Nehalem Newspage, January 2005, L'Arche Nehalem Community, Portland, Oregon

NEHALEM NEWSPAGE

L'Arche Nehalem 8501 SE Stephens Portland, OR 97216
(503) 251-6901 Fax: 251-6952 e-mail: mail@larche-portland.org web site: www.larche-portland.org

JANUARY 2005

Our mission is to create a place to call home
for people with developmental disabilities and those who share life with them.

Mandate Day
On Saturday, Jan. 15^th, we continue discernment of the Community Mandate and explore Phase III of the Identity and Mission process. Our regional coordinator, Joan Mahler, will lead this gathering. We hope that you will be able to attend, as we value your input as we dialogue about our past and future.

When: Saturday, January 15^th

Where: Ascension Church, 7507 SE Yamhill (use church office door on east side of building)

Time: 9:30 - 3:30 (Coffee and beverages will be available)

Lunch will be provided.

Please RSVP to the L’Arche Nehalem office at 503-251-6901 or mail@larche-portland.org.

NEWS

A big thank-you to all those who befriended L’Arche Nehalem during the holidays - everyone who invited us to various Christmas parties and celebrations and everyone who brought us goodies and gifts. We had another great Christmas Tree Sale, selling more than 1,000 trees at the community’s two lots on 82nd Ave. and in the Hollywood District. Thanks especially to our dedicated board members, to Jerry Weisensee who found us beautiful trees for the sixteenth time, to Safeway and Value Village who graciously shared their parking lots with us, to our set-up and take-down crews and our many, many sales volunteers. Also special thanks to Nick Schicker and Catherine Willett who did a beautiful job managing the Hollywood tree lot.
Jeff Deeks performed with the PHAME chorus at the Grotto on December 23. In January, he is beginning rehearsals for his role in the spring production of Titanic.
On January 16-19, we are expecting a visit from Ben, a prospective assistant who just graduated from college in Ohio. If his and the community’s discernment is favorable, he may start as early as February.
Save the Dates:
Wednesday, February 2, 7:00 p.m., Neahkahnie House: Volunteer Appreciation Party
Saturday, February 19, 11:00 a.m., Nehalem House: Brunch to Bless and Thank Mary Ann Ramey as she prepares to return to L’Arche Mobile

Prayer Night

Wed., Jan. 19, 7:00 p.m.

Neahkahnie House

LIFE IN THE HOMES

We are grateful for some help recently with upkeep of the houses. Our thanks to Adam Richards’ electrician brother Ryan, who happened to be in the right place at the right time during a holiday visit with a replacement outlet when we had emergency need for one at Nehalem House. Thanks, too, to Dennis McCarthy, a licensed electrician and brother of board member RoseMary Lyons, who recently did some diagnostic work and mapping of electrical circuits at Nehalem House. And we continue to be grateful to Bill Washburn, who does various repairs and replacements in the houses.
The community’s annual New Year’s card was designed this year by Cindy Leonard with the assistance of Justin Wilcox.

JOURNEYS

Robyn Dowell and Lisa Ciranny will represent L’Arche Nehalem on January 8 at an open house at L’Arche Wavecrest in Southern California to celebrate Wavecrest’s opening this past year.
Mary Ann will make her first L’Arche covenant retreat in Cleveland January 17-23. This type of retreat gives long-term members a chance to explore the nature of the covenant relationship in their life in L’Arche.
Adam spent Christmas holidays with his parents in the mountains. He will also be attending weddings in upcoming months of his two brothers - one in Oregon and the other in Florida.

BIRTHDAYS

ANNIVERSARIES

Jan. 3: Patrick Wheeler
Jan. 15: Neil Evans
Jan. 21: Monica Ranaghan
Jan. 27: Lisa Ciranny

Jan. 5, 1990: Susan Mitchell
Jan. 12, 2000: Lisa Ciranny
Feb. 1: Amy Barcia (6 yrs.)

BOARD CALENDAR:

Wed., Jan. 5, 7:00 p.m.: Board Meeting (Nehalem House)

Thur., Jan. 13, 7:00 a.m.: Fundraising Committee (Marsee Bakery)

Fri., Jan. 14, 7:00 a.m.: Board Formation Committee (Marsee Bakery)

Wed., Jan. 26, 7:00 a.m.: Executive Committee (Marsee Bakery)

Thur., Jan. 27, 7:00 a.m.: Finance Committee (Marsee Bakery)

CELEBRATIONS

Wed., Jan. 12, 7:00 p.m., Nehalem House: Susan Mitchell’s 15th Anniversary and Lisa Ciranny’s 5th Anniversary - BIG PARTY!
Wed., Jan. 19, 7:00 p.m., Neahkahnie House: Prayer Night
Fri., Jan. 21, 5:30 p.m., Neahkahnie House: Dress-up dinner party to celebrate Monica Ranaghan’s birthday (please RSVP to Neahkahnie House 503-251-6940)
Wed., Jan. 26, 7:00 p.m., Neahkahnie House: Thank You and Blessing for Fredericke Kahle
Sun., Jan. 30, Nehalem House: Celebrating Lisa Ciranny’s birthday - Call Nehalem House (503-254-4558) for time and details.

In the midst of so much fear in our world, where so many walls are being built between cultures and religions, the Holy Spirit is bringing to birth communities of peace. They do not make much noise nor the headlines; they are like gentle breezes, signs that love and peace are stronger than hatred and war.

Jean Vanier, Letter from Syria, September, 2004

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