Rolling Hills Community Church opened its doors to the homeless last night and will continue through Thursday night’s with the temperatures dipping into the teens. My daughter Rachel and son Wesley and I went over to the church to help and see what is going on tonight and we were absolutely amazed at how this has come together in just a day.
It started with Chris Miles, a Rolling Hills member, who had been organizing at another suburban church in Tualatin to provide a warm place for those without a home during last weekend’s cold, and he started thinking, “what about during the weekdays?” This week weather forecasters predicted record breaking cold temperatures and so he called Faith Carter yesterday at Rolling Hills and asked if something could be set up at Rolling Hills during the week as the other church in Tualatin was opening up its doors on the weekends. . .and Rolling Hills made it happen. Grass roots.
Mauro Cettina offered a big pan of his homemade lasagna and a meal was created. A family of three, including a 7-year-old boy, came by with the help of Bowls of Grace Ministry and two other homeless people were going to spend the night. Several church members were going to spend the night as well.
I spoke with Chris Miles and he calls this outreach God’s Living room. A warm place for friends and food and fellowship.
Someone asked him about last weekend’s numbers at the other church, which he helped coordinate, and he said on one night they had (only) one homeless person spend the night and someone said to him, “well, that is not many people, does that mean it was a failure? and Chris said – “No, not at all. If we help one person, it is a success.”
Jesus himself said he would leave the 99 sheep to search for the one that was lost. I think Chris Miles would agree.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Serving even when it is not "Required"
It’s a January Sunday morning, Keenan Booher’s month off from his every-other month volunteer “Greeter” position at the church.
You’ve probably met him. He’s the tall gentleman, with wisps of a beard and dark brown eyes, who opens doors for folks at church. For both services.
And though this is his month off, there he is, at the front of the church entry near the high school ministry, warmly ushering folks into 11 a.m. church.
You really feel like he cares that you are here.
“Good morning ladies, how are you?” he says to a mother and daughter.
“Hey, dude, how’s it going?” he asks of a high school student coming for 11 O’clock Amplify.
On another church member he notices, “Those warm boots.”
“Good morning! Are you cold?” he asks playfully as a young gentleman, sans jacket, shivers by him.
Why, you might wonder, is Keenan greeting folks on this, his month off?
“There’s a need and I enjoy helping when I can,” he says cheerfully.
That is why he joined the youth ministry’s mission trip to Mississippi last summer and leads a Bridge Bible study on Monday nights for 11 th grade boys this school year.
And, precisely why he spent a weekend in December serving at 5 Rock Ranch, a retreat center that ministers to youth and families. He and his community group offered to be available for whatever work needed to be accomplished at the ranch.
During the day, the men installed new shower heads in the ranch’s 24-room hotel, and they mounted soap dispensers, replaced flooring, laid new plywood and put in an automatic towel rack in the bathroom.
The women helped clean the kitchen and assisted with other tasks.
In the evenings, they gathered around the fireplace, singing songs and sharing stories.
“They told us stories about how state organizations are locking up offenders and how their ministry is helping reach families and introducing people to Christ,” Keenan shared. “5 Rock Ranch wants to teach men how to mentor others to be a father to a young kid, to teach a boy to become a man, and to help young women.
Keenan came home from the working weekend at 5 Rock Ranch by 9 a.m. on that Sunday in December, just in time to be a Greeter at church.
It was his month on.
But, I have a feeling; he would have been there either way.
- Published in the service folder of today's 1-20-08 Rolling Hills Community Church
You’ve probably met him. He’s the tall gentleman, with wisps of a beard and dark brown eyes, who opens doors for folks at church. For both services.
And though this is his month off, there he is, at the front of the church entry near the high school ministry, warmly ushering folks into 11 a.m. church.
You really feel like he cares that you are here.
“Good morning ladies, how are you?” he says to a mother and daughter.
“Hey, dude, how’s it going?” he asks of a high school student coming for 11 O’clock Amplify.
On another church member he notices, “Those warm boots.”
“Good morning! Are you cold?” he asks playfully as a young gentleman, sans jacket, shivers by him.
Why, you might wonder, is Keenan greeting folks on this, his month off?
“There’s a need and I enjoy helping when I can,” he says cheerfully.
