Hey Subscriber First Name,

Hello CG family! Thanks for taking a minute to check out our May–June edition of CG Happenings, where we take a few moments to celebrate the many ways God is moving in and through the Common Ground community. Through the highlights that follow, we hope and pray that you will be encouraged and prompted to consider the ways you might lean into life with Jesus and the local Common Ground family this summer.

I’ve been reflecting a bit on how much my default posture in my day-to-day life is one of peace compared to one of fear. And what does my posture indicate that I have faith in? This really came to mind a couple weeks ago when a presenter at a gathering I was attending stated the following: “Fear is often faith in darkness,” which prompted me to later reflect, “And peace is often faith in light.” In one sense of the word, we can’t help but walk through life “by faith.” The question is, faith in what? And I’d say faith in a God that looks like (and is) Jesus—the “light of the world”—is about as good a place to start as any. As Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in the city of Thessaloniki, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation” (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NLT).

- Randy Folkenberg, Pastor

Registration for Common Ground’s very first Adventure Day Camp opens May 6!

Give your child an unforgettable summer experience rooted in exploration, friendship, and the beauty of Central Oregon. Adventure Day Camp is designed for kids ages 7–12 who are eager to discover new places, try new things, and grow in confidence and connection along the way.

Each day brings a new destination, hands-on activities, and guided experiences led by a caring, safety-focused team. Campers will also engage with simple, meaningful lessons about courage, kindness, perseverance, and community—drawing from the life of Jesus as well as impactful stories and figures from history. These moments are shared in an open, welcoming way that encourages curiosity and personal growth for every child.

What to expect:

• All volunteers are thoroughly background-checked to ensure a safe, trusted environment.

• Register for days individual, whatever works with your schedule.

• Small group sizes (limited to 35 kids per day) for a more personal experience.

• Convenient drop-off and pick-up at Three Sisters Adventist Christian School, located just off Highway 97 between Bend and Redmond.

Save the Dates for our May & June Common Ground Gathers

MAY:
May’s Gathers will be an evening of worship and reflection through music, led by our CG Worship Team. Light refreshments on hand as well. Projected 6pm start at a TBD location. We’ll put out more information as soon as we have them on our website and social media profiles.

JUNE:
Join us for a relaxed park day together! It’s a simple chance to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with one another, and build community in a laid-back setting. Exact location and more details TBA.

Feel free to come and go as it works for you—bring a blanket, some snacks, and anything you’d enjoy at the park. We’d love to hang out, connect, and enjoy a great day together!

Our HomeBase cohort is wrapping up. Come support our participants as they lead out in LifeGroups over the next few weeks!

Common Ground’s first HomeBase cohort is over halfway done. The HomeBase Cohort is a 7-month cohort guiding apprentices of Jesus toward house-church leadership in Common Ground and beyond. Participants have been diving deeper into the bedrock of Gospel and the community of Jesus-followers, exploring the principles for heart-level, holistic spiritual growth, all while learning practical tools for leading house churches well. We continue to pray for them as they go through the rest of their time together and lead out in our house churches for the next few weeks!

Sept 17-20: Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Backpacking Trip!

Registration opens for our backpacking trip in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness on June 15.

Some of our most profound experiences of peace, wonder, and connection with God happen in the grandeur of nature. However, opportunities to step into this kind of experience intentionally and in community are very rare.

This September, you’re invited to join Common Ground for a backpacking trip into the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, where we’ll journey together through incredible terrain while creating space to slow down, reflect, learn from one another, and practice attentiveness to God’s presence in the natural world. Check out the details below for a brief description of the terrain we’ll cover each day.

Our group size is limited to 12 people, so mark your calendars for June 15 to make sure you don’t miss your chance to join us on this unforgettable adventure!

Check out the projected itinerary below!

Help Common Ground Get the Rolling with a new trailer!

Common Ground is raising funds for a trailer that will help us better store, organize, and transport materials for the events and projects that serve our community.

Thanks to several generous early gifts, we’ve already raised $6,800, leaving just $200 left to reach our $7,000 base goal for the purchase the trailer. Talk about a great start!!!

Reaching our stretch goal of $10,000 will allow us to add custom shelving for organization and a branded exterior wrap that will help share Common Ground’s mission wherever it goes.

This trailer is more than equipment. It’s infrastructure that will help us show up more effectively for our community.

If Common Ground’s work has mattered to you, we’d be grateful for your support in helping get this project rolling. To give directly to this cause, click below and input your donation under the line “Trailer Fund - Common Ground.”

Where Is Common Ground’s Greatest Financial Need?

