Weekend Reflections - Clean and Prep Day 11-3-07

Saturday morning was exciting. Without much promotion the first clean up and prep day at Lee Memorial was well attended and everyone worked together to accomplish a great deal of cleaning and room preparation. There was joy in the air as restrooms were cleaned. There were smiles on faces as vacuums were running. There was laughter in the air as furniture was being moved. Teamwork took place. Communication was taking place. Items were moved from here to there and from there to here because we were experimenting and people remained positive and willing to experiment. One of Sunrises foundational principles is partnership. We will work as teams and realize the importance of partnerships. My heart and faith was encouraged as I worked and watched people assist one another, communicate with one another and work in groups to accomplish ministry. People were asking questions. People were introducing themselves to one another. People were meeting people they had never met and then working alongside one another. That is beautiful. That is healthy. That is God honoring and worship. In Philippians 2:1-4 the apostle Paul wrote the following to a young church much like Sunrise and Lee Memorial, "If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." I saw this practiced on Saturday and it was wonderful. I thank God for Saturday. I pray that I will keep in mind and heart Philippians 2:1-4 in my family and as one of the leaders of Sunrise.