APRIL 2019 NEWSLETTER
Current Sermon Series
"Turning Toward Life"
March 10, 2019 - April 14, 2019

We continue our current series, "Turning Toward Life" throughout Lent, concluding on Palm Sunday with "Shouts of Joy!"  Join us as we continue our time preparation and commitment, for longing and anticipation... this time of turning toward life!

See you at Morningside!  ❤️ 

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"
Luke 15:1-3,11b-33
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Worship Services at 8:30 and 10:30

We celebrate the parable of the Prodigal Son in worship this Sunday.  We celebrate that each of us is represented (in some way and at some point in our lives) by each of the characters in the story.  We celebrate that no matter if we are "good", "bad" or "ugly", our reconciling God is here, welcoming us home with open arms.

Join us for worship this week and receive your, well deserved,  God hug!

In This Issue
Worship Schedule
Sundays
8:30 am - Face to Face
                 Worship
10:30 a.m. - Worship
11:30 a.m. - Fellowship Time
10 - 11:30 a.m. Childcare is offered for infants and toddlers every Sunday morning.

Newsletter Deadline

April 25th by 9:00 am
April Birthdays
1    Dave Sevall
      Elizabeth Cortes
3    Kirsten Johnson
      Paul Smith-Munson
9    Duane Medicine-Crow
12  Yajaira Hernandez-Trejo
15  Jacque Bailey
      Karen Crooch Reed
      Lura Morris
19  Jean Johnston
      Wendy Marsh
23  Glenn Gross
      Mary Lu Snodgrass
26  Ron Ham
27  Ellis Sanders
30  Mike Vogt
      Vicki Plasker
      
April Anniversaries
26  Sam Kinney & 
          Erin McGrath
30  Karna Johnson &
           Ron Chase
In our prayers...
Those with health concerns, illness, and loss of loved ones:

Edith Benninghoff, Nahnie Williams, Geraldine Hammond,
Susi Bromley, Lyle Dragoo, Glen McCall, Paula Kent, Ken Amend, Elisa Reckendorf, Robert Kuenzli, Arlen Hollinshead, Lynn Ham, Diane and Brigitte Rolph
Morningside's Annual 
Rummage Sale and Jewelry Jamboree
Friday, March 29th (9 - 4) 
Saturday, March 30th (9 - 3)


It's finally here - the Rummage Sale you've all been waiting for!  Come down early and come down often.  As always, there are treasures galore and all kinda of jewelry!
UMCOR Sunday
Sunday, March 31st

We are celebrating the amazing work done by the United Methodist Committee on Relief this Sunday!  This one-time per year offering goes directly to UMCOR to support their organizational infrastructure so that all other donations throughout the year go 100% to the declared emergency.  

UMCOR is currently working around the world to help alleviate the devastation of Cyclone Idai in Africa and, here at home, the disastrous flooding in Iowa and the mid-west.  Please prayerfully consider giving to this worthy cause this Sunday.

UMCOR Sunday Flood Recovery
UMCOR Sunday - Flood Recovery

New Saturday Evening Worship for Lent: Soup and Spirit! 
Saturdays, April 6th, 13th & 20th, 2019,  6 p.m. 
Location: Las Naciones UMC
 
As we make the journey through Lent this year, we are turning towards life by turning towards each other for body and soul nourishment every Saturday night at a new evening worship called "Soup and Spirit" led by Pastor Alyssa throughout the season of Lent. 
 
Every Saturday night at 6 p.m. from March 9th through April 20th, we will gather as an Open Door Churches community for a special time of enjoying a bowl of soup and good conversation around the table. (Location to be announced)

Relaxed and informal, we'll have time to get to know each other in greater depth and explore sections of scripture as we share our thoughts and lives on a weekly basis. This is an evening worship time for all ages where all voices are welcomed and all appetites are filled. 
 
We'll begin the evenings with a short prayer, fill our bowls with delicious soup, then talk about our experiences in relation to the passage for the night with those at our table.

Whether you can make it for every gathering or just one or two, please join us for this time of community building and sharing together.   RSVP to the Morningside office during the week so they plan plenty of soup!
Musician Needed!!

Morningside UMC is looking for a musician to play piano and/or guitar for the Face to Face Worship Service here at Morningside Sunday mornings at 8:30 AM.  The service lasts from 30 to 45 minutes and includes 2-3 contemporary hymns.  There is a small stipend available and the position would be perfect for a student living locally or home for the summer.  

