Morningside United Methodist Church | January 2020
January 2020 Newsletter
"The Gift of Light"
John 1:1-18 & Isaiah 60:1-6
Sunday, January 5, 2019
10:30 AM (Blended Service)

"God of starlight, disperse the darkness of our lives, that we may behold the light of your love..."

Let us celebrate and give thanks for the gift of light that was delivered into the world by the birth of the baby Jesus. Join us as we celebrate and remember this gift by receiving Holy Communion this Sunday.

Special musical guests, Don Main and Sharon Cooper, along with Joyful Noise, our Chancel Choir and Brace Langenwalter will add their musical gifts to this special service.

See you at Morningside!  ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
CURRENT SERMON SERIES
In our prayers...
Those with health concerns, illness, and loss of loved ones:

Rev. Mario Gonzalez, Nahnie Williams, Allen Patterson-Sterling, Liz Toy, Joy Wilhite, Lynn Ham, Layton Gilson, Susi Bromley, Lyle Dragoo, Glen McCall, Diane and Brigitte Rolph, Paula Kent, Robert Kuenzli, Arlen Hollinshead, and Elisa Reckendorf
Current & Upcoming Events
Sunday, January 5th

* Make and Bring a #ResistHarm Sign to Worship. We're taking a group photo!

* Write a Thank You note to Bishop Stanovsky for acting with courage and bring your note to church.
Or write one during fellowship time - we'll have blank notes available.
Standing Up to #ResistHarm
#ResistHarm is a movement of faithful resistance to the anti-LGBTQ Traditional Plan adopted last year by the United Methodist Church’s General Conference.
 
The Resist Harm Movement stands firmly within our Wesleyan tradition of the wideness of God’s grace in a broken world in need of Christ’s love. We cannot remain silent and thereby complicit with legislation that discriminates against LGBTQ persons and that meets pastoral care with punishment.
In community with the thousands of other United Methodists who have pledged to resist the harm that the Tradition Plan will cause, Morningside will support this movement throughout the year and highlight opportunities for our members to participate in ways big or small, loudly or in quiet prayer. 

In January, we will show our support by displaying signs of resistance at a time during worship and document our support with a group photo. Make and bring a “#ResistHarm” sign on Sunday to join in. We will also be sending notes of thanks to Bishop Stanovsky for her courage is supporting this movement. Bring a written note or pick up a note and pen during fellowship time to write a quick note.

For more information about the Resist Harm movement and other ways to support this effort, visit the website: #ResistHarm
Holiday Sock Drive
Last Collection Day January 5th

The FINAL collection day for our holiday Sock Drive is today. Thanks to Nurture and Care for coordinating this effort and to everyone who donated!
IMPORTANT - 
Church Council Meeting
Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, 6:30 PM

Everyone is invited to attend this very important Church Council meeting scheduled for January 6th. We will be setting priorities and goals for the coming year, visioning and approving our budget.

Please add this to your calendar and plan to attend!
PARENTS NIGHT OUT
Friday, January 10th, 6 PM
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
 
Offering our Morningside neighbors a safe and fun place to drop-off their kids, giving parents a well-deserved night out is what Parents Night Out is all about. Our next PNO is scheduled for Friday, Jan.. 10th.
 
To make that happen, though, we REALLY need volunteers to help out. If you can spare one evening a month and enjoy working with kids, we could use your help!

We need people to: 
  • Check in and register kids
  • Help in the nursery with the little ones
  • Work in the kitchen preparing and serving food
  • Organizing and leading games and activities

If you are able to help out, sign up on the Wall of Helping Hands in the main hallway or call the office.
Open Door Churches Youth Group  January Schedule
January 5-12:30-2 @ Keizer Clearlake
January 12- 12:30-2 @ Keizer Clearlake
January 18 (Saturday) Saturday of Service
January 19 no regular youth group
January 26-12:30-2 @ Keizer Clearlake

Save the Date. The Annual Youth Auction is Saturday February 22. Join us for an evening of fun and inspiration as we support our wonderful Open Door youth. The auction committee is currently seeking donations of items for our silent and live auctions. Of particular interest are experiences like hikes, BBQ's, tours, or other things to do. 
 
