May 2015
Morningside UM Church
PO Box 3076
Salem Oregon 97302
(503) 364-5013
Fax: (503) 371-2083
The Morningside Messenger
Return Service Requested
FunRaisers are Coming!
Thursday
May 14th
9:00 am
MINISTRY TEAM
Pastor:
Office Manager :
Bookkeeper:
Nurture ~ Spiritual Growth:
Family Programs Director:
Youth Ministries:
Youth Program Intern:
Chancel Choir Director:
Praise Band Leader:
Organist:
Keyboardist:
Custodian:
Childcare:
Rev. Wendy Joy Woodworth
Jacque Bailey
Jacque Bailey
Mary Ellen Eichelberger
Mary Ellen Eichelberger
Caiti Roberts
Rebecca Harper
Sam Kinney
Jan Nelson
Brace Langenwalter
Teresa Stewart
Tim Bulletset
Noemi Morales, Laura Cullen,
Last year there was a music night, a salmon BBQ,
disc golf, beer pairing with small plates, a baseball
game, and an ice cream social among other events.
What events will there be this year? That is up to you!
What event would you like to host - a game night, picnic,
craft project, music event, a dinner, a hike with lunch, bird watching ...
the possibilities are endless! As the host, you plan your event and
cover costs, decide how many people you would like to have sign-up,
and how much each person who signs up needs to pay to Morningside
UMC. If you are interested in hosting a FunRaiser, please let a
member of finance know - Bill Burgess, Fred Cooper, Kelly Freels,
Brigitte Rolph, Ed Olson, Lynda Sloan or Pastor Wendy.
Sign-ups for the FunRaisers will begin May 31!
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Morningside Youth Group Youth Calendar 6th –12th Grade
New Roads Reflection
Twenty years ago this May, Morningside UMC made an important decision to become a
Reconciling Congregation. Morningside was one of the earlier churches to make this bold
statement for inclusivity and has been living into what it means to welcome all of God’s
children into our community of faith. It was a decision that came through the guidance of
the Holy Spirit. I find myself wondering if the Holy Spirit was present that day through “the
rush of a violent wind” ~ did it fill the entire church ~ did it rest as “tongues of fire” on all
those present as on that day of Pentecost we read of in the Book of Acts? Or did the Spirit
make itself known in quiet times of prayer as each person listened for God’s guidance? I
suspect both aspects of the Spirit were experienced.
We have the opportunity to celebrate that movement of the Holy Spirit both on May 17th
when we celebrate our 20th anniversary and May 24, Pentecost Sunday. We also have
the opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit to guide us as we make another important decision
in the life of Morningside UMC.
You have received a proposal for Morningside UMC to be part of the United Methodist
Ministries of Salem-Keizer. For the last few months we have been talking about this
concept in committee meetings, hearing information at forums after our worship services,
reading the full proposal and engaging in question and answer times. Now it is time to
prayerfully consider this opportunity that is before us.
May10th - Mother’s Day. No youth meeting. Spend time with your mother.
May17h - Regular Youth group prep for Convo 2015, Memorial Day Weekend.
May 24th - Convo 2015 Weekend , Friday – Monday leaving town 4:30pm
Friday. Meet at the church at 4:30 pm.
May 31st - Regular youth group 1:00– 2:30
June 7th Participate in All Church Service Sunday schedule TBA
May Birthday’s
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I am both excited and challenged by the possibilities that this new way of being in ministry
brings to us. With intentional and hard work, I see both our local churches growing in vitality
and reaching out to new populations of people throughout all of Salem-Keizer. It will not
be easy, but then again, nothing worthwhile ever is. We will not be alone in our efforts. We
will be united with the other faithful United Methodists in this community. Most importantly,
the Holy Spirit will be our guide ~ sometimes as the rush of the wind and tongues of fire and
other times as the still voice of God. I have faith in the ministries we can do together ~ I
have faith in the important ministry that Morningside will continue to live out as a
Reconciling Congregation ~ I have faith that the Holy Spirit will be in our midst.
