Hope Park Church

Having lived for 2-4 years in a few places now, I’ve come to realize how long of a time those years can be, and how important it is to spend those years in a church that I love.  And, whether it’s due to the variety of places that I’ve lived, or to my appreciation for a church’s focus on the basics of the gospel, I’ve attended a variety of churches as numerous as that of the places in which I’ve lived.  From the Roman Catholic Church(s) of my childhood to Reformed Baptist to C&MA to Anglican to Russian Orthodox to Berean Ministries to Sovereign Grace Ministries to Evangelical Free to the beautiful all-in-one Mount Republic Chapel of Peace. 

Perhaps these church/denomination names mean nothing to you.  Honestly, they don’t mean much to me, either.  What does mean a lot to me though, is the kind of people I encounter within the walls, their love for the Lord, their love for His Word, the love those people have for the world around them, and the humility with which the people express their understanding of “biblical truth.”  In reading the Gospels, I get the sense that these were some important things for Jesus as well.

Throughout my travels, I’ve also come to realize that, while the first church I go to in a certain place might be a great option, equally as often it’s the last church that I go to that ends up capturing my heart.  Such was the case in my arrival here in St Andrews. 

I spent the first 2.5 months going to every church in town, hoping for a taste of each of them and also determining where the Lord might be able to use me the most.  Finally, in mid-November I found my match.

Welcome to Hope Park Church, which is part of the historic Church of Scotland.  Isn’t it beautiful?

So why Hope Park?

I know of 11 churches here in St Andrews.  Before coming to Hope Park I had been to 7 of them and knew at least something about 10 of the 11.  Hope Park was unknown to everyone I knew.  And so my curiosity was naturally aroused and I went to discover its secrets for myself.

It didn’t take long to figure out why no one knew anything about it.

On my first Sunday there, and every Sunday since, the “youth” include an 8 year old boy, and me.  That is, unless we can include the handful of people who are approximately 40-55.  They are probably considered “youthful” by the majority of the congregation who has an average age of approximately 73-75. 

And I thought I was filling a void at Mount Republic Chapel of Peace!

Sometimes I can’t help but smile as I look around the congregation on a Sunday morning, and all I can see are heads (all a bit lower than mine, especially when I’m wearing my boots!) with short hair of only two varieties, or heads with no hair at all!  Canes dangle at the end of pews, walkers are propped against the walls.  Only myself and a few of the “youthful” wear jeans. The only musical instrument is the organ, played by a gifted musician of many years.  They only sing hymns, and no matter how long it is, they never skip a stanza.  These are my kind of people.

There are no small children, no teenagers, no (other) students, no young adults, and only a handful of middle-aged adults.  And would you guess that I felt more at home on that first Sunday after only a few brief moments than I had felt at any of the other previously visited churches here in St Andrews?  

I don’t yet know what my involvement in the church will look like over the course of the next three years, but I do know that I will assist in trying to “regain a youthful presence” in the congregation (whatever that means), will be (and already am) part of the Pins and Needles group (loosely translated: me and 15 women of the previously described variety who sit around and knit and sew every other Monday evening!), and hopefully will be used by God on a number of levels in the individual lives of these people 2-3 times my age. 

Isn’t it beautiful?  Simple, but elegant.  The minister stands at that pulpit (where the cross banner is) elevated over the congregation.  If only Cooke City had a pulpit like it…

There is much more I could say about this church and these people, but I am confident that plenty more will come anon.