“It just takes a lot out of me.” 

I heard that often as a young pastor. I didn’t understand. They were, of course, speaking of preparing for special days, like a special Christmas service or (novel idea) a special Resurrection Sunday service. That is where I find myself this morning. Let me explain.

We have been saving for an addition to our church building since 2018. We have vowed to pay cash for it. Since we have no debt we have determined we would stay that way. It allowed us to weather COVID well. Due to God’s faithfulness, the people’s faithful giving, and careful watching of the church’s finances, we were not hit like many churches. No staff layoffs. No cutback on programs (except those our state government “requested”). No concern over which bill to pay or not to pay. God and His people were good. 

In 2018 we finished a much-needed youth addition to our building-functional and modest-and immediately started saving for an addition to our current  building. It would serve as a new worship area where the adults could attend as one. Seven long years later we began by breaking ground. We watched as it slowly developed into a building that we had planned and saved for. It still isn’t done and we will have to put a “hold” on getting some things done due to costs being more than estimated, but yesterday (Resurrection Sunday) we were able to meet in the new addition. It was “rough.” The drywall is installed but not finished. The electricity is installed but there are only 3 working outlets. The HVAC cannot even begin to be installed until May due to his schedule. So we used propane heaters for 2 hours before to warm up the building (and when people got there no one noticed the chill). We borrowed 150 chairs from our neighboring event venue. Men and women worked hard on Saturday setting chairs, getting the sound system working, getting the lobby/greeting area inviting and a myriad of other chores. Along with some natural lighting (thanks God for the sunshine), we also used some portable LED lighting. 

With God’s help and with a tremendous effort by many of our people, WE DID IT! It was a wonderful day! For a little over an hour or so, we worshiped the Risen Christ. It was a great foretaste of what is to come when we are finished. Next week, we will be back to our old “digs.” The drywall needs finished. When money is available the electricity will be finished and HVAC will be installed. The walls will be painted. The bathrooms will be finished and the nursery will take on the look of a nursery. But we are okay with waiting. We have waited this long. What’s another couple of months or more? 

But I started this by saying I was tired. I will echo my older mentors: “It just takes a lot out of me.” I am tired this morning. But this is a good tired. And I could put up with that all year long. 🙂