Our All Church Meeting at Morningside will be May 3 following our 10:00 worship service
and is open to members and constituents. If you cannot be at that meeting, there is a
second All Church Meeting for all the Salem-Keizer churches on May 6 at 6:00 at
Englewood UMC.
Let us be in prayer ~ Come Holy Spirit, Come. Guide us, encourage us, fill us, excite us,
calm us and lead us into ministry that proclaims your love and grace for all your sons and
daughters.
Blessings,
Pastor Wendy
May 3rd - Youth meeting 1:00 – 2:30 pm
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3 Allen Patterson-Sterling
4 Annie Chapman
Cindy Burgess
5 Sharon Cooper
8 Duane Christensen
9 Bob Gough
11 Karna Johnson
13 Brad Mercure
15 Jan Nelson
Janet Adkins
16 Lillis Larson
17 Kira Kinney
Martha Schreiter
20 Jennifer Blakely
Kathy Kleen
21 Allison Calvin
Sara Amend
23 Gary Quinliven
Lou Haugen
May Birthday’s
24 Bob Kuenzli
Tom Hornig
27 Chalice Savage
28 Deb Freels
29 Debra Arends
30 Fred Cooper
May Anniversaries
10 Carol & Leon Berkeley
16 Ed & Jean Johnston
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Methodist Federation for Social Action
It is May Challenge Time!
The Methodist Church began with the principle that personal holiness and social
holiness are equally important. As United Methodists, social justice continues to
be an important part of our witness in the world.
Building Ministry Together!
One Block at a Time!
The Methodist Federation for Social Service was founded in 1907 to help
Methodists work for justice. They were responsible for the first Methodist Social
Creed, addressing primarily child labor and the rights of workers. MFSS was never
an official body of the church, but it did most of the justice work for the church until
the 1950s when the General Board of Church and Society was created. MFSS
became Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) and continues to work
beside the church, calling United Methodists and the society to live out the
teachings of Jesus.
In its second century, MFSA has a national office near the Capitol in Washington,
DC, and chapters in many annual conferences including Oregon-Idaho. MFSA
works without church funds and without church restrictions on a wide range of
justice issues. Our membership contributions support an executive director, some
part-time staff, and a wide network of volunteers. Grants fund some of our other
work, but the most important contributions are from individuals who are committed
to a more just church and world. Important issues for MFSA right now are
immigrants’ rights, reproductive justice, peace in Israel and Palestine, and full
inclusion of all God’s people. In the last few years, we have begun to work at
strengthening contacts with United Methodists outside the United States in order
to work in and through the whole of the UMC.
If you would like to learn more about MFSA, you can sign up for a bi-weekly
newsletter at www.mfsaweb.org. There is a brochure for our chapter in the
literature rack in the church hallway. You can sign up for our chapter newsletter
and occasional updates by going to the chapter website at www.oimfsa.org. We
would love to hear from you.
In order to meet all of our budgetary expenses such as our program ministries, staff
salaries, building maintenance, and our Shared Ministries for the wider UMC, the
Finance Committee is asking those who pledge or give regularly to the church to make
an additional gift of 5% of your annual giving. We realize that some of you will be able
to give a bit more while some will need to give a bit less ~ please meet this challenge
as best you can. Our target is 5%, however gifts of 2% or 4% will be greatly
appreciated along with gifts of 8% or 10%. If all those who give to support
Morningside’s ministries participate in this challenge, we will raise $12,000-$14,000.
You are invited to give your gift during the month of May, the official kick-off is May 10.
Your gift can be placed in the offering plate on Sunday morning or mailed to the church
with “challenge” written in the memo. With each gift received, we will add a block to our
“Building Ministry Together” bulletin board.
As the Finance Team brings you this challenge, we also want to express our
appreciation for the faithful stewardship of each one of you. Our pledges have been
received at 98.2%, our total income is at 91.5% through March and we are current on
all bills and apportionments. Your response to this challenge will greatly increase our
total income percentage and enable us to fully live out our Vision of Faith at
Morningside UMC.
