Our church recently hosted a church-wide clean. For us, this happened on a Sunday morning – we called it a “Service Service” in anticipation of a new pastor starting. The feedback from participants was “we should do this more often!” It felt great to have all ages take ownership of the building. And truly – we had all ages cleaning together. Projects included washing windows, wiping down walls, rinsing out trash cans, sweeping and dusting. The kids, especially, had fun washing windows and hunting for cobwebs.
To make an event like this successful: make sure to preface the event with a grounding, teaching moment. What is Christ-centered hospitality? How do we create a space where “all are welcome”? Whose church is this anyway? How do we make sure our church building is a space that is warm and welcoming? How is this good stewardship? Why is this important? How can we love and honor God - love and honor each other - and love and honor the community by taking good care of our church building?
Of course, this could be a spring-cleaning event. (There’s something about a spring clean up that feels so good!) But there are so many other possibilities. A church-wide cleaning day before the start of fall programming. Or before big holidays like Christmas and Easter. When tragedy strikes in your community, if your church is hosting a big and heartbreaking funeral, a clean up before the funeral can give your congregation members something to “do”. Host a clean up before you host a big event for the community, or before a week of Day Camp or VBS. Or, plan this event based on the lectionary texts. Gospel texts about stewardship could provide a great and meaningful foundation for an event like this, after or even during a traditional Sunday morning worship time.
Finally, consider a special prayer or blessing, like the one below. Cleaning is great, and intentionally creating a space where “all are welcome” is a holy act. This is faith in action.
Happy Church Cleaning!
A Blessing of this Holy Space
God bless the ground beneath our feet
Bless the floor that collects dust and dirt from our shoes and we come in and go out
God bless all the feet that have come in and go out of this church building.
God bless the chairs and pews on which we sit
Bless the food that crumbles – the coffee and lemonade that spills
Bless all the bodies that stop here to rest and reconnect – with God and with each other.
God bless the walls around us
We pray especially for those who experience a church building as a barrier – a separation – a brick wall that might define who is in and who is out.
May this church be a brave, safe place where all are truly welcome
God bless these windows.
May the light shine in and may this church shine out.
May we share Your light and love with our neighbors and with the world.
God bless the roof over our heads
This roof that protects us from rain, wind, and snow
God protect and bless this church –all who are gathered here today – and those who are with us in Spirit.
God bless our hands and feet as we clean and care for our church building.
Bless our hearts, our minds, our words and actions.
May we welcome the stranger, and care for one another
Bless this building – bless us all – to be a blessing,
In Your holy name,
Amen