Dear Rose Park,
Admittedly, I would not describe myself as “handy.” I’ve grown in my skills and knowledge when it comes to projects and plans, but it certainly doesn’t come natural. For example, during the height of the pandemic I was able to watch enough YouTube videos and read enough articles to build a table for our backyard and a bench for our entryway. I feel a bit more confident when it comes to power-tools and wood, but the projects and maintenance of the lawn still evade me.
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,
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.