Also, mark your calendars for these future special activities:
  • February 15-17 - Winter Retreat @ Suttle Lake: Our Open Door Youth Group will once again have the opportunity to participate in the conference winter retreat at Suttle Lake. This is always one of the highlights of our program year. Join us for fun, games, inter tubing (if we have snow), and a chance to meet youth from other churches and grow in our faith. Cost is $50 per person. If you would like to sign up let Jeff know by December 15th and make your check payable to "Open Door Youth"
  • February 22 - Youth Auction

For more details about youth group activities  visit their Facebook page here.  
Youth Group Lunch
Volunteers Needed!
Morningside UMC will be hosting the Open Door Youth Group here on February 2nd and 9th.... and those kids get HUNGRY! We're looking for a couple of people to provide lunches for the group on those Sundays.

There are typically 20+/- kids and adults. The sign-up is online.  CLICK HERE  You just need to have the food here by Sunday morning. Plates, utensils and beverages are provided.
mini-pizza-spatula.jpg
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Open Door Churches Young Adults January Schedule
In December, the Open Door Church Young Adult Group has been sharing in conversations about the season of advent. Together we have shared about hope, joy, peace, and love in our lives, the church, and the world. This month we also had our annual Open Door Young Adult Christmas gathering. We decorated cupcakes and had a gingerbread house contest. The Open Door Young Adults meet weekly on Wednesday evenings.

We will taking a winter break and not be meeting December 25th or January 1st. The next young adult meeting will be on January 8th.

Please contact Pastor Alyssa (alyssabaker08@gmail.com) or see our social media pages for times and places. Thank you for your continued support of the Open Door Church Young Adults.
 
Follow us on Instagram:   CLICK HERE

Follow us on Facebook:   CLICK HERE
Congregations Helping People
Urgent HELP Needed!
As of the beginning of the year, due to illness, CHP has only three regular morning volunteers and one substitute. This makes it very difficult for us to be open on a regular basis, since our ideal is to have more than one person volunteering each of the four weekday mornings (M-TH. 9-12) that we are open.
 
Please consider this crucial work; it is hard, sometimes, but extremely fulfilling and humbling. Jesus came especially to people in the margins, and this is where we find that hearing others’ stories and attempting to bring housing, electricity, a “cup of cold water” makes this work holy.
 
Please give me a call for more information, and to find out when you might come in to observe for a morning, to see if this work, this vocation, calls you.
 
Thank you. Blessings on your new year.
 
Becky Strader, Program Director
Quick News Items, Volunteer Opportunities, Save the Dates and Reminders
  • Church Visioning, Goal Setting & Budget - Mon., Jan. 6th (6:30 PM) (FR)
  • Parents Night Out - Fri., Jan. 10th (6 - 8:30 PM) (HH, FR, K) Volunteer Opportunity
  • Christian Education - Sun., Jan. 12th (11:45 AM) (EO) Corrected Date
  • Backpack Lunch Packing - Sun., Jan. 26th (11:30 AM) (HH)
  • Youth Group Winter Retreat - Sat. - Mon., Feb. 15-17th (Suttle Lake)
  • Youth Auction - Sat., Feb. 22nd (5:30 PM) (FUMC - Micah Bldg)
January Activities Calendar - What's Happening at Morningside?

For a larger, printable version:  Click Here
Worship Schedule
Sundays
Face to Face - On break until the Spring
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.
Contact Us
Morningside United Methodist Church
3674 12th Street, SE
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/Office Administrator: Vicki DeVol
Bookkeeper: Christine Stevens
Family & Program Ministry Director:   
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, Maya Nelson-Tilkens, Natalie Kawell
 If you need a printed copy of the newsletter, copies are available on the counter in the Narthex.