That is why he joined the youth ministry’s mission trip to Mississippi last summer and leads a Bridge Bible study on Monday nights for 11 th grade boys this school year.
And, precisely why he spent a weekend in December serving at 5 Rock Ranch, a retreat center that ministers to youth and families. He and his community group offered to be available for whatever work needed to be accomplished at the ranch.
During the day, the men installed new shower heads in the ranch’s 24-room hotel, and they mounted soap dispensers, replaced flooring, laid new plywood and put in an automatic towel rack in the bathroom.
The women helped clean the kitchen and assisted with other tasks.
In the evenings, they gathered around the fireplace, singing songs and sharing stories.
“They told us stories about how state organizations are locking up offenders and how their ministry is helping reach families and introducing people to Christ,” Keenan shared. “5 Rock Ranch wants to teach men how to mentor others to be a father to a young kid, to teach a boy to become a man, and to help young women.
Keenan came home from the working weekend at 5 Rock Ranch by 9 a.m. on that Sunday in December, just in time to be a Greeter at church.
It was his month on.
But, I have a feeling; he would have been there either way.
- Published in the service folder of today's 1-20-08 Rolling Hills Community Church
Serving even when it is not "Required"
It’s a January Sunday morning, Keenan Booher’s month off from his every-other month volunteer “Greeter” position at the church.
You’ve probably met him. He’s the tall gentleman, with wisps of a beard and dark brown eyes, who opens doors for folks at church. For both services.
And though this is his month off, there he is, at the front of the church entry near the high school ministry, warmly ushering folks into 11 a.m. church.
You really feel like he cares that you are here.
“Good morning ladies, how are you?” he says to a mother and daughter.
“Hey, dude, how’s it going?” he asks of a high school student coming for 11 O’clock Amplify.
On another church member he notices, “Those warm boots.”
“Good morning! Are you cold?” he asks playfully as a young gentleman, sans jacket, shivers by him.
Why, you might wonder, is Keenan greeting folks on this, his month off?
“There’s a need and I enjoy helping when I can,” he says cheerfully.
That is why he joined the youth ministry’s mission trip to Mississippi last summer and leads a Bridge Bible study on Monday nights for 11 th grade boys this school year.
And, precisely why he spent a weekend in December serving at 5 Rock Ranch, a retreat center that ministers to youth and families. He and his community group offered to be available for whatever work needed to be accomplished at the ranch.
During the day, the men installed new shower heads in the ranch’s 24-room hotel, and they mounted soap dispensers, replaced flooring, laid new plywood and put in an automatic towel rack in the bathroom.
The women helped clean the kitchen and assisted with other tasks.
In the evenings, they gathered around the fireplace, singing songs and sharing stories.
“They told us stories about how state organizations are locking up offenders and how their ministry is helping reach families and introducing people to Christ,” Keenan shared. “5 Rock Ranch wants to teach men how to mentor others to be a father to a young kid, to teach a boy to become a man, and to help young women.
Keenan came home from the working weekend at 5 Rock Ranch by 9 a.m. on that Sunday in December, just in time to be a Greeter at church.
It was his month on.
But, I have a feeling; he would have been there either way.
- Published in the service folder of today's 1-20-08 Rolling Hills Community Church
You’ve probably met him. He’s the tall gentleman, with wisps of a beard and dark brown eyes, who opens doors for folks at church. For both services.
And though this is his month off, there he is, at the front of the church entry near the high school ministry, warmly ushering folks into 11 a.m. church.
You really feel like he cares that you are here.
“Good morning ladies, how are you?” he says to a mother and daughter.
“Hey, dude, how’s it going?” he asks of a high school student coming for 11 O’clock Amplify.
On another church member he notices, “Those warm boots.”
“Good morning! Are you cold?” he asks playfully as a young gentleman, sans jacket, shivers by him.
Why, you might wonder, is Keenan greeting folks on this, his month off?
“There’s a need and I enjoy helping when I can,” he says cheerfully.
That is why he joined the youth ministry’s mission trip to Mississippi last summer and leads a Bridge Bible study on Monday nights for 11 th grade boys this school year.
And, precisely why he spent a weekend in December serving at 5 Rock Ranch, a retreat center that ministers to youth and families. He and his community group offered to be available for whatever work needed to be accomplished at the ranch.
