The Deep Clean

These I will bring to my holy mountain,
   and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices
   will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
   for all peoples. (Isaiah 56:7)

As a kid, I knew to never utter the words “I’m bored” in our household. These words would be quickly followed by other words, like, “Well, then, I have a job for you!” Then would come the list of all the things that needed to be cleaned or picked up, including but not limited to washing the floors, cleaning the toilets, and organizing my room. I, like most kids, was not the biggest fan of picking up.  

I was lucky to do my internship year in Cairo, Egypt at St. Andrews United Church of Cairo. It was a wonderful place that included both a space to worship and a school for refugees from all over Africa. This was a busy place! There was something going on 7 days a week almost all hours of the day. Then one day, I was informed that the next Saturday we would be doing our yearly cleaning of the church. This was not a day I was looking forward to. Not only was I not a fan of cleaning, but I had also so many other thoughts of how I could spend my time. Yet it was a day I will never forget.

When I came in on that Saturday there were people from all the different congregations that worshiped at St. Andrews. People from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Ex pats from many other countries. The place was buzzing as we worked side by side doing many and various tasks. As I was working, I noticed people talking, laughing, and discovering parts of the church grounds together. I remember having a slow but wonderful conversation with a fellow Sundanese leader describing the churches that we grew up in.  

The next day as the expatriate congregation gathered for worship, I noticed the space in a way I had not in the past. It moved from just a building to my building, I found my ownership

This weekend I am sure you have things going on, but I want to encourage you to take the chance and come work side by side with someone you might not yet know.  See how God will use the time to help you discover your own church and the people we worship with.  It just might be a change you are looking for.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Tim