NEHALEM NEWSPAGE

L’Arche Nehalem, 8501 SE Stephens, Portland, OR 97216

Office: 503-251-6901 Fax: 503-251-6952 E-mail: mail@larche-portland.org Web site: www.larche-portland.org

DECEMBER 2006

Our mission is to create a place to call home

for people with developmental disabilities and those who share life with them.

Catch The Christmas Spirit!

Our annual Christmas Tree Sale is underway and we still have many spaces for volunteers! Please call the office at 503-251-6901 to sign up. You’ll be glad you did! It’s great fun and a great way to get into the spirit of the season. The sale runs Dec 1-18, and we have two locations again this year: 82^nd and E Burnside, and NE 44^th just off Sandy. Select one or more 3-hour shifts from the following choices: Saturdays & Sundays, 10-1, 1-4, and 4-7, and Monday thru Friday, 2:30-5:30 and 5:30-8:30. Call soon for greatest selection. Thank you! Our volunteers are the greatest!

NEWS

Ì Rodney Gabriel recently brought home a portfolio of watercolor paintings he created at ElderPlace. Stop by Neahkahnie to see “Blue Christmas” and other beautiful artwork by Rodney.

Ì We ask for continued prayers for former assistant John Hartwell, who developed complications and required a second shoulder surgery on Nov. 25. John would welcome any support you can offer, including phone calls or visits to check in or perhaps a meal. You can reach him at: 1311 NE Davis #4, Portland, 97232 (971-404-9948)

Ì Thanks to all who participated in the process of creating L’Arche Nehalem’s Spiritual Life Statement. The Community Council affirmed the final statement November 15 after several months of gathering feedback from the whole body of the community. We look forward to sharing the statement and the many ways it will provide a foundation and springboard for deepening our life as a community of faith. Special thanks to Rev. David Perry for his facilitation of this process.

JOURNEYS

Q Marilyn Petruzzelli and Ben Luginbuhl have embarked on a Midwest Adventure! On November 30^th, they flew to Chicago. They will spend a couple days at Ben’s alma mater, Goshen College, speaking to classes and sharing about L’Arche as a potential post graduate opportunity for students. Then, they will travel to Chicago for sight-seeing and hearty eating! They return to Nehalem December 4^th.

LIFE IN THE HOMES

H Blessings and thank you to Jesuit Novice Denver Velasquez, who has been an assistant at Neahkahnie House for the past three months. Denver will return to California in mid-December to continue his Jesuit formation. Thanks, Denver – you will be missed.

H For the November Prayer Night, we shared a Catholic Mass at Neahkahnie House with Fr. John Amsberry and several parishioners from St. Joseph the Worker Parish. Assistant Jacque Werling is a member of the parish and organized the Prayer Night with Denver.

H Welcome to Danny Summerlin, who will be moving into Neahkahnie House in December as a live-in supporting member. Danny recently moved to Portland from Florida and is a tutor for Portland Public Schools. He got connected to L’Arche through Imago Dei Church and former assistant Diane Dunham.

THANKS!

Y Neahkahnie House has recently received a major appliance upgrade! Thanks to Ross and Louise Miller for our new front-loading washer and dryer. And thanks to Carol Leonard for a new microwave.

Y Thank you to Fred Meyer for the recent donation of a gift card to go towards our Christmas Tree Sale supplies.

Y Hearty thanks to Jacob Florer who is doing yeoman work managing our Tree Sale.

CELEBRATIONS

^{Please join us if you can!}

U Wed., Dec. 6, 7:00 p.m., Neahkahnie House: Blessing and Thank you
to Denver Velasquez

U Wed., Dec. 13, 7:00 p.m., Nehalem House: Joni Smith’s 51st Birthday

U Wed., Dec. 27, 7:00 p.m., Nehalem House: Prayer Night

MEETINGS

¤ Wed., Dec. 20, 7:00 a.m., Marsee Bakery: Executive Committee

¤ Wed., Dec. 27, 7:00 a.m., Marsee Bakery: Finance Committee

Today, as never before, we need communities of welcome; communities that are a sign of peace in a world of war. There is no point in praying for peace in the Middle East, for example, if we are not peace-makers in our own community; if we are not forgiving those in our community who have hurt us or with whom we find it difficult to live.

Jean Vanier, Community and Growth (Thanks to L’Arche Canada)

Did you check out the new interactive Jean Vanier quote library on our home page?

Or sign up for an inspirational daily thought or weekly story from Jean Vanier's writings via email at www.larche.ca/en/home/eletters/

Getting a paper copy? Would you like to save us a stamp and receive the Nehalem Newspage electronically? Please drop us an email at doug@larche-portland.org or call us at 503-251-6901.

^{back to top} |^{back to archives}