If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact Pastor Wendy.
Morningside Yard Angels
April 13th, 9:00 am

Sprucing up the Morningside UMC landscape, enjoying fellowship with other volunteers and making the place shine for Easter... the Trustees are looking for volunteers to help do some outdoor clean-up on Saturday morning, April 13th.  Bring your gloves and come join in the fun and fresh air!

Reconciling United Methodists Meeting
"Walking Together After General Conference"
Saturday, April 13th, 9:45 am - 2:00 pm
Morningside Fireside Room

We are honored to be hosting the upcoming Reconciling United Methodists meeting on April 13th here at Morningside.  This is a wonderful opportunity to be in fellowship with reconciling United Methodists from throughout our conference.  Do miss the chance to attend this meeting in our own "backyard!"

9:45 am - Gather and greet
10 am - Centering and Introductions
10:30 am - "Walking Together After General Conference"
We will reflect on the experience of General Conference and its impact on our Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. Following the themes of Brian McLaren's book We Make the Road by Walking, we will continue the quest for spiritual formation, re-orientation and activation.
12 noon - Our usual fantastic potluck luncheon followed by:
1 pm - Stay for a conversation about "WHAT'S NEXT?" We will look toward the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference June 12-15 in Eugene and the year to come.
2 pm - Adjourn for safe travel home

See You in Salem at Morningside UMC!
Celebrating Our New Members

It's a with great pleasure we celebrate new members of our Morningside Church Family.  During the month of March we welcome five new members and we'd like to tell you a little about them...

Vickie Plasker - Transferred from Englewood UMC
Vickie was a member at Englewood UMC for 27 years and was honored to serve as their Ad Council chair and their representative to the Open Door Churches board. She recently retired, after 27 years, from the Salem Keizer school district. She loved her job and worked with students with true learning disabilities. "There is nothing more gratifying than witnessing a third grader functioning at first grade level successfully reading a grade level book. It is just the Best!"

Vickie's husband, Bill, and she are blessed with two awesome sons, two even more awesome daughters-in-law and 4 precious grandchildren. She stays busy volunteering at the Food bank, the preschool and as grandmother nanny. Vickie adds, "I am excited to get to know folks at Morningside and get involved with my new church family.   The warm welcome here at Morningside has certainly helped heal the sadness I felt at the closing of [the Englewood Church]."] 

Sam and Nancy McPhail - Transferred from Wesley UMC, Hampton, VA
Sam is retired clergy who was originally ordained in the Disciples of Church faith and then moved to the United Methodist Church.  He preached for more than 40 years and retired in 2011.  While he will be keeping his credentials with the Virginia UMC Conference for now, Nancy is pleased to be joining Morningside UMC at this time.  

Nancy joins Morningside transferring her membership from Wesley UMC in Hampton, VA.  She worked for the City of Newport News VA for 29 years as an analyst with the Fire and Public Works Departments, then as a Water Resources Planner with the Water Department. 

Nancy and Sam have 4 children and 7 grandchildren between them.  They moved to Oregon this passed August to be near Nancy's son and his 3 boys, and closer to Sam's daughter and family in California.  They have a daughter and family in Roanoke, VA, and a son in FL.  

Nancy and Sam share,"We are pleased to be part of Morningside UMC!"

Vicki and Norm DeVol - Join by Profession of Faith
Vicki and Norm have been friends of Morningside for a couple of years.  Although joining by profession of faith, they are life-long Methodists and were most recently members of St. Mark's UMC in Sacramento. 

Vicki has worked as Morningside's Communications Administrator for almost a year and a half now and loves the opportunity to use and hone her creative skills in the position.  She retired from Hewlett Packard as a business analyst and supply chain manager in 2005 and went into business with her mother as a Licensed Fiduciary in the San Francisco Bay Area until she and Norm moved to Salem in 2016.

Norm is a voice teacher and pianist, has a private voice studio and works at Northwest School of Music.  He also works as the organist/pianist at Trinity Covenant Church which limits the time he can spend with us in worship on Sundays.  Norm was a member of the SF Opera Chorus and worked as the Assistant Director of the Masterworks Chorale (a large community chorus in the Bay Area.)

Norm and Vicki have two daughters, Briana, who lives in upstate NY, and Samantha, who lives in the Los Angeles area.

