May 2,2019
Confirmation and Youth Sunday

Is there a moment you remember when you confirmed with God that you loved Jesus and wanted to walk with him? Coming soon on May 19th at Salem First at the 8:45 service then a confirmation recognition at the 11:15 service and then June 16th at 10:30 a.m. at Morningside will be one of those times for several of our youth. These two dates are both Youth Sunday and Confirmation Sunday when our youth make their first profession of faith. This will be a special time in the lives of our confirmands (those making their profession) and it is our blessing to be a part of their day as we renew professions of our own.

In our community, most youth confirm their faith in either the 8th or 9th grades. Offered every other year, the youth who wish to do so take part in the confirmation program where they are mentored for a year by an adult member of the church and take classes with the other confirmands to explore their faith and learn about Methodist history and theology. This in-depth study helps form their faith and their spiritual walk for a lifetime. Just this last weekend the confirming youth went on a retreat together to Suttle Lake Camp - a time that was rich and meaningful for all.

Another part of our confirmation process is "Ask the Pastor" when the youth sit down with some of our Open Door Churches pastors and ask them whatever questions they want. Held next week on May 8th, this is a special discussion around the issues on the youth's hearts and the questions they've started to ask themselves as they prepare for the ceremony.
The confirmation ceremony itself, the culmination of their study, is closely linked with baptism in that the youth confirms their desire to walk this spiritual path in their first public declaration of faith made before their church community. According to the Book of Discipline, the vows confirmands make include:
  1. To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of their sin
  2. To accept the freedom and power God gives them to resist evil, injustice, and oppression;
  3. To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put their whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as their Lord
  4. To remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world
  5. To be loyal to Christ through The United Methodist Church and do all in their power to strengthen its ministries
  6. To faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, their service, and their witness
  7. To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
According to This Is Your Baptismal Liturgy, confirmation includes three aspects
  1. God confirms the divine promise to those who were too young to grasp what God was doing in their baptism
  2. The youth respond by professing their own acceptance of the grace they have received and their own faith in Christ
  3. The Church, as represented by the congregation, confirms the commitments they make
While confirmation is focused on the youth professing their faith, this special service is also a time for us to profess faith of our own and to respond to their growth by confirming our support of the youth. Throughout the ceremony, there will be places for us to renew our own spiritual vows and our community, rededicating ourselves to the work and love of God.
The youth in this year's confirmation ceremony are:
  • Austin Gienger - FUMC
  • Erika Bateman - FUMC
  • Elisabeth Rich - FUMC
  • Sophia Miller - FUMC
  • Lauren LeRoy - FUMC
  • Aeson Pargas - Morningside
Let's celebrate our youth and support them in whatever ways we can as they take these important next steps in their lives of faith!

Sarah Katreen Hoggatt
In This Issue
Open Door Churches newsletters are sent out every other Thursday.
Open Door Churches Webpage

Our webpage is live!!  Go to  opendoorchurches.org to see information about 
each of the churches and ways you can be involved.


Music in May!
Sunday, May 5 at 4:00 in MICAH
680 State St. Salem, OR 97301

All are invited to Music In May - the annual First United Methodist Church Music Ministry fundraising concert and dessert

Enjoy music of the spring season presented by all of our church's musical ensembles and soloists, then enjoy desserts provided by the musicians. This annual event provides the majority of funding for new music, guest musicians for special events, and instrumental upkeep.

This year, we are featuring the art work of Barbara Barrick, who created four beautiful watercolor/acrylic paintings at previous music fundraising concerts. Her intent was to donate the works to support our music ministry.  These paintings are currently hanging in the choir room, and have found a home there. We seek to honor Barbara's intent to donate her artistry to the music ministry, and have them available for many people to enjoy.

We are offering donors the opportunity to sponsor one of the four paintings for a donation of $250 or more.  The donation can be designated in memory or in honor of a person, if desired.  The paintings will remain in the choir room as part of our church.  We'll place a donor's plaque with each painting showing the designation.

At the concert, there will be a list of specific donation opportunities, such as sponsoring a Sermon in Song, Christmas or Easter instrumentalist or buying a choral anthem or Praise Service song. These gifts can also be designated in memory or in honor of a person, with the designation being recognized in the appropriate bulletin.

Eight decorative planters, provided by Egan Nursery at cost, will be used to make the concert area burst out in spring's splendor.  Donors may take one home for a donation of $40 or more.

Please join us in celebration of the spiritual, inspiring, and powerful moments that our musicians bring to worship by listening to great music, eating dessert and donating to the Music Ministry.

From Lament to Communion

God created us for community.  Across the theological spectrum of our United Methodist connection, we are dismayed by the tension and hurt revealed at the Special General Conference.  Instead of finding a way forward together, we find ourselves even more painfully separated. 

Table Talks provide an opportunity for us to come together around the table of grace to share our feelings with one another, to connect as brothers and sisters in Christ, to hear from General Conference participants, and to imagine fresh contours of our faithfulness
as United Methodists.

Participants will covenant to Stay Curious, Be Kind, and to Listen with the same amount of passion with which they want to be heard.  The gathering will include sharing in holy communion together.

The Cascadia District is hosting five Table Talk gatherings mid-March into April (marked with an asterisk below). District Superintendent Tim Overton Harris will be present at all of these. Table Talks hosted by other districts are also available and may be more convenient for you. 
Following is a list of Table Talks in or near the Cascadia District:
Now is the time for community conversation. We need your voice at the table.

Find more information, see all the offerings across the Greater Northwest, and register at 
greaternw.org/table-talks

Please register at least a week prior to the event of your choice so that we can be prepared for you.  There is no cost. 

Open Door Churches Youth Group May Schedule 
 
We have lots of great opportunities for our youth this Spring as we approach a busy summer filled with mission trips and summer camps. This month we'll meet at Salem First United Methodist Church from 12:30-2 p.m. for our Sunday youth groups.  Join us for conversation, delicious lunch, and games!     
Part of our time together this month will be spent preparing for Youth Sunday @ FUMC on May 19th and @ Morningside on June 16th. At those services we will confirm our 6 confirmation students who have been working hard all year exploring their faith.
 
Mark your calendars for some great youth group activities!
  • May 5  Youth Group 12:30-2 
  • May 8 Confirmation Meeting (Ask the Pastor)
  • May 12 No Youth Group Mother's Day
  • May 19 Youth Sunday at FUMC both services/Confirmation Sunday
  • May 19 Youth Group 12:30-2 (Costa Rica Mission Team Building)
  • May 26th Youth Group 12:30-2

 

For more details about youth group activities visit their Facebook page here. 
 
Open Door Churches Young Adults
May Schedule
 
The Open Door Churches Young Adult Group is made up of college students and young professionals ranging in age from 18-29 who are exploring questions of faith together. The group meets every Wednesday evening from 7-8:30, usually at IKE Box. Please look at our Facebook page for specific dates, times, and places.
 
Please contact Pastor Alyssa at   alyssabaker08@gmail.com with any questions.  

Check out our group's Facebook Page: CLICK HERE 

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 - (Face to Face) 8:30 a.m.,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.