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

MARCH 2004

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

NEWS

SHAMROCK RUN RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! Make new friends, connect with old ones, wake up some birds and join us Sunday, March 14 from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. in Waterfront Park to help with the Shamrock Run. We need 25 people to volunteer, and L'Arche will receive $15 per person. We'll be working as course marshals, and after the race, we'll meet up for free T-shirts and clam chowder. It's a great time, so please join us! Call Dan Barcia (503-251-6940) or Denae Overman (254-4558) to sign up.

• Coffee Morning at Nehalem! It’s a new twist on the traditional L’Arche Nehalem Coffee House. We’re having an informal social hour for our extended family on Saturday morning, March 20, 10:00 a.m. at Nehalem House. Drop in and enjoy coffee and pastries. Bring a friend. Everyone is welcome!
• Denae and Robyn Dowell recently traveled to the "Sharing Our Hearts" event at Seattle University. They shared three days with students and other L’Arche duos. It is an opportunity for college students and members of L’Arche to learn about one another. 
• Jeff Deeks, Adam Richards, Sarah Dulaney and Susan Mitchell spent a weekend in February at Ken and Teresa Willett’s beach house in Rockaway Beach. They enjoyed walks, relaxing with the ocean view, and checking out the local eateries. Thanks to the Willetts for sharing their wonderful home with us! 
• Susan recently attended a meeting of the L’Arche USA National Membership Commission in Cleveland. As part of that group, she is planning for the implementation of the L’Arche Membership Document adopted by the communities of the U.S. Zone last April. The document defines the deepening relationship that is membership in a L’Arche community, and gives guidelines for mutual support and obligations between a community and its members.
• Mark your April calendar for a community-wide retreat on Sunday, April 25 at Neahkahnie House beginning with an optional lunch at noon and continuing from 1:00-4:00 p.m. With dialogue and activities, we will consider "The Secret of L’Arche Nehalem" as part of L’Arche’s international Identity and Mission process. More on this next month. 

• Denae and Sarah, both of whom arrived in the community in March 2003, have completed their discernments and will be staying in the community a second year. We are very grateful for their commitment and for the special gifts they bring to Nehalem. 
• Matthew Garrison will be returning in mid-March to Horton Road Organics, the farm outside Eugene, Oregon, where he apprenticed last year. He has brought experience in our community and in Tacoma as well as established friendships with the core members as he seamlessly fit into his role as an assistant at Neahkahnie House. We thank "Mack" for sharing life with us these last few months!
• The community continues to be fortunate in maintaining a full complement of assistants. Justin Wilcox, who grew up in Massachusetts but recently has lived in Florida made a discernment visit in February and will join us as an assistant at Neahkahnie House. Welcome, Justin!! 

• Deborah Warren and Denae will attend a L’Arche Retreat for assistants who have been in L’Arche less than two years at Pilgrim Firs in Port Orchard, Washington from March 7-12. John Cook, the leader of the Washington D.C. L’Arche community, will be animating the retreat. 
• Joni Smith and Susan will join members of the L’Arche Tacoma community on their annual retreat at the Trappist Abbey in Lafayette, Oregon from March 15-18.

• Wed. March 3, 7:00 p.m., Nehalem House -- Denae and Sarah’s One-Year Anniversary Party
• Wed. March 10, 7 p.m., Neahkahnie House -- Thank You and Missioning for Matthew
• Sat. March 13, 2:00 p.m., Neahkahnie House -- Hawaiian Theme Tea Party to Celebrate Dan and Amy’s Birthdays
• Wed. March 17, 7:00 p.m., Neahkahnie House -- Prayer Night
• Sat. March 20, 10:00 a.m., Nehalem House -- Coffee Morning at Nehalem

• Gardening tools for Nehalem House: garden clippers, shovel, rake, push broom, hedge clippers.
• Blender for Nehalem House.
• Non-stick skillets of all sizes for Neahkahnie House.