Spring Cleaning
Call me odd if you’d like, but I like spring cleaning. I’m not much
for the routine household maintenance of vacuuming or doing dishes, but
once those daffodils start to break forth from the frozen ground, get me
a dust rag and mop!
I’m not sure what primal instinct triggers my need to rearrange the china cupboard and check all of the expiration dates on the old salad dressings in the fridge, but really, top to bottom, room to room, there is something redemptive about spring cleaning.
At the Seder, Jewish families hide the Afikomen, a broken piece of Matzo, which the children find at the end of the meal. Similarly, in our Christian tradition, we hide Easter eggs for children to seek. In spring cleaning, I wish there was a prize for locating the biggest dust bunny, but for me, the true prize is the liberating feeling of getting rid of things that are no longer useful and taking care of the things that are to be treasured.
I wonder what our churches would look like if we did some serious spring cleaning? Yes, I’m sure some Sunday school drawers could be decluttered and the choir robes could use a good ironing. But aside from the physical upkeep, I wonder what it would look like to spring clean our missions and ministries. Are there committees whose shelf life have expired? Projects that were once started but stalled and are now taking up precious space in our common life? Jesus tells the disciples to shake the dust from their sandals (Matthew 10:14). Perhaps this is the season for us to shake off the dust from all of our “because we’ve always done it that way” routines, and to examine what can be discarded and what deserves to be cared for and treasured.
Sparking Ministry Conversations
On Earth Day, we are reminded to be stewards of God’s creation. In what ways are we being good stewards of the resources of our congregations? Are there ministries of our churches that need to be recycled, rebirthed or retained with new luster?
About the Author
Rev. Holly MillerShank is the Ministerial, Excellence, Support and Authorization Team leader. This April, aside from spring cleaning, she’s also excited about the upcoming Strengthen the Church Offering, which supports new and renewing churches as well as ministerial formation
I’m not sure what primal instinct triggers my need to rearrange the china cupboard and check all of the expiration dates on the old salad dressings in the fridge, but really, top to bottom, room to room, there is something redemptive about spring cleaning.
At the Seder, Jewish families hide the Afikomen, a broken piece of Matzo, which the children find at the end of the meal. Similarly, in our Christian tradition, we hide Easter eggs for children to seek. In spring cleaning, I wish there was a prize for locating the biggest dust bunny, but for me, the true prize is the liberating feeling of getting rid of things that are no longer useful and taking care of the things that are to be treasured.
I wonder what our churches would look like if we did some serious spring cleaning? Yes, I’m sure some Sunday school drawers could be decluttered and the choir robes could use a good ironing. But aside from the physical upkeep, I wonder what it would look like to spring clean our missions and ministries. Are there committees whose shelf life have expired? Projects that were once started but stalled and are now taking up precious space in our common life? Jesus tells the disciples to shake the dust from their sandals (Matthew 10:14). Perhaps this is the season for us to shake off the dust from all of our “because we’ve always done it that way” routines, and to examine what can be discarded and what deserves to be cared for and treasured.
Sparking Ministry Conversations
On Earth Day, we are reminded to be stewards of God’s creation. In what ways are we being good stewards of the resources of our congregations? Are there ministries of our churches that need to be recycled, rebirthed or retained with new luster?
About the AuthorRev. Holly MillerShank is the Ministerial, Excellence, Support and Authorization Team leader. This April, aside from spring cleaning, she’s also excited about the upcoming Strengthen the Church Offering, which supports new and renewing churches as well as ministerial formation
Dear Rev, Miller/Shank,
ReplyDeleteYour piece was very readable and contains a very important lesson. Thank You
In Service to God and Country,
Rev. Edgar S. Welty, Jr., UCC
aka Chaplain (Capt.) Edgar S. Welty, Jr., USV/A
and Spec. Five Welty, HQ Co. 18th. Eng. Bde. U.S. Army, 1976-1980