Welcome to the Journey: Ralph's Abiding Story
Having been raised in different faith traditions, Ralph and his wife Chris seldom attended worship services together. After many years and many moves from place to place they landed in northern Virginia in 2014 and the church search began. The internet church search introduced them to Abiding Presence.
“We came to our first service at Abiding Presence feeling like the first day of school, and no fewer than a dozen people welcomed us, including Pastor Meredith,” Ralph recalled. Following worship that morning, they attended Abiding Tables, the adult Sunday School, which includes a delicious breakfast. “We felt welcomed and invited back. We both agreed we wanted to come back again,” Ralph stated. “What is amazing about Abiding Presence is that it seems like everyone comes as they are and who they are, not as somebody else wishes them to be,” Ralph shared. For Ralph and Chris, it is important that we all find a way to be accepting of others regardless of having the right car, status in the community, and not feeling like a country club. “If you can’t find that feeling of acceptance in a place of worship, that’s not a place we want to be,” Ralph shared.
Being part of the usher team allows Ralph to extend the welcome he experienced to others who come to worship. His involvement in the Food Ministry and the ability to provide food when the need is so great has made a significant impact on him. Time spent serving dinner at the Carpenter’s Shelter several times a year enables him to bring some joy to shelter guests. “Maybe for half an hour, they have a smile on their face, and that means a lot to me,” he shared. Ralph also cherishes time spent on the annual Iron Men retreat at Caroline Furnace. “I get absorbed and lost in the Word [scripture], throw out my job and stressors, and have intentional time connecting with other guys in a similar boat as me.”
“Chris and I didn’t have a faith journey together before coming to Abiding Presence, but we do now,” Ralph expressed. “To be able to do stuff together is so much better than doing it alone and has made us grow together as we found out we had a whole lot more in common in shared faith beliefs than we thought.” Abiding Presence has given Ralph so much enjoyment and enrichment over the past seven years and serves as a comfortable, contemplative place in an ever-changing world. “We feel invested, and we can’t wait to see what the next seven years and beyond are going to be like. We want to be a part of giving back all the good feelings we get out of being members here.”