Dear Rose Park,

On Monday morning I officiated the memorial service for Charles ‘Bud’ Freehouse. If you knew Bud, then you knew he was almost always paired with his beloved bride, Nell. Even their names were synonymous and rolled off the tongue together, ‘Bud & Nell.’ Nell passed away on on April 11, 2021 and Bud passed away on June 8, 2022. They were married for 75 years and then they were apart for 423 days.

Dear Rose Park

This Sunday, June 19, my cousin Tyler Brinks will be ordained as a Minister of Word & Sacrament during morning worship at Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. He graciously asked me to write a charge that his dad, Kevin, will read at the end of the service. I am so grateful to be apart of this service, albeit from a distance. As I wrote the charge for Tyler, I started to reflect on my own ordination and the charge that was read.

Dear Rose Park,

General Synod is both an event and a body of people. The event is a once-a-year gathering that shapes the direction of the denomination. The body of people who gather for the annual event make up one of the four assemblies of the Reformed Church in America. From June 9-14, delegates from around the U.S. and Canada will come together in Pella, Iowa, for General Synod. They will worship together, fellowship, and deliberate and vote on many things related to the RCA’s ministry.

Dear Rose Park,

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19: 13-14)

Dear Rose Park,

It’s a pretty simple message, but we forget it so often. As I left church this past Sunday after worship, I was so glad to be reminded of the simple and yet foundational truth that Jesus loves you.

Dear Rose Park,

My son and daughter love to play; this probably comes as no surprise to you all. They are filled with energy and love to use their imagination. Whether it’s chasing the ‘bad guys’ in the backyard, hosting a tea-party surrounded by their favorite stuffed-animals, or jumping into the pool, Simon and Winnie simply love to play.

Dear Rose Park,

This Saturday I’ll board a plane to Bozeman, Montana by way of Denver, Colorado. I’ll stay with a college friend on Saturday, hear that same college friend preach on Sunday morning, and then drive 5 hours to my final destination of Kalispell, MT. I’ll be there for a week doing work with my doctorate cohort; I’m looking forward to the trip, but packing a suitcase is never fun.

Dear Rose Park,

About a week ago I had lunch with my good friend Eric Peterson. Eric is the pastor at Benjamin’s Hope. If you’re scratching your head trying to think where you know that name from, let me fill you in…

Dear Rose Park,

I love to read; whether it’s the Holland Sentinel, a good novel, a biblical commentary, a memoir or autobiography, poetry, or even a blog. I read something every day and if you’re looking to start that commitment, you might like The Reformed Journal.

Dear Rose Park,

1 Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.