This weekend we went up to Portland. The folks of Jeremiah House graciously let us have a tour of what will be our new home in July. It was awesome to hear about their community and their future plans and I’m really excited about the ways we can work together once we move and once they settle into their new, as to be determined, location. The photo of the house is thanks to Chrissy, one of the members of the Jeremiah House community. You can check out their blog at http://jeremiahhousepdx.org for more info about who they are and what they are doing.
After the tour we went over the the Sellwood UMC building that is now for sale, and as rumor has it will soon be sold. We were there to take what we needed. As we began I felt guilty, like a scavenger. It was sad to walk through this giant building and to see tissue boxes left on desks, files still in drawers, and furniture stacked up in the fellowship hall. It was the same kind of feeling I got when we once went to an estate sale. All the relics of a life that was over on display for the taking. It was the man who oversees the building these days (a long time member of the Sellwood congregation) who gave me a new perspective. He told me that losing the church had been really hard, but now with our new start, and the building possibly selling, it felt like spring. He said something along the lines of “It’s amazing when resurrection happens! I’m a lifelong Christian, but I still get surprised when God brings new life out of death.”
His words reminded me that we are doing now carries on the legacy of that faith community. Even though our community will have a different form and meet in a different space we are inheriting their ministry here in this neighborhood. The items we took will be reminders of this truth.
The other good news of this week for our new start is that we have a few folks who are inspired to begin this journey with us! It’s exciting to know that there are other people out there who are also hungry for a church community based on small group gatherings, mission opportunities, and occasional large group worship experiences.
Spring is indeed coming and I’m ready to see what blossoms.
E
Thank you for sharing. It's really good to hear a long-time Sellwood member share that "it feels like spring". It is spring! The cycle of life continues with preparing the soil, planting, tending and new growth. Lynn Egli