During the day, the men installed new shower heads in the ranch’s 24-room hotel, and they mounted soap dispensers, replaced flooring, laid new plywood and put in an automatic towel rack in the bathroom.
The women helped clean the kitchen and assisted with other tasks.
In the evenings, they gathered around the fireplace, singing songs and sharing stories.
“They told us stories about how state organizations are locking up offenders and how their ministry is helping reach families and introducing people to Christ,” Keenan shared. “5 Rock Ranch wants to teach men how to mentor others to be a father to a young kid, to teach a boy to become a man, and to help young women.
Keenan came home from the working weekend at 5 Rock Ranch by 9 a.m. on that Sunday in December, just in time to be a Greeter at church.
It was his month on.
But, I have a feeling; he would have been there either way.
- Published in the service folder of today's 1-20-08 Rolling Hills Community Church
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
WEST LINN OREGON IS GOING NATIONAL
My husband and I moved to the wonderful community of West Linn in 1989 when I was pregnant with our first child, Rachel, who was born in 1990. We bought a house on a creek in the Robinwood neighborhood and have been here ever since. We’ve had five children since moving to West Linn, with four of them currently attending West Linn schools. Rachel will graduate from West Linn High School with the class of 2008!
I love walking places here and meeting people in the neighborhood. We take strolls to parks and the local coffee shops and to visit friends, and we truly feel blessed to be part of this amazing community of people.
As a freelance journalist and columnist for The West Linn Tidings and the local section of The Oregonian since 1996, I have had the chance to share the stories of the classy people and neighborhoods and businesses and families and festivals and organizations and schools and churches in this wonderful area.
And, now, I have the privilege of continuing the story West Linn in book form. I have signed a contract with Arcadia Publishers, a national publisher of local history books, to pen Images of America: West Linn, and have started this blog to share more information. I would like to give as many people as possible the opportunity to be featured in this heirloom-like book, which will be published later this year.
Bravo! West Linn’s going national!
I love walking places here and meeting people in the neighborhood. We take strolls to parks and the local coffee shops and to visit friends, and we truly feel blessed to be part of this amazing community of people.
As a freelance journalist and columnist for The West Linn Tidings and the local section of The Oregonian since 1996, I have had the chance to share the stories of the classy people and neighborhoods and businesses and families and festivals and organizations and schools and churches in this wonderful area.
And, now, I have the privilege of continuing the story West Linn in book form. I have signed a contract with Arcadia Publishers, a national publisher of local history books, to pen Images of America: West Linn, and have started this blog to share more information. I would like to give as many people as possible the opportunity to be featured in this heirloom-like book, which will be published later this year.
Bravo! West Linn’s going national!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
What a joy teaching College Students
I am a teaching a communications course (Intro to Public Relations) at George Fox University this spring semester and it began this week. I love teaching college students. They are so open, so enthusiastic, so real, so down to earth, so wanting to learn. . . .
On the day I was meeting to interview for the open position last December, a student saw me looking at the directory at George Fox and he asked me if he could help me find a building. How nice is that?. . . What fun being around college students. . .
My dad taught for most of his career at the University of Portland. I loved being on campus then when he brought us to work for various functions.
It is a joy to be teaching the next generation. . .
~ Professor Cornelia Seigneur : )
www.writermom.net
www.myspace.com/corneliaseigneur
www.writermom5kids.blogspot.com
On the day I was meeting to interview for the open position last December, a student saw me looking at the directory at George Fox and he asked me if he could help me find a building. How nice is that?. . . What fun being around college students. . .
My dad taught for most of his career at the University of Portland. I loved being on campus then when he brought us to work for various functions.
It is a joy to be teaching the next generation. . .
~ Professor Cornelia Seigneur : )
www.writermom.net
www.myspace.com/corneliaseigneur
www.writermom5kids.blogspot.com
Sunday, January 6, 2008
ABOUT THOSE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
New Year’s resolutions –
Ø Walk in the morning before the kids are up, like I used to.
Ø Lose the 10 pounds I have talked about losing since my baby, who is 4, was born.
Ø Do my strength exercises.
Ø Read more to my kids
Ø Tuck them in more often.
