A Welcome Routine: Roger's Abiding Story

When Roger moved to Northern Virginia, the first thing he did was find a church. As he moved throughout the area from McLean to Alexandria and finally Springfield, finding a church was always a priority. Growing up in Minnesota as part of a farming family, church was a big part of their community. The family attended church every Sunday and provided not just comfort but guidance. Roger recalled, “being part of a church was a matter of carrying on and honoring the family tradition.”

As he became part of the Abiding Presence community he found a culture of welcoming people and of warmth. “Pastor Meredith has been great and there’s a personal side of her that is so heartfelt,” he shared. Roger said, “When my oldest son Mark passed in 2013, Pastor Meredith was at our house the next morning alongside the priest from my wife’s Catholic church.” He said, “Going through that experience deepened my faith as we did everything we could to help our son through his addiction.” Since Mark’s passing, whenever Roger rides his motorcycle he has a special place reserved for his son to join him. “When I ride my motorcycle I say, ‘Hey Mark, let’s go for a ride!’, Roger chuckled. On a recent motorcycle tour through Europe with a series of switchbacks on the tallest peaks in Italy he heard Mark say, “Dad, watch out you’re going too fast.” Roger said, “Mark had a good time and there is nothing that gets me like riding my bike somewhere and throwing away the map.”

Keeping grounded in his faith and keeping church as part of his routine is integral to Roger’s peace. “If I get out of my routine of attending church I feel something is missing and there’s a disruption,” he said. “Through my activities in the church, like the food pantry, finance committee, ushering, or serving communion, I feel comfortable and it’s honoring my family’s religious tradition,” he shared. Roger feels a sense of closeness to his church family. He said, “The social atmosphere is familiar and welcoming and I like that we get to know people over things like ice cream in the summer or sharing a cup of coffee.” “Abiding Presence is so warm and welcoming and especially offers comfort and stability in a world that is not so comfortable or stable,” Roger shared. He said, “It’s like an old pair of shoes that are broken in, ready to wear, always comfortable, and the safe place everyone is looking for.”