I first considered waiting until next week to write about this, but most receive the bulletin via email on the Friday before the Sunday it is available in the Foyer. This would be mean that most would get a one day’s reminder of the work day and others would only receive it after the event. As you make your plans for next Saturday, think about the unusual hidden blessings of doing the work ourselves.
Doing it ourselves will mean great attention will be given to details. We could likely hire others to do the work, but it wouldn’t be done as well.
Doing it ourselves provides opportunities to get to know other members better. I distinctly remember getting to know Silas Moses when we worked together with a pressure cleaner on 36th Street more than 20 years ago. While we knew about each other before that day, by the end of that day we knew each other. What if I had failed to come that day—a lost friendship!
Doing it ourselves will be a manifestation of greater love. Consider a mother and a child. She could hire a governess to handle every hard task in rearing the child. The governess could change the dirty diapers, clean up the mess made when the child is sick and be the one who responds to the child’s midnight cries. There is a vast difference between the verbal expression of love from a mother who tends to her child and the one who says the same words, but uses another person to serve the child when he/she needs attention.
Doing it ourselves allows us to get to know people who are not in our immediate circle. How well do teens know our older members or our older members know our teens? How well do those living south or west of the building know those living north or east of it? How well do those who sit on the east side of the auditorium know those who sit on the opposite side of the building?
Doing it ourselves allows families to work side by side in a very special way. It is time for bonding between parents and children and bonding of siblings. Such times will not easily be forgotten.
Doing it ourselves shows those around us how much we care for the church. It will impact those who live next to you when they ask, “Where did you go Saturday? I saw you leave in your work clothes and wondered where you went?” It will impact those around the building. It will impact those who read your Facebook posts about how much fun it was to be together on Saturday. It might also impact those who see photos others post of you working at the building.
Doing it ourselves is such a meaningful way to show the Lord our love for Him. Cleaning will start at 8:00 a.m. and finish by noon. Be there if you can! Show your love to Him!