Transitions 1 – PA!
Over the course of the last few months, I’ve had the occasional email or comment asking, essentially, “What’s going on?” This question has usually been in response to a comment I made about taking some risks or contemplating an adventure or something else of that nature.
After lots of thought, prayer, and conversation regarding a variety of opportunities that have presented themselves over the last year, my family and I have indeed decided to embark upon something of an adventure. “Something” in that it’s not that dramatic or perhaps even adventuresome :), but definitely represents a change for us: we’re moving to Pennsylvania.
We are doing this for several reasons. First, after 13 wonderful years in Minnesota, we are eager to be closer to our families. We have found a home in Kennett Square PA where we will be just about an hour from my parents and a little over two from three of my four siblings and all of my wife’s family. We can’t wait to be closer to siblings, parents, grandparents, and cousins, and to be more regularly a part of their lives.
Second, our parents aren’t getting any younger. (Neither are we, of course!) And we would like to be closer to them to offer the support we can and to afford our children a chance to develop closer relationships with their grandparents while there is time.
Third, this is a good time for our kids to move. They are currently going into 8th and 10th grades and as much as they love their current school and friends, they are eager for this adventure and we didn’t want to move them during their junior or senior years in high school.
Fourth, it’s now possible to work in a variety of capacities from a distance, and my wife and I will both be “taking our jobs with us.” Karin will continue in her work as the firm administrator of a wonderful IP law firm in Minneapolis, doing her work remotely and travelling to the office a few times a year. And I have signed a transition agreement with Luther Seminary by which I will continue teaching at Luther for several years. Next year I will commute to St. Paul during the fall semester, teach intensive residential courses in January and June, and an online course in the spring. The following year I will be on sabbatical. After sabbatical I will relinquish my tenure and move to a contract position and split my time between teaching and overseeing some of the grants and other programs I’ve administered for the next two years. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue some of the work that I’ve started at Luther and glad to afford the school time to plan for transitions in leadership and responsibility in some of the areas in which I’ve been involved.
Fifth, I’m eager to “mix things up” a bit and so will try to arrange my life in PA in a way that affords me more time to write as well as to explore some other possibilities for advancing a different vision of the life of faith and the church in a changed and changing world. (I’ll share a little more about that in a future blog post as things become clearer.)
We’re excited about this move, eager for the change and challenges ahead, can’t wait to be closer to our families, and extremely grateful for the support of our colleagues, friends, and employers. It’s been a challenging and exciting time these last several months as we’ve tried to discern and plan for what we hope and believe is God’s preferred future for us. Thank you for the inquiries and prayers during this time. And given that I suspect that both those words – challenging and exciting – will likely describe the next couple of months as well, I’d covet your continued prayers as we embark on this little adventure. Thanks so very much.
Post image: a picture of the Brandywine River that lends its name to the Brandywine River Valley in which Kennett Square sits.
Happy to have you in our back yard. I am a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lionville/Exton Pa, about a 35 minute drive from Kennett Square. I send your “in the meantime” devotions out to members of our church every day. We would love to have you come worship with us sometime.
My Son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren children live in Kennett Square and I bring the three grandchildren to my church for Sunday School and worship.
Let me know if I can help you with any local knowledge.
Thanks so much, Lou. I grew up in Lancaster so moving to PA is something of a homecoming, but this area is relatively new to me and I appreciate the invitation and offer of help!
My mom’s side of the family grew up there, and I have to pass along her words of the area: Hope you like mushrooms!
Don’t know if they still are a mushroom hub, but she always spoke so fondly of the area, it is really cool to hear that not only can you make the move to fulfill several aspects of your future, but that you and Karin can remain and transition where needed in your vocations. Sometimes it is so amazing, this technology. Cheers and prayers on the upcoming new adventure!
Welcome to SE Pennsylvania, David! It’s a different flavor of Lutheranism here – not necessarily better, just different – with a lot of folks struggling to think through the directions the church needs to take in this post-modern age. I’m also a transplant -from Canada by way of Florida. And I found a wife in Lancaster many years ago!
Best wishes as you follow your dream and vocation. Your posts here and articles on the Working Preacher website continue to inspire, educate and challenge. I hope this is part of what you will retain.
May God continue to bless you as a blessing to others
Rod.
Change is good, David. It keeps us fresh. The Kennett Square community and the greater PA is going to be truly blessed. It was good seeing you here in CA at the Sierra Pacific Synod assembly, and ten days later in Nashville. Keep up the good work!! You are a blessing to us.
You quoted The Message in an interview, “Live out your God-created identity.”(Matt.5:48), which is part of what you are doing, but you’re also following the direction to “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”(Luke 8:39)
May God bless and keep you in this new part of your journey.
Dr. Lose. You are an inspiration and guide to so many of us. May God bless you and your family in this new adventure.
Many blessings, David, to you and your family. What an adventure! I trust you will continue to blog and write and challenge our thinking. Come back to California sometime, too.
David, What YOU do matters. Your willingness to share your insight, the depth of your faith, your creative curiosity through Working Preacher, this blog and your books have added a refreshing spiritual breeze and new inspiration to my ministry as I enter my 60s. Thank you for your online presence, honesty and encouragement. Although known only through the Internet, you have definitely blessed me. God bless your new adventure, the family who goes with you and the family to whom you go.
Although I intend to add my own comment, I felt I wanted to endorse Rich’s comment because it says so much of how I feel and where I am also in ministry.
