Notes from Pastor Steve! Sunday, September 8th, begins our Fall Kickoff at The Open Door Christian Church. This year, we will again be focusing all of our youth ministry and Christian education for all ages of our young people on Wednesday nights. Please note the times and locations for your children as we will be utilizing both our Decision Hills Campus and our North 40 (old) Campus every week. There is still time to register your children or grandchildren for the fall kickoff. Please note - there will be a nursery available during Sunday morning worship services, but there is no "Sunday School " on Sunday mornings for the children. We made the move last year to all children's education on Wednesday nights in an attempt to better accommodate family schedules. Additionally we will be changing our Sunday morning Worship times to 9 AM and 10:30 AM starting September 8th. We look forward to seeing you!

Recovery Church Tailgate Kick Off! What is Recovery Church? It is a place for those struggling with addictions. Everything from overeating, codependency, to heroin addiction. All are welcome to be a part of our gatherings. We believe that Recovery Churches are some of the most welcoming and accepting fellowships around. We believe that Recovery Church must keep our primary focus on helping the drug addict and alcoholic find Jesus and recovery. Addiction to alcohol and drugs are to be kept relentlessly in the foreground, so that other issues will not take over the groups focus. We believe that almost anyone will find the fellowship and process helpful to their recovery journey. All are welcomed who are struggling with other addictions and can benefit from being a part of our family. WHEN: Friday, September 20th 6:00 – 7:00 PM (Tailgate Party - Come Hungry) 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Recovery Church Service) Every Friday after this 7:00 - 8:30 PM fellowship to follow WHERE: North 40 campus of The Open Door Christian Church. Look for a red banner on the building with a big question mark on it. 516 4th Ave SW, New London MN CHILDCARE AVAILABLE

She Laughs Women's Conference You're invited to the "She Laughs" Women's Conference at The Harbor Church, on Friday, Sept 20th beginning at 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Saturday, Sept 21st from 8:30 AM to 12 PM and the cost is only $30! This is a women's conference that mixes fun and laughter with truth and encouragement to refuel you to leave equipped and energized to face the future. Sponsored by The Harbor Church and The Open Door Christian Church

Growing Deeper: Revelation Starting September 18th, Pastor Jeff will lead you deep into the Bible's most mysterious (and sometimes confusing) book. Learn why the book of Revelation is written as it is, and what God is saying through this book for our own times. You will be encouraged! Growing Deeper happens in the Worship Center each Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 pm. It includes an in-depth teaching time followed by group discussion. If you've ever been curious about the book of Revelation, this study is for you! Get to know your Bible! Sunday mornings, 9-10 am in the Youth Building starting September 15th. Join Pastor Jeff for an in-depth overview of the Bible. See how each book of the Bible is unique and how they all fit together, pointing directly to Jesus. Bring your Bible if you have one, or just show up. No experience necessary!

Friday Night Fires Cooler evenings mean bonfires! Come to Decision Hills 6-8 pm on Fridays starting this Friday, 9/6. Feel free to bring hot dogs or s'mores, or just come enjoy casual conversation. Come for the whole evening or just a part of it. See you there!

Grief Share Support Group Weekly at The Open Door North 40 campus (516 4th Ave SW. New London) beginning September 10th! Help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend. We know it hurts, and we want to help. Grief Share is a weekly support group designed to help you rebuild your life after losing a loved one. Our group will be led by caring people who have experienced grief and want to help you through the difficult days ahead. What you can expect is a warm, caring environment with three key parts which include a video seminar, support group and a personal workbook.

Summer Missions Trip to Portland and Haiti

This summer The Open Door had the privilege of sending two teams out on short term missions trips!

