Students and Teachers to be Blessed

Students and teachers are invited to a special blessing on Sunday the 12th. Students are invited to bring their school backpacks and supplies for the blessing. You do not have to be a member to participate in this community celebration.

Backpacks for Bend Starts 2nd Year

This important ministry is in it’s second year of existence. The idea is to get healthy, easy to make food, to students who may not eat over weekend breaks. Last year we provided over 3,000 meals for kids in the Bend-LaPine Schools District. We will commission this ministry on Sunday the 12th as well.

One last push!

On Saturday, August 21, at 9 am we will move all the furniture back into place. We could use all the help we can get to empty out the two large containers in the parking lot. We appreciate any help you can offer. See you then!

Food Pantry is Open!

Our Tuesday afternoon Food Pantry will be open today and on future Tuesdays here at Nativity. From 1-3 pm, anyone in need of assistance can come and get food from our pantry. The food will be distributed out of the education wing where Head Start meets during the school year.

VBS is Cancelled…

We will not be holding our VBS program this summer because it is just impossible to do it with all the mess and construction. We recommend any of the following churches and their VBS programs that are upcoming. Please contact them directly to sign up or for more information: Grace First Lutheran (with Trinity Episcopal), July 19-23 (541-382-6862); or First Presbyterian, July 26-29 (541-382-4401).

Extra Wild and Wacky Wednesday!

On July 28 we will have an extra Wild and Wacky Wednesday at Elk Meadow Park from 10 – 1 pm. You bring a sack lunch and we’ll provide program, beverage and dessert – not to mention fun! For any questions regarding changes in VBS, Wild and Wacky Wednesdays or our Children’s ministry in general, please contact Dee Engel at dee@nativityinbend.com. Thanks!

Lots of helping hands…

Thankfully, many members, sheriff’s deputies, search and rescue crews, at least one mail man, and a jogger or two pitched in to save much of the furniture, instruments, and sound system. The major damage was to carpet, the first few feet of drywall and planting boxes in the orchard.

The Real Damage…

Many community service projects are based out of Nativity such as the now damaged Food Forest and our Food Pantry that feeds over 500 people a month. Insurance will allow us to rebuild the building, but our ability to serve our community has been greatly challenged. Families who have recently lost jobs, are trying to get by each month, and need a helping hand are the people who really suffer when something like this happens. There’s no insurance when unemployment runs out or state services are being cut.

The Good News…

While it is going to be a challenge in the short term, the Nativity community has never been about a building. We are about serving the community by advocating for justice and inclusion for the marginalized in society. That can’t be washed away or damaged by water. We will do our best to make sure that the ministries of Nativity are able to continue and that those who count on our community for help and partnership will not be left out in the cold.

What’s Next…

This Sunday, and for the foreseeable future, we will worship at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Bend in St. Helen’s Hall. Worship will be at 9:30 am and the choir will meet at 8:30 am to rehearse and prepare their piece for the service. The Circle will not meet this week. We are working on getting the office number transfered to a cell phone so that we can answer questions and concerns.

More to come…

As details are worked out this weekend, we will update you via the Web site and facebook. For now, the only volunteer work needed is in the Food Forest and Memorial Garden. Volunteers will gather Saturday morning to work in those places. A professional disaster cleanup company is doing the work inside. The timeline being talked about today was 6 weeks. As staff and council talk and make plans, we will update the Web site. If you know someone who doesn’t access the internet or regularly check church emails, please take the initiative to call them and keep them up to date. We’re counting on you all to help keep communication healthy and thorough during this time. Thanks and keep tuned in…

-Bjorn, Assistant for Communications

c.bjorn.peterson@gmail.com

Paulina Lake Group Camp

We gather on Friday at the Paulina Lake Group Camp in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument 45 minutes south of Bend. There is no set schedule other than a potluck on Saturday evening. Stay both nights, one night, or just come down for the day on Saturday.

Right on the Lake!

Many of the camp sites are right on the lake or in the beautiful trees surrounding. The site can accommodate everything from a little pup tent to a travel coach. Come and spend the time as you want in community. Sign up in the fellowship hall or email the office at corry@nativityinbend.com.

Common Table took a huge step forward this week by purchasing the assets from Cork Restaurant and signing a three year lease to occupy their former space on Oregon St. in downtown Bend. This non-profit restaurant is a joint project between First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Episcopal Church and Nativity Lutheran Church. With a opening target in mid to late August, this restaurant will be a place where all people are welcome.

When you eat, so will others…

This mostly locally sourced cafe will feature a farm to table menu and a largely volunteer staff. Under the management of professional chefs and cooks, the menu will be healthy, fresh and a decidedly Northwest flavor. Tokens will be available for purchase to be given away to people who are in need of a meal. Tokens will also be given away by local non-profit partners in exchange for volunteer work. Any and all revenues will go to local and global feeding programs.

A more sustainable model…

The plan is to be totally self-sustaining within 18 months of opening so that annual major fundraising will not be necessary for operating costs. Common Table is its own 501 (c) (3) separate from any of the congregations involved but supported and governed by members from each.

A common space…

In the evening, the space will be used to host events, discussions, music, story-telling, and many other opportunities to bring people of varying backgrounds together. The idea is to create a space for community, fun, reconciliation, and service. We hope you will give the restaurant a chance and think about how such an endeavor models the Kingdom of God.

Visit our Web site at www.commontable.net!

The theme for our vacation Bible school this summer is SonQuest Rainforest. Our Children’s Minister, Dee Engel, will lead a week of Son Quest Rain Forest Vacation Bible School. Save the week of July 26-30 ( from 9:15 a.m. until noon daily)  for this fun week of skits, music, dance, crafts, games, Bible stories, and snacks all around a rain forest theme.

Get Involved!

If you are a parent, grandparent, middle school, high school or college student, or just believe in investing in the lives of our children, then we’d like to have your help putting on this exciting program. Contact Dee at dee@nativityinbend.com to find out how you can help!

The proceeds will go to helping the High School youth get to San Francisco in July. The youth will serve and entertain but we could use your help too! If you have a talent or stupid human trick or just a need to be in front of people, contact our youth ministries director Ron Werner at ron@nativityinbend.com to participate.

Come out and support our youth!