Our Greatest Financial Need and How You Can Help.
We regularly get questions about where Common Ground’s most pressing financial needs are — especially since we don’t pass offering plates during services or carry the obvious costs related to maintaining a church building.

The clearest answer is this: Our greatest ongoing need is for consistent giving toward “Tithe” and the “Church Budget” through our Adventist Giving donation platform.

To clarify terms:
Tithe supports ministry leadership, including salaries for our pastor and TSACS teachers, as well as broader initiatives and expenses that support Common Ground and the family of churches we are part of.

Church Budget funds the day-to-day ministry of Common Ground: food for LifeGroups, venue rental and supplies for Gathers, insurance, service projects, emergency aid, On This Rock, retreats, leadership development, launching new LifeGroups, kids programming, travel for guest presenters, and much more.

For 2026, we’ve set a monthly Church Budget giving target of $3,700 per month to support our work as a community and create the stability needed to plan well for the year ahead.

While special projects like our trailer fundraiser matter, recurring monthly giving to the “Church Budget” at this time is what best strengthens Common Ground’s ability to serve consistently and respond to opportunities as they arise.

If Common Ground has been meaningful to you and you want to partner with us in our mission of growing a movement of Jesus-followers who reflect His heart in the communities of Central Oregon, we invite you to prayerfully consider setting up a recurring monthly gift through Adventist Giving.

Thank you for your generosity.

Common Ground Save the Dates!

COMMON GROUND GATHERS
- May 16: Musical Worship Night
- June 13: Park Day
- July 18: Lake Day
- August 7-9: Campout at Suttle Lake
- September 25-26: Central Oregon Adventist Convocation
- October 10: Evening Worship Gathering
- November 14: Musical Worship Night
- December 12: Christmas Party

All Gathers dates and timing are subject to change, but will be officially announced via our website and social media profiles closer to each date.

SOFTBALL GAME AT STOVER PARK, May 3 at 2PM
There’s a softball game/park day happening this Sunday at Stover Park in Bend! We’ll start hanging and playing at 2pm. There’s a playground as well for kids to play. Feel free to invite friends, family, and neighbors! Bring any softball gear you have. Play ball!

GROUP-RUN CREW, Every Thursday in the evening
Every week on Thursday evening for several months now a group of our CG fam and their friends, led by Cody Davis, has meet up for a trail run. We just want to take a moment to celebrate and highlight this! If you’d like to join in on the runs, give us a shout!

ADVENTURE DAY CAMP, June 22, 29, and July 6
Give your child an unforgettable summer experience rooted in exploration, friendship, and the beauty of Central Oregon. Adventure Day Camp is designed for kids ages 7–12 who are eager to discover new places, try new things, and grow in confidence and connection along the way. Each day brings a new destination, hands-on activities, and guided experiences led by a caring, safety-focused team. Campers will also engage with simple, meaningful lessons about courage, kindness, perseverance, and community—drawing from the life of Jesus as well as impactful stories and figures from history. These moments are shared in an open, welcoming way that encourages curiosity and personal growth for every child.

OREGON CASCADES 100 AID STATION SERVICE EVENT, July 25
Not only is the race 100 miles- it also has roughly 11,000 ft of gain and 11,00 ft of loss. Racers have up to 32 hours to finish. Common Ground is partnering with the event to volunteer at 1 of the 13 aid stations on the race. We will serve together by providing trail runners with food, drinks, and aid at a busy aid station that runners go by at mile 40. Exact service needs TBA closer to event.

BACKPACKING WEEKEND, Mt. Jefferson, September 18-21
Registration opens for our backpacking trip in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness on June 15. Some of our most profound experiences of peace, wonder, and connection with God happen in the grandeur of nature. However, opportunities to step into this kind of experience intentionally and in community are very rare. This September, you’re invited to join Common Ground for a backpacking trip into the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, where we’ll journey together through incredible terrain while creating space to slow down, reflect, learn from one another, and practice attentiveness to God’s presence in the natural world. Check out the details below for a brief description of the terrain we’ll cover each day. Our group size is limited to 12 people, so mark your calendars for June 15 to make sure you don’t miss your chance to join us on this unforgettable adventure!

SILENCE & SOLITUDE RETREAT, October 16-18
Join us October 16–18 for a Silence and Solitude retreat, a dedicated time to step away from the noise and make space to be present with God. This weekend will offer simple rhythms of quiet, reflection, and rest, creating room to listen, pray, and reconnect with what matters most. Whether silence feels familiar or new, this retreat is an invitation to slow down, be attentive, and encounter God in the stillness. Exact details will be announced as they become available.