CHANGES

It's official... my parents are moving.  They've talked about if for months, but now it's really happening.  March 1 is moving day.  They're only moving about a half an hour away from where they currently live, but I have to admit that I've got mixed feelings about the whole thing.  On the one hand, I'm excited for my parents to have a fresh start in a new house.  It's a step toward easing into retirement, a chance to simplify and pare down, a place with fewer steps to negotiate, and an opportunity to get ready for their future, jet-set lifestyle.  But on the other hand, their move has me feeling a little unsettled.  Our family moved to that house when I was in the fourth grade.  I have a lot of memories attached to it and the neighborhood it's in.  It's strange to think that when I go to visit Mom and Dad from now on I won't be going "home" anymore, I'll be going to my parent's house.   Change can be very unsettling, even if it's good change and the right time to do it.  I'm sure that I was a major change and disruption in my parents' life when they brought me home from the hospital as a screaming, needy, little baby... but I'm sure glad they did!  And is was a huge, scary change in our life when my wife and I loaded up a moving van in Nebraska five and a half years ago to follow a call to start new jobs and a new life here in Wisconsin... but I'm sure glad we did it!   And change can be a little unsettling to us now as a congregation as we start to put together a plan for our future.  Big changes are coming to the area as our part of the Town of Burke gradually becomes a new neighborhood in the City of Madison.  And things are changing in our congregation as we continue to grow in membership, worship attendance, financial resources, and our sense of God's calling.  It's clear that there are big changes on the horizon for Burke Lutheran Church and that's both exciting and unsettling... exciting to have new possibilities for the growth of our ministry and unsettling to think that maybe our church home won't feel like "home" anymore.   Be at peace!  Though many changes will come to Burke Lutheran in future years, the love of God will be constant through God's people here.  It's God's love that makes a church a church home.  You see, I realized that even though my parents are moving, I'll still be able to go home.  The house may be different, but because the people who are in it love me, I'll be home.  And it's the same with your church home at Burke Lutheran, no matter what changes come to our neighborhood or our ministry or the building, there will always be people here who love you and because of that, Burke will continue to be your church home... no matter what.   So, even though I have mixed feelings about the whole thing, I'm taking a few days off next month to help my parents move to their new house... because the time is right and I know it's a good thing.  I hope you'll do the same here at Burke... even if you have mixed feelings, roll up your sleeves and help us move forward.  The time is right and it's a good thing!

Peace,

Pastor Russ burkepastor@tds.net

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