Some people think running a church is about Sunday sermons, potluck dinners, and choir practice. Sweet souls. They’ve clearly never tried to calculate the sheer number of man-hours it takes to keep the building and grounds in good working order.
First, we’ve got the maid and her daughter. They sweep, scrub, and polish every other week. While doing so, they’re on the lookout for a broken this or that. They find new things that need fixing each visit. Without them, we’d be holding services in a sea of crumbs, coffee stains, and smears on every flat surface. That’s at least ten hours a month right there.
Next, there’s the small army of handymen. And by “army,” I mean the pastor with a toolbox, his trusty hammer, and a willingness to crawl under and over things most sane people wouldn’t. Add in the ever-present “consulting crew” of church elders who lean on the doorframe and offer advice, such as, “Get the level, that’s not straight.” We’ll call that infinite hours, because the repairs never end. A chip here, a ding there, and mysterious stains that appear out of thin air.
Then there are the volunteers. Bless them as they’re out there watering grass that resists being green, coaxing ancient roses to bloom again, and working to make the little house in the back livable again. They spend hours, even days, kneeling in flower beds, trying to keep weeds from achieving sainthood through sheer persistence.
And don’t forget the parishioners. They’re wonderful at quietly pointing out what’s broken. “Did you notice that spot on the carpet? Also, the toilet handle is loose. And by the way, the picture over the Keurig looks like it’s tilting to the left.” Sometimes they even fix things themselves! But most times, they just add to the list. Either way, they’re a huge part of the equation.
The pastor’s wife handles everything else. All the banking, bills, and communications when needed. She is the face and voice of our church. Gracious and lovely in every way, she’s the first to offer a welcoming hug and words of encouragement. Married decades, she supports our Pastor when he needs encouragement, as all pastors do. Together, they run a tight ship.
Of course, there’s also Ray. Or at least the ghost of Ray, who lives on in our hearts and occasionally seems to rattle around the building, reminding us how much he used to fix, tighten, patch, and mend. He set the bar high, and now in his absence, we hear him whispering, “The Keurig needs water and the fridge is a big smudged.” Thanks, Ray. We miss you.
So, when you add it all up, how many man hours does it take to maintain a church?
Answer: all of them. Every single one. From sunrise to sunset, and probably a few after midnight, someone is sweeping, hammering, pruning, fertilizing, watering, or tightening a bolt.
But you know what? It’s a labor of love. Because while things may get chipped, dinged, stained, squeaky, and occasionally over-watered, it’s the very hands of the maid, pastor, volunteer, parishioner (and yes, Ray) that keep the place standing tall and ready for another Sunday.
Besides, where else can you get a free workout plan that includes scrubbing, hammering, hauling mulch, and climbing ladders while laughing with friends? We call it The Church Challenge, available at a sanctuary near you!
More tomorrow!
