Exactly 125 years ago, the Christian Reformed Church in Boskoop was instituted. For 125 years, the congregation has been allowed to meet every Sunday to listen to the voice of our Heavenly Father and to be encouraged and built up by Him in faith.
For more than a hundred years, the congregation met in the church on Nieuwstraat in Boskoop. After years of saving up, they were able to move to a new church building on Parklaan in a more central location in Boskoop in 2011. In the hall of the church, a stone was bricked in with the text from Genesis 28 verse 17: "What an awe-inspiring place this is, this is no other than the house of God, this must be the gate of heaven." The name of the church thus became Open Gate. An open gate to heaven for the society and village where this congregation may be church.
"In great gratitude we look back at what God has given us," the scribe reveals. "There were marriages and mourning, baptisms and burials in the congregation. Many were allowed to come to faith and confess this before God and His congregation. Members joined. But it also happened that members left the congregation. Some joined elsewhere, others, to our sorrow, said goodbye to God and His congregation.
That our congregation may celebrate this anniversary is not due to the efforts of people as a crowning achievement. It is entirely due to the faithfulness of our Lord and Saviour, from whom we may be church and congregation. By His faithfulness, we may have a place in our village of Boskoop now and in the future. For ourselves as a congregation and for those around us who do not yet know Him.
On D.V. Saturday 10 May, the anniversary will be celebrated during a festive get-together with the congregation. The following Sunday there will be a special service, during which the Lord God will be thanked for His blessings.
