks to all for your continued support!
Continuing Anti-Racism Work: Observing Black History Month
Continuing Anti-Racism Work: Observing Black History Month
The Black Church
Image for The Black Church
PBS is broadcasting a two-part focus on the Black Church in America in February. Described as an "intimate four-hour series from executive producer, host, and writer Henry Louis Gates, Jr., tracing the 400 year-old story of the Black church in America, all the way down to its bedrock role as the site of African American survival and endurance, grace and resilience, thriving and testifying, freedom and independence, solidarity and speaking truth to power."

CLICK HERE to see a trailer of this program. Check your local listings for broadcast times or stream online. This would be a great resource to watch together or individually and then discuss.
Contact the Pastors
Pastor John Fleming
Pastor Alyssa Baker
Pastor Kalina Malua-Katoa
Pastor Zaida Hureca
is Pastor for Las Naciones UMC.
Her ministry is focused on the Latinx Community of our Open Door Churches.
Rev. Jeff Lowery
is our United Methodist Open Door Churches Youth Director.
Contact Us
Morningside United Methodist Church
Physical Address: 3674 12th Street, SE
Mailing Address: PO Box 3076
Salem, OR 97302
 
Telephone: 503-364-5013
Web: morningsideumc.net
 
Office Hours: Office is currently CLOSED

Ministry Team
Ministers: All the Laity
Pastor Team:
............[email protected]
Communications/Office Administrator: Vicki DeVol
Bookkeeper: Christine Stevens
Family & Program Ministry Director:  Tes Lacy
Chancel Choir Director: Sam Kinney 
Praise Band Leader: Jan Nelson 
Organist: Brace Langenwalter 
Keyboardist: Teresa Stewart 
Custodian: Jan Wetherbee 
Childcare: Noemi Morales, Fabiola Morales, Carlee Hunt, Maya Nelson-Tilkens, Natalie Kawell
 If you need a printed copy of the newsletter, copies are available on the counter in the Narthex.