“The List”

Almost everyone knows what it's like to prepare for a house sitter. Although “The List” is probably more often sent via email or text, I still remember taking care of a neighbors' houses or apartments in the days when one would walk into the kitchen and find on the counter several sheets of paper delineating the tasks: take in mail, water plants, how to run appliances (often with detailed descriptions of the workarounds for loose knobs and latches, leaks, balky locks, etc), take out and bring in garbage cans. And so on.

I am finding that preparing to retire as pastor at MBPPC has a kind of “house sitter list” of its own. So this week, well in advance of September 7th, I want to list some of those proverbial household chores in hopes that some volunteers might step up to take care of them. Here is my list:

• Open and close the sanctuary on Sundays (detailed instructions available)

• Change the seasonal paraments (banners) on the pulpit and lectern

• Change the church sign on Tuesdays

• Prepare the Communion elements

• Replace holy water in font

• Arrange Bibles and hymnals in pews and racks on Sunday mornings

• Launder the tablecloths on the two tables where the Communion cups are set (monthly, or when stained)

• Arrange (or, more often, rearrange) chairs and tables in Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings

• Pick up trash around church grounds

I will be showing our ruling elders how to do these things so that they can pass on the knowledge to volunteers. However, this transition will go even more smoothly if you want to volunteer for a task above, and have me show you how to do it over the summer.

Any takers?

In Christ,

Lee