Home Community

One of our favorite things about life in Portland is living it with our beloved Home Community.  We are more than a "small group" or a "life group"--we are a sect of God's family living life together.  In my 12+ years of being a Christian, I have never experienced community the way I have here in Portland.  First with our Home Community and also with my nursing class.  We are there for each other.  We support each other.  We help each other out.  We celebrate triumphs and grieve together through tragedy.  We help when help is needed.  We serve in the community together.  We're a family. They are my family.

But, our family is doing what a lot of families do--we're transitioning.  And a part of that transitioning means we cannot come together weekly to worship and pray and fellowship together on a regular basis.  Some of us are making career changes.  Some are relocating.  Some are taking on new ministries.  Some are having exciting adventures abroad.  Some are doing a combination of these things.  Despite the fact that we won't be seeing each other regularly, we are still family.  We'll make time for each other to catch up--go out for beverages; take a walk or a hike; have dinner; chat on the phone or via Skype.  We're bonded by something better than blood--we're bonded in Spirit through Christ.  As someone (Peter, I think) pointed out during our prayer time this week, without Christ, this particular group of people might not have chosen to spend time together, to "do" life.  But, by His grace, we have been allowed that privilege.  And I am so grateful, because this group of people has been absolutely essential to our life in Portland.  I can only imagine how empty the past two years would have been without them.

We love our Tabor Villa Family!  ♥ ♥ ♥