Transitions and Defining Our Being

How would you define yourself?  By what markers do you create the definition of your being?

Welcome to the pondering of my mind today.

Today has been a day of transition.  At Emmanuel we celebrated baccalaureate worship.  Ten of our seniors joined us and we celebrated their transition from high school into their future.  It also happened to be the marking of a big transition for me as well.  Today was my last day as the Director of Youth and Family Ministry for Emmanuel Lutheran Church.  It's funny how we, so often, define ourselves by what we currently do.  For the graduates they had identified themselves for so long as students of our community high school.  For me, I identify myself as a youth minister.

For years and years I've said . . . I am a wife.  I am a mother.  I am a youth minister.

I've enjoyed identifying myself in that manner.  It's been very fitting.  It is what I've been called to be.  The only problem now is that . . . I've identified myself in this way and now one part of that is changing.  I am a wife.  I am a mother.  I am a . . . I can no longer say youth minister.  It's only three weeks until I start my new position at Pilgrim Lutheran Church.  However, it's a different position.  I'll be the Minister of Community Life Formation.  (Look for other blog posts about that.  It's going to take me a bit to figure out exactly what all that means!)  I can no longer identify myself as doing specifically youth ministry.  Now many of you may tell me that it's not that big of a change.  I'm still working for a congregation doing ministry.  However, it's a huge change of focus for me.  It's a huge change of direction for me.  For the past sixteen years I've lived, breathed, walked and spoken "youth ministry."  Now, I am making a big transition.  Don't get me wrong, I am extraordinarily excited about this new direction.  I am beyond anxious to dig into what Community Life Ministry means and what it looks like.  However, for just a moment I am hesitant.  It is a step away from the familiar.  It is a new path with new joys and new challenges.

So for now I'm in a struggle to figure out how to redefine my being.

I think I'll take a lesson from the youth ministry that I have done for so long.  I have always told the children and youth . . . "if you don't remember anything else I have ever taught you remember this, YOU are a loved child of God."  The youth heard this with every confirmation lesson, with every devotion and every youth group meeting.  I seriously ingrained this in their brains :)  Now it's time for me to listen.  As I ponder how to define my being I think I'll start with . . .

I am a loved child of God.

I am a wife.

I am a mother.

 . . . I think I'll figure out the rest along the way.

A Day of Sacraments

When you think of baptism . . . what comes to mind?

A subdued church?

A little baby in a slippery white gown 3 times their own body length?

A bunch of people hoping and praying the baby doesn't scream while they are doused with cold water?

Yeah, those things usually come to my mind too.  However, after our experience this weekend baptism has a whole new face in my mind.  It's all about the powerful water, the Holy words, and the incredible promises being made.  

This weekend "T" and "M^" were baptized.  It certainly wasn't like any baptism I had ever been to before!  It was more like a . . . rainy day, camp chapel, guitar sing-a-long, Godparent circle blessing, kiddos serving communion, peace sharing, heart felt prayers, water splashing, wine flowing, bread breaking, Holy Spirit filling, sacrament day!

The original plan was to do a full immersion lake style baptism for both the girls and "T"s first communion.  However, mother nature had different plans with rain in half our state!  Plans changed quick and in the camp chapel we went.  We had friends from all aspects of our life, teachers from school, dance instructors, Pastors, God parents, cousins, and grandparents. all there to celebrate with us.  There was a palpable presence of the Holy Spirit that day.  

Ultimately all of it boils down to God's promises to "T" and "M^".  God loves them beyond measure. God will always love them beyond measure . . . no matter what.  They are beloved children of God. The beauty of this promise is that it is extended to each of us as well.  Maybe no one has told you, or maybe you've forgotten over the years . . . you are a loved child of God.  For ever and ever, no questions asked, no requirements.  You are God's beloved child!  Amen.

A Quick Hello and a Long Goodbye

Our family's story of transition continues to unfold.  My time with Emmanuel Lutheran Church as Director of Youth and Family Ministry will come to an end as of May 31st.  In early June, we'll head South for a new chapter in our lives.  On June 22nd, I'll begin a new call as Minister of Community Life Formation with Pilgrim Lutheran Church.  As life happens right now, we're all swimming in a milieu of grief, joy, uncertainty and excitement.  As we approach June, our path becomes clearer and the realization of moving is setting in. 

Kevin and I had the joy of visiting our new community back in mid April.  It was a wonderful long weekend filled with opportunities to begin relationships with the congregation I will serve.  Beer and Hymns was jolt of lively music, multitudes of conversation and, of course, some flowing spirits!  Our heads spun with a quick tour of the area and looking through 7 homes that were up for rent.  We found some Holy ground with an invitation to experience one of the congregation's small group communities.  Another day was filled with a tour of the church building, a drive and awesome tour around the area, volunteering at a food drive, a church picnic and some time getting to know the senior pastor and his family.  Whew!  It wasn't even Sunday yet!  Sunday morning brought us to 3 worship services, a CARE team meeting, partner Sunday lunch, a council meeting, conversation with an awesome ESOL teacher, and dinner with the discernment team.  Before we flew home, we also squeezed in tours of the local schools and conversation with their administrators. 

Needless to say . . . a quick hello to the people that will be our community.  We were so blessed to have the opportunity to begin some wonderful relationships and get to know those that we will minister alongside.  Thankfully through this time we were also able to secure a rental home, establish where the girls will be going to school, and get permission to paint my office green!  You may laugh about that last one.  However, those that know me well will understand how important that is ;)  The Burke family is so very excited about the new path in our journey. 

There are two sides to this coin though.  With the excitement of something new there is also the other side of grief and loss of what we're leaving behind.  This is a very long goodbye. 

For the past month and half we've been making plans and tying up loose ends.  While we've been planning this for weeks now, the realism of the goodbyes is hitting us full on now.  A couple weeks ago I resigned my position as chair of Crossways Camping Ministry board.  I had the privilege of serving in leadership with that amazing ministry for the past 4 years.  I will truly miss that ministry and those I grew close to through Crossways.  A long goodbye.  Yesterday the girls had their last dance class with their beloved dance teacher.  They, along with their friends, will light up the stage on Friday night at their end of year recital.  We'll miss our dance family.  A long goodbye.  Last night was the last full night I had with all my 60+ confirmation students.  We played at after school ministry, enjoyed dinner together, fueled our faith and finally worshiped together.  My fitting choice of worship theme, being gathered and sent, really brought on some watery eyes.  It was a blur of tears and hugs at the end as I blessed each individual youth for the last time.  However, there were also many smiles, especially when two awesome boys kept hopping back in line.  I think I blessed them each like ... four times!  A long goodbye. 

It's going to be another four weeks of long goodbyes.  This coming Sunday will be the last of Sunday school for the school year.  In a few weeks, I'll meet with my high school youth for the last time.  The girls will finish school.  We'll move the last box out of our home.  Whoa.  Many long goodbyes. 

In the meantime as we live out this transition I pray ... 

I pray for many warm welcomes and friendly faces. 

          I pray for the new ministry we are blessed to join. 
                   
                    I pray for the teary goodbyes we will say and the people that have touched our lives
                    in ways unimaginable. 

                              I pray for the ministry we have been blessed to be a part of that will undoubted
                              continue to grow and blossom. 

                                        I pray for all of us to live out God's call for our lives! 

Amen.