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

JULY 2005

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

NEWS

• Core Member Opening

  Jeff Deeks has completed a year-long discernment process and decided to live more independently while continuing to share in the life of L'Arche Nehalem as an extended community member. His sister, Ellen Dimm, is helping Jeff find a housemate and develop supports for living in a house or apartment.

  Jeff's upcoming move (targeted for September, 2005) will create an opening for a new core member at Nehalem House. If you know anyone who might want to explore the possibility of becoming a core member in our community have them contact Susan Mitchell (503-251-6901).

• Extended Community Members Needed for Community Council

  L'Arche Nehalem is in the process of instituting a Community Council to offer wisdom and counsel in an advisory capacity to the Leadership Team concerning community issues, decisions, and long-range planning. The Council will comprise the Community Leader, Community Coordinator(s), two assistants, and two extended community members. It will meet every other month on the second Wednesday. Extended community member terms are for one year, renewable for up to three consecutive years. Qualities of Council members include: commitment to the mission of L'Arche, ability to reflect upon the meaning of situations from the perspective of faith, and concern for the common good of the community. If you feel called to consider serving the community in this capacity, call Susan for more information (503-251-6901).

LIFE IN THE HOMES

Rodney Gabriel turns 75 this month!! Come help us celebrate the gift of his life on Saturday, July 30, from 12:00-3:00 at Neahkahnie House. RSVP to Susan (503-251-6901) if you can come for the barbecue at noon. If you're not able to be with us that day, we're inviting Rodney's friends to send him birthday messages. He LOVES getting mail! (His address is 8501 SE Stephens, Portland, 97216).

Assistant Update

• Thank you to Kristina Rinella, our enthusiastic University of Portland Summer Volunteer. Kristina will have a few weeks to rest and enjoy her family (and her new cooking skills!) before beginning her sophomore year in August.
• New assistant Lizy Meacham will join the Nehalem House team in mid-July. Lizy graduated this spring from Warner Pacific U. and feels very drawn to sharing life in community at L'Arche. Welcome, Lizy!
• Former assistant Diane Dunham has returned to help us as a live-out respite helper while we are short an assistant at Neahkahnie House this summer. It's good to have her back!

  "Thank you" to more volunteers!

• High school students participating in the Portland Plunge sponsored by JOIN spent a day helping with gardening and spring cleaning projects at Nehalem House.
• Neighbor Carol Flato has joined us a friend and volunteer at Neahkahnie House.

  Core Member News

• Ben Miller is excited about a change in his vocational program which begins July 1. He is transferring to Portland Supported Employment where he will participate in their Alternative to Employment program. It meets at the YWCA in downtown Portland. Ben is particularly excited about the opportunity to take advantage of the Y's swimming pool and fitness center!
• Adam Richards is enjoying bike rides with his friend Kevin at various locales in the Portland area.

• Regional Gathering

  Five core members and six assistants traveled to Spokane for the L'Arche Western US Regional Gathering the weekend of June 24-26. There were around 100 of us from Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, and southern California. The regional delegates (including Jerry Deas and Joan Mahler from L'Arche Nehalem) to the International L'Arche Federation Meeting in Assisi, Italy, in May shared about their experiences there. Through pictures, stories, prayer, song, and mime we were able to enter into the vibrant spirit of the International Federation.

  The following excerpt from Jean Vanier's June 2005 letter from Trosly captures the essence of the spirit of the International gathering and L'Arche's mission in the world today:

  • "A few weeks ago we were in Assisi for the meeting of the Family of L'Arche : 350 delegates from all the l'Arche communities throughout the world. A radiant sun warmed our hearts and spirits in this city of "Il Poverello", the poor one. We felt the presence of Francis and Clare. This gathering in Assisi at this moment was prophetic. L'Arche is at a turning point. We realise more and more the challenges facing l'Arche. So many changes have taken place in our societies. We need to rediscover how to live l'Arche today. Our communities, our shared life with people who are fragile and vulnerable, want to be places of mutual friendship, affection and commitment. That means that we have to respond to state requirements and be competent; competence and friendship call forth one another.

    We believe that l'Arche was born of God through the encounter of Père Thomas, myself, Raphäel and Philippe. Meeting with people with learning disabilities transforms us and makes our communities a sign for our society, a sign that peace and love are possible. Like Francis, we too have received a call to rebuild the Church and to work for unity between churches and between all people. We too have been sent forth on a mission today, with all our limits and fragilities, to announce the beauty and importance of people with disabilities, the importance of each person."

Susan Mitchell, snjm

[Read the entire text of Jean's June 2005 letter here] 

• Vacuum cleaner with attachments for Neahkahnie House
• Glass pie plates (2 or 3) for Nehalem House
• Lawn mower for Neahkahnie House