Dear Rose Park,
You may have noticed that a new door has been purchased and installed on the north side of church. Once the glass is finished and installed, it will complete a more welcoming and hospitable main entrance. A few days ago, I was standing near the new door and talking with Ken Beltman when I was reminded of Psalm 100.
Ken looked at me and said, “can you imagine how many people have entered through this doorway over the years?” I thought about it for a second and realized that would be a very, very large number. Even later in the day, I was still thinking about. I can’t even imagine how many people have crossed the threshold of that door for a variety of reasons: Sunday morning worship, weddings, funerals, graduation open houses, Family Table meals, GEMS & Cadets, youth group fundraisers, prayer meetings, consistory trainings, classis meetings, Tuesday morning work crews, exercise classes, service projects, and so many more.
For nearly 70 years men, women, and children have passed through that doorway and been welcomed to Rose Park Reformed Church. As I considered this simple and yet profound entryway, I was reminded of Psalm 100.
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
5 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. This new door might not technically be a gate, but it certainly serves as a gateway to a place of worship. It certainly serves as an entryway to give praise and thanksgiving to God. It certainly serves as an entryway to give witness to the Lord’s goodness, His enduring love, and His faithfulness to all generations.
Perhaps the next time you enter the church you’d consider how many footsteps you’re following in and how this entryway welcomes you into the house of God at Rose Park.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark
Photo by Elimende Inagella on Unsplash