Ø Make sure I always say “Gute Nacht, Read your Bible and say your prayers and I love you” every night to each of my five kids.
Ø Continue reading through the Bible this year from back to front, and actually get through it.
Ø Hang at the breakfast table and talk more without always having to go do something.
Ø Have more game nights.
Ø Have people over for dinner once a month-okay, every other month-okay, for dessert
Ø Keep bathroom cleaner in case people stop by unannounced for dinner or bagels after church
Ø Play more board games with my kids
Ø Make dinners in the morning for the evening so after school times are not so rushed.
Ø Write hand made notes
Ø Blog more often even if it is short
Ø Light candles at every dinner.
Ø Have tea every afternoon.
Ø Don't rush so much.
Ø Be on time - early - to places.
Ø Get a book published
Ø Write more.
Ø Send out more book proposals.
Ø Pray more, in the morning, before everyone is up
Ø serve hurting people more regularly
Ø Keep my office clean
Ø Keep my car cleaned
Ø Keep the sink emptied.
Ø keep the house cleaner and less cluttered
Ø Get rid of the clutter so it quits coming back.
Ø Finish more books that I have started
Ø Play the guitar again
Ø Take my 4-year-old to OMSI every week- okay, I’ll be happy every other week, okay, once a month
Ø Do another marathon this year, this time with my daughter
Ø Go to Europe – which means I have to save money, which means I have to work more or get take-out less
Ø Eat take-out less
Ø Not connect to the internet on Sundays
Ø Rest on Sundays
Ø Write homemade, snail mail cards to tell people I am thinking of them.
Ø See my parents more often
Ø See my in-laws more often
Ø See my friends more
Ø Get stressed less, Be calm more, Love God and others more.
Ø ~ Cornelia Seigneur aka Nellie aka WriterMom
Ø www.writermom.net
Ø www.myspace.com/corneliaseigneur
Ø www.writermom5kids.blogspot.com
Ø Walk in the morning before the kids are up, like I used to.
Ø Lose the 10 pounds I have talked about losing since my baby, who is 4, was born.
Ø Do my strength exercises.
Ø Read more to my kids
Ø Tuck them in more often.
Ø Make sure I always say “Gute Nacht, Read your Bible and say your prayers and I love you” every night to each of my five kids.
Ø Continue reading through the Bible this year from back to front, and actually get through it.
Ø Hang at the breakfast table and talk more without always having to go do something.
Ø Have more game nights.
Ø Have people over for dinner once a month-okay, every other month-okay, for dessert
Ø Keep bathroom cleaner in case people stop by unannounced for dinner or bagels after church
Ø Play more board games with my kids
Ø Make dinners in the morning for the evening so after school times are not so rushed.
Ø Write hand made notes
Ø Blog more often even if it is short
Ø Light candles at every dinner.
Ø Have tea every afternoon.
Ø Don't rush so much.
Ø Be on time - early - to places.
Ø Get a book published
Ø Write more.
Ø Send out more book proposals.
Ø Pray more, in the morning, before everyone is up
Ø serve hurting people more regularly
Ø Keep my office clean
Ø Keep my car cleaned
Ø Keep the sink emptied.
Ø keep the house cleaner and less cluttered
Ø Get rid of the clutter so it quits coming back.
Ø Finish more books that I have started
Ø Play the guitar again
Ø Take my 4-year-old to OMSI every week- okay, I’ll be happy every other week, okay, once a month
Ø Do another marathon this year, this time with my daughter
Ø Go to Europe – which means I have to save money, which means I have to work more or get take-out less
Ø Eat take-out less
Ø Not connect to the internet on Sundays
Ø Rest on Sundays
Ø Write homemade, snail mail cards to tell people I am thinking of them.
Ø See my parents more often
Ø See my in-laws more often
Ø See my friends more
Ø Get stressed less, Be calm more, Love God and others more.
Ø ~ Cornelia Seigneur aka Nellie aka WriterMom
Ø www.writermom.net
Ø www.myspace.com/corneliaseigneur
Ø www.writermom5kids.blogspot.com
Thursday, January 3, 2008
It's back to school and schedules after a long relaxing Christmas Break. . .
