When Eastern Star Grange No. 482 closed in October, no one was sure what would happen to the old building.

But after reading about the impending closure of Bend’s first Grange, some members of Unity Community of Central Oregon got together and decided to look into renting the building, located near the Bend Municipal Airport. Now, after months of planning, the Unity Community will host a celebration of the resurrection of the Grange starting at 10 a.m. Sunday with an Easter service, pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt (See “If you go”).

The Rev. Teri Hawkins said when the conversation with the former Grange members began, the idea was for the Unity Community to rent the building for its regular Sunday services and to have a space to host other community activities like barbecues, dances and plays.

At the time, the nondenominational church was holding services at The Environmental Center in Bend.

After talks with the state Grange, the Unity Community decided it would be best for its own members to re-form a Grange chapter. Now, 13 members of the Unity Community — the minimum required by Grange bylaws to form a chapter — have applied to re-form the Eastern Star Grange, a process that state Grange Master Phyllis Wilson said is all but guaranteed to go through. When the new Grange is established, the Unity Community will be the Eastern Star Grange’s primary tenant.

Wilson said the state board is happy the Unity Community has come forward to bring the Grange back to life. Over the next year or more, the state organization will work to assure the traditions of the fraternal organization live on, especially the service component.

“We are a community organization. When they become Grange members, they are going to have to find out the needs of their community and help fill those needs,” Wilson said.

Hawkins is happy to comply, and said she’s eager to hear from community members about how they would like to use the space.

“Musicians in the area, kids’ groups; we just heard from a group that teaches music. We’d love to have local farmers and ranchers in the area tell us what they’d like to use the Grange for.”

Hawkins is also hoping to hear from people willing to help out with projects, including painting, cleaning and building a fence to make the property more child-friendly.

If you go

What: Unity service, Easter egg hunt and breakfast

When: 10 a.m. Sunday

Where: The Eastern Star Grange, 62855 Powell Butte Highway, Bend

Cost: Free

Contact: 541-388-1569

If you go

What: Unity Community of Central Oregon Easter service and celebration; public is welcome

When: 10 a.m. Sunday

Where: Eastern Star Grange No. 482, at 62855 Powell Butte Highway, Bend

Cost: Free

Contact: 541-388-1569