MOVING DAY! Can any two words hold more excitement and anxiety at the same time? [Well, maybe “Wedding Day”, but that is a different subject altogether.] But back to moving. June is the month, and the 20th is the day that is being targeted for us to begin moving into our new building! (If this changes we will let you know.) The day we have long anticipated is finally here and we offer up our “hallelujah,” “praise the Lord” or other exclamations of joy. It is finally MOVING DAY!

          Now that you have settled down from your celebration say those two words over again, this time very slowly. M-O-V-I-N-G  D-A-Y-! See what I mean. As exciting as those two words are, they also bring about much anxiety. Yes, we are excited because a day long planned for is finally here. There is much anticipation because we get to move into a new place that is full of possibilities and potential. But it is also a day that brings adjustments and hard work. For we all know that along with the excitement of moving to a new location comes hours of packing and unpacking, arranging and re-arranging furniture, deciding what goes where and who gets which room, sorting what you need right now from what can be kept in a box until later (when you actually need it or have the energy to finally put it away).

          Remember the times you have moved. Remember all the discussions of what it would be like to have new surroundings, a new neighborhood, a fresh start. But also remember how much uncertainty accompanied that move. Questions like: Can we afford it? What will the neighbors be like? Where are the stores, schools and parks? Yes, moving is a mixed blessing, but it is worth it or we wouldn’t do it at all. Whatever was lost or given up in making a move was more than offset by the benefits of change. Remember all the times you have moved, and realize that whatever that was like for your family will now be happening to this church family--only multiplied!

          Yes, for our congregation it is moving day, and there is both excitement and anxiety. What rooms will each ministry or age group occupy? Do we have enough tables and chairs? What will it be like to worship in the new fellowship hall during the summer while the main entrance and lobby area are remodeled, and the entire main floor receives a sprinkler system? What will Frank and George do now that we have a self-operating elevator? Who will (and won’t) get keys? These and many more questions await us as we make this move. But it is exciting because this is what we have prayed and planned for all these years. And I know we can handle the anxiety and uncertainties because we are family and we know there will be many adjustments to be made. In fact, just so we’ll all be prepared, we really are facing two moves. Our June move is just temporary, and then we’ll get to do it all again in August when the remodeling of our original building will be complete.

          So here’s what we all need to know for now:

• We are planning our first worship service in the new fellowship hall for June 26;
• We need lots of help boxing up materials, supplies and books starting June 13;
• We need lots of help moving (almost) everything into the new building before June 25;
• Any assignments of rooms made now are just for the summer and then we’ll make new assignments for fall when we have access to all the rooms in the basement;
• For VBS August 8-12 we should be able to use all classrooms in the entire building;
• We are scheduled to be back in the full building for worship after August 21;
• Not everything will be perfect, but we can be positive and give thanks for what we do have;
• Pray for the finances to remain strong, and for God’s provision to pay for the building;
• Pray for the ministry opportunities that this building will provide;
• Pray for the lives that will be changed by Christ’s Gospel;
• “Be Flexible and Be Patient!”

          It’s almost MOVING DAY! Are you excited? Let’s all joyfully work together to make this a great moment in the history of Gladstone Christian Church!