Shalom,
Bill Burgess, Chair of Finance
Wendy Woodworth, Pastor
Jan Nelson
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Celebrate 20 Years as a Reconciling Congregation
In May of 1995, Morningside took a bold step & voted to be a Reconciling Congregation,
explicitly welcoming gay, lesbian, and bisexual people into our congregation. In the years
since then we have lived into that decision and widened our own concept of what it
means to welcome everyone. Now it’s time to celebrate our first 20 years and maybe to
look at what we want to be in the next 20.
"The Jewelry Jamboree is back!
Our celebration day will be Sunday, May 17. There will be one service at 10:00 with
special guests: Confluence Chorus will sing, Rev Kate Conolly will preach, and all the
other pastors since 1995 have been invited. Following worship, there will be an old
fashioned potluck lunch where we will continue the sharing and celebration. We are
assembling a summary of our Reconciling history. If you have two or three sentences
about what this aspect of Morningside means to you, please share it by sending it to
Jan Nelson at [email protected]. And be sure to be there on May 17!
Friends, Yard Angels, and Interested Morningside folks, the grass is growing! Yes, I
know, this is hardly news. Here is the news, the ‘lawn mowing sign up sheet' is now
posted in the hall, and you are hereby warmly invited to put your name down for a week,
or two or three of taking a turn at mowing the lawn. The Trustees would love it, and so
would all your Morningside friends who love our lawn. THANKS!"
------------------------------
Reconciling Congregation Team
-----------------------------Church and Society Forum on Migration May 31
The next forum sponsored by the Church and Society team will take place Sunday, May
31 at 6:30 pm in the Fireside Room. It will feature Rev Carol Seckel, recently retired
clergy member of our annual conference. Here is how Carol describes her work and the
program, which also features Rev Kevin Seckel: In my last assignment with GBGM my
responsibility was for the migrant and international work in the Germany Central
Conference of the UMC. As the only person in this context in the UMC in Europe at that
time I also assisted with much of the migrant and International ministry training in the
Methodist tradition in Europe. The program will share the impact and reality of global
migration as experienced in Europe with possible implications for our work here. Kevin
and I will share about the various types of migrants, the opportunities and challenges that
each of these groups offer to society and the church and the impact in relation to the
ministries that were/are developing in the UMC in Europe.
VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART OF THE 2015 RUMMAGE SALE
-----------------------------Peter Cottontail and his Bunnie buddies would like to thank Morningsiders, especially the
Trustees, for allowing the Optimist Club of Salem to use the "Morningside Forest" for our
20th annual Easter egg hunt on April 4th. The weather was good, though a bit chilly, but
at least dry, and the enthusiasm of the hunters was sunny and warm! It did take a couple
minutes more than usual for all the eggs to be found, but that time was well worth it.
Seeing so many full baskets and smiling faces was greatly rewarding! Thanks, too, to the
Morningside families who came with young 'uns in tow, to take part in the hunt.
Some are sure they saw Peter hopping off into the woods, with a cheery, "See you again
next year!"
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New inventory! New watches and rings, too! Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so
buy your gifts here and support the kitchen remodeling fund. That is a win for everybody!
Catch the sale early. 10-5, Friday, May 1st, & 9-3 Saturday, May 2nd."
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Morningside United Methodist Women say a heartfelt “THANK YOU” for so many
members of our church family.
Thank you for the huge amount of donated “stuff” and thank you for the many hours of
donated time to unpack, sort, display and price the items. Volunteers also set up tables,
assisted during the sale, donated food and helped pack up all of the unsold items and
accomplished a speedy clean-up and set up after the sale.
Thank you especially to the Rummage Sale Committee: Dawn Eckert, Darlene
Wetherbee, Lynda Sloan, Raye Ann Gaskins, Helene Gough, Vergie Olson, Sue Reid and
Phyllis Tarter. They made arrangements for planning, publicity, signage, pickup of unsold
items, fed the workers and many other details that kept the sale running smoothly.