I’m a bit verklempt! Your engagement and presence in our community will be missed, but I’m glad for you and your family. Looking forward to many more years of your faithful and thought provoking work. Peace. Tom
I have appreciated your work in so many ways: reading and discussing your books with groups in our church, listening to you in seminars and workshops, counting on your insights through Working Preacher, and waiting each day for the broad expanse of ideas that come through In the Meantime. Wherever you are, in PA, in MN, in flight, or on the road, please continue to do the fine work that enriches the faith of so many who are blessed by your wisdom and creativity.
Thank you, thank you, for stretching the reach of my horizons!
God bless you and your family in this transition time- the exciting and challenging both! Glad to hear you will continue the blog and, I hope, Dear Working preacher at least for a time. Enjoy!
David, Blessings and traveling mercies for your move to PA (my birth state!). I’m reminded of my own family’s similar move to Michigan when our kids were a freshman (woman?) and sophomore. We, too, treated the move as an adventure and it has proven – some fifteen years later – to have been an “excellent adventure,” indeed!
David, like others, I have noted the undertones of change in your posts in recent times. I am an occasional lay leader/preacher in a small congregation and I crave and love your daily posts. The last four days without a post almost sent me into major withdrawal. I pray for you and your family during this time of transition and I, like others, pray you will continue to feed and nourish so many others through this site and your other works. God bless and keep you and your family.
Wow! You are going back to PA. Now you’ll have to learn to say “yous guys” all over again. And just think you’ll only be about 30 miles from where my son has just (this past Sunday) been called to St. Mark’s in Conshohocken, PA. Anyway, as one born and raised in Bloomsburg, PA, I’m glad you are able to “go home.” Blessings to you and your continued work in the Kingdom.
David,
We refer to the same devotional, I see. I have been serving as interim at St. Mark’s, Conshy since January 2012. I will meet Bryan for the first time this coming Sunday. I am proud of this congregation for its bold vote for a new future.
David, the beauty of virtual conversation is that no matter where you go, you are still in touch with your readers. Your thoughts have helped me construct many Sunday sermons. Thank you again for that. A Lutheran pastor, who had served over 30 years in one parish before retiring, gave me some wonderful advice about the transitioning of life. (I am 65 and made some transitions to take care of my family.) The wonderful pastor told me that “now, I had a new ministry – to take care of my family.” It stunned me a little to hear that. God be with you in your new transition to be with family.
Dear David,
I am very grateful and excited for the changes you and your family are embarking on. peace and blessings to you and your loved ones.
aris
I just want to wish you and your family the very best as you embark on this new journey.
As a PK and a pastor now, I pray for your kids in their move as I know it can be difficult, I pray for you and your wife in this time as I have lived that it can be trying and I give thanks to God for all you are and will be in your newness.
Many thanks, David, for your daily inspiration and opening up places to your readers that simply would not have been found without your pointing us in a direction. You have enriched my life, and many others, through your writings and great questions. I so appreciate you and the ministry you bring to all who read your blog and other creative efforts. I sincerely hope and pray that you are able (willing) to continue with the …in the Meantime blog.
Moving forward, may God’s peace be with you and your family as you transition to PA and whatever ministry is calling to you. Our prayers travel with you.
Tis the season for transition! Our family is praying for you and your family. I hope that we will find a time soon for conversation. I fondly recall a few days of conversation together in 2000 when we were last in transition. I remain a huge fan.
I pray you will find this new road straight and a blessing to walk. I look forward to seeing the fruits of this new direction in your ministry.
Blessings, David, on your transition. Eager to hear more of what is ahead for you and how it all unfolds.
Bless you, David, and your family in this time of transition. Sounds like you will be keeping busy, but in a new setting. Many prayers ascending on your behalf. Thank you for all that you do for the Kingdom!
Your work and words have given me much inspiration and encouragment. Even though I am Presbyterian, your teachings and insight have not been demoninational, but about all of us being the body of Christ. God has blessed you with so many gifts–thank you for sharing them with us! God will surely continue to bless you so that you may be a blessing to others.
God’s blessings on your new adventures. You truly are an inspiration for me in ministry (I’m starting to use your ideas of engagement with the text before Sunday by posting a question on Facebook..it’s amazing to see those in the pew start making connections from faith to daily life.)
Jeremy Pedersen, MDIV ’11
Awesome! Congrats, and have fun on the adventure!
We moved back to Ohio for similar reasons in 1998. Lots of reasons it was a good move… mostly that my kids got to know their grandparents and we move from Indianapolis to a town of 20,000. Blessings on it all. Enjoy enjoy! AND you will be closer to OHIO. I’m in the NEOS now.
If you are doing an event – publicize it!!!
Hoping you keep this blog going so we know what is up with you. Will miss you on Sermon Brainwave – can’t you please call it in???
Peace!
Your blog, contributions to Sermon Brainwave and scholarship are a gift to me and to the whole church. i am an active participant in a weekly text study with colleagues, and have always appreciated your insights and encouragement as an important part of my sermon preparation.
I too am in transition. I began a new call in November and my family will be moving into a parsonage (first time for us) in July. May this liminal time be joyful, restful and the beginning of a great new adventure.
P.S. I was ordained with Chris Scharen-and we miss him very much here in the New England Synod. I hope you make it to CT sometime.
Pax Christi
It was wonderful to have you lead our clergy conference (Winnipeg) last year. You led with much grace and wisdom. I have no doubt your future will bring you joy and happiness. I am, somewhat selfishly, looking forward to return to regularly posting. Peace and joy for you and your family.