Wednesdays are chapel days at Christ School. Lunch is followed by an hour long chapel service including singing, prayer and a message. Cell groups, where students discuss what they’ve heard with a staff member facilitating, come next.

This week’s chapel was both the first of the new year and the last for the Bartkovich family. Kevin, JD and their firstborn, Joe, all attended. Madame Betty, our deputy headmaster for students, was the MC – she did a beautiful job as usual. Betty has the grace of a woman, the easy control of a mother, and the intelligence of a very smart teacher. She has also risen to this second-in-command-position under Kevin’s empowering leadership, a remarkable thing in a place where women are so little valued.

There were speeches from students and staff, songs to say farewell, hilarious short skits, and a history of the school from Kevin. David made a short appearance as “incoming headmaster” to cheers from students, who seem remarkably unflustered by it all.

I was invited up to lay hands on JD as the deputy headmaster for staff (Peter Were) prayed over the family. A few minutes later as the Christ School girls sang farewell to each family member by name, the tears which I have held for so long threatened to irreversably begin. What a crazy strange time for us as we enter the excitement of beginning our roles as parents of Christ School yet mourn the loss of the Bartkoviches. Perhaps this was a little how Joshua felt as he succeeded Moses. We want them to stay, want to keep them with us; yet to move into what God has called us to they must go. It’s a difficult paradox.