And a BIG THANK YOU to each of you: Mary Lu Snodgrass, Judy Webster, Carol Cady,
Deb Freels, Ellis & Lois Sanders, Nancy Ross, Brigitte Rolph, Cindy Burgess, Lura Morris,
Jacque Bailey, Iris Gibson, Erin McGrath, Lori Alpon, Joy Willhite, Sara Amend, Carolyn
Estelle, Wendy Woodworth, Phyllis Boston, Sam and Kira Kinney, Tim & Julie Bulletset,
Janet & George Adkins, Renee Cornwell, Jan Wetherbee, Richard, Reid, Royal Tarter,
Bruce Nelson, Tom Jewitt, and Fred Cooper.
Hope we haven’t missed anyone. We want you all to know how much you are
appreciated. The sale cannot happen without the cooperation and support of the
Morningside congregation. The involvement of so many allows Morningside UMW to
support our local, national and world outreach missions.
Morningside United Methodist Women
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News & Events
New Roads for May
UM Men
The Morningside United Methodist Men will meet Monday, May 4,10:00 a.m. in the
Fireside Room. Dick Riley says the meeting program will be Music Trivia. Everyone is
welcome and refreshments will be available
-----------------------------Keystones Circle
The Keystones Circle group will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 4th in the Fireside
Room.
-----------------------------Disability Connections
DCT will meet in the Fireside Room on Tuesday, May 5th at 1:00p.m.
Please note the time change for this months meeting.
-----------------------------Middlers
The Middlers will meet at 6:45 pm on Wednesday, May 13th.
-----------------------------
Part 3: Alive in a Global Uprising
Part 4: Alive in the Spirit of God
10:00 Worship and Group Themes
May 3
Communion
Acts 11:11-15
“The Uprising of Partnership”
May 10
Isaiah 40:27-31
“Whatever the Hardship, Keep Rising Up!”
May 17
20th Anniversary as Reconciling Congregation
Rev. Kate Connelly, Guest Preacher; Confluence Choir, Special Music
May 24
Pentecost: Alive in the Spirit of God
Acts 2:1-21
“The Spirit is Moving”
Senior Connection
Senior Connection meets Thursday, May 7th, 1:30 p.m. Many thanks to
Janet Adkins and Brigitte Rolph for the delicious refreshments they prepare
for us. We look forward to seeing you!
-----------------------------
May 31
John 15:1-8
“Moving With the Spirit”
Small Group Schedule
New Roads Coffee Chat: May 5 & 19 at 2:00
We gather at Panera Bakery. Leadership: Pastor Wendy
New Roads on Tap: May 6 & 20 at 6:30
We will gather at Santiam Brewing, 2544 19th St SE Leadership: Pastor Wendy
New Roads Bible Study: Sunday Mornings at 11:00 May 10, 24, 31
Stop by Coffee Hour and to the Fireside Room for a Bible Study. Ldr: Mary Ellen
Parents’ Night Out
Our next Parents’ Night Out will be Saturday, May 9th at 5:30 p.m. We’ve more than
doubled our number of children since our January kickoff, so we need lots of
Volunteers. There are lots of different jobs. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board.
Contact Chris Kester or Lynda Sloan with questions.
---------------------------UM Women
UMW’s Exec Board Meeting is Monday, May 18th @1:00 p.m.
----------------------------Methodoers
Methodoers will meet on May 19th @10:30 am.
-----------------------------
Thursday Afternoon and Friday Night at the Movies:
May 28, Thursday at 1:30 in the Fireside Room led by Pastor Wendy
May 29, Friday at 6:30 in the Fireside Room led by Mary Ellen
Salem Creation Vacation 2015
Wednesday August 19th to Friday August 21st. Camp Magruder has reserved 142 beds
which means we are in need of many Family Friends If you enjoy spending time at
Magruder and you have the free time to share with a family, this may be a wonderful
volunteer opportunity for you. The blessings abound in both directions!! If you would
consider being a Family Friend, please contact Karen Thornburgh at (H) 503-751-1478,
(C) 619-948-6079, or [email protected].
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“Selma”
Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was
still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for blacks to register to vote. In 1965,
an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent
opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward
on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated in President
Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
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