"We love the open and welcoming family here at Morningside and look forward to getting to know everyone!"
Camping & Retreat Ministries
Family, Adult & Youth Camping 2019
 
Who doesn't need their batteries recharged?  We all do from time-to-time!   We are blessed to have United Methodist resources devoted to creating quality environments of Christian hospitality and learning experiences to help provide us the recharging we need!  

The 2019 Go Camping brochure and schedule has arrived.  If you are interested, please take one on the back counter in the main hallway.  There is an camping/retreat event for everyone!  [Camping scholarships are available, for this who need assistance.]


Open Door Churches Youth Group April Schedule 

Mark your calendars and join in the fun!  Youth Group will be held at Keizer Clearlake UMC (KCLUMC) during the month of April (unless listed otherwise)
  • April 7: Youth Group @ KCLUMC
  • April 14: Youth Group @ KCLUMC
  • April 21:  Hosting Easter Brunch @ FUMC
    • Fundraiser for Mission Trips and Camp Scholarships)
    • Volunteers needed to bake casseroles for Easter Brunch!  CLICK HERE to sign up.
  • April 21: NO YOUTH GROUP
  • April 28: Youth Group @ KCLUMC
Middle School Mission Trip

Our second Mission Trip for the summer of 2019 will be to Portland. Details are below. Cost will be $50 per person. Let Jeff know if you have any questions.



The week of City Camp is August 5-9 in Portland, OR.
This will be a great opportunity for us to live out our faith by serving in a variety of ways, including serving a meal at a soup kitchen, working at the Oregon Food Bank and working in a community garden. During the week we will stay at First United Methodist Church in Portland (which has Air Conditioning!) and on Thursday we will participate in Nightstrike, a ministry to the homeless under the Burnside bridge.

CLICK HERE to print the sign-up form.  Complete the form and turn it in to Jeff at Youth Group!
Open Door Churches Young Adults
April 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.

Thank you for your continued support of The Open Door Young Adults. Please contact Pastor Alyssa at   alyssabaker08@gmail.com with any questions. 

Check out our group's Facebook Page:  CLICK HERE 
Annual Morningside UMC Church Retreat Day
Sunday, August 4th

Our spot has been reserved and we are making plans now for the annual Church Retreat Day!  Dust off you camping chairs, your canoes and ukuleles... Mark you calendars and plan to join in the fun.

Worship, pot-luck brunch, crafts, games, outdoor activities, BBQ, glorious setting and wonderful fellowship!

Quick News Items, Save the Dates and Reminders
  • Morningside Annual Rummage Sale & Jewelry Jamboree, Fri., Mar. 29th (9 - 4) and Sat., Mar. 30th (9-3)
  • Soup & Spirit Lent Saturday Evening Worship, Each Saturday through Apr. 20th,
    5:30 pm (Las Naciones UMC)
  • Backpack Lunch Packing, Sun., Mar. 31st, Following Worship (HH)  Volunteer Opportunity
  • Parents Night Out, Fri., Apr. 12th, 6:00 pm (HH, FR)  Volunteer Opportunity 
  • Morningside Yard Angels, Sat., Apr. 13th, 9:00 am
  • Reconciling United Methodists Meeting, Sat., Apr. 13th, 9:00 am (FR)
  • Holy Week Services - Maundy Thursday, Apr. 18th, 7:00 pm (MUMC) and Good Friday, Apr. 19th, 7:00 pm (KCLUMC)
  • Optimist Easter Egg Hunt @ Morningside, Sat., Apr. 20th, Time TBA (MUMC)
  • Backpack Lunch Packing, Sun., Apr. 28th, Following Worship (HH)  Volunteer Opportunity
April Activities Calendar - What's Happening at Morningside?

For a larger, printable version:  Click Here

Morningside United Methodist Church

PO Box 3076, Salem, OR 97302

Telephone: 
503-364-5013
Email umcmorningside@gmail.com
Web: morningsideumc.net

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:30-2:30
                        Office is CLOSED on Friday

Ministry Team
Ministers: All the Laity
Lead Pastor: Rev. Wendy Woodworth 
Communications Administrator: Vicki DeVol
Bookkeeper: Christine Stevens
Family & Program Ministry Director: Christopher Frost 
Chancel Choir Director: Sam Kinney 
Praise Band Leader: Jan Nelson 
Organist: Brace Langenwalter 
Keyboardist: Teresa Stewart 
Custodian: Tim Bulletset 
Childcare: Noemi Morales, Fabiola Morales, Carlee Hunt
 If you need a printed copy of the newsletter, copies are available on the counter in the Narthex.