Our first team was a youth group of 12 teens who traveled to Portland, Oregon on a Christ-Centered urban missions trip where they worked alongside existing ministries who are active in helping and ministering to homeless, displaced and vulnerable people. Oregon has the highest percentage of homeless per capita of any state in the United States, many of which are youth, but even with these staggering statistics the team witnessed what God is actively doing in Portland. The second team of seven Open Door members partnered with Children of The Promise in Cap Haitian, Haiti. The team left early August with nine suitcases (filled with much needed donations) in tow as well as one child size walker. Their time in Haiti was filled with a diverse array of ministry opportunities ranging from running a VBS for the local community (with 100 students from the preschool classes and grade four classes), experiencing and organizing community outreach opportunities, and showing the Jesus Film, in the national language of Creole, to over 150 people living in the surrounding villages! If you are interested in going on a mission trip in 2020 or would like to be a part of education experiences as they relate to missions please contact Aasta Waugh at [email protected]

Alpha Alpha is a fantastic introduction to the Christian faith. Whether you are curious about Christians or wanting to grow in your own faith, this ten-week course is a great way to build friendships, gain solid information, and experience a fun time with other people eager to grow. Alpha starts September 29th at our North 40 campus. We'll meet each week through the fall from 5:30-7:30 pm. For more information, contact Pastor Jeff at [email protected] or text 612-812-1783.

Have you tried Life Groups? Life Groups are mid-sized groups of 20-35 people who meet in homes. They build friendships and take time together for informal worship, study, discussion, and prayer. Life Groups also find creative, fun ways to serve in our communities. We currently have four groups available (New London, Spicer, Willmar and Kerkhoven) and expect to launch a fifth group this fall in the Belgrade area. There is room for YOU in a Life Group! For more information contact Pastor Jeff at [email protected] or text 612-812-1783.

Children's Ministry During VBS this summer, we talked about spiritual habits and taking our faith to new heights. The main ideas we talked about were: 1. We can spend time with God, Luke 10:38-42 2. People can help grow our faith, Mark 2:1-12 3. We can share God’s story, Acts 4:1-20 4. We can serve others, John 13:1-17, 34-35 Our memory verses were Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:13. We hope everyone who participated, from children to adults, had a wonderful time. We couldn’t have done it without all of our fantastic volunteers who gave of their time and talents. Thank you volunteers! Thank you parents and grandparents for faithfully bringing your kiddos. We just loved spending time with them. Additionally, we are kicking off Wednesday night Children's Ministry! Starting Sept 18th from 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM , grades K - 4th grade will be meeting in the Children's Ministry House at Decision Hills! Note: 5th and 6th grade will be going to the North 40 campus with Pastor Patrick starting today! The Children’s Ministry is not possible without dedicated volunteers. Please consider how you might be able to help. We still are in need of classroom helpers, teachers, drama helpers, large group lesson leaders and worship leaders. Maybe you and a friend would like to team teach; that is a great way to share the load! Contact Pam Calvin at [email protected]. May you have a blessed transition into cooler fall weather and the start of a new school year.  Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

YOUTH GROUP September 4th is our first youth group of the school year at North 40! Our first series we start out with this year is called Lifelines.

Do you have any friendships you can really count on — the kind of friendships you might call your "lifelines?" God designed us to have friendships we can trust, but God also knew we'd need some help figuring out how to build friendships that are lifelines for each other. In this 4-week series, we'll look at the kind of friendship Jesus models for us: friendship that lets us be real, gives us a chance to grow, gives us a group when we feel alone, and can even change the world. If you have a student that needs to be signed up, please visit our website to download the release form.

WEEKLY CALENDAR

SUNDAY 9:00 am: W orship 10:15: P rayer (Worship Center Prayer Room) 10:15 am: Nursery (infant–age 2) 10:30 am: Worship 10:30 am: Seedlings (age 3-PreK in the Children’s House) TUESDAY 6:00 am: Women’s Group - Meets at the North 40 Campus 6:30 pm: Grief Share weekly Support Group (beginning September 10th) at the North 40 WEDNESDAY 6:00 pm – 8:15 pm: Youth Group (gr. 5–12 at our North 40 Campus) 6:30 pm: Children's Ministry grades K - 4th at Decision Hills (starting Sept. 18th) 6:30 pm: Growing Deeper THURSDAY 6:00 am: Men’s Group Meets in the basement of Admin Office (side door on 17 Ash St. New London, MN)

GIVE If you are passionate about what we are doing here at The Open Door and would like to partner with us in growing the Kingdom of God, click the link to Give your gifts, tithes and offerings!

GET INVOLVED Are you looking for ways to serve? Your talents and gifts are needed here!