Ministers Desk 27 November 2011

As you have probably noticed, much of the church building has been painted in recent weeks.  This is part of a long term maintenance schedule that ensures proper stewardship of our building and equipment.  My thanks are expressed to the numerous people who have been involved in many aspects of preparation work.  People would be amazed at the many jobs that were necessary so that the painters could do their part.  I particularly want to thank Trevor Battley for coordinating everything that has happened.  It is a tribute to his work that an excellent job has been done and with little inconvenience or disruption.  In future years the remainder of the painting will be completed.

Now that the building has been freshened up, it is our responsibility to keep it looking as good as possible.  We can do this in four ways.

First, is to ensure that we respect and protect the building.  We do this by not taking it for granted, but minimising the normal wear and tear that any large, often used building experiences. 

Second, is that we take personal responsibility for maintaining the cleanliness and tidiness of the building.  Put things back to where they belong when you have finished with them and throw rubbish away. 

Thirdly, we can share together in maintaining the building by being part of the cleaning roster or grounds roster, or by joining the Thursday working group, or by taking on a particular job.  These are not onerous or time consuming tasks, but they are essential.  In less than two hours I am able to vacuum the church. 

Fourthly, we recognise that the maintenance work that has been undertaken in the last couple of years has eaten significantly into our financial reserves, as was intended.  However, we now need to enter into a time a rebuilding those reserves.  Please continually consider your financial response to God’s grace and remember that the financial support of the congregation is our responsibility.

In the book of Exodus we read of instructions that God gave the Israelites regarding the building and equipping of the Tent of Meeting.  Time after time we read of people who gave generously of the best that they had, both in materials and time.  They gave because they responded to a God who had called them to be his own people.  Admittedly, the church building does not play the same role in our faith as the Temple/Tent of Meeting did for the Israelites.  Yet, it is a sign of our response to God that we steward the resources that have been entrusted to us to fulfil God’s mission.  Our building and equipment are tools to use for mission.  They are tools that have been passed onto us by previous generations, in turn we are to pass them onto future generations.  Please share in this task in the ways that God calls you.