Why is going back on a rainy Thursday so hard? We’ve had two weeks off for Christmas vacation and there is something so very difficult about getting back into the swing of things after this long of a break.
It’s been so amazingly nice hanging with the kids during the day, planning spontaneous days of visiting my sister or going to OMSI. We’ve all been sleeping in and lounging at long breakfasts sipping coffee, sitting by the lights of the Christmas tree at night, playing board games — we discovered Taboo the word game that all seven of us can play.
We have had such a relaxed non-scheduled time with the kids that this morning was a shock getting back to making four lunches, scrambling to find backpacks and books and shoes and meeting work deadlines.
But, I tried to be upbeat and happy as I need to be as a mom. I shared with the kids that we wouldn’t appreciate vacations if we had them all the time. The hard work and schedules make us value having the time off.
Okay, back to work. . .
~ Cornelia Seigneur aka Nellie
www.writermom.net
www.myspace.com/corneliaseigneur
www.writermom5kids.blogspot.com
It’s been so amazingly nice hanging with the kids during the day, planning spontaneous days of visiting my sister or going to OMSI. We’ve all been sleeping in and lounging at long breakfasts sipping coffee, sitting by the lights of the Christmas tree at night, playing board games — we discovered Taboo the word game that all seven of us can play.
We have had such a relaxed non-scheduled time with the kids that this morning was a shock getting back to making four lunches, scrambling to find backpacks and books and shoes and meeting work deadlines.
But, I tried to be upbeat and happy as I need to be as a mom. I shared with the kids that we wouldn’t appreciate vacations if we had them all the time. The hard work and schedules make us value having the time off.
Okay, back to work. . .
~ Cornelia Seigneur aka Nellie
www.writermom.net
www.myspace.com/corneliaseigneur
www.writermom5kids.blogspot.com
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR SNOW SHOE-ING ON MT. HOOD
Augustin age 4 had on the cutest little snow shoes and he was such a trooper tromping up the hill at White River Canyon, kicking up snow behind him as I snow-shoed behind him. We could see the majestic white mountain as we show-shoed through the valley, sleds in tow. We stopped at various locations to sled before setting up our ”day camp” a bit farther up the hill. While the boys sledded down this amazingly steep hill that freaked me out mom-worry-wise, Rachel, 17, and I wanted to get a bit more of a workout in, so we continued on snow-shoeing for a while, talking while traipsing through the white wonderland. The day started later than we normally like when we go up to the mountain, but with New Year’s Eve the night before, we did not want to stress out leaving too early on New Year’s Day.
When Rachel and I got back to where the boys were sledding, they had just started eating their late lunch when Augustin began having a melt down talking about his cold feet. When you’re 4-years-old and have cold feet it is hard, so I said I would take him back to the car. My husband Chris thought that maybe he was just being tired and fussy, but I did not want to chance it. Ryan, 16, show-shoed back with me, helping carry his baby brother. I was grateful to have him with me.
When we got back to the car and I took off my 4-year-old’s boots, indeed, they were a bit damp and ice cold. We turned on the heat in the car and got him warmed up. We need to get him wool socks. What an adventure, a great way to end Christmas vacation. Together. As a family in the great outdoors of Oregon.
~ Cornelia Seigneur aka Nellie
www.writermom.net
www.myspace.com/corneliaseigneur
www.writermom5kids.blogspot.com
When Rachel and I got back to where the boys were sledding, they had just started eating their late lunch when Augustin began having a melt down talking about his cold feet. When you’re 4-years-old and have cold feet it is hard, so I said I would take him back to the car. My husband Chris thought that maybe he was just being tired and fussy, but I did not want to chance it. Ryan, 16, show-shoed back with me, helping carry his baby brother. I was grateful to have him with me.
When we got back to the car and I took off my 4-year-old’s boots, indeed, they were a bit damp and ice cold. We turned on the heat in the car and got him warmed up. We need to get him wool socks. What an adventure, a great way to end Christmas vacation. Together. As a family in the great outdoors of Oregon.
~ Cornelia Seigneur aka Nellie
www.writermom.net
www.myspace.com/corneliaseigneur
www.writermom5kids.blogspot.com
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CampingHikingLakeWenatcheeArea
Hidden Lake
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE WITH KIDS
Cousins bicycling at Champeog Park
