Dear Rose Park,
Location, location, location. We often hear this phrase when it comes to real estate, reminding us of the importance of the location of a home when considering purchasing. However, this dynamic goes far beyond real estate; place plays a particularly important role to our growth and maturation process. Whether it’s your childhood home, your hometown, your high school campus, or even your home church, place plays a foundational role as to who we are and who we grow to be.
For me, one of those places is Dimnent Memorial Chapel on the campus of Hope College. Dimnent was the place my faith truly came alive while attending Hope. It was the place where I proposed to Sam, and it was the place where we were eventually married. It was also the place I stood Saturday afternoon. A few minutes after 4:30 p.m. I processed into the sanctuary with colleagues anticipating graduating from Western Theological Seminary.
As I processed with my colleagues down the center aisle, I was reminded yet again of the power of place. Dimnent Memorial Chapel is the place where my faith traveled from my head to my heart. It was the place where I worshipped regularly in some of my most formative years. It was the place where the body and blood of Christ were graciously offered every single week. It was also the place where I first felt the inkling of a call to be a pastor. And so, as I sat in the pew and participated in the graduation liturgy, I was filled with joy to be your pastor. I was filled with gratitude for all your support to me and my family through this doctoral process. I thought of you all, I prayed for you all, and I lifted you all up before God.
I hope you have a place like this, where heaven and earth kiss. I hope you have a place that is soaking with memories of God’s faithfulness and love. I hope you have a place that draws you closer to God and to the church. I hope you have a place that fills you with gratitude and joy. Perhaps it’s a place in nature or even the sanctuary of Rose Park, wherever it is I hope you go there regularly to be reminded of God’s tremendous love and faithfulness to you.
Thank you, Rose Park.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark