Dear Rose Park,

This past Monday, I went on a field trip with Simon’s first grade class. A few minutes after 9:00am, the three first grade teachers, along with an army of volunteers, led their students on a short walk to the north branch of Herrick District Library on Riley St. It was a beautiful morning and a lovely walk. Simon introduced me to a few of his friends who tried to inform me about a video game called Minecraft (I still have no idea what it is). As we sat down in the gathering area of the library and were introduced to the librarians, I was reminded of Acts 2 and thought of you all.

Dear Rose Park,

Easter has come and gone. Lilies have been ordered, received, and taken home. Chocolate bunnies are now on clearance. Leftover ham is being used for cold sandwiches. Our Easter pastels have been relegated back into the closet and now we’re left with the question: what do we do now?

Dear Rose Park,

Today is the Wednesday of Holy Week. Holy Week invites us to journey alongside Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane to a betrayal, an arrest, a public trial, a horrid crucifixion on the cross, and eventually to a grave. Ultimately, Holy Week invites us to consider our own mortality and need for a Savior by pointing us to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Dear Rose Park,

This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is the day where we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. This year at Rose Park, Palm Sunday marks the day where we welcome and celebrate new members joining the family of Rose Park. But it also marks the day that begins Holy Week where Jesus will be betrayed, arrested, tried, persecuted, crucified, and buried. Needless to say, Holy Week is an emotionally heavy week.

Dear Rose Park,

Last Saturday, we gathered in the sanctuary to celebrate and remember the life of Carlene Hartman. Carlene was a staple in the Rose Park family, and she will be dearly missed. But thanks to one of her favorite flowers, her memory is going to stick around for quite some time.

Dear Rose Park,

The Worship Sourcebook describes the season of Lent using these words: as a period of preparation, Lent has historically included the instruction of persons for baptism and profession of faith; the calling back of those who have become estranged from the church; and efforts by all Christians to deepen their piety, devotion, and readiness to mark the death and resurrection of their Savior.

Dear Rose Park,

Some of you might remember Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken” from high school English class. To jog your memory, it’s the poem that beings, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…” Frost uses the metaphor of a traveler in the woods choosing one path over the other to explore the impact of decisions in our lives.

Dear Rose Park,

4 times. 4 different phone calls. 4 different families. 4 different emails sent to the congregation. 4 times in 11 days, we were notified of a death in the Rose Park family. It’s been a tough stretch. It’s been a harsh reminder of our mortality and the fragility of life. And yet, as we’re in the season of Lent, it’s also a call to remember resurrection.

Dear Rose Park,

There’s a lot of symbolism in the bible. For example, any time scripture mentions water, it’s a safe bet there’s a connection to baptism. Any time scripture mentions fire, it’s a safe bet there’s a connection to the Holy Spirit. This symbolism isn’t limited to physical things, it also includes numbers. There are seven days of creation, seven churches listed in Revelation, and seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. There are twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles, and Jacob even had twelve sons. Needless to say, biblical numbers are important.

Dear Rose Park,

As many of you know, I enjoy listening to audiobooks. Every morning, when I take our two dogs Rudy & Rosie out for a walk, I’ll pop in my headphones and listen to an audiobook for 30 to 40 minutes. Lately, I’ve been listening to Dare to Lead by Brene Brown. Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she specializes in the fields of courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. As the two dogs and I braved the cold, I heard a phrase from Brene and thought of you all.